Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en ‘Fast-track’ regulation could expose Britons to harmful chemicals, say campaigners https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fast-track-regulation-could-expose-britons-harmful-chemicals-say-campaigners <p>Exclusive: Fighting Dirty taking legal action against government over proposal it says could import weaker standards</p> <p>An environmental campaign group is taking legal action against the government over proposals that it claims could fast-track chemical hazard classifications from other countries with lower standards into UK law.</p> <p>Fighting Dirty claims proposals to change the classification and labelling of potentially hazardous chemicals could result in the UK weakening standards on cancer-causing substances.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fast-track-regulation-could-expose-britons-harmful-chemicals-say-campaigners" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 05:00:05 +0000 admin 103580 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Trees may store less planet-heating carbon than hoped, study suggests https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trees-may-store-less-planet-heating-carbon-hoped-study-suggests <p>Photosynthesis does not always result in wood growth, a key factor in carbon dioxide sequestration</p> <p>Trees may not be able to store as much planet-heating carbon as hoped, a study suggests, with researchers finding photosynthesis does not always lead to wood growth.</p> <p>Scientists studied 137 sites across the US and found trees stopped growing months before the point in the year at which photosynthesis stopped.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/13/trees-store-less-carbon-than-thought-study">Continue reading...</a></p> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 04:00:04 +0000 admin 103579 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Australia can switch from fossil fuel exports to renewables, says next Cop president https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-can-switch-fossil-fuel-exports-renewables-says-next-cop-president <p>Climate minister Chris Bowen says country must prepare for changing world and can play bigger role in reducing emissions</p> <p>Australia will find exporting fossil fuels increasingly difficult but can switch to exporting clean energy products, the president of the next UN climate negotiations has declared.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-can-switch-fossil-fuel-exports-renewables-says-next-cop-president" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:02 +0000 admin 103577 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Meet the people protecting the magic beans of life from extinction | Jess Harwood https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/meet-people-protecting-magic-beans-life-extinction-jess-harwood <p>The Australian PlantBank is like no other place on Earth</p> <ul> <li> <p>See more of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/jess-harwood">Jess Harwood’s cartoons here</a></p> </li> </ul> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/jun/13/meet-the-people-protecting-the-magic-beans-of-life-from-extinction">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:51 +0000 admin 103578 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Antarctica’s west coast missing an area of sea ice the size of France as temperatures peak 20C above average https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/antarctica-s-west-coast-missing-area-sea-ice-size-france-temperatures-peak-20c-above-a <p><strong>Exclusive </strong>A vast area of the Bellingshausen Sea should be covered by sea ice by now, with one expert calling the loss of ice ‘depressing’</p> <p>Antarctica’s west coast is missing an area of winter sea ice the size of France, sparking concerns for threatened penguins other marine life and global sea levels.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/antarctica-s-west-coast-missing-area-sea-ice-size-france-temperatures-peak-20c-above-a" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:48 +0000 admin 103576 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘It’s massive destruction’: outcry in Texas over waivers to allow border wall in Big Bend national park https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-massive-destruction-outcry-texas-over-waivers-allow-border-wall-big-bend-national <p>Despite plunging border crossings, the Trump administration is circumventing laws to expedite building in a vast, pristine wilderness </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration</a> has waived a slew of environmental and historical preservation laws that would allow it to build a towering border wall that cuts through Big Bend national park, a vast protected wilderness in south Texas.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-massive-destruction-outcry-texas-over-waivers-allow-border-wall-big-bend-national" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:46 +0000 admin 103575 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Goblin shark with face ‘not even a mother would love’ seen alive in natural habitat for first time https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/goblin-shark-face-not-even-mother-would-love-seen-alive-natural-habitat-first-time <p>Elusive creatures have previously only been seen on fishing lines and experts know ‘virtually nothing about them’</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Rare and eccentric-looking goblin sharks have been seen alive in their deep ocean habitat for the first time ever.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/goblin-shark-face-not-even-mother-would-love-seen-alive-natural-habitat-first-time" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:35:24 +0000 admin 103574 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife: a squirrel with a splint, hungry hyenas and a great white shark https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-squirrel-splint-hungry-hyenas-and-great-white-shark <p>This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/jun/12/week-in-wildlife-squirrel-hyenas-great-white-shark">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:38 +0000 admin 103573 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Emergency hospital admissions fell after introduction of London’s T-charge and Ulez, study suggests https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/emergency-hospital-admissions-fell-after-introduction-london-s-t-charge-and-ulez-study <p>Imperial College scientists analysed health records before and after introduction of air pollution reduction zones</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/emergency-hospital-admissions-fell-after-introduction-london-s-t-charge-and-ulez-study" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:00:36 +0000 admin 103572 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Britain’s favourite butterfly revealed – and it’s a familiar backyard beauty https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/britain-s-favourite-butterfly-revealed-and-it-s-familiar-backyard-beauty <p>More than 20,000 votes cast in Butterfly Conservation’s poll of 60 native species to find nation’s favourite for first time</p> <p>The votes are in on Britain’s favourite butterfly, and it is one of the most ubiquitous yet spectacular backyard beauties that has flown to victory.</p> <p>With its lavender, yellow and maroon eye spots and luscious rusty red and black colouration, <a href="https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/peacock">the peacock butterfly</a> is both beautiful and commonplace, flying throughout spring, summer and autumn in all corners of the British Isles.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/britain-s-favourite-butterfly-revealed-and-it-s-familiar-backyard-beauty" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 04:00:36 +0000 admin 103570 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org