Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Scrap windfall tax on oil and gas firms early, North Sea industry urges

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:00:31 +0000

Labour should replace levy in 2027 rather than 2030 as energy bills are poised to surge over the winter, says lobby group

The North Sea oil and gas industry has called on Labour to scrap the windfall tax on fossil fuel firms three years early, as Britain heads into a winter with energy bills expected to reach their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the industry’s trade body, wants the tax replaced in 2027, rather than in 2030, with a narrower levy that only applies during price spikes.

Conservation ‘gateway drug’: farmers embrace ancient craft of hedge laying

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:00:29 +0000

Grant applications in England surge as interest grows in habitat that captures carbon and helps reduce flood risk

The ancient craft of hedge laying is experiencing a strong revival as farmers use techniques that peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries to boost wildlife, capture carbon and help tackle flooding.

The incoming ‘super’ El Niño will create chaos around the world. And we are far from ready for it | Bill McGuire

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:27 +0000

One of the biggest upheavals in a millennium is on its way, strengthened by the climate crisis. We need leaders who make things better not worse

They’re the sopranos of the forest, so what’s silencing the gibbons’ morning chorus?

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:26 +0000

As human development and roads increasingly fragment their habitats, a study suggests traffic noise could be altering the animals’ wake-up call

Dawn has broken, and the air is cool and still. It’s at about this time that gibbons usually erupt into song, wa-oo-ing and wa-ing from the highest branches and filling the tree tops with rich melodies. But in this corner of Malaysian forest, bordered by housing and roads, the resident white-handed gibbons are quiet. All that can be heard is the hum of traffic from a nearby highway.

Panama canal traffic to be cut again as drought from El Niño worsens

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 02:43:18 +0000

Latest daily reductions will further choke one of the world’s most important shipping lanes

The Panama canal plans to again cut maritime traffic due to worsening drought caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon, further choking up one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

The canal handles 5% of global maritime trade and about 40% of US container traffic; it is favoured by shippers because it usually reduces cost and transit times, especially for companies trading between China, Asia and the US.

Europe’s summer emergency was a dire warning for Australia. What can be learned before it’s too late? | Nick Rowley

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 01:36:10 +0000

Between 2000 and 2018, extreme heat caused more deaths in Australia than all our bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones combined

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Texas governor threatens to penalize datacenters not obeying water laws

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:57:15 +0000

Republican Greg Abbott says datacenters must help ‘protect’ drought-prone state and disclose water use

Greg Abbott, the Texas governor, has directed state regulators to penalize datacenters that fail to comply with state laws requiring them to disclose their water use.

US ‘super-emitters’ of planet heating methane identified by satellite analysis

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:42:35 +0000

Energy Transfer, whose CEO is a major Trump donor, named as biggest single methane producer in new rankings

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.

Firefighters make progress to contain northern California’s Lucas fire

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:53:57 +0000

Cal Fire official says Sunday was ‘big turning point’ to reduce blaze in Lake county, now 30% contained

Firefighters made progress toward containing northern California’s Lucas fire, state officials said on Sunday.

Maryland boy recovering from surgeries after rabid beaver attack at state park

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:38:59 +0000

Teen was swimming at a popular spot at the time of the attack, the latest in a string that have occurred in the state

A 13-year-old Maryland boy is reported to be recovering from multiple surgeries and nerve damage after being attacked by a rabid beaver.