Breaking Waves: Ocean News

‘It’s put the joy levels up’: the flood-prone London school with a climate-adapted playground

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:31 +0000

When pupils could no longer play outside, St John’s school in Barnet decided to act, enlisting Trees for Cities to help rethink its outside space

The play area at St John’s Church of England primary in Barnet, north London, used to flood so severely it was often unusable. “It would get so bad that the children couldn’t be dismissed from the playground,” says Maccie Dobbie, the school’s head teacher. “We had to dismiss them from different parts of the school or, literally, parents were stepping into puddles to lift their children out of the classroom.”

Torrential rain and floods kill at least 25 people in southern and central China – video

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 13:50:42 +0000

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes, with heavy rain expected to continue across southern and central parts of the country – including Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan provinces – with a high risk of further landslides and flash floods

Record number of dams dismantled in Europe in effort to help wildlife thrive

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 12:14:22 +0000

Weirs, culverts and sluices among 602 barriers demolished in year in attempt to restore 15,500 miles of rivers by 2030

A few miles downstream from a lava field in western Iceland, the gargle of free-flowing water is unbroken for the first time in decades after hydraulic peckers chipped away at a dilapidated dam that once powered a farm. The structure on the River Melsá had continued to block fish migration long after falling into disrepair.

Colombia’s climate crossroads: Trumpism casts shadow over presidential battle

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:41:10 +0000

Colombia is a global leader in climate activism. Could US influence drag country to a future of mining and fracking?

Several hours after dark in a quiet Caribbean neighbourhood, a cluster of environmental activists gather on plastic chairs between a mango tree and a courtyard wall emblazoned with the words “Colombia, respira!” (Breathe, Colombia).

Republicans could abandon $1bn proposal for Trump’s ballroom – US politics live

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:39:51 +0000

Republican senators have queried the timing and lack of detail in secret service bid to add money to the Department for Homeland security bill

Pauline Hanson announces Norway-inspired gas policy as she decries 25% export tax as ‘economic vandalism’

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:15:28 +0000

One Nation proposal would abolish offshore gas profits tax and acquire 30% equity in new projects in a move the Coalition says is ‘borrowed from Venezuela’

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England must harvest rainfall and take action on water usage, Lords warn

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:01:01 +0000

Without urgent intervention England faces water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, peers tell government

Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, the government has been told.

Tentacles, pointy teeth and the T-rex of the sea: the Natural History Museum on beasts that once ruled the oceans

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:01:01 +0000

A new exhibition, Jurassic Oceans, showcases the fearsome creatures that lurked below the surface – and offers a stark warning about the impact of warming waters on marine ecosystems today

Deep in the bowels of the Natural History Museum, Kate Whittington is standing in front of the skeleton of a 23ft plesiosaur, one of prehistoric Earth’s most fearsome marine reptiles, explaining how it would eat us for dinner, were it still around today.

Toxic chemicals in pet flea treatments harming wildlife, UK study warns

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:02 +0000

Flea treatment chemicals fipronil and imidacloprid also implicated in lower cognitive scores in children with autism

Toxic chemicals found in pet flea treatment are devastating wildlife in rivers, parks and special conservation areas and the government should take urgent action to limit their use, according to a study.

UN backs historic climate crisis ruling, despite US attempts to stop resolution

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 03:18:27 +0000

The US, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia – some of the highest oil-producing nations and major greenhouse gas emitters – opposed the measure

The UN has voted 141-8 to adopt a resolution backing a world court opinion that countries have a legal obligation to address climate change, with the US – which is the world’s biggest historical emitter – among the small group opposing it.