Critics and opposition parties vow to oppose major projects they fear could damage the environment
A new law that could see controversial mining and infrastructure projects fast-tracked for approval across New Zealand has sparked protests in parliament and vows from critics and opposition parties to stop proposals that they fear will wreak havoc on the environment.
The coalition government’s Fast-Track Approvals legislation passed into law on Tuesday, despite thousands of public submissions opposing it.
Continue reading...
Breaking Waves: Ocean News
12/17/2024 - 22:56
12/17/2024 - 18:30
Researchers from St Andrews found rise in nitrogen dioxide exposure associated with higher admissions
Exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.
The research, involving more than 200,000 people in Scotland, found an increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide in particular was associated with a higher number of people being admitted to hospital for behaviour disorders and mental illnesses.
Continue reading...
12/17/2024 - 14:28
New study shows LNG exports risk raising greenhouse gas emissions, hampering efforts to curtail climate crisis
The Biden administration has released a long-awaited analysis on the economic and environmental effects of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, concluding any further expansion would drive up costs for domestic consumers and hamper efforts to curtail the climate crisis.
In January Joe Biden paused the Department of Energy’s approvals of fossil gas exports to big consumers in Asia and Europe in order to conduct the review, in a move welcomed by climate scientists, environmental justice advocates and public health experts but decried by the oil and gas industry.
Continue reading...
12/17/2024 - 09:03
Save Our Safer Streets ‘extremely disappointed’ judge finds against them over removal of low traffic neighbourhoods
Road safety campaigners in east London have lost a high court challenge against the mayor of Tower Hamlets over his decision to remove three low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) in Bethnal Green.
The campaign group Save Our Safer Streets (SOSS) raised nearly £80,000 through a crowdfunder to bring judicial review proceedings. After a two-day hearing last month a judge ruled on Tuesday that the mayor, Lutfur Rahman, did not break the law when he announced in September 2023 that he would be removing the LTNs.
Continue reading...
12/17/2024 - 09:00
Former MP astonished that taxpayers are ‘literally paying’ to cut down forests sustaining koalas and greater gliders and providing clean drinking water
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
Two reports revealing the extent of financial losses from native forest logging in New South Wales raise questions about the economic viability of the industry.
The state government’s forestry corporation “consistently made a loss” by paying contractors more for harvesting and haulage than it earned from delivery of timber to sawmills, a NSW Independent Pricing and Review Tribunal (Ipart) report found.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
Continue reading...
12/17/2024 - 09:00
Police powers that request protesters remove their face masks in prescribed areas already exist, according to lawyer at Human Rights Law Centre
Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast
The Victorian government has been accused of “shoehorning” new anti-protest measures that could be used to crack down on the climate movement into reforms touted as necessary to combat antisemitism.
On Tuesday, Jacinta Allan announced a suite of legislative proposals to crack down on what the premier said was antisemitism and extremism at protests. The proposals were announced in the wake of an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
Continue reading...
Whaling activist Paul Watson celebrates release from jail after Denmark refuses extradition to Japan
12/17/2024 - 06:12
US-Canadian pioneer member of Greenpeace, who was arrested in Greenland in July, will now spend Christmas with his sons
Paul Watson, the anti-whaling campaigner, has spoken of delight that he will be reunited with his young children for Christmas after Denmark rejected Japan’s extradition request and released him from prison in Greenland.
After 150 days in jail on the Danish autonomous territory, Watson, 74, was told by his lawyer on Tuesday morning that the Danish authorities had decided he was free to leave the island.
Continue reading...
12/17/2024 - 01:00
Report says rivers, the sea and surface water endangering properties and that number could hit 8m by 2050
More than 6m homes in England are at risk of flooding under the latest climate projections, a study by the Environment Agency has found.
This could rise to 8m – or one in four properties – by 2050, the study said.
Continue reading...
12/17/2024 - 01:00
Environment Agency also served notice after investigation found failures to comply with law
The government, its water regulator and the Environment Agency could all be taken to court over their failure to tackle sewage dumping in England after a watchdog found failures to comply with the law.
An investigation by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) found Ofwat, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency (EA) all failed to stop water companies from discharging sewage into rivers and seas in England when it was not raining heavily. The OEP was set up in 2020 to replace the role the European Union had played in regulating and enforcing environmental law in the UK.
Continue reading...
12/16/2024 - 12:57
New research shows that many wildlife species in the U.S., like the endangered giant kangaroo rat, will face much more frequent and severe droughts in the future. By 2050-2080, year-long droughts could happen almost five times as often, and three-year droughts almost seven times as often compared to past decades. These changes will require animals to adapt significantly. Scientists have identified areas with high biodiversity and high risk that can help managers focus attention for conservation efforts. The southwestern U.S. is a critical area where many species will be more affected by increased droughts.
