Breaking Waves: Ocean News

More North Sea drilling will put UK at mercy of fossil fuel markets, ministers say

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:32:13 +0000

Ed Miliband insists only clean power will provide ‘energy sovereignty’ amid opposition calls for oil and gas expansion

UK politics live – latest updates

Ministers have said expanding North Sea drilling would put the UK at further risk of volatile fossil fuel markets, amid calls from the Conservatives and some Labour MPs to breach the manifesto pledge of no new oil and gas licences.

‘It smells like a rancid fish and chip shop’: at sea with the Antarctic’s krill supertrawlers

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:00:14 +0000

The fishery is regulated but experts say it is wrecking the food chain. Gordon Peake joined a Sea Shepherd mission to observe the giant ships compete for catch

It is bitterly cold on the deck of the Allankay and the bosun, Luca Massari, is checking that none of us are wearing contact lenses before we descend into Antarctic waters. There is a risk, he warns, that lenses will freeze solid over the eyes. Massari himself is prepared for his surroundings. He is wearing thick goggles that make him look like an Olympic ski jumper.

What are zettajoules – and what do they tell us about Earth’s energy imbalance?

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:11 +0000

When James Prescott Joule lent his name to a unit of energy, he could not have foreseen today’s alarming calculations

The primary unit of climate collapse is the zettajoule. If you have never heard of this term, you are not alone. Even scientists who work on a planetary scale struggle to relate the immensity of the change measured by this titanic unit of energy.

Eel fisher takes on authorities at Belfast court over pollution in UK’s largest lake

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:10 +0000

Declan Conlon will argue officials have failed to act despite clear evidence of the ecological collapse of Lough Neagh

An eel fisher is to argue at the high court in Belfast that the authorities have allowed the ecological collapse of Lough Neagh by failing to take action over pollution.

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.

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”.

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.