Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Developing countries told to reject ‘bad deal’ as Cop29 talks falter https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/developing-countries-told-reject-bad-deal-cop29-talks-falter <p>Talk of a walk-out from poor country groupings grows in response to ‘unacceptable’ and ‘insulting’ finance proposal</p> <p>Developing countries were being urged by civil society groups to reject “a bad deal” at the UN climate talks on Friday night, after rich nations refused to increase <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/22/cop29-250bn-climate-finance-offer-from-rich-world-an-insult-critics-say">an “insulting” offer of finance</a> to help them tackle the climate crisis.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/developing-countries-told-reject-bad-deal-cop29-talks-falter" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:17:47 +0000 admin 98048 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Asheville restores drinking water 53 days after Hurricane Helene - but not all are ready to sip https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/asheville-restores-drinking-water-53-days-after-hurricane-helene-not-all-are-ready-sip <p>Residents concerned as North Carolina city lifts boil advisory and scientists detect lead in water at area schools</p> <p>When the western <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/northcarolina">North Carolina</a> town Swannanoa was battered by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/hurricane-helene">Hurricane Helene</a> in September, two large trees crushed Stephen Knight’s home. His family of six was launched into a complicated web of survival: finding a temporary home, applying for disaster relief, filing insurance claims.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/asheville-restores-drinking-water-53-days-after-hurricane-helene-not-all-are-ready-sip" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:23:26 +0000 admin 98046 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Rachel Reeves standing firm against U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/rachel-reeves-standing-firm-against-u-turn-inheritance-tax-farmers <p>Chancellor understood to be determined to keep policy despite Treasury analysing ways to soften impact</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/rachel-reeves">Rachel Reeves</a> is holding firm against a U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers, despite the Treasury analysing ways of softening the impact.</p> <p>The chancellor is understood to be determined not to drop the policy even though some Labour MPs – and even ministers – are worrying about the political fallout of the policy that has led to farmers protesting in Westminster this week.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/rachel-reeves-standing-firm-against-u-turn-inheritance-tax-farmers" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:51:30 +0000 admin 98047 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘An AI Fukushima is inevitable’: scientists discuss technology’s immense potential and dangers https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ai-fukushima-inevitable-scientists-discuss-technology-s-immense-potential-and-dangers <p>Experts are optimistic about energy and drug production breakthroughs but also fear its potential misuse</p> <p>When better to hold a conference on artificial intelligence and the countless ways it is advancing science than in those brief days between the first Nobel prizes being awarded in the field and the winners heading to Stockholm for the lavish white tie ceremony?</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/ai-fukushima-inevitable-scientists-discuss-technology-s-immense-potential-and-dangers" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:20:39 +0000 admin 98044 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘It’s really an honour’: people of oil-rich Azerbaijan welcome climate summit https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-really-honour-people-oil-rich-azerbaijan-welcome-climate-summit <p>Cop29 is taking place in a country whose economy has long been dependent on its oil reserves</p> <p>Oil runs deep in Azerbaijan, the host country of this year’s UN climate summit. Just 30 minutes south-west of the Cop29 conference centre lies the site of the world’s first industrially drilled oil well, opened in 1846.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-really-honour-people-oil-rich-azerbaijan-welcome-climate-summit" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:51:29 +0000 admin 98045 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org California limits on ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS in products are effective, study says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/california-limits-forever-chemicals-pfas-products-are-effective-study-says <p>Levels in people’s blood for 37 chemicals linked to health issues declined after they were designated under Prop 65</p> <p>California’s nation-leading restrictions on toxic chemicals in consumer products reduced the population’s body levels for many dangerous compounds linked to cancer, birth defects, reproductive harm and other serious health issues.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/california-limits-forever-chemicals-pfas-products-are-effective-study-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:00:17 +0000 admin 98043 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife in pictures: a naughty weasel, guard bees and a Sopranos bear https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-pictures-naughty-weasel-guard-bees-and-sopranos-bear <p>The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2024/nov/22/week-in-wildlife-in-pictures-a-naughty-weasel-guard-bees-and-a-sopranos-bear">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:00:09 +0000 admin 98042 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Look at the farmers’ protest, and then ask yourself: how will we ever make tax fairer amid such grumbling? | Polly Toynbee https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/look-farmers-protest-and-then-ask-yourself-how-will-we-ever-make-tax-fairer-amid-such- <p>Labour inherited a dire situation that needed desperate change – but powerful lobbies make any tax reform near-impossible</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/look-farmers-protest-and-then-ask-yourself-how-will-we-ever-make-tax-fairer-amid-such-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:00:09 +0000 admin 98041 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UAE urges countries to honour fossil fuels vow amid Cop29 impasse https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uae-urges-countries-honour-fossil-fuels-vow-amid-cop29-impasse <p>Petrostate’s rebuke comes as Saudi Arabia and allies try to derail transition promise made at climate talks last year</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2024/nov/22/cop-29-live-poor-countries-may-have-to-compromise-on-climate-funding-says-former-un-envoy">Cop29 climate summit – live updates</a></li> </ul> <p>The world must stand behind a historic resolution made last year to “transition away from fossil fuels”, the United Arab Emirates has said, in a powerful intervention into a damaging row over climate action.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uae-urges-countries-honour-fossil-fuels-vow-amid-cop29-impasse" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:34:30 +0000 admin 98040 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Cop 29: new draft text criticised as ‘totally unacceptable and inadequate’ – as it happened https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop-29-new-draft-text-criticised-totally-unacceptable-and-inadequate-it-happened <p>Text ‘decides’ on $250bn for developing countries by 2035 – but faces criticism from African Group of Negotiators</p> <p><strong>A new text of the Cop29 deal has yet to emerge, but civil society activists have not given up hope</strong>, <em>reports Damian Carrington, Guardian environment editor.</em></p> <p>Hilda Nakabuye, 27, from Fridays for Future campaign group in Uganda, said:</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/cop-29-new-draft-text-criticised-totally-unacceptable-and-inadequate-it-happened" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:20:41 +0000 admin 98038 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org