Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Reform-led Durham county council scraps climate emergency declaration

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:36:22 +0000

Durham is thought to be first UK local authority to rescind its statement, in a move condemned as a ‘very dark day’

A Reform-led council is thought to have become the first in the UK to rescind its climate emergency declaration, a move condemned as “a very dark day” for the authority.

Google inks $3bn US hydropower deal as it expands energy-hungry datacenters

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:22:20 +0000

The tech giant will buy 3GW of US hydropower in deal to fuel AI and data center growth across eastern states

Google has agreed to secure as much as 3GW of US hydropower in the world’s largest corporate clean power pact for hydroelectricity, the company said on Tuesday, as big tech pursues the expansion of energy-hungry datacenters.

‘Our food, our heritage, our culture’: the chef highlighting Palestinian cuisine

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:00:11 +0000

For Sami Tamimi, preparing the food of his homeland is an act of resilience and keeping his culture alive

Food is both deeply personal and political for Sami Tamimi, the Palestinian chef and food writer, whose first solo cookbook is an emotional culinary ride down memory lane through the bountiful seasons of his homeland – and an effort to preserve the ingredients, techniques and traditions which have long been targeted by the Israeli occupation.

Bear that bit man in Norway roams free after hunt in which wrong animal shot

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:00:09 +0000

Search for female and her cubs on hold to campaigners’ relief after court had quashed injunction against cull

The hunt for a brown bear that bit a man on the elbow has been put on hold, the Norwegian environment agency has announced, in a case that angered animal rights campaigners after officials shot the wrong bear.

The agency said on Wednesday it did not now plan to act on a bear-culling order it issued in late June in Jarfjord, near the border with Russia, after a female bear bit a man’s arm, leaving him needing stitches.

UK government putting pressure on nature groups to drop opposition to planning bill

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:45:56 +0000

Exclusive: Officials offering to amend bill if wildlife organisations stop campaigning against plans

The government is putting pressure on wildlife organisations to drop their opposition to its planning bill, the Guardian has learned.

How climate crisis makes rainstorms that flooded New York more common

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:00:45 +0000

More than 2in of rain fell in an hour in the region, killing two people, and such storms are only going to intensify

Monday night’s downpour was one of the most intense rainstorms in New York City history, the kind of storm that’s now happening much more often due to climate warming.

More than 2in of rain fell in New York City’s Central Park in the 7pm hour on Monday evening, part of a regional downpour that filled the city’s highways and subway tunnels and prompted several water rescues.

Dismay after Southampton airport gets permission to cut down cemetery trees

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:35:17 +0000

Campaigners attack council for backing plan to fell trees in burial site near runway to allow for increase in passengers

A Labour-led city council has been criticised for backing an airport’s scheme to cut down “majestic” trees in a historic, wildlife-rich cemetery close to a runway.

Environmental campaigners, people whose loved ones were laid to rest in the cemetery and opposition politicians have expressed dismay that the trees in South Stoneham Cemetery in Southampton are to be lost.

Kew Gardens’ tropical Palm House to shut for five years for net zero makeover

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:27:42 +0000

Huge glasshouse, home to world’s oldest potted plant, to get £50m refit as part of emissions-cutting drive at gardens

It has been the tropical jewel in one of the UK’s most famous gardens for more than 175 years, and now the Palm House in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is to get a green makeover.

The attraction, which houses Kew’s tropical rainforest, will close for five years to allow engineers and botanists to transform it into the first net zero glasshouse in the world.

Southern Water issues hosepipe ban for 1m people in Hampshire and Isle of Wight

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:58:13 +0000

Announcement takes number of people hit by restrictions across England to about 8.5 million

Southern Water has become the fourth English utility to issue a hosepipe ban, taking the number of people hit by such restrictions to about 8.5 million.

The latest ban, which comes into force for about 1 million residents across large swathes of Hampshire and all of the Isle of Wight from 9am on Monday, comes after Yorkshire, Thames and South East Water announced similar measures.

‘Inquisitive, relaxed’ humpback whale swimming in Sydney Harbour delays ferries and boats

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:31:57 +0000

Whale is having a ‘full harbour experience’, says an expert aboard a maritime boat shadowing the supersized mammal

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