Breaking Waves: Ocean News

World’s largest known coral discovered in Solomon Islands

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:09:09 +0000

Gigantic multicoloured organism is visible from space and has grown for between 300 and 500 years

The world’s largest known coral, visible from space, has been discovered in the waters of the Solomon Islands.

With a circumference of 183 metres, the gigantic multicoloured organism is an intricate network of individual coral polyps that have grown for between 300 and 500 years.

Washington state farm workers worry about boom in legal foreign workers

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 13:00:15 +0000

The H-2A program will likely only grow under Trump and mass deportations

Agriculture rules in Quincy, Washington. Sprawling apple, cherry and peach orchards surround this rural city of about 8,000. Packing sheds dot the middle of downtown. Railroad tracks run close to the Columbia River, so produce can make its way to market by both train and waterway.

Scottish conservation agency accused of undermining law to protect birds of prey

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 12:34:30 +0000

NatureScot to allow shooting estates to greatly reduce area of grouse moors affected by licensing regime

Wildlife charities have condemned a decision by Scotland’s nature conservation agency to dilute a new law designed to combat the illegal killing of birds of prey.

NatureScot, a government agency, has decided to greatly reduce the area of land affected by a new licensing regime for grouse moors after legal threats from shooting estates and land owners.

Trump promise to repeal Biden climate policies could cost US billions, report finds

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:00:15 +0000

Trump could stop in its tracks US’s emergence as clean energy superpower and forfeit billions in investment

The United States’s blossoming emergence as a clean energy superpower could be stopped in its tracks by Donald Trump, further empowering Chinese leadership and forfeiting tens of billions of dollars of investment to other countries, according to a new report.

Leading British actors call on chancellor to boost green investment in pensions

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:00:05 +0000

Oscar winners Mark Rylance and Olivia Colman among those writing to Rachel Reeves about excluding fossil fuels

Leading British actors including Mark Rylance, Olivia Colman, and Benedict Cumberbatch have called on the chancellor to increase investment in clean energy by reforming pensions.

Cop29: solidarity levy on cryptocurrency could raise billions for climate action, says report – as it happened

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:01:35 +0000

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Cop29 coverage here

Josh Gabbatiss, from Carbon Brief has published an update on social media about where negotiations at Cop29 have got to.

You may have seen talk of new texts about the climate finance negotiations doing the rounds.

‘A special place’: Guardian readers’ generosity helps to save rewilded farm

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:00:07 +0000

Bedfordshire farm was saved through public donations after a successful £1.5m crowdfunding campaign

A unique farm that was “accidentally” rewilded 35 years ago and is now a haven for endangered nightingales and other rare wildlife has been saved, thanks in part to the generosity of Guardian readers.

Strawberry Hill in Bedfordshire has been successfully bought by the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants (BCN) after a crowdfunding appeal raised £1.5m.

Shell’s successful appeal will not end climate lawsuits against firms, say experts

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:00:04 +0000

Dutch appeal court ruled in favour of oil and gas company over judgment telling it to limit emissions

A court ruling in favour of Shell does not spell the end of climate litigation against companies, legal experts have said.

The oil and gas company celebrated on Tuesday when it won an appeal against a landmark climate judgment by a Dutch court.

Survival of the richest: Trump, climate and the logic of the doomsday bunker | Jonathan Watts

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:03 +0000

The climate crisis created the setting for Trump’s economy-first win and it’s the global south that will suffer most

Donald Trump’s election is a triumph for the politics of the doomsday bunker, which is bad news for the world’s environment.

Australian engineers invent anti-fatberg coating to tackle sticky sewer problem

admin — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:08:03 +0000

Zinc and polyurethane product could stop dangerous blockages in concrete wastewater pipes – but is a few years off commercial use