Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Tonga PM welcomes US deal to explore deep-sea minerals amid environmental concerns

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:32:02 +0000

Exclusive: Pacific island’s new leader Lord Fakafānua discusses ‘exciting’ US partnership as critics fear impacts of seabed exploration

The recently elected leader of Tonga has described a deal to partner with the US on deep-sea mineral exploration as an “exciting development” amid concern in the small Pacific nation over the practice of seabed mining and the potential environmental impact.

Ministers delay new rules for low-carbon housing in England

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:01:04 +0000

Homes built from March 2028 will produce 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than those built to 2013 standard

Buyers of new homes are likely to be shackled to high gas prices for years to come, as the government has delayed bringing into force new regulations on low-carbon housing.

As regular Australians struggle, gas companies are making massive profits and paying minimal tax. It is perverse | Rod Sims

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 22:15:40 +0000

Australia’s gas belongs to all of us. The benefits should be shared fairly rather than hoarded by companies that pay some of the lowest taxes in the world

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US to pay almost $1bn to French energy company to kill wind project plan

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:25:40 +0000

Trump administration announces deal with TotalEnergies to redirect investment in wind to oil and gas instead

As a fuel crisis triggered by the war in Iran drives up global fossil fuel prices, the Trump administration has announced it will pay French energy major TotalEnergies $1bn to kill plans to construct wind farms off the US east coast.

Shooting restricted for six British wild birds to halt population decline

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:53 +0000

Woodcocks and pochard, pintail and goldeneye ducks among threatened species protected by proposals

Hunters will be banned from shooting a rare and beautiful duck under new proposals to halt the decline of six British wild birds.

The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including the distinctive woodcock, and the striking pintail, goldeneye and pochard ducks, all of which are classed as under threat and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years.

Europe’s ‘staggering’ clean power gains undermined by failure to phase out fuel-burning machines

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:00:53 +0000

The EU’s reluctance to replace petrol cars and gas boilers keep it hooked on foreign fuels, say industry groups

Europe has made “staggering progress” in producing clean power but neglected efforts to phase out fuel-burning machines, the head of an industry group said as the global oil crisis deepens.

Adrian Hiel, director of the Electrification Alliance, said the EU has “radically transformed” its power supply and must now focus on getting “more electricity into the stuff we use every day”.

Hawaii assesses damage left by worst flooding in more than 20 years

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:03:26 +0000

People evacuated on Oahu and Maui as rains lifted houses and cars, swept through stores and left streets mud-clogged

Australia’s generation Alpha faces $185k bill over lifetime without urgent action on climate crisis, report finds

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:00:52 +0000

Global heating consistent with current projections would cost average millennial $130,000 and $165,000 for gen Z, according to Deloitte modelling

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‘There’s biological treasure here’: Chile’s endemic seals gain protection with new marine park

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:49 +0000

Sixty years after the discovery of a colony of Juan Fernández fur seals, previously thought to be extinct, a landmark agreement extends ‘no take’ zone around the wildlife-rich archipelago

Six decades ago, pioneering oceanographer and conservationist Sylvia Earle made a bittersweet discovery while diving off Chile’s oceanic islands with the US National Science Foundation vessel, the Anton Bruun. She found the remains of a baby fur seal, one of the world’s most isolated aquatic mammals.

Secrets of the karst: new species found in Cambodia’s limestone caves – in pictures

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:01:47 +0000

A survey has revealed the vast array of wildlife – some never seen before – living within the south-east Asian country’s karst ecosystems. The work was led by international wildlife conservation charity Fauna & Flora in collaboration with Cambodia’s environment ministry and field experts

I discovered three new geckos in Cambodia’s limestone caves – and that’s not all we found