Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Monday briefing: What if the climate crisis makes disaster insurance unaffordable?

admin — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:51:09 +0000

In today’s newsletter: The Los Angeles wildfires highlighted the immense challenges faced by the insurance industry amid the escalating risks of the climate crisis. Are there any potential solutions for homeowners?

Good morning. If the Los Angeles wildfires are bracing evidence of the general threat posed by the climate crisis, they have also brought home a specific problem: how can you make the insurance system work when the risks are so high?

Pet fur found in songbird nests contains high levels of pesticides, study finds

admin — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:00:10 +0000

Exclusive: Chemical in treatment for pet fleas and ticks is found in nests of blue and great tits, killing chicks

Songbird chicks are being killed by high levels of pesticides in the pet fur used by their parents to line their nests, a study has found.

Author Correction: The struggle at the International Seabed Authority over deep sea mineral resources

admin — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +0000

npj Ocean Sustainability, Published online: 27 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s44183-025-00102-z

Author Correction: The struggle at the International Seabed Authority over deep sea mineral resources

Reeves: third Heathrow runway would be hard decision but good for growth

admin — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 19:40:23 +0000

Chancellor expected to unveil new building projects and revise planning rules to stimulate UK economy

Rachel Reeves has given her strongest hint yet that she will back a third runway at Heathrow airport, arguing that she is willing to make difficult decisions while pursuing economic growth.

The chancellor is poised to make a significant speech this week where she will outline her plans to boost the British economy by radically altering planning rules and accelerating building projects.

From showers to tiny fish to windmills, Trump’s climate policies are driven by fixations

admin — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 13:30:50 +0000

‘It was striking that the White House memo included toilets and shower heads as a presidential priority,’ said one expert

From crusading against showers he feels don’t sufficiently wash his hair to reversing protections for a small fish he calls “worthless”, Donald Trump’s personal fixations have helped shape his first environmental priorities as US president.

Home truths: the only thing Labour is building is a bigger, more dysfunctional housing market | George Monbiot

admin — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 13:03:57 +0000

Private developers offer politicians a simple solution for bulldozing through this crisis – build more. But it won’t work

Build baby, build. That’s about the intellectual limit of the government’s housing strategy. Millions are under-housed, so let’s “bulldoze” the planning system and build more homes. But it’s not nearly so simple.

Rachel Reeves indicates support for third runway at Heathrow

admin — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 10:53:10 +0000

Chancellor says runway would mean fewer planes circling London, and points to moves towards sustainable flying

Rachel Reeves has indicated her support for building a third runway at Heathrow airport, arguing that it would have environmental benefits such as fewer planes circling London.

Ahead of a major speech on economic growth this coming week, the chancellor made the case for Heathrow expansion and said there was “huge investment” in more sustainable aviation.

Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at sewage plants that weren’t carried out

admin — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 10:00:47 +0000

Analysis by campaign group finds utility company had highest rate of ‘no-flow’ samples of any water and sewerage firm in 2024

The water firm Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at its sewage plants that were never carried out.

Operational data reveals how more than 6,000 pollution tests from 2015 to 2024 could not be carried out under a controversial self-monitoring regime because it was reported there was no outflow of treated sewage from the plants.

Rain on the way to LA brings fears of toxic ash in wake of wildfires

admin — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 23:34:26 +0000

Weather will aid firefighters, but heavy downpours on charred hillsides could bring the threat of poisonous runoff

Rain on the way to parched southern California on Saturday will aid firefighters mopping up multiple wildfires. But heavy downpours on charred hillsides could bring the threat of new troubles like toxic ash runoff.

Environment secretary lambasts HS2’s £100m bat shelter

admin — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 21:13:19 +0000

Steve Reed says plans for 1km curved structure to protect bats from high-speed railway are ‘batshit crazy’