Breaking Waves: Ocean News

This foolish decision undermines hopes that this government will take the necessary steps the climate crisis demands When the news broke that the UK government had approved the Jackdaw gasfield, I was at a Guardian climate event at the Royal Geographical Society. Appropriately, the theme suggested by readers was what can the public actually do in the face of what feels like paralysing climate doom? There is so much going on that is hopeful: biodiversity tracking, river protection, rewilding. Shruti Suresh, from the independent watchdog Global Witness, told those in attendance that if they wanted to effect change, they should protest against Jackdaw and the Rosebank oilfield project. The message was so well understood that it didn’t need labouring. The mood in the room when the news came in was one of audible dismay. People had just watched the minister for climate transition declare that she could see the challenges ahead and was ready for them. The Jackdaw announcement will face immediate protest and legal challenge, but it sends a very clear signal from the government: we don’t mean what we say about ending emissions. Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Advocates say having national data about numbers of rats and mice used in research can help boost public trust in science Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast More than 1 million mice and nearly 47,000 rats are used in scientific research in Australia annually, according to the first ever nationwide count. Dr Malcolm France, a veterinarian who compiled the data, described the count, released today, as “an overdue first step” towards publishing national statistics for all animals used in research, including fish, rabbits, birds and monkeys. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Officials say Miatta Fahnbulleh minded not to give approval in victory for climate campaigners Miatta Fahnbulleh is minded to reject the giant Rosebank oilfield, sources have told the Guardian, in what would be a blow for the North Sea energy industry and a major victory for climate campaigners. After approving the smaller Jackdaw gasfield on Wednesday, officials say the energy secretary is leaning towards refusing approval for what would be one of the biggest oilfields in the North Sea. Continue reading...

Few believe decision will bring back city’s boom years, but workers hope it will secure North Sea jobs for now UK approves Jackdaw gasfield in North Sea What does the UK’s approval of the Jackdaw gasfield mean? As recently as 2012, Aberdeen boasted the highest concentration of millionaires in the UK. An ATM reportedly had the highest withdrawal rate in Europe in the 90s, as oil and gas wealth flowed through the city. House prices skyrocketed in the scramble for space as fossil fuel firms transformed the city’s grand granite houses into company offices. But that was then. Today, “for sale” and “to let” signs punctuate the city’s main thoroughfares. Disposable income in Aberdeen has fallen by nearly 20% between 2013 and 2023 – more than any other large UK city – after a 2014 oil price shock sparked a brutal reversal in Aberdeen’s fortunes. Continue reading...