Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves en Trump administration to slash clean car rules aimed at cutting climate emissions https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-administration-slash-clean-car-rules-aimed-cutting-climate-emissions <p>Environmentalists decry move that relaxes requirements on automakers to control pollution from gas-powered cars</p> <p>The Trump administration on Monday announced it was slashing clean car rules that had been aimed at reducing planet-heating emissions and boosting electric vehicles.</p> <p>The move, which was criticized by environmentalists, relaxes requirements on automakers to control pollution from gasoline-powered cars and light trucks for model years 2022 through 2031.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-administration-slash-clean-car-rules-aimed-cutting-climate-emissions" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:05:59 +0000 admin 104691 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Are these chemicals in my blood?’ How one community learned the truth about Pfas pollution https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/are-these-chemicals-my-blood-how-one-community-learned-truth-about-pfas-pollution <p>People living next to a chemicals plant near Blackpool were tested for ‘forever chemicals’. Last week they received the alarming results</p> <p>Last February, I got a call from a woman called Sam Hammond. We had been <a href="https://www.endsreport.com/article/1932246/reap-sow-exposing-lancashires-toxic-town">speaking on and off</a> for a while over her growing concern that her garden could be affected by pollution from a nearby chemical plant.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/are-these-chemicals-my-blood-how-one-community-learned-truth-about-pfas-pollution" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:54:50 +0000 admin 104692 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Heat pump sales soar across Europe after states cut electricity taxes, data shows https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/heat-pump-sales-soar-across-europe-after-states-cut-electricity-taxes-data-shows <p>EU to push member states to cut tax rate below duty on gas, with 11% surge in sales also put down to fallout from Iran war</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/sep/28/uk-housebuilders-stocks-new-homes-scheme-first-time-buyers-business-live-news">Business live – latest updates</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/sep/28/europe-ukraine-defence-ministers-pope-leo-france-visit-latest-news-updates">Europe live – latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/heat-pump-sales-soar-across-europe-after-states-cut-electricity-taxes-data-shows" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:53:52 +0000 admin 104690 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Decades of fossil fuel influence paved way for Trump’s assault on university research, study says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/decades-fossil-fuel-influence-paved-way-trump-s-assault-university-research-study-says <p>Fossil fuel firms have spent years trying to regulate climate research by donating to US universities, study authors argue</p> <p>Recent attacks on US universities by the Trump administration have built on decades of efforts by libertarian donor networks, fossil fuel companies and conservative thinktanks to reshape university governance and increase outside influence, according to a new study.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/decades-fossil-fuel-influence-paved-way-trump-s-assault-university-research-study-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:33 +0000 admin 104689 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Concern mounts over slow-moving, planetary-scale ‘Kelvin’ wave heading for California https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/concern-mounts-over-slow-moving-planetary-scale-kelvin-wave-heading-california <p>The ocean phenomenon could raise sea levels by up to a foot as El Niño keeps warm water trapped along the coast</p> <p>Concerns are mounting about an ocean phenomenon known as a Kelvin wave that could raise sea levels along the California coastline by up to a foot, as scientists say El Niño is supercharging the threat of storm surges and flooding in the coming months.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/concern-mounts-over-slow-moving-planetary-scale-kelvin-wave-heading-california" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:00:33 +0000 admin 104688 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Hormone-disrupting herbicide contaminating 25% of continental US rivers, report finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hormone-disrupting-herbicide-contaminating-25-continental-us-rivers-report-finds <p>Atrazine, banned in 60 countries, polluting rivers at levels that can harm wildlife and may threaten human health</p> <p>The hormone-disrupting herbicide atrazine is contaminating nearly 25%, or about 860,000 miles, of all continental US rivers at levels that can harm wildlife and may threaten human health, a <a href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/pesticides_reduction/atrazine/pdfs/Pernicious-Pesticide-report.pdf">new review of federal records</a> has found.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hormone-disrupting-herbicide-contaminating-25-continental-us-rivers-report-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:00:31 +0000 admin 104694 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The endangered native ponies of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides – a photo essay https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/endangered-native-ponies-eriskay-outer-hebrides-photo-essay <p>Fewer than 400 Eriskay ponies remain. One of the rarest native breeds in the world, their plight is unique because the community living on their tiny Hebridean island are fighting for them. The ponies wander the village and townsfolk care for them together</p> <p>On the slopes of Beinn Sciathan, a rocky outcrop in the Outer Hebrides, white and grey ponies roam freely. Eriskay ponies, one of the rarest native breeds in the world, are critically endangered.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/endangered-native-ponies-eriskay-outer-hebrides-photo-essay" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 06:00:25 +0000 admin 104686 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Thrilled’: huge swarms of bogong moths surprise NSW residents and may point to species’ recovery https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thrilled-huge-swarms-bogong-moths-surprise-nsw-residents-and-may-point-species-recover <p>Researcher says sightings of the endangered moth have increased over the last two years but ‘this year has blown them out of the water’</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/thrilled-huge-swarms-bogong-moths-surprise-nsw-residents-and-may-point-species-recover" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:48:50 +0000 admin 104687 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The power and potential of blue philanthropy https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/power-and-potential-blue-philanthropy <p>npj Ocean Sustainability, Published online: 28 September 2026; <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-026-00249-3">doi:10.1038/s44183-026-00249-3</a></p> <p>The power and potential of blue philanthropy</p> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 04:00:00 +0000 admin 104693 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Dog dies trying to protect northern California couple from bear attack https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/dog-dies-trying-protect-northern-california-couple-bear-attack <p>Couple was seriously injured after attack on 19 September and are mourning the death of their French bulldog </p> <p>A bear attack last weekend has left a California couple seriously injured and mourning the death of their French bulldog, who tried to protect them from the animal.</p> <p>In the early hours of 19 September, Jeff Wilson, who lives in rural northern California, let his dog Cassie go outside, the San Francisco Chronicle <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/bear-attack-radio-ranch-french-bull-22447341.php">reported</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/dog-dies-trying-protect-northern-california-couple-bear-attack" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Sun, 27 Sep 2026 22:22:38 +0000 admin 104685 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org