Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/www.pass4now.com en Trump order to keep Michigan power plant open costs taxpayers $113m https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-order-keep-michigan-power-plant-open-costs-taxpayers-113m <p>Critics say JH Campbell coal-fired plant in western Michigan is expensive and emits high levels of toxic pollution</p> <p>Trump administration orders to keep an ageing, unneeded Michigan coal-fired power plant online has cost ratepayers from across the US midwest about $113m so far, according to <a href="https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000811156/2ded8761-a31d-4ff2-8e10-c26bc8a1eaf8.pdf">estimates</a> from the plant’s operator and regulators.</p> <p>Still, the US energy department last week ordered the plant to remain open for another 90 days.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-order-keep-michigan-power-plant-open-costs-taxpayers-113m" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:00:08 +0000 admin 102032 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UK energy bill payers will hand £2bn a year to EDF for new power stations https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-energy-bill-payers-will-hand-2bn-year-edf-new-power-stations <p>French government-owned company to receive funding for Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C </p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2025/nov/28/black-friday-consumers-scams-bad-deals-stock-market-ftse-pound-business-live">Business live – latest updates</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>UK energy bill payers will hand over £2bn a year in subsidies to EDF, the French company building two nuclear power stations, according to government figures.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-energy-bill-payers-will-hand-2bn-year-edf-new-power-stations" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:30:20 +0000 admin 102031 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Weather tracker: Snowfall cuts power in Poland and flooding devastates Sri Lanka https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/weather-tracker-snowfall-cuts-power-poland-and-flooding-devastates-sri-lanka <p>Temperatures dip to -8.5C in Poland and 250mm of rain falls in 24-hour period across Sri Lanka </p> <p>Temperatures plummeted this week across the eastern half of Europe, with the Alps dipping as low as -20C and to -8.5°C in the Polish town of Zakopane in the Tatras Mountains.</p> <p>Heavy snow also affected other parts of Poland with 15-20cm (about 6-8in) of snow falling in much of the central swathe of the country and more than 40cm in the south towards the mountains.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/weather-tracker-snowfall-cuts-power-poland-and-flooding-devastates-sri-lanka" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:37:59 +0000 admin 102030 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Africa’s forests transformed from carbon sink to carbon source, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/africa-s-forests-transformed-carbon-sink-carbon-source-study-finds <p>Alarming shift since 2010 means planet’s three main rainforest regions now contribute to climate breakdown</p> <p>Africa’s forests have turned from a carbon sink into a carbon source, according to research that underscores the need for urgent action to save the world’s great natural climate stabilisers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/africa-s-forests-transformed-carbon-sink-carbon-source-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:00:03 +0000 admin 102029 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Many ships found breaching pollution limits despite tighter controls https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/many-ships-found-breaching-pollution-limits-despite-tighter-controls <p>Researchers using aircraft to sample exhaust plumes say infringements persist – even in stricter zones</p> <p><a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ea/d5ea00089k">A new study</a> has found that a significant proportion of ships are breaching air pollution limits.</p> <p>Although the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set regulations for shipping pollution <a href="https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/historic-background-.aspx">since 2005</a>, it is hard to know what happens once ships are at sea.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/many-ships-found-breaching-pollution-limits-despite-tighter-controls" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:58 +0000 admin 102028 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Australia finally acknowledges environment underpins all else. That’s no small thing | Ken Henry https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-finally-acknowledges-environment-underpins-all-else-s-no-small-thing-ken-hen <p>In what are dangerous times for democracies around the world, parliament’s overhaul of nature laws in the EPBC Act shows ambitious reform remains possible</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-finally-acknowledges-environment-underpins-all-else-s-no-small-thing-ken-hen" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 22:20:59 +0000 admin 102027 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Canada minister resigns from cabinet over Carney’s controversial oil pipeline deal https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/canada-minister-resigns-cabinet-over-carney-s-controversial-oil-pipeline-deal <p>Minister Steven Guilbeault says Indigenous nations were not consulted and the pipeline would have ‘major environmental impacts’</p> <p>Mark Carney has agreed an energy deal with Alberta centred on plans for a new heavy oil pipeline reaching from the province’s oil sands to the Pacific coast, a politically volatile project that is expected to face stiff opposition.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/canada-minister-resigns-cabinet-over-carney-s-controversial-oil-pipeline-deal" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:05:08 +0000 admin 102026 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Scientists warn of severe climate-related risks to UK economy and security https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-warn-severe-climate-related-risks-uk-economy-and-security <p>Experts lay out scale of changes needed in ‘first-of-its-kind national emergency briefing’ in Westminster</p> <p>A host of eminent scientists have warned politicians, business and community leaders that the UK risks severe climate-related risks to its economy, public health, food systems and national security.</p> <p>According to its organisers more than 1,000 corporate bosses, senior civil servants and civic leaders were set to assemble in the Methodist central hall in Westminster for the “first-of-its-kind national emergency briefing” on Thursday morning.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-warn-severe-climate-related-risks-uk-economy-and-security" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:21:58 +0000 admin 102025 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Willow trees on Prince William’s land in Devon poisoned with herbicide https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/willow-trees-prince-william-s-land-devon-poisoned-herbicide <p>Exclusive: Unknown culprit suspected of spraying glyphosate on protected trees hoped to stop peat erosion and flooding</p> <p>Trees planted as part of a nature restoration project on Prince William’s land in Dartmoor national park have been deliberately poisoned with herbicide, sparking outrage and a hunt for the culprit.</p> <p>The willow trees, on Duchy of Cornwall land, were planted as part of a project to stop peat erosion, store carbon and reduce the risk of flooding.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/willow-trees-prince-william-s-land-devon-poisoned-herbicide" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:36:04 +0000 admin 102024 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Food is medicine, and that’s a fact. Why we all need Native American foodways https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/food-medicine-and-s-fact-why-we-all-need-native-american-foodways <p>Ecologically sound farming and land stewardship can change individual, collective and planetary health</p> <p>Within Indigenous communities across North America and beyond, we have long known that food is medicine. This isn’t just theory; it’s fact. We understand that seasonal, regionally specific and culturally relevant foods are vital for nurturing, nourishing and healing both our people and our planet. And it’s high time we all embrace the Native American concept of food as medicine.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/food-medicine-and-s-fact-why-we-all-need-native-american-foodways" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:00:38 +0000 admin 102022 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org