Breaking Waves: Ocean News

I’ve been climbing Tasmanian mountains for years – but I’m terrified of heights | Ben Walter

admin — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 02:01:21 +0000

Our society emphasises the value of conquering and overcoming your fears – but I can live with the idea of not climbing every mountain

Earlier this year, I finally climbed Mount Anne. This has taken an unlikely amount of time – I’ve been climbing Tasmanian mountains for years, but had never been up one of the island’s signature summits.

Australia is becoming an uninsurable nation. There may only be one solution | Nicki Hutley

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:24:57 +0000

With the outlook for risk of fire, flood and other disasters increasing, this is not a problem that will go away

As we watch the horror of the Los Angeles fires, Australians are painfully reminded of our own vulnerability to climate change, which continues to exacerbate the impact and frequency of these unnatural disasters.

The images of loss and destruction in LA are particularly painful to those who have experienced such losses first-hand in Australia.

Nicki Hutley is an independent economist and councillor with the Climate Council

Fleeing mountain lions and scorched earth: can wildlife survive California’s wildfires?

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:00:16 +0000

The fires have been devastating for humans and taken a toll on nature, but many of California’s ecosystems will be able to regenerate

Beth Pratt has spent her career protecting Los Angeles’ mountain lions, which roam an area currently engulfed by wildfires. These apex predators, also known as cougars or pumas, share a scrubby landscape with lavish private homes and a dense network of roads. When major fires take out huge areas of open space, their options are limited.

‘A ton of unknowns’: months ago, LA residents lost wildfire insurance. Then the fires came

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:00:15 +0000

After insurers like State Farm dropped policies, to switch to the state’s Fair plan was prohibitively pricey for many

When James Borow realized last Tuesday that his Palisades house was on fire, he was 300 miles away in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. The power was out at his house but a friend suggested he remotely turn on his Tesla and see if the cameras showed anything.

UK accused of undermining democratic rights with climate protest crackdown

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:00:16 +0000

British director of Human Rights Watch attacks ‘dangerous hypocrisy’ of government

Britain’s crackdown on climate protest is setting “a dangerous precedent” around the world and undermining democratic rights, the UK director of Human Rights Watch has said.

Yasmine Ahmed accused the Labour government of hypocrisy over its claims to be committed to human rights and international law.

A town torched by LA fires rallies to revive its community: ‘Everybody wants to come back’

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:13 +0000

Eaton fire tore through Altadena, burning buildings and killing many. Its residents are only now taking in the scale of devastation

A week after wildfires tore through the community of Altadena, the smell of destruction still hangs in the air. The acrid smoke seeped into the walls of homes that survived the Eaton fire, which burned 7,000 buildings and killed at least 15 people.

Revealed: drinking water sources in England polluted with forever chemicals

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:12 +0000

Exclusive: Water industry calls for PFAS ban after analysis of sampling data shows contamination across country

The media needs to show how the climate crisis is fueling the LA wildfires

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:00:51 +0000

With few exceptions, the news has shied away from showing how the unfolding climate crisis plays a large role in the disaster

Last week, as the Sunset fire was bearing down on her Los Angeles home, Allison Agsten approached a group of television news crews gathering in her neighborhood. Did any of them plan to mention the role of the climate crisis in their reporting?

UK farmland being contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancers

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:00:51 +0000

Levels of PFAS chemicals found in sludge destined for British land would not be considered safe for allotments

Window to stop decline of England’s nature closing fast, watchdog says

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 07:00:03 +0000

Office for Environmental Protection calls for urgent action after finding government is falling short on most targets

The window to stop the decline of England’s nature is swiftly closing, the environmental watchdog has said, as its latest report finds that the government is falling short on most of its targets to improve the environment.