Breaking Waves: Ocean News

More than 200 people have died in Valencia and neighbouring provinces after floods hit the east of Spain. According to the country’s national weather agency, Valencia received a year’s-worth of rain on 29 October, causing flash floods that destroyed homes and swept away vehicles Continue reading...

As leaders gather in Colombia for the global Cop16 nature summit, photographer Dougie Wallace captures the Indigenous Arhuaco, who are deeply involved in protecting the country’s biodiversity – and who have produced the region’s first Indigenous film-maker The Arhuaco live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast, which they consider the heart of the world. They are so respected that in recent years it has become tradition for each new Colombian president to be sworn in twice: once in the capital, Bogotá, and once in the Sierra with the Arhuaco. The Sierra, the highest tropical coastal mountain range in the world, is a biodiversity hotspot, in urgent need of safeguarding. This year, the Arhuaco, who are key to its protection, have been awarded the UN Development Programme’s Equator prize for rewilding and agroforestry for their work. Well-organised and very effective rewilders, the Arhuaco have been awarded a UN prize for their work for the environment Continue reading...

First-of-its-kind research highlights need for change to regulation, as humans almost always exposed to mixtures Mixtures of different types of PFAS compounds are often more toxic than single chemicals, first-of-its-kind research finds, suggesting humans’ exposure to the chemicals is more dangerous than previously thought. Humans are almost always exposed to more than one PFAS compound at a time, but regulatory agencies largely look at the chemicals in isolation from one another, meaning regulators are probably underestimating the health threat. Continue reading...

Planned two-day protest that involves thousands of protesters poses a safety risk, police argue Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A plan by climate activists to shut down the Port of Newcastle for 50 hours has been challenged by New South Wales police who have argued in a court challenge against the protest going ahead. Police are challenging the protest – which is planned for 19 November – in the supreme court. It’s the second time in a month police have challenged a protest in court. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...