Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Iran war has increased gas price, with effects on UK energy bills that could be avoided, Common Wealth says Household energy bills could be reduced by up to £203 a year by stopping expensive fossil gas setting the price of energy in the UK, according to a report. Under the existing system, gas – the most expensive form of electricity production in the UK system – set the price of energy 85% of the time in 2024 in the UK, even though it generates only about a quarter of Britain’s electricity. Continue reading...

Tropical peatlands, some of the planet’s largest underground carbon stores, are now burning at levels never seen in at least 2,000 years. By analyzing charcoal preserved in peat across multiple continents, scientists discovered that fires had actually been declining for more than a thousand years, largely shaped by natural climate patterns like drought. That long trend suddenly reversed in the 20th century, with a sharp surge in wildfires—especially in Southeast Asia and Australasia.

A possum surprised Hobart airport staff after wandering into a departures gift shop, where it settled among plush toys on Wednesday. A spokesperson said the animal appeared calm, and was safely escorted out of the terminal without incident Continue reading...

Government’s first published land use framework maps how land is used and how it can be adapted to meet changing needs About 7% of England’s land – an area roughly two-and-a-half times the size of Cornwall – will need to be given over to nature, forests and renewable energy, to meet the UK’s environmental targets, new data shows. But there will still be enough land to grow the food needed, and to house a growing population, according to the government’s first land use framework, published on Wednesday. Placing a high priority on restoring peatland, all but 13% of which is degraded across England, but this will not include an outright ban on development such as wind or solar farms. Encouraging the “multi-use” of land, for instance with livestock grazing alongside wind and solar farms, and wildlife protection and nature restoration on arable land. Encouraging local authorities to put nature reserves in urban areas as well as in the countryside. Grouse moors to come under closer scrutiny and tighter regulation, which will go further than EU rules. No new “right to roam” is included in the framework, but there will be a consultation on “making landowner liability more proportionate”, which could open up areas for public access. A national soil map will be published. A new land use unit will be established. Government planning for changes to the UK’s landscape under global heating of 2C above preindustrial levels, and of much higher heating of 4C. Continue reading...