Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Swiss voters reject biodiversity proposal in blow to conservation campaigners

admin — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 15:55:53 +0000

Plan aimed to expand protection of endangered ecosystems, but opponents said it posed risk to business development

Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to make authorities do more to protect natural habitats from pollution and development, preliminary results of a referendum have showed.

The biodiversity initiative, which the Swiss government and parliament had already rebuffed, envisaged changing the law to set aside more land for conservation beyond areas that were already protected.

Councils in England to get revised guidance on ‘middle-class fly-tipping’

admin — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 13:00:10 +0000

Ombudsman concerned about overzealous fining of people for leaving items outside their home to be given away

Local authorities in England will be issued with fresh guidance on how to handle “middle-class fly-tipping” after councils were found to have taken an overzealous approach to fining people who leave items outside their home for neighbours to collect for free.

The local government and social care ombudsman (LGO) said she was concerned about an increasing number of incidents over recent months where councils had acted disproportionately.

‘A break from the heat’: Americans most affected by climate crisis head midwest

admin — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 12:00:09 +0000

Unbearable heat and worsening storms prompt residents of states such as Florida to move elsewhere

As a Rust belt town of 65,000 people in eastern Indiana, Muncie may not be the most exciting place in the world. It doesn’t have beaches, year-round warm weather or much in the way of cosmopolitanism.

But for Laura Rivas, a cybersecurity engineer formerly of North Miami Beach, Florida, Muncie is perfect.

TfL records 57% income rise from driving fines on major London roads

admin — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:52:22 +0000

AA says capital’s streets are ‘paved with fines’ as figures show £89m was received in 2023-24

Transport for London (TfL) has recorded a 57% rise in income over five years from fining drivers using major roads in the capital, with a leading motoring organisation saying the transport authority has ensured London’s streets are now “paved with fines”.

Figures show it received £89.3m in the 2023-24 financial year for perceived offences on its red route network, up from £56.8m in 2018-19, according to a draft version of its next annual report seen by the PA news agency.

Coalition’s nuclear power plan is ‘economic insanity’, Jim Chalmers says on eve of major Dutton speech

admin — Sun, 22 Sep 2024 03:37:14 +0000

‘It will cost more, it will push prices up, it will take longer,’ treasurer says of opposition leader’s ‘fantasy’

Albanese urged to ditch Howard-era native forest logging exemptions

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 20:00:51 +0000

Exclusive: independent MPs and Lidia Thorpe tell PM that environment law reforms under negotiation must remove exemptions for native forest logging

‘Even the breeze was hot’: how incarcerated people survive extreme heat in prison

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 19:00:48 +0000

The Marshall Project and the Prison Journalism Project asked incarcerated reporters to document the impact of extreme heat on their facilities. Their stories reveal the brutal reality

After a summer of record-breaking temperatures, scientists predict that 2024 could end up being the hottest year on record. For people in US prisons and jails – who often lack access to even the most basic cooling measures – conditions behind bars exacerbate the risks of dangerously high temperatures.

No more sticking-plaster solutions: Britain’s green agenda is on solid ground | Joss Garman

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 18:00:46 +0000

Showing climate delivery can be done effectively and fairly would be an extraordinary climate legacy for Keir Starmer

Heavy rain triggers landslides and floods in northern Japan

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 13:45:22 +0000

One person dead and several missing after deluge in Noto, still recovering from 1 January earthquake

Heavy rain pounded Japan’s north-central Noto region, triggering landslides and floods and leaving one person dead and several missing, officials have said.

The deluges caused swollen rivers to overflow, flooding homes and leaving some people stranded in a region still recovering from the deadly 1 January earthquake.

UK public washing their clothes too often, says major laundry brand

admin — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 11:07:44 +0000

Ecover, backed by activist model Lily Cole, calls for fewer washes to reduce microplastics and other sources of water pollution

A company that sells cleaning products is giving customers some surprising advice: wash your clothes less.

Ecover is calling for a change in our laundry habits after research found people felt under societal pressure to wash their clothes more frequently, and were unaware that this could damage the environment.