Five hot environmental issues to watch out for in 2024 from greenwashing to turbulence over turbines

There are five of the big climate and environment issues to keep your eye on for 2024:  global mass bleaching, First Nations water rights, greenwashing, biodiversity protection and offshore energy projects.

Norway's latest plan for Arctic deep sea mining will inevitably sink. The international outcry — with 119 European parliamentarians signing an open letter to their Norwegian colleagues, asking them to stop the opening process, and the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council, a Brussels-based group of national science academies, warning of the “dire consequences on marine ecosystems” — will only get louder as deep sea miners plan to force a political crisis by submitting the first-ever application to mine the global ocean later this year

Tardigrades may be nature's ultimate survivors. While these tiny, nearly translucent animals are easily overlooked, they represent a diverse group that has successfully colonized freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments on every continent, including Antarctica. Commonly known as "water bears", these unusual creatures may be among the most resilient organisms on the planet thanks to their unparalleled ability to survive extreme conditions.

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Five hot environmental issues to watch out for in 2024 from greenwashing to turbulence over turbines
There are five of the big climate and environment issues to keep your eye on for 2024:  global mass bleaching, First Nations water rights, greenwashing, biodiversity protection and offshore energy projects.

Norway's latest plan for Arctic deep sea mining will inevitably sink
The international outcry — with 119 European parliamentarians signing an open letter to their Norwegian colleagues, asking them to stop the opening process, and the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council, a Brussels-based group of national science academies, warning of the “dire consequences on marine ecosystems” — will only get louder as deep sea miners plan to force a political crisis by submitting the first-ever application to mine the global ocean later this year

Study highlights the complex genetic landscape that drives modern tardigrade ecology
Tardigrades may be nature's ultimate survivors. Commonly known as "water bears", these unusual creatures may be among the most resilient organisms on the planet thanks to their unparalleled ability to survive extreme conditions.

CA and Cricket for Climate Drive Change with NCC Solar Project
Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket for Climate have collaborated to install solar power at the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Brisbane. This will save $50,000 in energy costs in the first year alone while reducing the amount of carbon generated by the facility by approximately 398 tonnes each year.

Chris Minns says NSW needs to match Qld in its response to natural disasters
NSW Premier Chris Minns says NSW needs to catch up to Queensland in how it manages its response after natural disasters as global warning increases the occurrence and intensity of floods and bushfires.

Thousands of dolphins die off the French coast each year. Is a temporary fishing ban the answer?
France has introduced a temporary ban on nearly all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay in an effort to protect dolphins.

Why are there so many storms and are they getting worse? Met Office confirms Jocelyn after Isha disruption
People in parts of the UK have been warned not to travel as Storm Isha brings winds of up to 107mph, the Met Office has said. However, the bigger picture shows that human-caused climate change could bring about more regular storms. 

FEMA expands disaster aid for extreme weather events, citing climate change
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expanding eligibility for government assistance following extreme weather disasters, citing the impacts of climate change.

Alok Sharma urges ministers to heed climate ‘wake-up calls’
Ministers should heed the “wake-up calls” of freak flooding and storms, and put aside the distraction of new oil and gas licences to tackle climate change, a leading environmental Tory voice has said.