Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Second oarfish, mythical harbinger of doom, found washed up in California

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 19:56:50 +0000

Roughly 10ft-long specimen discovered on Encinitas beach shortly after August spotting of the ‘doomsday fish’

For the second time this year an oarfish, a rarely seen deep sea fish that has historically been considered a harbinger of doom, washed up on the California coastline.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, reported that last week that one of its PhD students came across a specimen roughly nine to 10ft long on a beach in Encinitas in southern California.

Fossil fuel bosses get ‘red carpet’ at Cop29 despite concerns over influence

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:48:08 +0000

Revealed: more than 100 executives given special guest badges as activists challenge role of oil and gas firms at talks

The host country of this year’s UN climate summit, Azerbaijan, has rolled out “red carpet” treatment to fossil fuel bosses and lobbyists, the Guardian can reveal.

At least 132 oil and gas company senior executives and staff were invited to the Cop29 summit, and had special badges denoting they were guests of the presidency.

Valencia's president apologises for handling of deadly floods – video

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:03:58 +0000

The president of the Spanish province of Valencia, Carlos Mazón, rejected calls for his resignation amid growing public anger over his management of the recent devastating floods that killed more than 210 people in the area. He conceded mistakes were made but claimed the unprecedented and 'apocalyptic' scale of the disaster overwhelmed the system

Valencia’s president admits mistakes in flood response but will not resign

Biodiversity in the city: Designing urban spaces for humans and animals

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:48:39 +0000

Animals and plants also live and thrive on public squares. This creates opportunities for greater biodiversity and well-being for the human population. Researchers have studied at 103 locations in Munich how various factors affect flora and fauna. They advocate a close examination of local conditions and a more nature-focused approach to the design of public spaces.

Rainforest protection reduces the number of respiratory diseases

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:47:36 +0000

Rainforest protection is not only good for biodiversity and the climate -- it also noticeably improves the health of humans who live in the corresponding regions. Researchers show that measures to combat slash-and-burn techniques significantly reduce the concentration of particulate matter in the air. The number of hospital stays and deaths due to respiratory diseases thus also decreases.

One or many? Exploring the population groups of the largest animal on Earth

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:47:26 +0000

Hunted nearly to extinction during 20th century whaling, the Antarctic blue whale, the world's largest animal, went from a population size of roughly 200,000 to little more than 300. The most recent estimate in 2004 put Antarctic blue whales at less than 1% of their pre-whaling levels. A new study shows that, though these whales feed in different ocean basins, they appear to be a single population, information that will help conservation efforts moving forward.

Resilience index needed to keep us within planet's 'safe operating space'

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:45:44 +0000

Researchers are calling for a 'resilience index' to be used as an indicator of policy success instead of the current focus on GDP. They say that GDP ignores the wider implications of development and provides no information on our ability to live within our planet's 'safe operating space'.

Environmental groups alarmed as Doug Burgum picked for US interior secretary

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:33:42 +0000

Several groups say North Dakota governor will sacrifice public lands on the ‘altar of the fossil fuel industry’s profits’

Donald Trump’s nomination of North Dakota’s Republican governor, Doug Burgum, as the interior secretary has prompted swift backlash from environmental advocacy groups alarmed at the incoming administration’s plans to use federal lands for oil and gas drilling.

The Guardian view on UN climate talks: rich and poor nations can strike a win-win deal | Editorial

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:32:19 +0000

At Cop29 the global south needs to unite for sustainable growth, leveraging resources and negotiating transformative climate finance pacts

Fears grow that Milei will withdraw Argentina from Paris climate accord

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:24:50 +0000

Far-right president may announce country’s departure from agreement after meeting Donald Trump

There is growing concern that Argentina’s far-right president, Javier Milei, is set to announce his country’s departure from the Paris climate accord.