Home secretary denies government backing away from net zero commitments but says it must take ‘pragmatic approach’
Rishi Sunak will not “save the planet by bankrupting the British people”, the home secretary has said, as she rejected claims that the government was backing away from its net zero commitments.
Suella Braverman, one of many Tory MPs on the right of the party who fear green policies may cost the party votes at the general election, said the government’s net zero targets were “goals, not straitjackets”. She commended the prime minister for making “difficult decisions” before his expected move to weaken environmental policies.
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Breaking Waves: Ocean News
09/20/2023 - 03:02
09/20/2023 - 01:58
Tory MPs who have championed net zero policies furious at PM’s plans to delay or water down green measures
Rishi Sunak’s determination to roll back some of the UK’s key climate policies risks opening up rifts within his own party, as senior Conservatives expressed their deep unease at the move.
Proposals to delay or water down green measures, such as pushing back the dates for ending sales of petrol and diesel cars, and gas boilers, are likely to be fleshed out later this week.
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09/20/2023 - 01:00
The 42 known species of the parasitic plant Rafflesia, known as the corpse flower, are endangered due to destruction of forest habitats
Parasitic, elusive and emitting an overwhelming odour of putrefying flesh, Rafflesia – often called the corpse flower – has intrigued botanists for centuries. Now, scientists are warning that it is at risk of extinction and calling for action to save it.
The blooms of the Rafflesia have become famous for their odour of decaying meat, produced to attract flesh-eating flies. But the genus – which includes the largest flowers in the world, at more than a metre across – is at risk due to the destruction of forest habitats in south-east Asia. There are 42 species of Rafflesia, and researchers warn that all of them are under threat, with 25 classified as critically endangered and 15 as endangered.
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09/20/2023 - 00:35
A new study finds that most Rafflesia species, which produce the world's largest flowers, face extinction. Lack of protection at local, national, and international levels means that remaining populations are under critical threat.
09/20/2023 - 00:07
After experiencing a record-breaking number of ‘extremely hot’ days in summer, the unusually high temperatures are due to continue
Matsutake mushrooms and persimmons have appeared on supermarket shelves, along with seasonal beers and sakes. In Tokyo neighbourhoods, residents carry portable shrines through the streets at festivals to mark the end of summer, and children get ready for school sports days.
Autumn, though, has yet to make an appearance in Japan. Instead, experts are warning that the crisp, sunny days that usually offer relief at the end of a sweltering summer are still some way off, with one describing the weather as “abnormal”.
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09/19/2023 - 23:59
Hundreds of mussel farm sites in Gulf of Thailand affected by regular blooms that scientists believe are exacerbated by climate crisis
An unusually dense plankton bloom off the eastern coast of Thailand is creating an aquatic “dead zone”, threatening the livelihood of local fishers who farm mussels in the waters.
Marine scientists say some areas in the Gulf of Thailand have more than 10 times the normal amount of plankton, turning the water a bright green and killing off marine life.
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09/19/2023 - 23:00
npj Ocean Sustainability, Published online: 20 September 2023; doi:10.1038/s44183-023-00020-y
Assessing the global ocean science community: understanding international collaboration, concerns and the current state of ocean basin research
09/19/2023 - 20:45
Despite a $100m effort over 14 months to stop the invasive parasite, scientists say eradication is no longer possible
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Beekeepers will have to learn to live with the deadly varroa mite following a national decision to shift from eradication to a management approach.
The invasive mite was first detected near Newcastle in New South Wales in June 2022.
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09/19/2023 - 20:00
In this month's episode of the American Blue Economy Podcast, our host Rear Admiral, Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) looks at the topic of leadership. Whether it is the work of government agencies like NOAA, universities and research institutions, or private companies, leadership is an important component of the U.S. effort to provide a positive example to the world in advancing a sustainable ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes-based economy. Admiral Gallaudet's guest is retired Navy SEAL Captain and Dr. John "Coach" Havlik. Coach Havlik will share what he has learned from his three decades of service as a Navy SEAL, as well as his recent doctoral dissertation in education and elements of his book The Leadership Killer: Reclaiming humility in an age of arrogance. Admiral Gallaudet will also describe how he forged NOAA's leadership role in the American Blue Economy. Whether you are a seasoned expert or early career professional, you have the opportunity to lead in a positive way - this episode is for you if you want to learn how!
09/19/2023 - 16:17
Majority of offset projects that have sold the most carbon credits are ‘likely junk’, according to analysis by Corporate Accountability and the Guardian
The vast majority of the environmental projects most frequently used to offset greenhouse gas emissions appear to have fundamental failings suggesting they cannot be relied upon to cut planet-heating emissions, according to a new analysis.
The global, multibillion-dollar voluntary carbon trading industry has been embraced by governments, organisations and corporations including oil and gas companies, airlines, fast-food brands, fashion houses, tech firms, art galleries and universities as a way of claiming to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint.
A total of 39 of the top 50 emission offset projects, or 78% of them, were categorised as likely junk or worthless due to one or more fundamental failing that undermines its promised emission cuts.
Eight others (16%) look problematic, with evidence suggesting they may have at least one fundamental failing and are potentially junk, according to the classification system applied.
The efficacy of the remaining three projects (6%) could not be determined definitively as there was insufficient public, independent information to adequately assess the quality of the credits and/or accuracy of their claimed climate benefits.
Overall, $1.16bn (£937m) of carbon credits have been traded so far from the projects classified by the investigation as likely junk or worthless; a further $400m of credits bought and sold were potentially junk.
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