Did you know that personal care products send cocktails of chemicals into the oceans? The sunscreen that snorkelers, beachgoers and children romping in the waves lather on for protection is killing coral and reefs around the globe. And a new study finds that a single drop in a small area is all it takes for the chemicals in the lotion to mount an attack. The study was … [Read more...]
An uncertain future for our living blue planet
A new report on the health of the ocean finds that the marine vertebrate population has declined by 49 percent between 1970 and 2012. WWF’s Living Blue Planet Report tracks 5,829 populations of 1,234 mammal, bird, reptile, and fish species through a marine living planet index. The evidence, analyzed by researchers at the Zoological Society of London, paints a troubling … [Read more...]
99% of all seabirds will have ingested plastic by 2050
Most seabirds have already eaten plastic in the oceans, and scientists project that 99 percent will have done so by 2050. Plastics are pervasive in the world's waters due to pollution, and birds - including albatrosses, penguins and gulls - can mistake brightly colored bottle tops or other fragments for food. Birds can become sick and die if they ingest too much … [Read more...]
Next decade decisive for Earth’s future
The next 10 years will be decisive when it comes to the planet's future - what we do (or don't) will play out over geologic time. It could, if we set our minds to it, be the decade when the planet's use of fossil fuels peaks and then rapidly declines. We've built a movement that, for the moment, is starting to tie down the fossil fuel industry: from the tar sands of … [Read more...]
Global mean methane levels are higher than ever
At no time in the past did humans exist under conditions that we are facing now, no matter how far back you go in history. Global mean methane levels as high as 1840 parts per billion were recorded on August 4, 2015. This is the highest mean level since records began. This new record is likely to be superseded by even higher levels soon. The carbon dioxide that is … [Read more...]
Ocean warming and acidification needs more attention
The international community must focus more on the impact of climate change on the oceans, amid growing concern over changes affecting corals, shellfish and other marine life, said the US government. The US will raise the issue at United Nations climate talks in Paris later this year. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be asked to devote more … [Read more...]
Scientists alarmed about ‘seismic blasting’ in the Arctic Ocean
Firing seismic airguns to find new oil reserves in the Arctic Ocean is ‘alarming’ and could seriously injure whales and other marine life, according to a new scientific review. The oil industry is increasingly looking towards the region as climate change melts large areas of Arctic sea ice. A Norwegian company operating off east Greenland recently began firing airguns that … [Read more...]
Plastic is killing the planet - here’s how we can turn the tide
“EVERY single piece of plastic that has ever been created since the 19th century is still SOMEWHERE on our planet. So if it never goes away, where does it go?” — this is the startling idea behind the eye-opening documentary, Plastic Paradise. Plastic is difficult to escape. Simply walk through your local supermarket and take in the sheer number of products housed in plastic. … [Read more...]
Protect our oceans from seabed mining!
Massive companies are rushing to mine the fragile ocean floor. But the twenty-four people who make the rules are meeting this week, and we can stop this plunder if we back scientists’ warnings with a massive wake-up call. For years they’ve poisoned rivers, devastated forests and displaced communities, and now massive companies are rushing to dig up the seabed for precious … [Read more...]
Saving the world’s seventh largest economy - the ocean
These are the most challenging times in our history. With a thirst for higher living standards and the need to support a global population set to hit 9bn by mid-century, we are overwhelming nature. Science tells us that we are pushing natural limits on climate, biodiversity, nutrient cycles, freshwater and ocean health. While research has never been clearer on defining … [Read more...]
Collective efforts needed to reduce plastic litter in the oceans
“South Africa has what it takes to become one of the world leaders in reducing the amount of litter that ends up in our oceans. Not only do we possess some of the most beautiful, diverse and dramatic coastlines in the world – teeming with a wide variety of different marine animals – but we also have private individuals, companies, research institutions and government … [Read more...]
Shell’s Arctic oil rig departs Seattle as ‘kayaktivists’ warn of disaster
After a final protest by kayak-paddling activists, Shell’s deep-sea oil drilling rig left the port of Seattle, headed for Alaska’s Chukchi Sea – and, environmentalists say, towards imminent disaster. Called the Polar Pioneer, the ship arrived in Seattle in mid-May, shortly after the Obama administration’s controversial approval of exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic. It … [Read more...]
How oil spills can literally break fish hearts
There is a new plight to hit our shores - that of the baby fish altered for life by the oil spills off the Gulf of Mexico. Oil-slathered birds were a potent symbol of the ecological cost of millions of gallons of oil that flowed into the Gulf of Mexico five years ago. But the less-visible plight of baby fish may offer a more far-reaching legacy. Lab experiments show that … [Read more...]
