Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Modern-day dingoes already established across Australia thousands of years ago, research finds

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 19:00:28 +0000

Newly recovered DNA from predator’s remains shows they share little genetic ancestry with domestic dogs and are descended from ancient dogs from China

Rachel Reeves says new government has inherited ‘worst set of circumstances since second world war’ – as it happened

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:14:30 +0000

This live blog is closed.

Rachel Reeves has finished the speech, in which she confirmed a range of measures to speed up planning. I will post a full summary shortly.

She is now taking questions.

I have repeatedly warned that whoever won the general election would inherit the worst set of circumstances since the second world war.

Labour must resist housebuilders’ pleas to weaken green standards, experts say

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:46:05 +0000

Government urged to enforce more stringent rules amid target to build 1.5m new homes this parliament

Labour must stand firm against special pleading from housebuilders, who are likely to argue against fitting out new homes to stringent green standards, experts have warned.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, laid out sweeping changes to the planning system on Monday in her first speech on reviving economic growth while pursuing the climate goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Watchdog investigates Defra over authorisation of bee-killing pesticide

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:07:07 +0000

Neonicotinoid was given emergency clearance under Conservative government in 2023 and 2024

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is being investigated by the environmental watchdog after Conservative ministers authorised a bee-killing pesticide that was banned by the EU.

Electric vehicles could help ease Australia’s energy instability by sending power back to the grid

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:00:28 +0000

Researchers say EV models with vehicle-to-grid capability will be a huge and flexible resource able to respond to emergencies

US heatwave smashes records as ‘extreme fire weather’ fuels new blazes

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 14:32:52 +0000

More than 146 million Americans under extreme heat alerts as dozens locations in US west tie or break past heat records

A fierce heatwave that shattered records this weekend – with dangerous temperatures that spiked well into the triple digits – will continue to grip much of the US in the coming days and fuel fires across the west.

Labour lifts Tories’ ‘absurd’ ban on onshore windfarms

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 11:14:54 +0000

Rachel Reeves says she will revise planning policy and decisions should be taken nationally, not locally

Blockade Australia climate activist sentenced to three months in jail over Port of Newcastle protest

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:59:49 +0000

Laura Davy, who travelled from Tasmania to take part in a protest at a coal terminal, will appeal prison sentence

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A 21-year-old woman who secured herself to a piece of machinery during a climate protest at a Newcastle coal terminal has been sentenced to three months in prison.

Trophy hunter killings spark fierce battle over the future of super tusker elephants

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 04:00:26 +0000

The lifting of a long-held ban has angered conservationists, but others argue trophy hunting can support local economies and even help protect threatened species

In the borderlands of Tanzania and Kenya, the “super tuskers” roam. A combination of old age, genetic pooling and prolonged protection from poaching has created a population of bull elephants with enormous tusks, weighing up to 45kg apiece, large enough to scrape along the ground as the animals walk. To many, the bulls are “living icons” of the African savannah. They are also highly prized by trophy hunters.

Temperatures 1.5C above pre-industrial era average for 12 months, data shows

admin — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:00:23 +0000

Copernicus Climate Change Service says results a ‘large and continuing shift’ in the climate

The world has baked for 12 consecutive months in temperatures 1.5C (2.7F) greater than their average before the fossil fuel era, new data shows.

Temperatures between July 2023 and June 2024 were the highest on record, scientists found, creating a year-long stretch in which the Earth was 1.64C hotter than in preindustrial times.