Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en Half a million trees to be planted in England in three years, says government https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/half-million-trees-be-planted-england-three-years-says-government <p>Exclusive: Environment secretary Angela Eagle to make pledge as part of efforts to protect against extreme weather</p> <p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/half-million-trees-be-planted-england-three-years-says-government" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:08:17 +0000 admin 104708 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Approval of biggest coal project in NSW planning commission’s history described as ‘infamous betrayal’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/approval-biggest-coal-project-nsw-planning-commission-s-history-described-infamous-bet <p>Independent Planning Commission says climate change impacts from Hunter Valley project will be ‘outweighed’ by economic benefits</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/30/labor-anthony-albanese-coalition-polling-new-greens-leader-openai-hack-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/approval-biggest-coal-project-nsw-planning-commission-s-history-described-infamous-bet" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 30 Sep 2026 05:48:20 +0000 admin 104709 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Tern turnaround: colonies in England show signs of recovery after decline https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tern-turnaround-colonies-england-show-signs-recovery-after-decline <p>National Trust says latest figures encouraging – with numbers of birds on the rise – but work still to be done</p> <p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tern-turnaround-colonies-england-show-signs-recovery-after-decline" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 30 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000 admin 104707 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org An EV sold every 100 seconds: Australian demand for electric cars more than doubles https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ev-sold-every-100-seconds-australian-demand-electric-cars-more-doubles <p>A record 157,957 new EVs were sold nationally between January and June, according to the Electric Vehicle Council</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/30/labor-anthony-albanese-coalition-polling-new-greens-leader-openai-hack-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ev-sold-every-100-seconds-australian-demand-electric-cars-more-doubles" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 30 Sep 2026 02:02:20 +0000 admin 104706 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Antarctic winter sea ice falls to third-lowest level on record as scientists warn of ‘now problem’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/antarctic-winter-sea-ice-falls-third-lowest-level-record-scientists-warn-now-problem <p>Coverage levels fall a million square kilometres short of the long-term average, with global heating likely driving losses</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/sep/30/labor-anthony-albanese-coalition-polling-new-greens-leader-openai-hack-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/antarctic-winter-sea-ice-falls-third-lowest-level-record-scientists-warn-now-problem" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:04 +0000 admin 104705 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org EPA union sues Trump administration to restore collective bargaining contract https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/epa-union-sues-trump-administration-restore-collective-bargaining-contract <p>Federal workers’ union alleges EPA illegally terminated agreement with the goal of repressing political dissent</p> <p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/epa-union-sues-trump-administration-restore-collective-bargaining-contract" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:28:31 +0000 admin 104704 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-west-water-fined-8m-hundreds-sewage-spills-cornwall-and-devon <p>District judge orders record fine for region and says incidents of pollution cannot be tolerated</p> <p>A water company <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reckless-south-west-water-fined-78-million">has been ordered to pay a record fine of almost £8m for hundreds of sewage spills </a>at popular bathing spots and sensitive habitats in Cornwall and Devon.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/south-west-water-fined-8m-hundreds-sewage-spills-cornwall-and-devon" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 29 Sep 2026 15:19:57 +0000 admin 104703 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘It’s just cruel’: US households hit by surge in electricity shutoffs amid record hot summer https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-just-cruel-us-households-hit-surge-electricity-shutoffs-amid-record-hot-summer <p>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</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/july-hottest-month-ever-recorded-heatwaves">record</a> 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.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-just-cruel-us-households-hit-surge-electricity-shutoffs-amid-record-hot-summer" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:00:51 +0000 admin 104702 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The night sky is getting 10% brighter every year. We’re forgetting what darkness feels like https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/night-sky-getting-10-brighter-every-year-we-re-forgetting-what-darkness-feels <p>If more cities start regulating outdoor lighting, we humans could make the environment better for all living creatures</p> <p>Every night, I can turn off the lights in my room – but I can’t do anything about the outdoor lights in the walkway or parking lot that leak through the curtains.<strong> </strong>Living in Portland, where the night is still illuminated by street lights, porch lights and parking lot glare, I forgot what it actually feels like to sleep in darkness.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/night-sky-getting-10-brighter-every-year-we-re-forgetting-what-darkness-feels" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:00:49 +0000 admin 104701 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org New English homes in flood-risk areas could become uninsurable, says Aviva boss https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/new-english-homes-flood-risk-areas-could-become-uninsurable-says-aviva-boss <p>Amanda Blanc says flooding threat is ‘absolutely increasing’, as she also warns ministers over ‘kite flying’ before budget</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/sep/29/anthropic-ipo-warning-existential-risks-to-humanity-from-ai-astrazeneca-2bn-cancer-drug-tie-up-diesel-stock-market-live-news-updates">Business live – latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/new-english-homes-flood-risk-areas-could-become-uninsurable-says-aviva-boss" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:28:48 +0000 admin 104700 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org