Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Insects play critical role in ecosystems beyond just providing food, new research shows

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:00:24 +0000

Insects provide protection, sanitation and even shelter to vertebrates, making them a priority for conservation efforts

For many vertebrates, insects are more than a food source. As “little things that run the world”, insects provide critical functions such as protection, sanitation and shelter across ecosystems, according to a new study.

‘Beyond priceless’: how a halt to dredging saved the seas of Scotland’s Summer Isles

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:00:22 +0000

Fish and shellfish populations were falling rapidly as scallop dredgers devastated the seabed, but local activists and small-scale fishers battled hard to protect their coastline

Inside a bothy overlooking the Summer Isles, in the north-west of Scotland, the lilting tones of a traditional Gaelic duo fill a room full of musicians, storytellers, artists, local people and revellers, hung with fish-shaped lanterns and “Happy Birthday” signs.

Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:08:17 +0000

Exclusive: Environment secretary Angela Eagle to make pledge as part of efforts to protect against extreme weather

Half a million trees will be planted across England in the next three years to protect against extreme weather, the environment secretary, Angela Eagle, will pledge on Wednesday morning.

Approval of biggest coal project in NSW planning commission’s history described as ‘infamous betrayal’

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:48:20 +0000

Independent Planning Commission says climate change impacts from Hunter Valley project will be ‘outweighed’ by economic benefits

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Tern turnaround: colonies in England show signs of recovery after decline

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000

National Trust says latest figures encouraging – with numbers of birds on the rise – but work still to be done

England’s most important tern colonies are showing signs of recovery after being hit by years of bird flu, flooding and increasingly unpredictable weather, new figures from the National Trust reveal.

An EV sold every 100 seconds: Australian demand for electric cars more than doubles

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:02:20 +0000

A record 157,957 new EVs were sold nationally between January and June, according to the Electric Vehicle Council

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Antarctic winter sea ice falls to third-lowest level on record as scientists warn of ‘now problem’

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:04 +0000

Coverage levels fall a million square kilometres short of the long-term average, with global heating likely driving losses

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EPA union sues Trump administration to restore collective bargaining contract

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:28:31 +0000

Federal workers’ union alleges EPA illegally terminated agreement with the goal of repressing political dissent

The union representing more than 8,000 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a lawsuit against the agency and administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday alleging the agency illegally terminated the union’s collective bargaining agreement.

South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:19:57 +0000

District judge orders record fine for region and says incidents of pollution cannot be tolerated

A water company has been ordered to pay a record fine of almost £8m for hundreds of sewage spills at popular bathing spots and sensitive habitats in Cornwall and Devon.

On one occasion, untreated sewage gushed through a harbour wall on a bank holiday weekend but South West Water (SWW) engineers took 10 hours to attend.

‘It’s just cruel’: US households hit by surge in electricity shutoffs amid record hot summer

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:00:51 +0000

Utility disconnections were up 28% in 10 states in July 2026 – the hottest month ever recorded in the US – compared with July 2024, data shows

A record hot summer collided unhappily with rising energy costs for households across the US that struggled to the point where many were disconnected from their electricity supply, even as dangerous heat baked their communities.