Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Effects of marine heatwave driving ‘foreseeable’ SA algal bloom could rival black summer fires, scientists warn

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:00:41 +0000

As Senate establishes inquiry into the ‘human-mediated disaster’, a report is calling for more long-term action

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Healthy environment a human right, UN court says in landmark climate ruling

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:46:04 +0000

Court’s decision expected to be used in future litigation and to support political negotiations by vulnerable states

A “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right, according to judges at the top court of the United Nations.

The international court of justice (ICJ) delivered a landmark advisory opinion on Wednesday about countries’ obligations to tackle climate change, and the consequences they may face if they do not.

Earth’s underground networks of fungi need urgent protection, say researchers

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:00:39 +0000

Study finds that only 9.5% of fungal biodiversity hotspots fell within existing protected areas

The underground networks of fungi that underpin the planet’s ecosystems needs urgent conservation action by politicians, a research organisation has said.

Scientists from the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (Spun) have created the first high-resolution biodiversity maps of Earth’s underground mycorrhizal fungal ecosystems.

Benedict Cumberbatch says Hollywood is a ‘grossly wasteful industry’

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:36:48 +0000

Speaking to Ruth Rogers, the actor took aim at the film industry’s lack of sustainability, noting he ‘could feed a family with the amount I’m eating’ when bulking up for film roles

Benedict Cumberbatch has called the Hollywood film industry “grossly wasteful”, taking particular issue with its squandering of resources in the aid of set building, lighting – and bulking up physiques for blockbusters.

Want to import toxic chemicals into Britain with scant scrutiny? Labour says: go right ahead | George Monbiot

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:00:44 +0000

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Tory fantasy of a post-Brexit bonfire of regulations is coming true. Our bodies and ecosystems will pay the price

It’s what the extreme right of the Tory party wanted from Brexit: to tear down crucial public protections, including those that defend us from the most brutal and dangerous forms of capital. The Conservatives lost office before they were able to do their worst. But never mind, because Labour has now picked up the baton.

‘Total infiltration’: How plastics industry swamped vital global treaty talks

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 04:00:44 +0000

Petrostates and well-funded lobbyists at UN-hosted talks are derailing a deal to cut plastic production and protect people and the planet

Being surrounded and yelled at about “misrepresenting reality” is not how serious United Nations-hosted negotiations are meant to proceed. But that is what happened to Prof Bethanie Carney Almroth during talks about a global treaty to slash plastic pollution in Ottawa, Canada. The employees of a large US chemicals company “formed a ring” around her, she says.

Substantial gains and little downside from farming of Totoaba macdonaldi

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

npj Ocean Sustainability, Published online: 23 July 2025; doi:10.1038/s44183-025-00143-4

Substantial gains and little downside from farming of Totoaba macdonaldi

Australian taxpayers on the hook to pay Chevron more than $500m to clean up oil wells

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:00:27 +0000

Deal struck in 1980s refunds about half of what the US multinational fossil fuel company paid in royalties, documents show

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World on brink of climate breakthrough as fossil fuels ‘run out of road’, UN chief says

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:40:01 +0000

António Guterres says ‘sun is rising on a clean energy age’ as 90% of renewable power projects cheaper than fossil fuels

The world is on the brink of a breakthrough in the climate fight and fossil fuels are running out of road, the UN chief said on Tuesday, as he urged countries to funnel support into low-carbon energy.

‘Magical’: butterfly sightings across the UK this summer

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:49:38 +0000

Naturalists say it has been an “outstanding” summer for butterflies and other flying insects after last summer’s dramatic decline. Here are some of your sightings so far this year