Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en At least 15 English sewage plants use plastic beads spilled at Camber Sands https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/least-15-english-sewage-plants-use-plastic-beads-spilled-camber-sands <p>Exclusive: Experts urge water companies to update plants to avoid another catastrophe, as analysis reveals scale of use</p> <p>At least 15 sewage plants on England’s south coast use the same contaminated plastic beads that were spilled in an environmental disaster in Camber Sands, Guardian analysis can reveal.</p> <p>Environmental experts have urged water companies to update these old treatment plants to avoid another catastrophic spill, which can lead to plastic beads being permanently embedded in the environment and killing marine wildlife.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/least-15-english-sewage-plants-use-plastic-beads-spilled-camber-sands" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:10:01 +0000 admin 101908 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The Congo basin may be the world’s most important rainforest – why is it the least researched? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/congo-basin-may-be-world-s-most-important-rainforest-why-it-least-researched <p>It is the second-largest tropical forest on Earth, and one of the most vital carbon sinks, but is losing out when it comes to climate policy and funding</p> <p>In October 2023, leaders, scientists and policymakers from <a href="https://www.thethreebasinsummit.org/">three of the world’s great rainforest regions</a> – the Amazon, the Congo, and the Borneo-Mekong basins – assembled in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo. They were there to discuss one urgent question: how to save the planet’s last great tropical forests from accelerating destruction.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/congo-basin-may-be-world-s-most-important-rainforest-why-it-least-researched" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:00:50 +0000 admin 101909 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org More than 300 big agriculture lobbyists took part in Cop30, investigation finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/more-300-big-agriculture-lobbyists-took-part-cop30-investigation-finds <p>Lobbyists representing industry responsible for a quarter to a third of global emissions participated in key talks at the UN climate summit</p> <p>More than 300 industrial agriculture lobbyists have participated at this year’s UN climate talks taking place in the Brazilian Amazon, where the industry is the leading cause of deforestation, a new investigation has found.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/more-300-big-agriculture-lobbyists-took-part-cop30-investigation-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:00:28 +0000 admin 101907 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The conservative parties can change their leaders – but it won’t stop the NSW Coalition’s death spiral | Anne Davies https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/conservative-parties-can-change-their-leaders-it-won-t-stop-nsw-coalition-s-death-spir <p>The Nationals have a new leader in Gurmesh Singh, and Kellie Sloane could soon replace Liberal leader Mark Speakman. But the Coalition is fractured on net zero</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>The NSW Nationals have a new leader, Gurmesh Singh, and the Liberals will almost certainly follow suit by early next week.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/conservative-parties-can-change-their-leaders-it-won-t-stop-nsw-coalition-s-death-spir" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:37:01 +0000 admin 101906 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Sussan Ley, it’s time we took a look at your climate policy report card. You appear to have learned nothing | Tristan Edis https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/sussan-ley-it-s-time-we-took-look-your-climate-policy-report-card-you-appear-have-lear <p>My advice to you if you want to avoid repeating 2025 is to pay far greater attention to the quality of your research sources</p> <p>Sussan Ley, as your teacher I’m duty bound to give you an honest appraisal of your work.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/sussan-ley-it-s-time-we-took-look-your-climate-policy-report-card-you-appear-have-lear" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:25:18 +0000 admin 101905 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Three sugar cubes worth of plastic enough to kill a puffin, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/three-sugar-cubes-worth-plastic-enough-kill-puffin-study-finds <p>Scientists find tiny amounts can be a ‘fatal dose’ for marine life in the most comprehensive study of its kind</p> <p>Ingesting less than three sugar cubes worth of plastic is enough to kill a puffin, a new study has found.</p> <p>Scientists measured how much different kinds of plastic seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals have to ingest to have a 90% risk of it killing them, in the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/three-sugar-cubes-worth-plastic-enough-kill-puffin-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:00:13 +0000 admin 101902 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org South Korean decision to close all coal-fired power plants by 2040 sounds alarm for Australian exports https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-korean-decision-close-all-coal-fired-power-plants-2040-sounds-alarm-australian-e <p>Decision announced at Cop30 climate conference signposts risks for Australia’s reliance on fossil fuel exports, analysts say</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/nov/18/australia-news-live-victorian-liberal-leader-spill-libspill-coalition-nsw-brad-battin-mark-speakman-sussan-ley-killing-season-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-korean-decision-close-all-coal-fired-power-plants-2040-sounds-alarm-australian-e" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:00:51 +0000 admin 101899 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Business and energy leaders warn Coalition dumping net zero won’t cut power bills and demand more detail https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/business-and-energy-leaders-warn-coalition-dumping-net-zero-won-t-cut-power-bills-and- <p>CEO of Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls Sussan Ley’s new policy ‘a bit of a plan not to have a plan’, echoing business scepticism</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/nov/18/australia-news-live-victorian-liberal-leader-spill-libspill-coalition-nsw-brad-battin-mark-speakman-sussan-ley-killing-season-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/business-and-energy-leaders-warn-coalition-dumping-net-zero-won-t-cut-power-bills-and-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 17 Nov 2025 14:00:45 +0000 admin 101900 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Thousands protest in the Philippines over disappeared flood defence funds – video https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thousands-protest-philippines-over-disappeared-flood-defence-funds-video <p>More than half a million people gathered in Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday wearing white shirts and carrying signs reading 'transparency for a better democracy'. Concerns rose after the country's president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, published an internal audit into flood control projects in August that revealed significant irregularities. It showed that of almost $10bn in spending, thousands of projects were substandard, poorly documented or non-existent</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thousands-protest-philippines-over-disappeared-flood-defence-funds-video" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 17 Nov 2025 13:38:39 +0000 admin 101901 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Cop30: UN accused of crackdown on Indigenous people – as it happened https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop30-un-accused-crackdown-indigenous-people-it-happened <p>As the summit entered its second week, complex issues remain with anxiety growing over conference outcomes</p> <p>Colombia will host a first international conference on the phase out of fossil fuels in April next year, according to advocates of more ambitious action to eliminate the main source of the gases that are heating the planet.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop30-un-accused-crackdown-indigenous-people-it-happened" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:49:45 +0000 admin 101898 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org