Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Kew Gardens’ tropical Palm House to shut for five years for net zero makeover https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/kew-gardens-tropical-palm-house-shut-five-years-net-zero-makeover <p>Huge glasshouse, home to world’s oldest potted plant, to get £50m refit as part of emissions-cutting drive at gardens </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/kew-gardens-tropical-palm-house-shut-five-years-net-zero-makeover" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:27:42 +0000 admin 100650 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Southern Water issues hosepipe ban across Hampshire and Isle of Wight https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/southern-water-issues-hosepipe-ban-across-hampshire-and-isle-wight <p>Restriction begins on Monday and follows announcement that four areas of England officially in drought</p> <p>Southern Water has issued a hosepipe ban affecting 1 million people across Hampshire, joining Yorkshire, Thames and South East Water in issuing restrictions.</p> <p>The ban will come into force across large swathes of Hampshire and all of the Isle of Wight from 9am on Monday.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/16/southern-water-hosepipe-ban-hampshire-isle-of-wight">Continue reading...</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:58:13 +0000 admin 100651 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Inquisitive, relaxed’ humpback whale swimming in Sydney Harbour delays ferries and boats https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/inquisitive-relaxed-humpback-whale-swimming-sydney-harbour-delays-ferries-and-boats <p>Whale is having a ‘full harbour experience’, says an expert aboard a maritime boat shadowing the supersized mammal</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/16/australia-news-live-wednesday-china-relations-economy-foreign-policy-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/inquisitive-relaxed-humpback-whale-swimming-sydney-harbour-delays-ferries-and-boats" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:31:57 +0000 admin 100648 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Hunter missing in Japan as spate of bear attacks triggers emergency to be declared in northern town https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hunter-missing-japan-spate-bear-attacks-triggers-emergency-be-declared-northern-town <p>Search for missing man comes after series of attacks across Japan this month in which at least two people have died</p> <p>Authorities in Japan are searching for a hunter who went missing on a mountain in Hokkaido near where a brown bear was recently spotted, amid a spate of deadly attacks by the animals that has triggered the declaration of a bear emergency in one town.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hunter-missing-japan-spate-bear-attacks-triggers-emergency-be-declared-northern-town" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:26:07 +0000 admin 100649 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘The place is bleached, a dead zone’: how the UK’s most beloved landscapes became biodiversity deserts https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/place-bleached-dead-zone-how-uk-s-most-beloved-landscapes-became-biodiversity-deserts <p>National parks, famous for their rich natural heritage, should be at the heart of efforts to protect habitats and wildlife. Instead, experts say they are declining – fast</p> <ul> <li> <p>Photographs by Abbie Trayler-Smith</p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/place-bleached-dead-zone-how-uk-s-most-beloved-landscapes-became-biodiversity-deserts" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 04:00:37 +0000 admin 100652 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Death threats and falsehoods among online abuse reported by land and climate defenders https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/death-threats-and-falsehoods-among-online-abuse-reported-land-and-climate-defenders <p>Survey across six continents uncovers accounts of abuse causing defenders to fear for their safety</p> <p>Death threats, doxing and cyber-attacks are just some of the online threats recounted by land and climate defenders in a new report, amid concerns that harassment is having a chilling effect on environmental activism.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/death-threats-and-falsehoods-among-online-abuse-reported-land-and-climate-defenders" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 04:00:37 +0000 admin 100647 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Why the hell did we ever drop it?’: Labor should push for new carbon tax, ex-Treasury head says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/why-hell-did-we-ever-drop-it-labor-should-push-new-carbon-tax-ex-treasury-head-says <p>Australia has no hope of curbing emissions without ‘world’s best carbon policy’, Ken Henry tells National Press Club</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/16/australia-news-live-wednesday-china-relations-economy-foreign-policy-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/why-hell-did-we-ever-drop-it-labor-should-push-new-carbon-tax-ex-treasury-head-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:00:22 +0000 admin 100645 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Climate groups call for UK wealth tax to make super-rich fund sustainable economy https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/climate-groups-call-uk-wealth-tax-make-super-rich-fund-sustainable-economy <p>Growing number of campaigners urge government to ensure green investment is not done ‘on backs of the poor’</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/15/what-is-a-wealth-tax-and-would-it-work-in-the-uk">What is a wealth tax and would it work in the UK?</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>A growing number of climate groups are campaigning for the introduction of a wealth tax to ensure the transition to a sustainable economy is not done “on the backs of the poor”.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/climate-groups-call-uk-wealth-tax-make-super-rich-fund-sustainable-economy" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:00:21 +0000 admin 100644 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Four areas of England now in drought as heat threatens wildlife and crops https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/four-areas-england-now-drought-heat-threatens-wildlife-and-crops <p>Ministers call for hosepipe bans as East and West Midlands enter drought, joining Yorkshire and north-west</p> <p>Four areas of England are now in drought as the East and West Midlands have joined Yorkshire and the north-west.</p> <p>Continuing hot and dry weather was a hazard to crop production and wildlife, ministers said, as they urged water companies to put hosepipe bans in place to conserve water as levels deplete.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/15/four-areas-of-england-now-in-drought-as-hot-weather-threatens-wildlife-and-crops">Continue reading...</a></p> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:34:29 +0000 admin 100642 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/sheep-are-destroying-precious-british-habitats-and-we-taxpayers-are-footing-bill-chris <p>Large parts of Dartmoor have been denuded of wildlife, harmed by farming and a mess of government schemes that are costly in every way</p> <p>Britain’s uplands are dying. What should be some of the very best places for nature are the absolute worst. Across vast tracts of some of our most beautiful landscapes, life is rapidly ebbing away. Where once there was purple heather, bilberry and buzzing insect life, there are now over-grazed, sheep-infested ecological disaster zones. For a nation of nature lovers, it’s a disgrace.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/sheep-are-destroying-precious-british-habitats-and-we-taxpayers-are-footing-bill-chris" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:30:30 +0000 admin 100643 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org