Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Global spending on subsidies that harm environment rises to $2.6tn, report says

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:01:44 +0000

Exclusive: analysis finds $800bn increase in direct support for activities including deforestation and fossil fuel use

The world is spending at least $2.6tn (£2tn) a year on subsidies that drive global heating and destroy nature, according to new analysis.

Fossil fuel companies sponsor $5.6bn in global ‘sportswashing’ deals

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:01:41 +0000

Thinktank says funding from oil and gas firms is attempt to ‘divert attention from their role in fuelling the climate crisis’

Fossil fuel companies pumped at least $5.6bn (£4.2bn) of sponsorship money into motorsports, football, golf and even snow sports in an effort to “buy social licence to operate”, according to a new report.

Almost no major spectator sport remains untouched by oil and gas money, according to research carried out by the New Weather Institute (NWI), a climate thinktank, which traced more than 200 sponsorship deals between sports teams and the industry.

Man accused of arson in devastating California wildfire pleads not guilty

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:44:59 +0000

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, was denied bail and entered his plea from jail in a video arraignment Tuesday

A California man has pleaded not guilty to starting a fire that authorities said ballooned into the rapidly spreading Line fire that has scorched at least 39,000 acres (15,783 hectares) and forced the evacuations of thousands of homes.

Online court records show that Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, entered the plea from jail in a video arraignment Tuesday in the San Bernardino city of Rancho Cucamonga. He was denied bail and appointed an attorney, the records show.

Soil footprint: a simple indicator of a crop's impact on soil erosion

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:03:50 +0000

A research team proposes a method to calculate, compare and communicate how different crops affect the loss of agricultural soil, with the aim of raising awareness of this problem and promoting solutions to preserve this vital resource.

Expanding Victoria’s largest goldmine could affect nearby houses and contaminate groundwater, locals say

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 15:00:32 +0000

Plans to expand Fosterville mine near Bendigo would have economic benefits but some locals are concerned about increased seismic activity

Portugal wildfire deaths rise to seven after firefighters trapped in blaze

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:39:14 +0000

More than 50 people injured as 54 fires burn across country amid hot, dry and windy weather

Seven people have been killed and more than 50 injured in wildfires ravaging central and northern Portugal, authorities have said, after three firefighters died on Tuesday when their vehicle was trapped in flames.

Portugal’s civil protection service said 54 wildfires were burning nationwide, mainly in the north, with 5,300 firefighters mobilised. France, Greece, Italy and Spain sent eight water-bombing planes through the EU’s mutual assistance mechanism.

Norway: electric cars outnumber petrol for first time in ‘historic milestone’

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:39:09 +0000

Nordic country, paradoxically a major oil producer, has set target for all new cars sold to be zero emission

Electric cars now outnumber petrol cars in Norway for the first time, an industry organisation has said, a world first that puts the country on track towards taking fossil fuel vehicles off the road.

Of the 2.8m private cars registered in the Nordic country, 754,303 are all-electric, against 753,905 that run on petrol, the Norwegian road federation (OFV) said in a statement.

Ed Davey says Liberal Democrats will be ‘responsible opposition’ to Labour – as it happened

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:42:32 +0000

Lib Dem leader speaks about importance of care and carers as he addresses final day of party conference. This live blog is closed

Central Europe braces for further flooding as swollen rivers continue to rise

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 10:40:05 +0000

Deadly Storm Boris has dumped up to five times average September rainfall in four days

Storm Boris batters central Europe – in pictures

As swollen rivers continued to rise, volunteers and emergency workers in towns and cities across a swathe of central Europe were reinforcing defences against floods that have killed at least 21 people in four countries.

Albanese targets Greens on ‘gesture-based’ climate politics in speech defending Labor’s business policies

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 10:30:25 +0000

PM says Labor’s nature-positive legislation provides ‘vital certainty’ and talks up mutual respect in an address before the Business Council of Australia