Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Colombia is a global leader in climate activism. Could US influence drag country to a future of mining and fracking? Several hours after dark in a quiet Caribbean neighbourhood, a cluster of environmental activists gather on plastic chairs between a mango tree and a courtyard wall emblazoned with the words “Colombia, respira!” (Breathe, Colombia). So many people have turned up that some have to stand. That is because tonight’s speaker is Susana Muhamad, one of the most admired socio-environmental campaigners in the world, and this is a moment of profound historical significance. Continue reading...

One Nation proposal would abolish offshore gas profits tax and acquire 30% equity in new projects in a move the Coalition says is ‘borrowed from Venezuela’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast One Nation has vowed to replace the contentious offshore gas profits tax and acquire 30% equity stakes in new ventures under an interventionist policy designed to extract “vastly greater returns” for Australian taxpayers from the resource. The proposal for the commonwealth to co-own gas projects drew a mix of criticism and cynicism from the government, industry and the Coalition, which accused One Nation of importing ideas from Venezuela. Continue reading...

Without urgent intervention England faces water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, peers tell government Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told. Without intervention, England will face severe water shortages in the coming decades, as climate change-induced weather patterns, population growth and the expansion of industries such as water-intensive datacentres put excessive demand on supplies and endanger life, according to a House of Lords report published on Thursday. Changes to building regulations to require new homes to achieve a maximum water usage of 105 litres a person a day and accelerated grey water reuse. Nature-based solutions such as restoring peat bogs and reconnecting rivers to their natural flood plains to enhance water retention. An urgent awareness campaign for the whole of society to reduce water usage. A full environmental and economic assessment of drought to weigh the cost of inaction against the value of resilience. The rolling out of nature-based solutions more widely in urban and rural settings. Continue reading...

The US, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia – some of the highest oil-producing nations and major greenhouse gas emitters – opposed the measure The UN has voted 141-8 to adopt a resolution backing a world court opinion that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change, with the US – which is the world’s biggest historical emitter – among the small group opposing it. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said Wednesday’s general assembly vote, in which 28 countries abstained, underscored that governments are responsible for protecting citizens from the “escalating climate crisis”. Continue reading...