Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Week in wildlife: Puffin rescue and a gosling’s first gander

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:52 +0000

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world

Ammonia pollution hotspots found in areas of UK with most pig and poultry factory farms

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:00:49 +0000

Map reveals most severe concentrations of ammonia emissions, which are dangerous to health and environment

Ammonia pollution hotspots have been identified in areas with some of the greatest numbers of intensive pig and poultry farms in Britain, research has revealed.

Thursday briefing: What it will take for Britain to break up with natural gas

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:46:19 +0000

In today’s newsletter: The economic fortunes of the UK are intertwined with the price of the costly fuel – so why are we so slow to ditch it?

How South Korea plans to use the Iran crisis to spur a renewables revolution

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:09:28 +0000

Energy crisis unfolding in Middle East has added political urgency, and more funding, to transform South Korea’s solar industry

In Guyang-ri, a farming village of 70 households about 90 minutes south-east of Seoul, people gather for communal free lunches six days a week. The meals are funded by the village’s one-megawatt solar installation, which generates roughly 10m won ($6,800) in net profit each month.

Drax claimed record £999m in subsidies for burning trees in 2025, thinktank says

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:01:41 +0000

Company has received about £8.7bn in renewable energy subsidies since 2012, despite claims wood pellets are not sourced sustainably

The owner of the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire received record subsidies of almost £1bn for burning trees to generate electricity in 2025, a climate thinktank has calculated.

The company was paid £999m last year for generating about 4.5% of Great Britain’s electricity from its biomass plant, costing each household £13 a year, according to analysts at Ember.

Gray whales, once rare in San Francisco Bay, dying there at alarming rates

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:45:57 +0000

Researchers find increase in whale deaths in the bay, largely because of collisions with vessels on busy shipping route

Gray whales have historically been a rare sight in the San Francisco Bay. They trek from the warm lagoons of Mexico’s Baja California more than 10,000 miles (16,000km) north to the Arctic region to feast on shrimp-like animals during the summers, seldom stopping in the busy shipping corridor for prolonged periods.

Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:00:34 +0000

Scientists say finding is ‘very concerning’ as collapse would be catastrophic for Europe, Africa and the Americas

The critical Atlantic current system appears significantly more likely to collapse than previously thought after new research found that climate models predicting the biggest slowdown are the most realistic. Scientists called the new finding “very concerning” as a collapse would have catastrophic consequences for Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Over-the-counter pet flea treatments could be banned under new UK rules

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:34 +0000

Exclusive: ministers consider restricting pesticide-based treatments, which can get into waterways and harm wildlife

Pet owners across the UK could be banned from buying flea treatment for cats and dogs under new government rules.

Ministers have begun an eight-week consultation on letting only veterinary practitioners or pharmacists give out the potent, pesticide-based flea treatments, to ensure “correct usage”. At the moment, the flea and tick treatments can be bought from any pet shop.

How big oil is cashing in on Iran war - The Latest

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:37:15 +0000

The world’s top 100 oil and gas companies made more than $30m every hour in unearned profit in the first month of the US-Israeli war in Iran, according to exclusive analysis for the Guardian.

The conflict pushed the price of oil to an average of $100 a barrel in March, leading to estimated windfall war profits for the month of $23bn for the companies.

Lucy Hough speaks to Damian Carrington, the Guardian’s environment editor

Amazon enters agreements for nine Australian renewable projects to power datacentres

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:00:32 +0000

Tech company has signed on to nine deals as it aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040

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