Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Brazil passes ‘devastation bill’ that drastically weakens environmental law

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:25:25 +0000

President has 15 days to approve or veto legislation that critics say will lead to vast deforestation and destruction of Indigenous communities

Brazilian lawmakers have passed a bill that drastically weakens the country’s environmental safeguards and is seen by many activists as the most significant setback for the country’s environmental legislation in the past 40 years.

US rivers are full of dumped tires. The ‘River Cowboy’ won’t stand for it

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:00:38 +0000

Tires take decades to decompose, and millions are improperly dumped every year. An intrepid group sets out to clear Kentucky’s ‘conveyor belt of trash’

In the 1980s, Russ Miller and his wife moved to a far edge of eastern Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, where they built a homestead on a ridge hugged by three sides of the river. It’s the kind of place you can only get to with a hand-drawn map. A place so remote that the farther and farther you drive to get to it, the more unsure you are that you are in the right place.

Trump’s $1tn for Pentagon to add huge planet-heating emissions, study shows

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:00:35 +0000

Exclusive: 17% increase in military spending will add emissions equivalent to those of some entire countries

Donald Trump’s huge spending boost for the Pentagon will produce an additional 26 megatons (Mt) of planet-heating gases – on a par with the annual carbon equivalent (CO2e) emissions generated by 68 gas power plants or the entire country of Croatia, new research reveals.

The Pentagon’s 2026 budget – and climate footprint – is set to surge to $1tn thanks to the president’s One Big Beautiful Act, a 17% rise on last year.

Reform’s anti-renewables stance ‘putting jobs and energy bills at risk’

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:22:56 +0000

Industry says party’s threat to strip wind and solar subsidies if it enters power undermines national interest

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Britain’s green energy industry has accused the Reform UK party of undermining the national interest by threatening to strip public subsidies for wind and solar projects if it comes to power.

Restaurant in China criticised for putting baby lion cuddles on menu

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:02:14 +0000

Diners jump at chance to snuggle with cubs but wildlife experts accuse firm of ‘exploiting wild animals for selfies’

A restaurant in northern China has been criticised by animal welfare groups for offering an unusual item on the menu: lion cub cuddles.

According to a screenshot of a menu circulating on social media, Wanhui – a restaurant in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province – has a four-course set afternoon menu costing 1,192 yuan ($166/£124) that includes playtime with the in-house animals.

Technicolour lakes and butterfly brains: Wellcome photography prize 2025 – in pictures

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:30 +0000

From microscopic images inside a human kidney to self portraits of enduring epilepsy and endometriosis, this year’s selection is as moving as it is dazzling

Tax on AI and crypto could fund climate action, says former Paris accords envoy

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:29 +0000

Laurence Tubiana urges governments to consider levies on energy-hungry technology

Governments should consider taxing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies to generate funds to deal with the climate crisis, one of the architects of the Paris agreement has said.

They fled the flames—now jaguars rule a wetland refuge

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:30:36 +0000

After devastating wildfires scorched the Brazilian Pantanal, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded—more jaguars began arriving at a remote wetland already known for having the densest jaguar population on Earth. Scientists discovered that not only did the local jaguars survive, but their numbers swelled as migrants sought refuge. This unique ecosystem, where jaguars feast mainly on fish and caimans and tolerate each other’s presence unusually well, proved remarkably resilient.

Melbourne creek turns bright blue after construction chemicals wash into waterway

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 02:51:13 +0000

Victoria’s environment protection authority launches investigation over pollution of Banyule Creek in Rosanna

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Ken Henry says Australia's environmental laws are 'broken' and should be rewritten - video

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 22:15:59 +0000

Using a speech to the National Press Club as a rallying cry to federal parliament to finally agree on a rewrite of the quarter-century old Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, Ken Henry, now the chair of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, said that Australia's environmental protection laws are 'broken' and should be reformed. 'We have had all the reviews we need,' Henry said. 'All of us have had our say. It is now up to parliament. Let’s just get this done'