Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Fears of heat-rationing for millions in US as shutdown delays energy aid https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fears-heat-rationing-millions-us-shutdown-delays-energy-aid <p>Most vulnerable families could be without critical energy assistance, experts warn, as electricity and gas bills surge</p> <p>Millions of Americans face having to ration heating this winter as the US federal government shutdown and mass layoffs by the Trump administration cause unprecedented delays in getting energy assistance aid to low-income households, a group that helps people pay energy bills has warned.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/fears-heat-rationing-millions-us-shutdown-delays-energy-aid" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:00:36 +0000 admin 101591 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Trump EPA seeks to weaken scrutiny for some of US’s most toxic chemicals https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-epa-seeks-weaken-scrutiny-some-us-s-most-toxic-chemicals <p>New rule would prohibit states from banning dangerous chemicals, and could invalidate hundreds of protections</p> <p>A new rule proposed by the Trump administration would dramatically weaken safety reviews for some of the nation’s most toxic chemicals that are already on the market, public health advocates and an EPA employee warn.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-epa-seeks-weaken-scrutiny-some-us-s-most-toxic-chemicals" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:00:36 +0000 admin 101592 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Mosquitoes found in Iceland for first time as climate crisis warms country https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/mosquitoes-found-iceland-first-time-climate-crisis-warms-country <p>Three specimens discovered in what was previously one of the only places in the world without the insects</p> <p>Mosquitoes have been found in Iceland for the first time as global heating makes the country more hospitable for insects.</p> <p>The country was until this month one of the only places in the world that did not have a mosquito population. The other is Antarctica.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/mosquitoes-found-iceland-first-time-climate-crisis-warms-country">Continue reading...</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:41:08 +0000 admin 101590 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Delhi awakes to a toxic haze after Diwali as pollution season begins https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/delhi-awakes-toxic-haze-after-diwali-pollution-season-begins <p>Air breathed by people in the city categorised as ‘severe’ in quality after fireworks contribute to thick smog</p> <p>Delhi awoke to a thick haze on Tuesday, a day after millions of people celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali with fireworks, marking the beginning of the pollution season that has become an annual blight on India’s capital.</p> <p>Those in the most polluted city in the world once again found themselves breathing dangerously toxic air that fell into the “severe” category on Tuesday morning.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/delhi-awakes-toxic-haze-after-diwali-pollution-season-begins" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:11:18 +0000 admin 101589 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org On the trail of the guano miners – in pictures https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trail-guano-miners-pictures <p>Guano, a fertiliser derived from seabird excrement, enriched Peru in the 19th century and was shipped around the world in huge quantities. On Santa Island, north of Lima, workers still mine it in the toughest of conditions</p> <p><em>Photographs by Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images</em></p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2025/oct/21/on-the-trail-of-the-guano-miners-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:38 +0000 admin 101588 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Ed Miliband’s new green jobs will bring Britain hope. I dare Reform to denounce them | Polly Toynbee https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ed-miliband-s-new-green-jobs-will-bring-britain-hope-i-dare-reform-denounce-them-polly <p>While Nigel Farage promotes retro plans to reopen coalmines, will he really tell thousands of clean energy workers to leave their well-paid, local jobs?</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ed-miliband-s-new-green-jobs-will-bring-britain-hope-i-dare-reform-denounce-them-polly" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:33 +0000 admin 101587 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Beasts of the Sea: the tragic story of how the ‘gentle, lovable’ sea cow became the perfect victim https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/beasts-sea-tragic-story-how-gentle-lovable-sea-cow-became-perfect-victim <p>Iida Turpeinen’s novel has been a sensation in her native Finland. On the eve of its UK publication, she talks about her compulsion to tell of the sociable giant’s plight</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/beasts-sea-tragic-story-how-gentle-lovable-sea-cow-became-perfect-victim" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:33 +0000 admin 101586 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Nearly half of UK garden space is paved over, RHS study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/nearly-half-uk-garden-space-paved-over-rhs-study-finds <p>Homeowners urged to use more robust planting and permeable materials to help mitigate flood risk</p> <p>Nearly half of the UK’s garden space is paved over, a new study has found.</p> <p>The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has conducted the largest ever audit of the UK’s gardens, and found that they are an untapped – and until now, mostly unmeasured – potential resource for nature.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/21/nearly-half-of-uk-garden-space-is-paved-over-rhs-study-finds">Continue reading...</a></p> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 23:01:26 +0000 admin 101585 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Brazil greenlights oil drilling in Amazon as environmentalists raise alarm https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/brazil-greenlights-oil-drilling-amazon-environmentalists-raise-alarm <p>Conservationists argue president’s oil expansion plans clash with his image as a global leader on climate change</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/brazil">Brazil’s</a> Petrobras has been given permission to drill for oil near the mouth of the Amazon River, casting a shadow over the country’s green ambitions as it prepares to host UN climate talks.</p> <p>Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president, has come under fire from conservationists who argue his oil expansion plans clash with his image as a global leader on climate change.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/brazil-greenlights-oil-drilling-amazon-environmentalists-raise-alarm" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:36:25 +0000 admin 101584 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Keir Starmer will attend Cop30 in Brazil, No 10 confirms https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/keir-starmer-will-attend-cop30-brazil-no-10-confirms <p>After speculation and conflicting pressures, prime minister will attend climate summit next month</p> <p>Keir Starmer will travel to the Amazon rainforest for the UN climate summit next month, Downing Street has confirmed, after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/26/keir-starmer-faces-call-to-attend-cop30-summit">weeks of speculation</a> that he would not.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/keir-starmer-will-attend-cop30-brazil-no-10-confirms" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:47:14 +0000 admin 101583 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org