Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Fleeing mountain lions and scorched earth: can wildlife survive California’s wildfires?

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:00:16 +0000

The fires have been devastating for humans and taken a toll on nature, but many of California’s ecosystems will be able to regenerate

Beth Pratt has spent her career protecting Los Angeles’ mountain lions, which roam an area currently engulfed by wildfires. These apex predators, also known as cougars or pumas, share a scrubby landscape with lavish private homes and a dense network of roads. When major fires take out huge areas of open space, their options are limited.

‘A ton of unknowns’: months ago, LA residents lost wildfire insurance. Then the fires came

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:00:15 +0000

After insurers like State Farm dropped policies, to switch to the state’s Fair plan was prohibitively pricey for many

When James Borow realized last Tuesday that his Palisades house was on fire, he was 300 miles away in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show. The power was out at his house but a friend suggested he remotely turn on his Tesla and see if the cameras showed anything.

UK accused of undermining democratic rights with climate protest crackdown

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:00:16 +0000

British director of Human Rights Watch attacks ‘dangerous hypocrisy’ of government

Britain’s crackdown on climate protest is setting “a dangerous precedent” around the world and undermining democratic rights, the UK director of Human Rights Watch has said.

Yasmine Ahmed accused the Labour government of hypocrisy over its claims to be committed to human rights and international law.

A town torched by LA fires rallies to revive its community: ‘Everybody wants to come back’

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:13 +0000

Eaton fire tore through Altadena, burning buildings and killing many. Its residents are only now taking in the scale of devastation

A week after wildfires tore through the community of Altadena, the smell of destruction still hangs in the air. The acrid smoke seeped into the walls of homes that survived the Eaton fire, which burned 7,000 buildings and killed at least 15 people.

Revealed: drinking water sources in England polluted with forever chemicals

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:00:12 +0000

Exclusive: Water industry calls for PFAS ban after analysis of sampling data shows contamination across country

UK farmland being contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancers

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:00:51 +0000

Levels of PFAS chemicals found in sludge destined for British land would not be considered safe for allotments

The media needs to show how the climate crisis is fueling the LA wildfires

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:00:51 +0000

With few exceptions, the news has shied away from showing how the unfolding climate crisis plays a large role in the disaster

Last week, as the Sunset fire was bearing down on her Los Angeles home, Allison Agsten approached a group of television news crews gathering in her neighborhood. Did any of them plan to mention the role of the climate crisis in their reporting?

Window to stop decline of England’s nature closing fast, watchdog says

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 07:00:03 +0000

Office for Environmental Protection calls for urgent action after finding government is falling short on most targets

The window to stop the decline of England’s nature is swiftly closing, the environmental watchdog has said, as its latest report finds that the government is falling short on most of its targets to improve the environment.

Economic growth could fall 50% over 20 years from climate shocks, say actuaries

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Exclusive: Report by risk experts says previous assessments ignored severe effects of climate crisis

Global economic growth could plummet by 50% between 2070 and 2090 from the catastrophic shocks of climate change unless immediate action by political leaders is taken to decarbonise and restore nature, according to a new report.

Bloodletting recommended for Jersey residents after PFAS contamination

admin — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:02 +0000

The island’s private drinking water supplies were polluted by use of firefighting foams containing ‘forever chemicals’

Explained: What are PFAS, how toxic are they and how do you become exposed?

Residents of Jersey have been recommended bloodletting to reduce high concentrations of “forever chemicals” in their blood after tests showed some islanders have levels that can lead to health problems.