Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Ocean's loss of oxygen caused massive Jurassic extinction: Could it happen again?

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:20:59 +0000

Researchers have found a chemical clue in Italian limestone that explains a mass extinction of marine life in the Early Jurassic period, 183 million years ago. Volcanic activity pumped out CO2, warming oceans and lowering their oxygen levels. The findings may foretell the impact climate change and oxygen depletion might have on today's oceans.

Two people die from floods ravaging US midwest as more storms forecasted

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:21:56 +0000

Days of flooding have submerged homes and farmland across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota

At least two people have died as a result of devastating floods in the US midwest. Flood warnings remain in place across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota as more rainfall and storms are expected to hit the region this week.

River Wye needs ‘protection zone’, say Greens and Fearnley-Whittingstall

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:09:52 +0000

North Herefordshire candidate and chef also call for water industry overhaul and more support for farmers

The Green party and the celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall are calling for a “protection zone” to be placed around one of the UK’s most beautiful but threatened rivers and have demanded “drastic” nationwide changes to the water industry’s management and regulation.

Plastics companies blocked mitigation efforts and may have broken US laws – study

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:00:23 +0000

Paper outlines different legal theories that could help governments pursue accountability for harms

Companies have spent decades obstructing efforts to take on the plastics crisis and may have breached a host of US laws, a new report argues.

NSW government accused by critics of using ‘fatally compromised’ emissions report

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:00:22 +0000

Climate campaigners and scientists disturbed over claims about global warming found in document obtained through Gipa laws

Lawyers could charge big oil with homicide after 2023 Arizona heatwave

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 14:00:20 +0000

Charges are reasonable after July 2023 extreme weather event, prosecutors write in new memorandum

Prosecutors in Arizona could reasonably press homicide charges against big oil for deaths caused by a July 2023 heatwave, lawyers wrote in a new prosecution memorandum.

“[T]he case for prosecuting fossil fuel companies for climate-related deaths is strong enough to merit the initiation of investigations by state and local prosecutors,” the document says.

Why pregnant people are more at risk during heatwaves – and ways to stay safe

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 13:00:18 +0000

As temperatures broil the US, experts share how to mitigate increased chances of heat illness and heatstroke

‘Otters pop up beside your kayak’: six coast fanatics reveal their favourite UK beaches

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:17 +0000

We asked a naturalist, a writer, a champion surfer, a walker, a forager and a yoga teacher to tell us what makes the seaside so special

Read more in this series

Steve Backshall – Sandaig Bay, Scotland

Air freight greenhouse gas emissions up 25% since 2019, analysis finds

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:00:16 +0000

Boom in air cargo due to shoppers’ expectations of speedy delivery and shift in post-pandemic economy, researchers say

Air freight operators have increased their greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared with 2019, analysis has found.

In 2023, air freight operators ran about 300,000 more flights than in 2019, an increase in flight volume of almost 30%. The US accounted for more than 40% of global air freight emissions, according to the report by campaign group Stand.earth.

German activists take government to court over climate policy

admin — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 11:24:52 +0000

New law is too weak and has been made harder to enforce, while transport ministry has not taken sufficient action, groups say

German climate activists are taking the government to court for “unconstitutional” climate policy, seeking to build on a landmark victory three years ago that they had hoped would force Europe’s biggest polluter to clean up quickly.