Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Edinburgh international book festival ends Baillie Gifford partnership

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:49:12 +0000

Festival bows to pressure from authors and activists over investment firm’s links to Israel and fossil fuel companies

The Edinburgh international book festival (EIBF) has announced the end of its 20-year partnership with Baillie Gifford. Last week the Hay literary festival also dropped its sponsorship from the investment management firm after a series of last-minute drop-outs.

No need for countries to issue new oil, gas or coal licences, study finds

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 18:00:16 +0000

Researchers say world has enough fossil fuel projects planned to meet demand forecasts to 2050 if net zero is reached

The world has enough fossil fuel projects planned to meet global energy demand forecasts to 2050 and governments should stop issuing new oil, gas and coal licences, according to a large study aimed at political leaders.

‘Unliveable’: Delhi’s residents struggle to cope in record-breaking heat

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 16:05:16 +0000

Temperatures of more than 45C have left population of 29 million exhausted – but the poorest suffer most

As the water tanker drove into a crowded Delhi neighbourhood, a ruckus erupted. Dozens of residents ran frantically behind it, brandishing buckets, bottles and hoses, and jumped on top of it to get even a drip of what was stored inside. Temperatures that day had soared to 49C (120F), the hottest day on record – and in many places across India’s vast capital, home to more than 29 million people, water had run out.

Origin Energy offered to sell Eraring power station to NSW government for $544m

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 15:00:15 +0000

Exclusive: Documents reveal offer was made three years before Origin and government reached deal to keep Australia’s biggest coal-fired power station open

Packaging firm calls for tighter UK rules on plastics to drive green economy

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 13:13:22 +0000

FTSE 100 firm DS Smith, which works with firms over alternatives, urges next government to match global standards

Whoever wins the UK general election must tighten regulations to reduce the use of plastic packaging, match global standards and drive “green consumption”, the boss of one of the sector’s biggest manufacturers has urged.

Miles Roberts, the chief executive of the packaging firm DS Smith, made the call to the next government as the company celebrated passing its target to replace more than 1bn pieces of plastic 16 months early.

New bill could bail out US farmers ruined by ‘forever chemical’ pollution

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 12:00:08 +0000

The bipartisan proposal that would remediate farms affected by toxic PFAS contamination is gaining speed in Congress

The US may soon bail out farmers whose livelihoods were destroyed by toxic PFAS “forever chemical” contamination.

California comedown: how illicit cannabis farms have left a wilderness where ‘you’re lucky to see a lizard’

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 11:00:07 +0000

The golden state legalised marijuana production in 2016, but strict curbs have led to a thriving black market. Its hub is in Siskiyou county, where the environmental damage is clear to see

Corporations invested in carbon offsets that were ‘likely junk’, analysis says

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 10:00:27 +0000

Analysis of the carbon offset projects used by top corporations including Delta, Gucci and ExxonMobil raises concerns around their emission cuts claims

Some of the world’s most profitable – and most polluting corporations – have invested in carbon offset projects that have fundamental failings and are “probably junk”, suggesting industry claims about greenhouse gas reductions were likely overblown, according to new analysis.

‘Worth protecting’: Queensland government to ban carbon capture and storage in the Great Artesian Basin

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 09:18:07 +0000

Premier Steven Miles says laws prohibiting greenhouse gas storage in the basin will benefit farmers and the environment

Fire ants found on Sunshine Coast as dangerous pest continues to spread

admin — Thu, 30 May 2024 07:04:34 +0000

Broadscale treatment under way after nests found at Nirimba in Queensland’s south-east