Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Winds blow particulates from drying lake into minority neighborhoods, exposing people to harmful particulates Toxic dust storms from the dried, exposed Great Salt Lake bed disproportionately poisons the air in Utah neighborhoods with higher levels of Hispanic and Pacific Islander populations, new research finds. The disparity between their average exposure and those of white populations will grow as the lake dries further. Continue reading...

Blazing temperatures force people to find new ways to keep their pets safe, cool and occupied: ‘They sit, pee and go home’ Heat-resistant bootees, frozen bananas and pet sunscreen – it takes a lot to keep dogs safe during a nationwide heatwave. As pet owners across the US try to keep cool themselves, they’re changing dog-walking habits to accommodate boiling sidewalks or scorching parks, relying on indoor pet games to relish air conditioning, and embracing what has become a new normal for the dog days of summer, as extreme heat becomes an increasingly common reality. Julie Nashawaty, a professional dog walker who lives in Boston, says her various trips to take pups out around the city have become shorter, as the temperatures reached 90 to 100 degrees this week. “These are really quick breaks, quick walks,” she said. “They sit in the shade under the tree, pee, and then it’s straight back home, where sometimes I’ll even put a cooling blanket on them.” She also puts little boots on dogs’ paws, so their bare feet don’t have to touch blazing concrete. Continue reading...

ICO calls on companies to be as transparent as possible with customers about waste release into rivers Business live – latest updates Water companies must be transparent with the public about sewage spill data, the UK’s information commissioner has warned. John Edwards has written to the water companies calling on them to be as transparent as possible with their customers, and has asked them to disclose information related to sewage discharges every month. Continue reading...

Senior climate figures welcome move after Conservative government largely left the role to junior ministers Ed Miliband is to take personal control of the UK’s negotiations at vital international climate talks, in stark contrast to his Tory predecessors. The energy security and net zero secretary will attend Cop29, this year’s UN climate summit, in Azerbaijan this November to head the UK’s delegation and meet political leaders from around the world. Continue reading...