Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en Texas governor threatens to penalize datacenters not obeying water laws https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/texas-governor-threatens-penalize-datacenters-not-obeying-water-laws <p>Republican Greg Abbott says datacenters must help ‘protect’ drought-prone state and disclose water use</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/greg-abbott">Greg Abbott</a>, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/texas">Texas</a> governor, has directed state regulators to penalize <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/datacenters--us-">datacenters</a> that fail to comply with state laws requiring them to disclose their water use.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/texas-governor-threatens-penalize-datacenters-not-obeying-water-laws" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:57:15 +0000 admin 104562 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org US ‘super-emitters’ of planet heating methane identified by satellite analysis https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-super-emitters-planet-heating-methane-identified-satellite-analysis <p>Energy Transfer, whose CEO is a major Trump donor, named as biggest single methane producer in new rankings</p> <p>Down a short gravel track in a largely nondescript corner of Louisiana sits a gas processing facility, operated by a company whose chief executive is a major donor to Donald Trump. It may be the largest emitter of methane in the US.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-super-emitters-planet-heating-methane-identified-satellite-analysis" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:42:35 +0000 admin 104561 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Firefighters make progress to contain northern California’s Lucas fire https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/firefighters-make-progress-contain-northern-california-s-lucas-fire <p>Cal Fire official says Sunday was ‘big turning point’ to reduce blaze in Lake county, now 30% contained</p> <p>Firefighters made progress toward containing northern <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/california">California</a>’s Lucas fire, state officials said on Sunday.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/firefighters-make-progress-contain-northern-california-s-lucas-fire" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:53:57 +0000 admin 104560 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Maryland boy recovering from surgeries after rabid beaver attack at state park https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/maryland-boy-recovering-surgeries-after-rabid-beaver-attack-state-park <p>Teen was swimming at a popular spot at the time of the attack, the latest in a string that have occurred in the state</p> <p>A 13-year-old <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/maryland">Maryland</a> boy is reported to be recovering from multiple surgeries and nerve damage after being attacked by a rabid beaver.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/maryland-boy-recovering-surgeries-after-rabid-beaver-attack-state-park" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:38:59 +0000 admin 104559 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Australia’s dependence on gas generation during evening energy peak falls by almost 70% https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-s-dependence-gas-generation-during-evening-energy-peak-falls-almost-70 <p>Batteries now meet almost half of the grid’s dispatchable power needs during hours of highest demand</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/15/one-nation-pauline-hanson-immigration-coalition-andrew-hastie-angus-taylor-labor-anthony-albanese-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/australia-s-dependence-gas-generation-during-evening-energy-peak-falls-almost-70" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:00:12 +0000 admin 104556 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org One Nation under fire for abandoning gas reservation plan in favour of policy benefiting Gina Rinehart https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/one-nation-under-fire-abandoning-gas-reservation-plan-favour-policy-benefiting-gina-ri <p>Pauline Hanson’s gas policy and the party’s relationship with Rinehart is examined in a new Guardian podcast series, The Populist</p> <ul> <li> <p>Listen: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/sep/14/the-populist-podcast-ep-1-aeroplanes-bulldozers-pauline-hanson-one-nation-ntwnfb">The Populist: Aeroplanes and bulldozers | Episode 1 – podcast</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/one-nation-under-fire-abandoning-gas-reservation-plan-favour-policy-benefiting-gina-ri" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:00:10 +0000 admin 104557 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org US ends limits on coal and gas plant emissions, removing key tool to battle climate crisis https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-ends-limits-coal-and-gas-plant-emissions-removing-key-tool-battle-climate-crisis <p>Trump’s EPA strips itself of regulation ability, gutting Clean Air Act in what experts say is a gift to planet polluters</p> <p>On the heels of the hottest summer ever <a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202608">recorded</a> in the US, the Trump administration has said it will erase any limits on emissions from coal and gas plants that are dangerously heating up our planet.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/us-ends-limits-coal-and-gas-plant-emissions-removing-key-tool-battle-climate-crisis" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:34:59 +0000 admin 104555 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Scientists find nine new sponge species in glimpse of Alaska’s deep-sea diversity https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-find-nine-new-sponge-species-glimpse-alaska-s-deep-sea-diversity <p>But their habitat is threatened by bottom trawling in the region and Trump’s plan to expand seafloor mining</p> <p>Scientists have discovered nine new deep-sea sponge species off Alaska, offering new insights into the region’s largely unexplored marine biodiversity.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scientists-find-nine-new-sponge-species-glimpse-alaska-s-deep-sea-diversity" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:30:56 +0000 admin 104554 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Disaster insurance, datacenters, right to repair: meet the midterm candidates running on green policies https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/disaster-insurance-datacenters-right-repair-meet-midterm-candidates-running-green-poli <p>Some of the everyday struggles animating voters have a climate link lurking in the background</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/disaster-insurance-datacenters-right-repair-meet-midterm-candidates-running-green-poli" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:56 +0000 admin 104553 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Tidal wave’ of Pfas being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warn https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tidal-wave-pfas-being-launched-satisfy-ai-industry-campaigners-warn <p>Big manufacturers planning to produce more of the forever chemicals to meet demand from datacentres</p> <p>Pfas companies are launching a “tidal wave” of forever chemicals production to meet demand from the AI industry, a campaign organisation has warned.</p> <p>Despite alarm over the chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, a survey of the 10 biggest manufacturers found most had plans to increase production.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/14/pfas-firms-tidal-wave-forever-chemicals-ai-industry-demand-datacentres">Continue reading...</a></p> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:00:26 +0000 admin 104552 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org