EU Confirms Plastic Bag Reduction
The new EU law will require governments to cut annual use of lightweight plastic bags. This represents a reduction from current use of 50% by the end of 2019 and 80% by the end of 2025. This is an historic moment for all of Europe.
Environmental Clearance Confusion Leads to a Spurt in Illegal Mining, India
A rise in cases of illegal sand mining is being imputed to the requirement of obtaining environment clearance, as mandated in the Deepak Kumar judgment given by the apex court of India.
Gabon Announces World’s Newest Underwater Reserve, Rich in Threatened Wildlife
The central African nation of Gabon recently declared almost a quarter of its territorial sea off-limits to commercial fishing, creating a first-of-its-kind network of marine protected areas in the region.
Poole Beach Storm Damage Sand Pumping Works Begin
More than 40,000 cubic metres (1.4m cubic feet) of sand is being pumped on to a Dorset beach to protect nearby homes from storms.
A Luxury Resort Threatens Belize’s Mesoamerican Reef
Belize’s Lighthouse Reef Atoll is the home of the world-famous Great Blue Hole, a massive underwater sinkhole and World Heritage Site. But two of the islands that make up this special place could soon be dredged and paved to make way for race cars, golfers, and a tarmac.
Small ‘Underwater Pompeii’ Found Off Greek Island
emains of an ancient settlement, complete with a ruined pottery workshop, have been found on the bottom of the Aegean sea off the small island of Delos, the Greek ministry of culture has announced.
Explosion at Fieldwood Platform in Gulf of Mexico
An explosion at oil and gas operator Fieldwood Energy’s Echo Platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday killed one person and injured at least one, but no pollution was reported, a U.S. safety agency and the company said.
EU Set to Approve Historic Deal to Cut Plastic Bag Use
A “historic” deal to cut Europe’s throwaway plastic bag culture is expected to be approved on Monday, which would cut the number of bags Europeans use each year by more than three quarters in just over a decade’s time…
Salinity Counts When it Comes to Sea Level
Using ocean observations and a large suite of climate models, scientists have found that long-term salinity changes have a stronger influence on regional sea level changes than previously thought.