Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Former smugglers’ ship sunk off Ireland to form artificial reef

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:00:10 +0000

It is hoped MV Shingle, intercepted in 2014 with 32m cigarettes onboard, will benefit marine life and tourism

The valves opened, the sea gurgled in and slowly, imperceptibly at first, the ship began its journey to the bottom of the Atlantic.

The 60-metre MV Shingle debuted in Ireland a decade ago as a smuggling vessel, but then became an unwanted hulk. On Wednesday afternoon it performed its swan song – scuttled off County Mayo to create an artificial reef.

Australia is a mess. Cop31 is a chance to redefine ourselves from climate laggard to global leader | Anna Cerneaz

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:00:55 +0000

Hosting the conference would help us overcome our colonial mentality and the fossil fuel lobby, both of which have held us back from tackling climate change

Global heating is making El Niño and La Niña forecasts less reliable, BoM says

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:00:52 +0000

Exclusive: Meteorologists say climate change and the amount of heat being added to the oceans make predictions based on the past less reliable

Stop that capybara! Search party uses drone to spot rodent that fled British zoo

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:59:54 +0000

Cinnamon, a one-year-old female, escaped on Friday and has eluded inventive efforts to recapture her

To catch a rat, many call pest control. But how does one go about catching the world’s largest rodent, the capybara?

Zookeepers in Shropshire are wrestling with that very problem after Cinnamon, one of the furry breed native to South America, escaped.

Labour in apparent disarray over Thames cleanup plan

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:59:56 +0000

Minister approved Thames Water project at location prioritised by Sadiq Khan for wild swimming

Labour appeared to be in disarray on Wednesday over ambitions to clean up the River Thames for swimming.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced plans to prioritise an area of the river in Teddington, south-west London, to make it safe and clean for swimming as part of a new 10-year strategy to reduce pollution in the river and encourage people to spend time in and around it.

Albanese government issues ‘preliminary refusal’ of Pep11 gas project previously vetoed by Scott Morrison

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:40:23 +0000

Asset Energy has 30 days to respond to industry minister Ed Husic’s request for further information about the proposed gas project off Sydney’s coast

Wednesday briefing: Why Labour seems to be walking the walk on the climate crisis

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:38:43 +0000

In today’s newsletter: The party talked up its plans for the climate during this summer’s election – and now seems to be backing that up with real action

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‘Butterfly emergency’ declared as UK summer count hits record low

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:00:49 +0000

Conservation group calls on government to ban insect-killing neonicotinoid pesticides outright

A national “butterfly emergency” has been declared by Butterfly Conservation after the lowest Big Butterfly Count since records began.

An average of just seven butterflies per 15-minute count were recorded by participants in this summer’s butterfly count, the lowest in the survey’s 14-year history.

Superyacht and private jet tax could raise £2bn a year, say campaigners

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:00:49 +0000

Oxfam says ‘commonsense solution’ would reduce emissions and raise urgently needed climate finance

Fair taxes on superyachts and private jets in the UK could have brought in £2bn last year to provide vital funds for communities suffering the worst effects of climate breakdown, campaigners say.

More floods are coming to Britain, but you ought to know this: the system that should protect us is a scandal | George Monbiot

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:00:49 +0000

A network of public bodies are supposed to safeguard us from flooding. But, like old boys’ clubs, they are bastions of self-interest

Labour’s first stage of government resembles a vast forensic excavation. As it works through the Conservatives’ midden of horrors, it discovers an ever greater legacy of underinvestment, neglect and corruption. However disappointing the new government’s compromises might be, we shouldn’t forget how overwhelming this task must feel.