Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Sweden cuts tax on flying despite admitting it would increase emissions

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:30:09 +0000

Campaigners criticise decision to scrap tax introduced in 2018 amid rise of ‘flight shame’ movement

Campaigners have accused the Swedish government of doing “everything in its power to stop climate action” after it cut a tax on flying, despite admitting that it would increase emissions.

The flight tax, aimed at cutting pollution from aviation, was introduced in 2018, amid the rise of the “flight shame” (flygskam) movement popularised by Greta Thunberg.

Car industry calls for shift in EU emissions targets amid slowing EV sales

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:48:24 +0000

Automotive lobby group warns ‘multibillion-euro fines’ will punish manufacturers without relaxation of rules

Europe’s car industry has called for the relaxation of EU emissions targets after sales of electric cars stalled further in August, adding to growing political pressure that threatens to slow the transition away from fossil fuels.

Phase out urban wood burners in UK to protect children’s health, say doctors

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 12:10:26 +0000

Measure one of a number that Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says will help curb air pollution

Wood burners in urban family homes should be phased out to protect children’s health, leading paediatricians have said.

A new position statement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) calls for tougher government action to curb air pollution.

Two missing and 1,000 evacuated as Storm Boris devastates northern Italy

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:24:00 +0000

Meloni government accused of lacking will to confront climate crisis as floods cause havoc in Emilia-Romagna

Two people are missing and about 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna after devastating floods and landslides, as Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government was accused of lacking the will to confront the climate crisis.

The west worries about Russia and China – but the real threat to global security is climate breakdown | Anatol Lieven

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:00:18 +0000

‘Risk’ analyses largely ignore the dangers of the climate crisis. Unless we wake up to them, they will soon outweigh all others

The Irish sea captain who in 1751 discovered the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (Amoc) – closely connected with, though not identical to, the Gulf Stream – found a practical use for it: he used the frigid deeper water to cool his wine.

Campaigners call for unlimited ‘climate card’ UK rail pass

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:00:09 +0000

Research says flat-fee train travel would bring economic and health benefits as well as simplifying ticket fares

Renationalising the railways does not go far enough – Labour should spur a rail renaissance by allowing people around the UK unlimited train travel for a flat fee, campaigners have said.

‘Vast’ carbon sink of mud on seabed needs more protection, study shows

admin — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:00:08 +0000

Landmark research finds 244m tonnes of organic carbon is stored in top 10cm of marine sediment in British waters

Seabed habitats could capture almost three times more carbon than forests in the UK every year if left undisturbed, according to a report published on Thursday.

Researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) have calculated that 244m tonnes of organic carbon is stored in the top 10cm of UK seabed habitats. That includes seagrass meadows, salt marshes, kelp and mussel beds but most (98%) is stored in seabed sediments such as mud and silt.

Top UK food firms urged to do more to cut ‘staggering’ emissions

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:20:09 +0000

Food campaign Bite Back says 10 firms account for more carbon emissions globally than aviation industry

Britain’s biggest food and drink firms are doing too little to tackle the climate emergency and are producing “staggering” amounts of greenhouse gases, campaigners claim.

The 10 companies that manufacture more of the UK’s food than anyone else produce more carbon emissions between them than even the aviation industry, a report says.

Three of the firms increased their annual emissions in 2022 – Ferrero, Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo.

Even marine animals in untouched habitats are at risk from human impacts

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:24:17 +0000

Climate change and a range of other human impacts are putting marine animals at risk of extinction -- even those living in almost pristine marine habitats and diverse coastal regions -- reports a new study.

Hope for coral reefs after IVF colonies survive record heat event – study

admin — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:00:03 +0000

Scientists found 90% of young coral surveyed remained healthy compared with 25% of older corals, after mass bleaching event in the Caribbean

Young corals bred using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and planted in reefs around the US, Mexico and the Caribbean have surprised scientists, after most survived last year’s record marine heatwave, while older corals struggled.