Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en Cyclone Chido: locals demand more help from Macron on visit to Mayotte https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cyclone-chido-locals-demand-more-help-macron-visit-mayotte <p>French president promises food, water and to rebuild as emergency services search desperately for survivors</p> <p>Distraught and angry inhabitants of Mayotte shouted out their grievances to the French president, Emmanuel Macron, as he visited the island, five days after it was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/16/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mayotte-the-cyclone-hit-french-territory">devastated by a cyclone</a>.</p> <p>High on their list was the lack of water and food, and the fear of looting.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cyclone-chido-locals-demand-more-help-macron-visit-mayotte" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:37:04 +0000 admin 98338 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Most pregnant women and unborn babies who contract bird flu will die, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/most-pregnant-women-and-unborn-babies-who-contract-bird-flu-will-die-study-finds <p><strong>Exclusive:</strong> While risk of H5N1 pandemic in humans is low, ‘it’s really important to think about vulnerable populations’, Melbourne researcher says</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/most-pregnant-women-and-unborn-babies-who-contract-bird-flu-will-die-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:00:03 +0000 admin 98339 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Revealed: how a US public university courted the gas industry despite climate impacts https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/revealed-how-us-public-university-courted-gas-industry-despite-climate-impacts <p>McNeese State University in Louisiana building a liquefied natural gas center, prompting fears of ‘corporate capture’</p> <p>One of Louisiana’s top public universities has prompted concerns about “corporate capture” over its expanding relationship with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, despite environmental warnings about pollution and prolonging fossil fuel use.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/revealed-how-us-public-university-courted-gas-industry-despite-climate-impacts" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:10 +0000 admin 98336 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Bird flu sweeps through zoos with ‘grave implications’ for endangered animals https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bird-flu-sweeps-through-zoos-grave-implications-endangered-animals <p>Call for additional precautions as captive species including lions, tigers and cheetahs are killed by virus</p> <p>Dozens of rare animals including tigers, lions and cheetahs are dying as bird flu infiltrates zoos, with potentially “grave implications” for endangered species, researchers have warned.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bird-flu-sweeps-through-zoos-grave-implications-endangered-animals" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:00:07 +0000 admin 98334 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Taps dry in 58,000 Hampshire homes due to Southern Water fault https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/taps-dry-58000-hampshire-homes-due-southern-water-fault <p>Outage comes as customers hear they will face the highest bill increases in England and Wales</p> <p>Tens of thousands of homes in Hampshire are without water because of a technical fault at a Southern Water supply works.</p> <p>About 58,000 homes in Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh, Totton and parts of the New Forest have outages after a problem at the Testwood water supply works prevented water from leaving the site.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/19/southern-water-fault-hampshire">Continue reading...</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:19:54 +0000 admin 98333 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org US environmental agency fast-tracking new PFAS approvals for semiconductors https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-environmental-agency-fast-tracking-new-pfas-approvals-semiconductors <p>Hastened reviews of compounds as industry ramps up could increase pollution from likely toxic chemicals</p> <p>The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is quietly fast-tracking approval of new PFAS “forever chemicals” for use by the semiconductor industry at the same time the agency is publicly touting <a href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-12/prepubcopy_frl-7906-02-ocspp_fr_doc_aa_esignature_verified_2024-12-03.pdf">increased scrutiny</a> of new PFAS and other chemicals.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-environmental-agency-fast-tracking-new-pfas-approvals-semiconductors" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:00:09 +0000 admin 98331 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Biden declares tougher 2035 emissions targets weeks before Trump return https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/biden-declares-tougher-2035-emissions-targets-weeks-trump-return <p>President formally files new plans under Paris agreement and hails ‘boldest climate agenda in American history’</p> <p>Joe Biden has announced tougher targets on the US’s carbon dioxide emissions for the next decade, in a defiant final gesture intended as a “capstone” on his legacy on the climate.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/biden-declares-tougher-2035-emissions-targets-weeks-trump-return" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:00:12 +0000 admin 98332 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Thames Water to pay £18m penalty after breaking dividend rules https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thames-water-pay-18m-penalty-after-breaking-dividend-rules <p>Regulator says it will claw back £131m in ‘unjustified’ payments as it announces companies can increase bills by 36% by 2030</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thames-water-pay-18m-penalty-after-breaking-dividend-rules" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 07:41:44 +0000 admin 98329 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Albanese government approves four coalmine expansions as Greens condemn ‘despicable’ move https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/albanese-government-approves-four-coalmine-expansions-greens-condemn-despicable-move <p>Tanya Plibersek says projects in NSW and Queensland produce coal for making essential steel as critics say move ‘opposite of climate action’</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/albanese-government-approves-four-coalmine-expansions-greens-condemn-despicable-move" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 07:38:21 +0000 admin 98330 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Just four fines issued for wood-burning complaints in a year in England https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/just-four-fines-issued-wood-burning-complaints-year-england <p>Law around illegal wood burning in smoke-control areas is not being enforced, campaigners say</p> <p>Only four fines out of 5,600 complaints have been issued for illegal burning of wood in smoke-control areas from September 2023 to August 2024 in England, data has revealed.</p> <p>The new data, from freedom of information requests submitted by the campaign group <a href="https://www.mumsforlungs.org/">Mums for Lungs</a>, shows that the law around illegal wood burning is not being enforced in England, campaigners said.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/just-four-fines-issued-wood-burning-complaints-year-england" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 19 Dec 2024 06:00:07 +0000 admin 98328 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org