Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Cop29: talks go into overtime as countries wrangle over finance deal – live coverage

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:46:37 +0000

The talks in Azerbaijan have seen nations at odds over how much money developed countries should provide to poorer ones

As we wait for the new text to land it’s worth looking back at the closing summary from yesterday, when the conference should have ended.

Yesterday’s closing summary:

Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and twice a UN climate envoy, said rich country budgets were stretched amid inflation, Covid and conflicts including Russia’s war in Ukraine, and warned that poorer countries might have to compromise.

Slovenian girl, 12, saves project aiming to reintroduce cicadas to New Forest

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:00:35 +0000

Conservationists failed to capture elusive insects this summer, so Kristina Kenda offered to step in

When British conservationists flew to Slovenia this summer hoping to catch enough singing cicadas to reintroduce the species to the New Forest, the grasshopper-sized insects proved impossible to locate, flying elusively at great height between trees.

‘Protect the climate for whom?’: Palestinians highlight Gaza at Cop29

admin — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 05:00:33 +0000

Advocates and officials argue that consequences of Israeli siege are inextricably linked to tackling the climate crisis

As countries negotiate over climate finance, Palestinian officials and advocates have come to Cop29 in Baku to highlight global heating’s intersection with another crisis: Israel’s siege on Gaza.

Developing countries urged to reject ‘bad deal’ as Cop29 climate talks falter

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:17:47 +0000

Talk grows of a walkout from poor countries in response to ‘unacceptable’ and ‘insulting’ finance proposal

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 an “insulting” offer of finance to help them tackle the climate crisis.

Asheville restores drinking water 53 days after Hurricane Helene – but not all are ready to sip

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:23:26 +0000

Residents concerned as North Carolina city lifts boil advisory and scientists detect lead in water at area schools

When the western North Carolina town Swannanoa was battered by Hurricane Helene 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.

Rachel Reeves standing firm against U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 16:51:30 +0000

Chancellor understood to be determined to keep policy despite Treasury analysing ways to soften impact

Rachel Reeves is holding firm against a U-turn on inheritance tax for farmers, despite the Treasury analysing ways of softening the impact.

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 that has led to farmers protesting in Westminster this week.

‘An AI Fukushima is inevitable’: scientists discuss technology’s immense potential and dangers

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 13:20:39 +0000

Experts are optimistic about energy and drug production breakthroughs but also fear its potential misuse

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?

‘It’s really an honour’: people of oil-rich Azerbaijan welcome climate summit

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:51:29 +0000

Cop29 is taking place in a country whose economy has long been dependent on its oil reserves

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.

California limits on ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS in products are effective, study says

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:00:17 +0000

Levels in people’s blood for 37 chemicals linked to health issues declined after they were designated under Prop 65

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.

Week in wildlife in pictures: a naughty weasel, guard bees and a Sopranos bear

admin — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:00:09 +0000

The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world