Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en ‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/point-no-return-new-orleans-relocation-must-start-now-due-sea-level-study-finds <p>Louisiana’s cultural hotspot could be surrounded by Gulf of Mexico before end of this century, authors say</p> <p>The process of relocating people from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/new-orleans">New Orleans</a> should start immediately as the city has reached a “point of no return” that will see it surrounded by the ocean within decades due to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis">climate crisis</a>, a stark new study has concluded.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/point-no-return-new-orleans-relocation-must-start-now-due-sea-level-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:19 +0000 admin 103219 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Fixing methane mega-leaks could boost energy stock amid crisis, report says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fixing-methane-mega-leaks-could-boost-energy-stock-amid-crisis-report-says <p>International Energy Agency analysis shows methane leaks remained at near-record highs in 2025</p> <p>Methane emissions from the energy sector remained at near record levels in 2025, the International Energy Agency has concluded.</p> <p>Tackling the emissions could make billions of cubic metres of gas available to international markets, a top priority as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/16/europe-supply-jet-fuel-iran-war-flight-cancellations-iea">the war in the Middle East squeezes energy supplies</a>, the IEA said in a report.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fixing-methane-mega-leaks-could-boost-energy-stock-amid-crisis-report-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 04 May 2026 08:50:29 +0000 admin 103220 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Lasers, hawks and even guns haven’t solved the UK’s pigeon problem. There is a better way | Sydney Lobe https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/lasers-hawks-and-even-guns-haven-t-solved-uk-s-pigeon-problem-there-better-way-sydney- <p>Councils spend heavily on grisly yet ineffective methods. Why won’t they consider a proven, low-cost and humane strategy?</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/lasers-hawks-and-even-guns-haven-t-solved-uk-s-pigeon-problem-there-better-way-sydney-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:17 +0000 admin 103218 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Wake-up call’: methane emissions from Australian coalmines more than double official estimates, report finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wake-call-methane-emissions-australian-coalmines-more-double-official-estimates-report <p>International Energy Agency findings show government must commit to rapid cuts in emissions of greenhouse gas, climate experts say</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wake-call-methane-emissions-australian-coalmines-more-double-official-estimates-report" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 04 May 2026 05:31:08 +0000 admin 103217 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Our first EV holiday gave us ‘range anxiety’. But our fears were soon left in the rearview mirror | Paul Daley https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/our-first-ev-holiday-gave-us-range-anxiety-our-fears-were-soon-left-rearview-mirror-pa <p>In an electric vehicle you quickly learn when you can gun the engine, how to use the many apps – and how to enjoy the time while the car is charging</p> <p>I quickly discovered two important things when recently taking a three week drive over several thousand kilometres in an electric car. The first is that “range anxiety’’ is very real. The second is that veteran EV drivers are often there for us neophytes.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/our-first-ev-holiday-gave-us-range-anxiety-our-fears-were-soon-left-rearview-mirror-pa" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 04 May 2026 00:35:18 +0000 admin 103216 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org California, Arizona and Nevada propose water-saving plan for Colorado River https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/california-arizona-and-nevada-propose-water-saving-plan-colorado-river <p>Proposal includes cutbacks for three years as negotiations over future of shrinking reservoirs have been unsuccessful</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/california-arizona-and-nevada-propose-water-saving-plan-colorado-river" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 03 May 2026 19:32:57 +0000 admin 103215 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Fiona Pardington’s portraits of the lost birds of Aotearoa New Zealand – in pictures https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fiona-pardington-s-portraits-lost-birds-aotearoa-new-zealand-pictures <p>For more than two decades, Pardington has been photographing <em>taonga</em> (Māori cultural treasures) and natural history specimens in museums around the world. In the South Canterbury museum, she was struck by a collection of stuffed native birds which had been subject to taxidermy – many of them now extinct or endangered. They inspired a new human-scale portrait series of these <em>manu</em> (birds), revered within Māori culture as intermediaries between human and divine worlds. The resulting works will be exhibited at the 2026 Venice Biennale.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fiona-pardington-s-portraits-lost-birds-aotearoa-new-zealand-pictures" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 03 May 2026 15:00:06 +0000 admin 103214 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Reform UK council backs release of beavers amid party row over rewilding https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/reform-uk-council-backs-release-beavers-amid-party-row-over-rewilding <p>Councillors in Leicestershire support move in efforts to reduce flooding as Reform faces divisions on nature policy</p> <p>A Reform UK council has backed the release of wild beavers into the countryside, despite the party’s opposition to rewilding.</p> <p>The Reform-led Leicestershire county council has backed the release of the rodents as part of efforts to reduce flooding.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/03/reform-uk-leicestershire-council-backs-release-wild-beavers-row-rewilding">Continue reading...</a></p> Sun, 03 May 2026 10:50:35 +0000 admin 103213 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Stopping to admire wisteria and taking pride in your laundry? Join me in the land of grownups | Polly Hudson https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/stopping-admire-wisteria-and-taking-pride-your-laundry-join-me-land-grownups-polly-hud <p>I’ve recently noticed several signs of adulthood in my behaviour. At first I was horrified, but I have come to accept, even enjoy, the natural ageing process</p> <p>I nearly drove into a wall the other day, because I couldn’t take my eyes off some spectacular wisteria. Ten years ago I doubt I would have even noticed it, or known what it was, never mind been so transfixed that I unwittingly endangered my life. It’s pretty much invisible in your youth, and then suddenly, at a certain age, or stage, you see it, appreciate it and become mesmerised by its impressive display.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/stopping-admire-wisteria-and-taking-pride-your-laundry-join-me-land-grownups-polly-hud" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 03 May 2026 06:48:50 +0000 admin 103212 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Solar booms in industrial US midwest as energy crisis persists https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/solar-booms-industrial-us-midwest-energy-crisis-persists <p>Electricity has become one of the most important commodities in the region thanks to demand from datacenters, Iran war and rising utility charges </p> <p>For decades, the only regular visitors to the Twin Lake Reservoir in Lima, Ohio, were fishers passing hot summer evenings trying to snag a largemouth bass.</p> <p>But today, it’s a hive of activity.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/02/solar-midwest-energy-crisis">Continue reading...</a></p> Sat, 02 May 2026 16:00:29 +0000 admin 103211 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org