Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en Voices arguing that climate action is a waste of time are getting louder. Here’s why they are wrong | Clear Air https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/voices-arguing-climate-action-waste-time-are-getting-louder-here-s-why-they-are-wrong- <p>Optimism may be hard to come by but the evidence shows some progress on emissions is not just possible – it’s happening before our eyes</p> <ul> <li> <p>Want to get this in your inbox when it publishes?<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 the Clear Air Australia newsletter here</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/voices-arguing-climate-action-waste-time-are-getting-louder-here-s-why-they-are-wrong-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 23:57:06 +0000 admin 101006 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Brazil issues last-ditch plea for countries to submit climate plans ahead of Cop30 https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/brazil-issues-last-ditch-plea-countries-submit-climate-plans-ahead-cop30 <p>Only 28 countries have submitted carbon-cutting proposals to the UN, with some of the biggest emitters yet to produce plans</p> <p>Brazil has issued an urgent call for all countries to come forward with strengthened national plans on the climate, in a last-ditch attempt to meet a key September deadline.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/brazil-issues-last-ditch-plea-countries-submit-climate-plans-ahead-cop30" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:38:38 +0000 admin 101005 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Legal stoush between NSW and commonwealth halts crucial water flows into Murray-Darling https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/legal-stoush-between-nsw-and-commonwealth-halts-crucial-water-flows-murray-darling <p>Scientist warns long suspension poses potential risks to some wetland areas and native species of fish and birds</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/20/australia-news-live-bruce-lehrmann-federal-court-appeal-network-10-lisa-wilkinson-brittany-higgins-parliament-productivity-economic-reform-roundtable-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/legal-stoush-between-nsw-and-commonwealth-halts-crucial-water-flows-murray-darling" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:00:16 +0000 admin 101004 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Deadly wildfires show Spain must better prepare for climate crises, says Sánchez https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/deadly-wildfires-show-spain-must-better-prepare-climate-crises-says-s-nchez <p>PM says wildfires are proof climate emergency is getting worse, and that sustained non-partisan effort is needed</p> <p>The wildfires <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/14/wildfires-claim-third-life-in-spain-as-intense-heat-continues-across-europe">that have devoured</a> 382,000 hectares of land in Spain and killed four people underscore the need to “readjust and recalibrate” the country’s preparation and response capacities as part of a non-partisan effort to tackle the impacts of the climate emergency, the prime minister has warned.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/deadly-wildfires-show-spain-must-better-prepare-climate-crises-says-s-nchez" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:33:44 +0000 admin 101002 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Wildfire smoke far more dangerous to health than thought, say scientists https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wildfire-smoke-far-more-dangerous-health-thought-say-scientists <p>Deaths from short-term exposure to fine particulates spewed by forest fires underestimated by 93%</p> <p>Choking smoke spewed by wildfires is far more dangerous than previously thought, a new <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2542519625001743">study</a> has found, with death tolls from short-term exposure to fine particulates underestimated by 93%.</p> <p>Researchers found that 535 people in Europe died on average each year between 2004 and 2022 as a result of breathing in the tiny toxic particles known as PM2.5 that are released when wildfires rage.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wildfire-smoke-far-more-dangerous-health-thought-say-scientists" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:56:18 +0000 admin 101003 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Ed Davey calls for review of terrorism legislation after Palestine Action arrests – as it happened https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ed-davey-calls-review-terrorism-legislation-after-palestine-action-arrests-it-happened <p>The Lib Dem leader is seeking a review of the laws to prevent the ‘en masse’ arrests</p> <p><strong>Parents in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/england">England</a> are skipping meals and turning to buy-now-pay-later services such as Klarna in order to afford school uniforms before the autumn term, according to a survey.</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ed-davey-calls-review-terrorism-legislation-after-palestine-action-arrests-it-happened" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 08:20:40 +0000 admin 101001 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Where camels die of thirst: Morocco’s oasis emergency – in pictures https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/where-camels-die-thirst-morocco-s-oasis-emergency-pictures <p>Before It’s Gone is a series about the climate crisis and water scarcity in Morocco by photographer M’hammed Kilito, who highlights the degradation of countless oases</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2025/aug/19/camels-die-of-thirst-moroccos-oasis-emergency-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:01:10 +0000 admin 101000 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Early ripening of berries in UK shows nature is under stress, say experts https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/early-ripening-berries-uk-shows-nature-under-stress-say-experts <p>Hot summer also causing trees to shed their leaves as concerns raised over ‘food gap’ for wildlife in autumn</p> <p>Autumn is the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, according to the poet John Keats – but anyone hoping for a glut of blackberries this September may be sorely disappointed.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/early-ripening-berries-uk-shows-nature-under-stress-say-experts" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 06:00:09 +0000 admin 100999 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Most of Windermere polluted with sewage bacteria, finds biggest survey of its kind https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/most-windermere-polluted-sewage-bacteria-finds-biggest-survey-its-kind <p>Exclusive: Concentrations of faecal bacteria in the lake were found to peak in summer but there were high levels throughout year</p> <p>Bathing water quality across most of Windermere is poor throughout the summer, indicating high levels of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/09/uk-government-vows-to-clean-up-windermere-after-sewage-criticism">sewage pollution</a>, according to a comprehensive analysis of water quality in England’s largest lake.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/most-windermere-polluted-sewage-bacteria-finds-biggest-survey-its-kind" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:00:09 +0000 admin 100997 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Action needed on plastic additives linked to sperm decline, experts warn https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/action-needed-plastic-additives-linked-sperm-decline-experts-warn <p>Amid collapse of global pollution treaty, scientists highlight environmental factors causing fertility crisis</p> <p>Action must be taken to curb the use of plastic additives linked to plummeting sperm counts, a leading reproductive scientist has warned, as splits over chemical regulation contributed to the collapse of a crucial treaty on plastic pollution.</p> <p>Across the world, sperm counts have been declining at a rate of about 1% a year for the past 50 years, and human fertility has been diminishing at a similar rate, studies have shown.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/action-needed-plastic-additives-linked-sperm-decline-experts-warn" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:00:08 +0000 admin 100998 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org