Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Only seven petrol-powered cars sold in Norway in January https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/only-seven-petrol-powered-cars-sold-norway-january <p>Data show 29 hybrid and 98 diesel cars also sold, while the figure for battery electric vehicles was more than 2,000</p> <p>Just seven petrol cars were sold in Norway last month, data shows.</p> <p>The country, which is the frontrunner in the uptake of electric vehicles, shifted a record low number of new fossil-fuel cars in January, information from the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV) reveals.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/06/only-seven-petrol-powered-cars-sold-in-norway-in-january">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:20:02 +0000 admin 102550 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife: cuddling sloths, dazed iguanas and a very fat seal https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-cuddling-sloths-dazed-iguanas-and-very-fat-seal <p>This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/feb/06/week-in-wildlife-cuddling-sloths-dazed-iguanas-and-a-very-fat-seal">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000 admin 102549 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org That’s a wrasse! Rare fish spotted for first time since 2009 in kelp forest in Western Australia https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/s-wrasse-rare-fish-spotted-first-time-2009-kelp-forest-western-australia <p>When marine biologist Océane Attlan saw the tiny Braun’s wrasse, it was like ‘recognising a familiar face, but you can’t put a name on it’ </p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>The chances of encountering the rare reef fish were so far-fetched, it took marine biologist Océane Attlan a few seconds to clock what she was seeing.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/s-wrasse-rare-fish-spotted-first-time-2009-kelp-forest-western-australia" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:50:24 +0000 admin 102548 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Stark warning’: pesticide harm to wildlife rising globally, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/stark-warning-pesticide-harm-wildlife-rising-globally-study-finds <p>Toxicity from farm chemicals increased for most species groups between 2013 and 2019, with insects worst affected</p> <p>Ecological harm from pesticides is growing globally, a <a href="http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea8602">study</a> has found, with bugs, fish, pollinators and land-based plants among six species groups hit hardest.</p> <p>Insects suffered the greatest increase in harm from synthetic farm chemicals between 2013 and 2019, the study shows, with “applied” toxicity rising by 42.9%, followed by soil organisms, which faced an increase of 30.8%.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/stark-warning-pesticide-harm-wildlife-rising-globally-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:00:45 +0000 admin 102547 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Israel accused of spraying cancer-linked herbicide on farms in southern Lebanon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/israel-accused-spraying-cancer-linked-herbicide-farms-southern-lebanon <p>President condemns ‘environmental and health crime’ as critics say Israel seeks to make southern Lebanon uninhabitable</p> <p>Lebanon has accused Israel of spraying a herbicide linked to cancer on farmland in the south of the country as a “health crime” that would threaten food security and farmers’ livelihoods.</p> <p>The country’s president, Joseph Aoun, condemned what he called “an environmental and health crime” and a violation of Lebanese sovereignty, and he vowed to take “all necessary legal and diplomatic measures to confront this aggression”.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/israel-accused-spraying-cancer-linked-herbicide-farms-southern-lebanon" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:58:56 +0000 admin 102546 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Florida euthanizes 5,000 iguanas after cold snap stuns the invasive reptiles https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/florida-euthanizes-5000-iguanas-after-cold-snap-stuns-invasive-reptiles <p>State culled a number of the non-native reptiles after thousands were ‘cold-stunned’ and dropped from trees</p> <p>Wildlife officials in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/florida">Florida</a> say they euthanized more than 5,000 non-native iguanas in the state after hordes of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/reptiles">reptiles</a> froze and fell from trees in this week’s cold snap.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/florida-euthanizes-5000-iguanas-after-cold-snap-stuns-invasive-reptiles" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:52:45 +0000 admin 102545 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UK to cut climate finance to poor countries by a fifth despite promising more help https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-cut-climate-finance-poor-countries-fifth-despite-promising-more-help <p>Exclusive: Campaigners say proposed cut from £11.9bn over past five years to £9bn over next five years will cost lives and livelihoods</p> <p>The UK plans to slash its aid to poor countries stricken by the climate crisis by more than a fifth, the Guardian has learned, despite promises to increase assistance and warnings from campaigners that the move will cost lives and livelihoods.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-cut-climate-finance-poor-countries-fifth-despite-promising-more-help" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:00:42 +0000 admin 102543 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Airlines should tell UK customers the carbon impact of flights, watchdog says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/airlines-should-tell-uk-customers-carbon-impact-flights-watchdog-says <p>CAA’s guidance also including booking sites to enable passengers to make ‘more informed travel decisions’</p> <p>Airlines and booking firms should give UK customers information about the environmental impact of their flights, the regulator has said.</p> <p>The Civil Aviation Authority urged booking sites to enable passengers to make “more informed travel decisions” by setting out estimates for carbon emissions for flights landing or taking off from British airports.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/airlines-should-tell-uk-customers-carbon-impact-flights-watchdog-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:05:00 +0000 admin 102544 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Anger over Scottish salmon farm inspections amid 35m unexpected fish deaths https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/anger-over-scottish-salmon-farm-inspections-amid-35m-unexpected-fish-deaths <p>Animal Equality says two surprise inspections in three years suggests ‘embarrassingly poor’ level of scrutiny</p> <p>Scottish salmon farmers recorded more than 35m unexpected salmon deaths in just under three years but there were only two unannounced inspections of facilities over the same period.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/anger-over-scottish-salmon-farm-inspections-amid-35m-unexpected-fish-deaths" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:43:56 +0000 admin 102542 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Michigan accuses big oil of being ‘cartel’ that fuels climate crisis and high energy costs https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/michigan-accuses-big-oil-being-cartel-fuels-climate-crisis-and-high-energy-costs <p>In first-of-its-kind complaint, state accused four fossil fuel majors and US oil lobbying group of climate disinformation</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/michigan-accuses-big-oil-being-cartel-fuels-climate-crisis-and-high-energy-costs" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:00:37 +0000 admin 102540 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org