Breaking Waves: Ocean News

‘Catastrophe’: one person missing after Swiss glacier collapse destroys village

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 16:16:29 +0000

Homes in Blatten devastated after huge cloud of ice and rubble inundates evacuated town

A huge section of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has broken off, causing a deluge of ice, mud and rock to bury most of a village evacuated earlier this month due to the risk of a rockslide.

Drone footage broadcast by Swiss national broadcaster SRF showed a vast plain of mud and soil completely covering part of the village of Blatten, the river running through it and the wooded sides of the surrounding valley.

Hawaii will tax vacation stays and use money to help counter climate crisis

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 13:56:58 +0000

Tax expected to generate nearly $100m annually, to be used for projects such as replacing sand on eroding beaches

Hawaii’s governor signed legislation that boosts a tax imposed on hotel room and vacation rental stays in order to raise money to address the consequences of the climate crisis.

World faces new danger of ‘economic denial’ in climate fight, Cop30 head says

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 13:00:03 +0000

Exclusive: André Corrêa do Lago says ‘answers have to come from the economy’ as climate policies trigger populist-fuelled backlash

The world is facing a new form of climate denial – not the dismissal of climate science, but a concerted attack on the idea that the economy can be reorganised to fight the crisis, the president of global climate talks has warned.

Spain aims to ban flushing of wet wipes, with manufacturers paying for cleanup

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:43:23 +0000

Government’s draft legislation also includes ban on releasing disposable party balloons into the environment

The Spanish government is preparing a law that will oblige wet wipe manufacturers to cover the costs of cleaning huge wads of their product from the country’s clogged-up sewers and water-treatment plants.

‘We’re losing eyes on the coast’: death of Canadian lightkeeper casts doubt on future of shoreside guardians

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:00:10 +0000

The keeper’s death led to questions over safety, rattled the tightly knit group of sentinels and renewed de-staffing fears

On a cloudy but calm morning early in April, a helicopter touched down on a string of remote islands off British Columbia’s Pacific coast. One person alighted; two others climbed onboard and the aircraft rose into the sky.

German court dismisses Peruvian farmer’s climate lawsuit against RWE

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 10:04:04 +0000

Court rejects argument that man’s home is at risk from glacial flood but sets precedent that polluters may be held liable for costs

A German court has rejected a climate case brought by a Peruvian farmer against the German energy company RWE, but set a potentially important precedent on polluters’ liability for their carbon emissions.

New eco-hotel at Everglades national park built for age of super hurricanes

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 10:00:09 +0000

Flamingo Lodge – constructed from repurposed shipping containers on stilts – replaces Florida facility battered by hurricanes Katrina and Wilma

A collection of repurposed shipping containers, welded together and fitted out to create an innovative new eco-hotel inside one of the country’s most popular national parks, offers a vision of revival and resilience at the beginning of another potentially active Atlantic hurricane season.

‘People buy a lion and can’t handle it’: inside the farms breeding cubs for TikTok and Instagram likes

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 09:08:30 +0000

In Thailand, exotic pets are increasingly popular among the wealthy elite, but few are prepared for a long-term commitment and campaigners say many animals are kept in cruel conditions

Fund for nature-friendly farming to be slashed in UK spending review

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 08:33:48 +0000

Exclusive: Defra sources say scheme, which pays farmers to protect nature, will be targeted at ‘small farms’

The nature-friendly farming budget is set to be slashed in the UK spending review, with only small farms allowed to apply, it can be revealed.

Thames Water hit with £123m of fines over sewage and dividend breaches

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 07:27:48 +0000

As Ofwat imposes record fine for environmental failing, minister says ‘era of profiting from failure is over’

Business live – latest updates

Thames Water has been hit with a record £104m fine over environmental breaches involving sewage spills, after failing to operate and manage its treatment works and wastewater networks effectively.