Emma Bryce

Researchers monitoring sperm whales off Dominica found that the animals change both the tempo and type of their clicking codas when ships are nearby, including shifts in vowel‑like sound patterns. Analysis of more than 1,000 recordings showed faster click intervals and increased use of an “aaaa” coda in noisy conditions. Scientists suggest the changes may reflect communication adjustments in response to shipping noise, though debate remains over how closely whale communication aligns with human linguistic concepts. Further study is needed to determine whether whales are altering meaning or compensating for acoustic interference.

Adam Root, founder of Bristol-based Matter Industries, has developed a self-cleaning filter that captures microfibres discharged by washing machines. The company says the device captures 97% of fibres and is expanding across Europe, with plans for the US and industrial pilots in textile factories. Experts support filtration as a useful intervention but warn that many fibres are released while clothing is being worn, meaning better textile design and systemic action through a global plastics treaty are also necessary. Root argues that filters can reduce pollution immediately while longer-term reforms develop.

Norway, the largest donor to the UN Environment Programme, is reviewing several funding agreements and has postponed a £4m–£6m annual programme supporting plastic-pollution projects in developing countries. The uncertainty is raising concern among environmental groups and countries involved in negotiations for a global plastics treaty, which have stalled after six rounds and are expected to resume in early 2027. Norway co-leads the high-ambition coalition seeking a legally binding agreement covering plastics’ full life cycle, while petrostates oppose production limits. Norwegian officials say funding remains under assessment, with a stated ambition to spend 1bn kroner on plastic-pollution efforts between 2025 and 2028, but NGOs fear the review could weaken Norway’s leadership and give other countries an excuse to lower their ambitions. The funding debate comes as Norway faces domestic budget pressure while continuing to approve new North Sea gasfield development.

Oriente Salvaje, a 19-kilometre surf region on El Salvador’s eastern coast, is piloting what could be the first parametric insurance policy designed for surfing. Increasingly intense storms disrupt waves, transport and the local economy, where about 70% of surveyed businesses’ income depends on surf tourism. Developed by Save the Waves with Willis Towers Watson, the policy would issue rapid payouts when rainfall reaches a threshold associated with major declines in surfer visits and income. The insurer and payout size are still being determined, with a pilot hoped for before the 2026 rainy season. Organisers also want future payments to support mangrove and watershed restoration, but face challenges including limited insurance uptake and funding premiums. Experts stress that insurance should complement disaster planning, ecosystem restoration and stronger infrastructure.

Luis Vayas Valdivieso, chair of the stalled UN plastics treaty negotiations, plans to resign for personal and professional reasons after three years of talks ended without agreement in Geneva. His departure deepens uncertainty over a treaty intended to address plastic pollution, particularly after negotiators rejected draft texts that omitted production limits, hazardous chemicals and full-lifecycle measures. Vayas Valdivieso also questioned UNEP's conduct after reports that staff held a covert meeting encouraging civil society groups to pressure him to step down. UNEP said its executive director was unaware of the gathering and that the matter is being handled under UN rules. Environmental groups say the resignation highlights dysfunction and that trust must be urgently rebuilt.

Negotiators from 184 countries failed in Geneva to agree on a global treaty addressing plastic pollution after disputes over whether the pact should impose legally binding limits on plastic production and controls on toxic chemicals. France, the EU, the UK, Pacific island states and other ambitious countries blamed a small group of obstructive states, including petrostate participants, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait criticized the drafts as unbalanced. China called the breakdown a temporary setback and urged renewed cooperation. The session was adjourned rather than formally ended, leaving open the possibility of resumed talks, though delegates and environmental groups said a new negotiating approach may be necessary.

Negotiations among 184 countries for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution remain deadlocked in Geneva. Countries seeking production caps and controls on plastic chemicals rejected a draft as too weak, while oil-producing states led by Saudi Arabia opposed what they saw as excessive scope and red lines. Environmental groups warned that consensus rules were allowing a minority to block meaningful measures and urged governments to protect frontline and Indigenous communities. Mexico said it would accept a simple treaty only if key components remained, while Fiji officials said further diplomatic options were available despite the planetary-health emergency.

Negotiations on the first legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution have stalled a day before their scheduled conclusion. Nearly 100 countries, including Colombia, the EU, the UK and many African and Pacific states, rejected a draft that omits binding limits on plastic production, controls on toxic chemicals and financial obligations. Oil- and plastic-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran, favor a narrower focus on waste management, recycling and reuse, reportedly with US and chemical-industry support. Delegates and Greenpeace condemned the text as inadequate and a retreat from earlier drafts, while negotiators continued efforts in Geneva to reach an agreement.

More than 200 oil, petrochemical and plastics industry lobbyists are attending resumed UN negotiations in Geneva on a global plastics treaty, outnumbering the combined delegations of the 27 EU states and exceeding the representation of scientists and Indigenous peoples. The Centre for International Environmental Law says lobbyists are seeking to weaken provisions on production limits, hazardous chemicals and financing, with some embedded in national delegations. Negotiations remain divided between more than 100 countries advocating an ambitious treaty and an industry-aligned group led by oil- and plastics-producing states that rejects production caps. The United States is reported to be siding with the latter group. Industry representatives dispute claims of disproportionate influence, while campaigners argue their privileged access gives them greater power than their numbers suggest. The talks are scheduled to conclude on 14 August, although the death of Ghana’s environment minister could affect African Group participation.

Shipping produces about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than aviation. UK startup Seabound has developed a container-sized system filled with quicklime pellets that converts captured exhaust carbon into limestone; ship trials captured 78% of the carbon and 90% of the sulphur passing through the unit. The technology can be installed incrementally on existing vessels, potentially helping operators meet tightening emissions rules while cleaner fuels become available. However, producing the fresh quicklime is itself carbon-intensive, supplies of renewable or “green” lime are limited, and climate-policy groups warn that onboard carbon capture must not delay zero-emission fuels such as ammonia or wind-assisted propulsion. Seabound is seeking to scale the system, with a commitment to install full-scale units on ships and ambitions to operate across hundreds or thousands of vessels.

Negotiators in Busan are attempting to finalize a UN treaty addressing plastic pollution across its full lifecycle after two years of deadlock. A draft includes either a global target to reduce plastic production or no production-control language, with the choice expected to determine the treaty’s ambition. A coalition of 102 countries, led by Pacific island states and Panama and including the EU and African nations, supports production limits, while Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other low-ambition countries favor focusing on waste management. Disputes over consensus and voting procedures could still prevent agreement by the Sunday deadline, though the expanding pro-reduction coalition has revived hopes of a breakthrough.

Global leaders meeting in Busan are negotiating a treaty to curb plastic pollution, with five everyday products illustrating the scale and uneven distribution of the problem. Multilayer sachets in Indonesia are largely unrecyclable; synthetic clothing exported to Ghana and Kenya often ends up in landfills; plastic drinks bottles are a major source of Caribbean litter; composite Tetra Pak cartons remain difficult to recycle in Vietnam; and synthetic wet wipes clog UK sewers and pollute beaches. Companies including Unilever, Shein, Coca-Cola and Tetra Pak describe recycling, refill or lower-impact-material initiatives, while campaigners argue that harmonized global restrictions are needed to prevent pollution being shifted between countries.

Bivalve veganism holds that oysters and mussels can be eaten without violating vegan ethics because they lack a brain and may be unable to experience pain. The Vegan Society rejects this definitionally, while philosopher Peter Singer argues that the ethical concern is suffering rather than labels and considers eating some bivalves justified. Researcher Lynne Sneddon says oysters and mussels show nociceptive responses and possess diffuse nerve systems, but science has not established whether they feel sensory pain. The debate also encompasses ecological impacts, including damage from dredging, pollution and biodiversity concerns associated with large-scale farms. Alex Karol continues to eat sustainably sourced oysters but remains open to becoming fully vegan if evidence changes.

A practical guide to volunteering, citizen-science projects and wildlife-friendly visits that support the UK’s coastline. Suggested activities include monitoring seaweed, seabirds, seals and other marine species; removing plastic pollution; restoring seagrass and oyster reefs; and taking part in rock-pool surveys. Recommended destinations include Plymouth’s developing national marine park, Devon’s surfing reserve, Jersey’s snorkel trails, the Outer Hebrides, and Norfolk’s grey seal colonies, with an emphasis on observing wildlife responsibly.

Volunteers surveying marine life beneath Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight document species ranging from anemones and crabs to seagrass and nudibranch eggs as part of the Shoresearch citizen-science programme. Their data helps track ecological changes, including a notable decline in sea squirts, and has previously contributed to the creation of marine conservation zones. The survey also builds local knowledge and gives participants a tangible way to support coastal conservation amid wider environmental decline.

UK consumers rely heavily on a small group of seafood species—especially cod, salmon, tuna, pollack and prawns—while much locally caught fish is exported and much of what is eaten is imported. Industrial fishing, supermarket convenience, aspirational food trends and changing lifestyles have narrowed diets, increasing pressure on fish stocks, aquaculture systems, ecosystems and labour conditions. Experts argue that no seafood choice is universally sustainable because impacts depend on the species, fishery, farming method, transport and social conditions. Expanding demand for locally caught and underused species such as herring, sardines, mussels, scallops and trout, supported by better consumer guidance and government and industry action, could reduce pressure on popular species and cut waste.

Richard Thompson, who identified and named microplastics, argues that ocean cleanups and biodegradable plastics cannot resolve the crisis while global production and single-use packaging continue to grow. As nations negotiate a UN plastics treaty, he urges policymakers to reduce unnecessary plastics, redesign products for reuse and recycling, limit chemical additives, and address pollution at its land-based sources. Research on textiles, packaging and tyres shows that upstream regulation and product redesign could significantly reduce microplastic leakage.

A deteriorating oil-storage tanker carrying about 1 million barrels of crude sat in Yemen’s war zone for years, threatening a spill that could devastate Red Sea ecosystems, fisheries, freshwater infrastructure and humanitarian supply routes. UN coordinator David Gressly helped negotiate cooperation between the Houthi movement and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, while an unusual fundraising campaign secured $121m from governments, private donors and the public, including US schoolchildren. A UN emergency loan covered the remaining funding gap, allowing the replacement tanker MT Yemen and salvage teams to transfer the oil safely in July and August 2023. The FSO Safer still needs to be towed away and scrapped, while disputes remain over ownership and the eventual oil proceeds. Greenpeace also criticized oil companies including TotalEnergies and Exxon for failing to bear a larger share of the costs.

Delegates from 180 nations agreed on the basic direction of a legally binding global treaty to address plastic pollution, overcoming procedural disputes at talks in Paris. The proposed agreement could regulate or phase out some harmful chemicals and products, address microplastics, limit production, and establish financing for the transition. Pacific island states and affected communities urged upstream controls and stronger protections, while civil society groups criticized the influence of oil, petrochemical and plastics industries and restricted access for observers. Negotiators planned to draft the treaty over further meetings, with a final agreement targeted for late 2024 and entry into force as early as 2025.

North-east Atlantic mackerel has been downgraded from green to amber by the Marine Conservation Society after fishing nations repeatedly exceeded scientific catch advice because they could not agree on quota sharing. Declining survival of young fish, changing ocean conditions, reduced prey and disease are adding pressure to stocks. Consumers do not need to stop eating mackerel entirely, but are advised to choose line-caught fish where possible, diversify toward alternatives such as European anchovies and sardines, and check the origin and sustainability rating of individual fisheries. Governments must agree on a fair catch allocation before the species can regain a green rating, while retailers and seafood companies face growing pressure to improve sourcing policies.