Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Cardiff becomes first UK council to impose higher parking charges on larger vehicles

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:57:02 +0000

Premium charge aims to combat steep rise in SUVs and other larger vehicles which are ‘a danger to other road users’

Cardiff council will force drivers with larger vehicles to pay more for parking, becoming the first local authority in the UK to impose a parking premium to combat the dangers of larger vehicles.

Councillors voted on Thursday to approve a new parking plan for the city whereby owners of larger vehicles will be charged more for parking permits because their cars “take up more parking space and are a danger to other road users”.

Indigenous and environmental leaders in Ecuador say they are facing state intimidation

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:00:46 +0000

Critics say referendum on rewriting country’s eco-friendly constitution is president’s latest pro-extractivist move

Indigenous and environmental leaders in Ecuador say they are facing a wave of state intimidation ahead of a national referendum next month on whether to rewrite the world’s only constitution that recognises the rights of nature.

Brazil to ask countries at Cop30 to vastly increase biofuel use, leak suggests

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:07:14 +0000

Exclusive: Document sets draft pledge for leaders gathering at climate summit to increase use of controversial fuels

Brazil will ask countries to quadruple the global use of “sustainable fuels”, including controversial biofuels, despite concerns from environmental experts, the Guardian has learned.

The 2025 Aussie Bird Count is about to start. Here’s how to take part – and why you should

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:00:46 +0000

Week-long count by citizen scientists around Australia gathers crucial data on our unique birdlife and is now in its 12th year

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Major airlift evacuations in Alaska after remnants of typhoon decimate villages

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:54:27 +0000

Weekend storm devastated two villages and displaced more than 1,500 people in the south-western part of the state

Authorities in Alaska are staging a major evacuation operation, relocating hundreds of people in one of the “most significant” airlifts in the state’s history, after a storm decimated two villages along the south-west coast over the weekend.

A surge of visitors to Yosemite overwhelms a skeleton crew: ‘This is exactly what we warned about’

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:00:02 +0000

As the US government shutdown enters its third week, concerns mount over how the nation’s public lands will fare

Cars and RVs surged into Yosemite national park throughout the weekend, as visitors from around the world came to enjoy the crisp autumn weather, undeterred by a lack of park services and the absence of rangers.

Labour ministers met fossil fuel lobbyists 500 times in first year of power, analysis shows

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:50:45 +0000

Lobbyists attended 48% more meetings than Tories, as Labour accused of giving them ‘backstage pass’

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Government ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – equivalent to twice every working day, according to research.

Experts urge UK to ban cigarette filters to protect health and environment

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:35:09 +0000

Researchers say filters do not reduce toxicant exposure and are major contributor to plastic waste crisis

Cigarette filters do not work and are a major source of plastic pollution that should be banned by the UK government, experts have said.

Bird migration is changing. What does this reveal about our planet? – visualised

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Bird migrations rank as one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Thanks to GPS tracking, scientists are uncovering extraordinary insights into ancient and mysterious journeys – and new threats that are reshaping them.

Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:58 +0000

The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it

Crucial to the government’s war on nature is the “cauldron principle”. If a species is to be blamed for “holding up development”, it must be one you might find in a witch’s cauldron. The culprits are never dormice, otters, water voles, nightingales, turtle doves or orchids, widely considered cute or beautiful. They are bats, newts, snails and spiders.