Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en EPA chief met with Bayer CEO over supreme court fight, agency records show https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/epa-chief-met-bayer-ceo-over-supreme-court-fight-agency-records-show <p>Top US regulators met with Bill Anderson to discuss ‘supreme court action’ over glyphosate weed killer</p> <p>Top US regulators met with Bill Anderson, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/bayer">Bayer’s</a> CEO, last year to discuss “litigation” issues – including “supreme court action” over its glyphosate weed killer – just months before the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration</a> took a series of steps to boost Bayer’s case at the high court, internal government records show.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/epa-chief-met-bayer-ceo-over-supreme-court-fight-agency-records-show" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:10:31 +0000 admin 102810 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Republican farm bill criticized as agribusiness giveaway: ‘pesticide industry wishlist’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/republican-farm-bill-criticized-agribusiness-giveaway-pesticide-industry-wishlist <p>Advocates say bill weakens safety reviews, boosts industry influence and shields pesticide makers from legal liability</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/17/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB">Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/republican-farm-bill-criticized-agribusiness-giveaway-pesticide-industry-wishlist" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:00:23 +0000 admin 102811 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org London, San Francisco and Beijing achieve ‘remarkable reductions’ in air pollution https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/london-san-francisco-and-beijing-achieve-remarkable-reductions-air-pollution <p>Cycle lanes, electric cars and other interventions have helped 19 global cities slash levels of pollutants by more than 20% </p> <p>London, San Francisco and Beijing are among 19 global cities that have achieved “remarkable reductions” in air pollution, analysis has found, having slashed levels of two airway-aggravating pollutants by more than 20% since 2010.</p> <p>The analysis found interventions such as cycle lanes, uptake of electric cars and restrictions on polluting vehicles had helped to drive the improvements.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/london-san-francisco-and-beijing-achieve-remarkable-reductions-air-pollution" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:13 +0000 admin 102809 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘The last frontier’: how red globules of nickel ore are suffocating an island’s precious wilderness https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/last-frontier-how-red-globules-nickel-ore-are-suffocating-island-s-precious-wilderness <p>In the race to meet the demands of the energy transition, biodiversity hotspots such as Palawan in the Philippines are being increasingly mined for critical elements</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2026/mar/11/how-mining-threatens-the-worlds-biodiversity-aoe">How nature is being sacrificed for mining across the world – a data visualisation</a></p> </li> </ul> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/last-frontier-how-red-globules-nickel-ore-are-suffocating-island-s-precious-wilderness" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:12 +0000 admin 102808 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Quit fossil fuels to stem deadly floods in Brazil’s coffee heartland, say scientists https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/quit-fossil-fuels-stem-deadly-floods-brazil-s-coffee-heartland-say-scientists <p>Global heating linked to rising risk of extreme rain that causes devastating landslides and rising coffee prices</p> <p>The record floods that have brought death and destruction to the heartland of Brazil’s coffee industry are expected to intensify if people continue to burn fossil fuels, analysis has shown.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/quit-fossil-fuels-stem-deadly-floods-brazil-s-coffee-heartland-say-scientists" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:01:06 +0000 admin 102807 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Queensland floods: police believe bodies found are those of missing backpackers https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/queensland-floods-police-believe-bodies-found-are-those-missing-backpackers <p>Two international tourists travelling to flood-ravaged North Burnett region from Brisbane thought to be first flood-related deaths</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/12/federal-politics-parliament-reactions-anthony-albanese-labor-angus-taylor-matt-canavan-liberals-nationals-coalition-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/queensland-floods-police-believe-bodies-found-are-those-missing-backpackers" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:02:12 +0000 admin 102806 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Australian governments subsidising fossil fuel use by more than $30,000 a minute, analysis finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australian-governments-subsidising-fossil-fuel-use-more-30000-minute-analysis-finds <p>Australia Institute data finds state and federal subsidies for coal, gas and oil products increased 10% in past year, growing at a faster pace than funding to NDIS</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australian-governments-subsidising-fossil-fuel-use-more-30000-minute-analysis-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:51 +0000 admin 102805 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org How Toronto's snow mountains hide a toxic secret – video https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-torontos-snow-mountains-hide-toxic-secret-video <p>The Guardian reporter Leyland Cecco visits an almost 100ft-tall snow mountain, one of six created in Toronto to store all the snow cleared from roads and paths across the city.</p> <p>Toronto has spent more than C$1bn dollars over a decade to successfully re-naturalise the mouth of the Don River. But this is at risk because the salt contained in the snow mountains is likely to end up in water systems, causing an 'ecological crisis'.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-torontos-snow-mountains-hide-toxic-secret-video" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:57:14 +0000 admin 102804 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Peak interest: Toronto’s snow mountains that refuse to melt are a toxic hazard https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/peak-interest-toronto-s-snow-mountains-refuse-melt-are-toxic-hazard <p>Reaching up to 100ft, these massive piles contain tonnes of salt that keep roads clear – but pose environmental risks</p> <p>Most mountains take tens of millions of years to form. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/toronto--news-">Toronto</a>’s newest mountain took just days.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/peak-interest-toronto-s-snow-mountains-refuse-melt-are-toxic-hazard" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:00:02 +0000 admin 102803 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘When I leave, part of me stays’: why Scarborough’s youth won’t turn their backs on the seaside town they love https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/when-i-leave-part-me-stays-why-scarborough-s-youth-won-t-turn-their-backs-seaside-town <p>Hemmed in by the sea and poor transport links, many young people from the Yorkshire town feel trapped, but there is also a pride in the area</p> <p>It’s the morning after a wet and stormy day in the Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough. The waves, which the previous day had been crashing dramatically on the harbour walls, have calmed and a few brave souls have entered the water with surfboards. There is a man throwing a ball for his dog on the beach and a kayaker bobbing on the waves.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/when-i-leave-part-me-stays-why-scarborough-s-youth-won-t-turn-their-backs-seaside-town" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:01 +0000 admin 102801 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org