Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en To reverse the ‘greenlash’, Europe’s Green parties should embrace Polanski’s boldness | Tarik Abou-Chadi https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/reverse-greenlash-europe-s-green-parties-should-embrace-polanski-s-boldness-tarik-abou <p>Be more strident and ambitious, take on economic inequality, and progressive voters will reward you as they have the UK’s Greens</p> <ul> <li> <p>Tarik Abou-Chadi is a professor of European politics at the University of Oxford</p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/reverse-greenlash-europe-s-green-parties-should-embrace-polanski-s-boldness-tarik-abou" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:56 +0000 admin 103431 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org World almost certain to endure record hot year by 2030, UN warns https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-almost-certain-endure-record-hot-year-2030-un-warns <p>Global temperature record could be broken as soon as 2027, with El Niño expected later this year</p> <p>A record-breaking hot year is almost certain by 2030 as the climate crisis intensifies, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization has warned.</p> <p>With an El Niño event expected later this year, the global temperature record could fall as soon as 2027.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/28/climate-impacts-spiralling-more-record-global-heat-warns-un">Continue reading...</a></p> Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:55 +0000 admin 103430 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Utterly appalling’: anger over swimmers in Hampstead Heath wildlife ponds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/utterly-appalling-anger-over-swimmers-hampstead-heath-wildlife-ponds <p>Nature groups urge people to avoid unauthorised areas to protect birds during nesting season</p> <p>Nature groups have pleaded with swimmers to give wildlife a wide berth after dozens of people swam in a nature pond on Hampstead Heath among nests of baby birds.</p> <p>Swans and their 12-day-old cygnets were disturbed by hordes of splashing revellers in the north London park on Monday as London reached record 35C temperatures. In one video, a swan was seen poking an unhatched egg with its beak after it fell into the water during the chaos.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/utterly-appalling-anger-over-swimmers-hampstead-heath-wildlife-ponds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 15:36:58 +0000 admin 103429 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UK heatwave triggers price rises for items such as hot tubs and air conditioning units https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-heatwave-triggers-price-rises-items-such-hot-tubs-and-air-conditioning-units <p>Of 11 seasonal items in Guardian price comparison, six hit highest price in last three months, with some nearly doubling in price in last week</p> <p>The heatwave has triggered a surge in prices for seasonal items, with the cost of one inflatable hot tub nearly doubling in a week, while an industry expert said air conditioning units have risen by about 17% since April.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-heatwave-triggers-price-rises-items-such-hot-tubs-and-air-conditioning-units" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 13:50:06 +0000 admin 103428 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Power to the people: how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising US utility costs https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/power-people-how-balcony-solar-could-help-fight-rising-us-utility-costs <p>More Americans are using small solar panels in their back yards or balconies as a clean way to cut their electric bills</p> <p>If you feel like your electricity bill just keeps climbing, you aren’t imagining it. Since 2020, US residential energy prices have surged by about 30%, making power the largest household energy expense behind gasoline, according to the US Energy Information Administration.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/power-people-how-balcony-solar-could-help-fight-rising-us-utility-costs" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 11:30:17 +0000 admin 103427 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Gone forever’: political anger after NSW Aboriginal heritage site bulldozed for power lines https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/gone-forever-political-anger-after-nsw-aboriginal-heritage-site-bulldozed-power-lines <p>The rock shelter was destroyed by contractors building transmission lines for the Central-West Orana renewable energy zone</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/may/28/australia-politics-live-rishworth-jobseeker-capital-gains-tax-jim-chalmers-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-question-time-senate-estimates-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/gone-forever-political-anger-after-nsw-aboriginal-heritage-site-bulldozed-power-lines" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 10:17:29 +0000 admin 103426 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Lord Howe Island got rid of its rats and mice – now its ‘wonderful’ insect life is back https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/lord-howe-island-got-rid-its-rats-and-mice-now-its-wonderful-insect-life-back <p>Invasive vermin decimated the island’s native flora and fauna – but its unique cockroaches and beetles are thriving once again </p> <p>In the summer months, Lord Howe Island’s unique stag beetle, with wing cases that appear forged from iridescent green metal, fly around the ancient tree tops looking for a mate.</p> <p>“That’s really something wonderful,” said Ian Hutton, a naturalist and nature guide on the World Heritage-listed island.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/lord-howe-island-got-rid-its-rats-and-mice-now-its-wonderful-insect-life-back" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 09:35:17 +0000 admin 103425 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Blossoming among spoil heaps: how 1,000 years of lead mining gave birth to banks of pansies and pennycress https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/blossoming-among-spoil-heaps-how-1000-years-lead-mining-gave-birth-banks-pansies-and-p <p>Calaminarian grassland is a rare habitat where plants thrive in soils contaminated by heavy metals. But should these toxic meadows be protected or allowed to fade away?</p> <p>At first, the small purple flowers are hard to spot in the weak May sunshine. Slowly the drifts of delicate mountain pansies, along with the white rosettes of alpine pennycress, begin to jump out, scattered across an area little bigger than a football pitch, on the banks of the River Allen in Northumberland.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/blossoming-among-spoil-heaps-how-1000-years-lead-mining-gave-birth-banks-pansies-and-p" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 08:00:21 +0000 admin 103424 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Australia needs a national animal. No, not the kangaroo... the dingo! | First Dog on the Moon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-needs-national-animal-no-not-kangaroo-dingo-first-dog-moon <p>Everyone loves dingoes and if they don’t they should</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/16/-sp-first-dog-on-the-moon-subscribe-by-email">Sign up here to get an email</a> whenever First Dog cartoons are published</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="http://firstshoponthemoon.com/">Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop</a> if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints</p> </li> </ul> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2026/may/27/australia-needs-a-national-animal-no-not-the-kangaroo-the-dingo">Continue reading...</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 06:08:18 +0000 admin 103423 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Wednesday briefing: ​Can the UK adapt in time to a new normal of extreme heat? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wednesday-briefing-can-uk-adapt-time-new-normal-extreme-heat <p>In today’s newsletter: As heatwaves intensify, ​B​ritain must confront the limits of a society built for cool​er weather, forcing policymakers, communities and households to rethink how ​w​e live, work and stay cool</p> <p>The UK swelters once again. On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/26/uk-records-highest-ever-may-temperature-for-second-day-in-a-row">temperatures surged</a> to 35C, condemning millions of people to another sticky night in homes ill-prepared for such warm conditions.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wednesday-briefing-can-uk-adapt-time-new-normal-extreme-heat" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 27 May 2026 05:46:56 +0000 admin 103422 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org