Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/www.nationaltrust.org.uk/www.oserianwildlife.com/www.guardian.co.uk/profile/www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/www.project-syndicate.org en Chemical companies reach $455m settlement with North Carolina over ‘forever chemicals’ claims https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/chemical-companies-reach-455m-settlement-north-carolina-over-forever-chemicals-claims <p>Chemours, DuPont and Corteva reach settlement after lawsuits accuse companies of polluting drinking water </p> <p>Chemours, DuPont and Corteva on Thursday reached a $455m settlement with ⁠North Carolina and 11 local entities over Pfas contamination claims tied to ⁠Chemours’ Fayetteville Works ⁠plant and ​other historical discharges.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/chemical-companies-reach-455m-settlement-north-carolina-over-forever-chemicals-claims" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:50:32 +0000 admin 104530 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org NHS reports busiest ever summer as heatwaves drive up hospital admissions https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/nhs-reports-busiest-ever-summer-heatwaves-drive-hospital-admissions <p>Health secretary says extreme demand no longer confined to winter as service in England warns of knock-on effects</p> <p>The NHS faced the “busiest summer in its history” as the UK experienced a series of heatwaves, health officials have said, while the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has risen to its highest level for nine months.</p> <p>The health secretary said “extreme demand” on the service was “no longer confined to winter” and NHS leaders warned that the service had “never gone into winter on the back of such a heavy summer”.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/nhs-reports-busiest-ever-summer-heatwaves-drive-hospital-admissions" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:37:12 +0000 admin 104529 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UK ministers explore raising price of water for some users amid shortages https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-ministers-explore-raising-price-water-some-users-amid-shortages <p>Environment Agency says talks under way about increasing prices for industrial users to try to reduce poor water management</p> <p>Ministers are exploring making water more expensive for some users, in the face of severe supply shortages.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-ministers-explore-raising-price-water-some-users-amid-shortages" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:14:04 +0000 admin 104528 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Chemical industry backed laws in three US states to restrict use of air pollution data https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/chemical-industry-backed-laws-three-us-states-restrict-use-air-pollution-data <p>As public air monitors disappear, federal rollbacks and state laws are making it harder than ever to know what’s in the air</p> <p>As the US’s network for monitoring air pollution deteriorates, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/series/floodlight">Floodlight</a> investigation has found that the chemical industry is going state-to-state to restrict one of the few options citizens have left for holding polluters accountable: low-cost air sensors.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/chemical-industry-backed-laws-three-us-states-restrict-use-air-pollution-data" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:23 +0000 admin 104527 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Climate ‘feedback loops’ could worsen global warming by 30%, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/climate-feedback-loops-could-worsen-global-warming-30-study-finds <p>Emissions of planet-heating methane and CO2 from natural sources are worsening the climate crisis, paper says</p> <p>Rising global temperatures caused by the burning of fossil fuels are transforming the world’s forests, wetlands and tundra to the point they are releasing emissions that could further worsen global heating by as much as 30%, a new study has found.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/climate-feedback-loops-could-worsen-global-warming-30-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:19 +0000 admin 104526 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org How the fate of a small furry animal reveals the ecological tragedy of Israel’s war on Lebanon | Hisham Younes https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-fate-small-furry-animal-reveals-ecological-tragedy-israel-s-war-lebanon-hisham-you <p>The Syrian rock hyrax depends on the fragile landscapes of the border region. Alongside other environmentalists, I have been documenting the destruction of its habitat</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/how-fate-small-furry-animal-reveals-ecological-tragedy-israel-s-war-lebanon-hisham-you" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:18 +0000 admin 104525 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Is Burnham trying to appease Trump? Or Reform? What other reason is there for these North Sea oil plans? | George Monbiot https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/burnham-trying-appease-trump-or-reform-what-other-reason-there-these-north-sea-oil-pla <p>Climate catastrophe is on our doorstep – yet Labour’s impending approval of further drilling will bring more pain for negligible gains</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/burnham-trying-appease-trump-or-reform-what-other-reason-there-these-north-sea-oil-pla" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:00:16 +0000 admin 104524 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Contentious koala park plan to go ahead as three Greens senators cross the floor https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/contentious-koala-park-plan-go-ahead-three-greens-senators-cross-floor <p>Party backed plan to allow big industry to use a new koala national park in NSW to offset its climate pollution, but three senators dissented </p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/contentious-koala-park-plan-go-ahead-three-greens-senators-cross-floor" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:05:02 +0000 admin 104523 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org World must reject climate culture wars or face economic ruin, says UN’s Stiell https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-must-reject-climate-culture-wars-or-face-economic-ruin-says-un-s-stiell <p>Warning by United Nations climate chief comes as EU data shows August 2026 was joint hottest month ever</p> <p>Attempts to stoke a climate crisis culture war must be rejected or the world will face economic disaster, the UN’s climate chief has warned.</p> <p>Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, warned that this year’s “hot as hell” summer had killed tens of thousands of people in Europe alone and “hammered” infrastructure, businesses and economics, costing a likely €180bn (£155bn), as well as leading to forced migration around the world.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/world-must-reject-climate-culture-wars-or-face-economic-ruin-says-un-s-stiell" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:00:11 +0000 admin 104522 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Victoria’s koalas in chronically poor health and population is half what was previously estimated https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/victoria-s-koalas-chronically-poor-health-and-population-half-what-was-previously-esti <p><strong>Exclusive:</strong> State government delayed releasing major report into the health of the koala population for more than 12 months</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/10/anthony-albanese-labor-uk-west-bank-trade-ban-kevin-rudd-diplomacy-one-nation-pauline-hanson-liberal-party-angus-taylor-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/victoria-s-koalas-chronically-poor-health-and-population-half-what-was-previously-esti" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:23:27 +0000 admin 104521 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org