Latest news with #WWF
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Maps reveal 'obstacle course' for migrating whales
Whales are forced to pick through a maze of hazards on their annual voyages north, including shark nets and busy shipping routes, mapping suggests. Whale-watching season is in full swing along Australia's east and west coasts as the underwater giants make the long trek to warmer waters. Humpbacks spend winter breeding in warm tropical waters before returning to southern Antarctica during summer to feed. Yet world-first interactive maps from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and more than 50 global research groups reveal a "dangerous and sometimes fatal obstacle course" for whales migrating through Australian waters. The publicly available maps overlay whale migration routes with shipping, fishing, climate and other information to better understand whale journeys. Global lead of the fund's protecting whales and dolphins initiative, Chris Johnson, said ship strikes, fishing gear, underwater noise, plastic pollution and climate change all posed hazards for the giant marine mammals. "Ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and shark nets are a growing concern on Australia's east coast, especially during humpback whale migration season," Mr Johnson said. The geographic information could help inform speed restrictions and vessel re-routing to minimise collisions, he said. A better understanding of whale migration patterns could also help the design of no-take zones and marine parks protected from fishing. "This platform transforms decades of science into a tool for action - showing when, where and how to protect whales in a rapidly changing ocean," Mr Johnson said. The maps have been released ahead of a major United Nations ocean conference in France in June, with greater protections for critical marine habitats top of the agenda. Securing the 60 country ratifications needed to lock in the all-important high seas biodiversity agreement would lay the foundation to safeguard 30 per cent of the world's oceans in marine sanctuaries by 2030. High temperatures and marine heatwaves are also influencing whale migration cues, with sightings on NSW's far south coast as early as March thought to have been linked to climatic changes in the Antarctic depleting food stocks. Krill, the tiny crustaceans baleen whales feed on, have been declining in some regions as their sea ice habitats shrink. Mr Johnson said patchy prey availability was potentially behind shifting migration patterns but there were still many unknowns and more research was needed. Healthy whale populations support the well-being of the entire ocean, with whales found to fertilise oceans and help boost phytoplankton production, which captures carbon dioxide and generates oxygen. "Thriving and healthy whale populations benefit nature and people," Mr Johnson said.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Maps reveal 'obstacle course' for migrating whales
Whales are forced to pick through a maze of hazards on their annual voyages north, including shark nets and busy shipping routes, mapping suggests. Whale-watching season is in full swing along Australia's east and west coasts as the underwater giants make the long trek to warmer waters. Humpbacks spend winter breeding in warm tropical waters before returning to southern Antarctica during summer to feed. Yet world-first interactive maps from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and more than 50 global research groups reveal a "dangerous and sometimes fatal obstacle course" for whales migrating through Australian waters. The publicly available maps overlay whale migration routes with shipping, fishing, climate and other information to better understand whale journeys. Global lead of the fund's protecting whales and dolphins initiative, Chris Johnson, said ship strikes, fishing gear, underwater noise, plastic pollution and climate change all posed hazards for the giant marine mammals. "Ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and shark nets are a growing concern on Australia's east coast, especially during humpback whale migration season," Mr Johnson said. The geographic information could help inform speed restrictions and vessel re-routing to minimise collisions, he said. A better understanding of whale migration patterns could also help the design of no-take zones and marine parks protected from fishing. "This platform transforms decades of science into a tool for action - showing when, where and how to protect whales in a rapidly changing ocean," Mr Johnson said. The maps have been released ahead of a major United Nations ocean conference in France in June, with greater protections for critical marine habitats top of the agenda. Securing the 60 country ratifications needed to lock in the all-important high seas biodiversity agreement would lay the foundation to safeguard 30 per cent of the world's oceans in marine sanctuaries by 2030. High temperatures and marine heatwaves are also influencing whale migration cues, with sightings on NSW's far south coast as early as March thought to have been linked to climatic changes in the Antarctic depleting food stocks. Krill, the tiny crustaceans baleen whales feed on, have been declining in some regions as their sea ice habitats shrink. Mr Johnson said patchy prey availability was potentially behind shifting migration patterns but there were still many unknowns and more research was needed. Healthy whale populations support the well-being of the entire ocean, with whales found to fertilise oceans and help boost phytoplankton production, which captures carbon dioxide and generates oxygen. "Thriving and healthy whale populations benefit nature and people," Mr Johnson said.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Climate scientists call for 'immediate action' to tackle global warming - as Britain records its hottest spring on record
Climate scientists have called for 'immediate action' to tackle global warming -following the news that Britain has recorded its hottest spring on record. According to the Met Office, which has been recording temperature data since 1884, spring 2025 was officially the warmest and sunniest on UK record. The three months running from March to May marked an 'unprecedented season of warmth and sunshine', it said on Monday. Many Brits enjoyed the balmy weather, with some even braving the UK beaches for a dip. However, Alec Hutchings, WWF's chief climate advisor, says the record confirms that climate change is 'here now and needs immediate action'. 'This new Met Office data is a stark warning that climate change is no longer a distant threat,' he said. The expert called for more 'climate action' from the UK government to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions. 'The UK Government needs a clear, credible plan to reduce emissions and put people at the heart of climate policy,' he added. 'It's time to unlock the investment to a low-carbon future and turn the temperature down. 'Climate action is an economic opportunity to futureproof our economy and support businesses and communities of the future.' On Monday, Met Office revealed that spring 2025 – which it defines as the three months from March to May – has been the warmest and sunniest on UK record (since 1884). This spring's average temperature of 49.1°F (9.51°C) surpassed the long-term climatological average by 2.5°F (1.4°C). It smashed the previous record, set in spring 2024, when the average temperature was 48.8°F (9.37°C). Stephan Harrison, Professor of Climate and Environmental Change at the University of Exeter, said the new record is 'absolutely consistent' with the rapid rise in global temperatures as seen in recent decades. 'The effects have been most marked in the Scottish mountains where almost all the winter snow has already melted, and this is extremely unusual for so early in the year,' he told MailOnline. Professor Harrison added: 'It is extremely unlikely that spring temperatures were warmer than this in the years before records were kept as past centuries were much cooler than now.' Worryingly, eight of the 10 warmest UK springs have occurred since the year 2000, while the three warmest springs have all occurred in the last decade (2025, 2024 and 2017). Professor Richard Allan, professor of climate science at the University of Reading, said the UK 'is heating up along with the rest of the planet'. 'Although the fickle nature of weather patterns means there can be large variation in temperature and rainfall from one year to the next, the warming trend over more than a century is clear evidence that the UK is heating up along with the rest of the planet,' he told MailOnline. 'A warmer world brings with it a greater severity of hot, dry and wet weather extremes as well as wilder swings between them and a slow inexorable rise in sea levels. 'The only way to limit global warming and damaging impacts on people is through collaboration across all sectors of society to cut heat trapping greenhouse gas emissions.' Also this spring, the UK had 653.3 hours of sunshine – which the Met Office said was 43 per cent above the long-term average. Spring 2025 has outshone all previous springs since 1910 and seven of the UK's ten sunniest springs having occurred since 2000. Very low rainfall this spring has also resulted in challenging conditions across much of the country for agriculture and water resources, especially in England. Spring 2025 still ranks as the sixth driest spring since this series began in 1836, with just five inches (128.2mm) of rainfall – approximately 40 per cent below the long-term average and the driest spring in more than 50 years. 'Recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th century average,' said Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle. 'What's particularly notable about spring 2025 is the combination of record warmth and sunshine, alongside very low rainfall. 'This spring shows some of the changes we're seeing in our weather patterns, with more extreme conditions, including prolonged dry, sunny weather, becoming more frequent.' The unusual warmth hasn't been limited to land, as waters around the UK have experienced a marine heatwave. Sea surface temperatures around the UK reached record highs for April and May, with some areas as much as 7.2°F (4°C) warmer than usual. Looking forward, summer 2025 could beat 2018 to become the UK's hottest summer on record, bringing heatwaves and droughts. When did spring start and end? June 1 marked the start of 'meteorological spring', which is one of two definitions of when the seasons start and end. Meteorological spring is different from astronomical spring, which commenced on March 20 and will end June and ends June 21. Meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle and are rigidly defined by the months of the year. The Met Office explains: 'These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.' Meanwhile, astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth relative to the sun and thus have more of a scientific basis.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
UK registers its hottest and sunniest spring on record
The UK has registered its hottest and sunniest spring, prompting warnings that action is needed to tackle climate change. Eight of the 10 warmest UK springs have occurred since the year 2000, and the three hottest have come since 2017. But this spring was particularly warm, with its mean temperature of 9.5C surpassing the long-term average by 1.4C. All four UK nations recorded their highest mean temperature for the season, according to the Met Office. Alec Hutchings, WWF's chief climate adviser, said: 'This new Met Office data is a stark warning that climate change is no longer a distant threat – it's here now and it needs immediate action.' The British spring is usually cool and wet, a season of umbrellas and raincoats. But since the end of February, high-pressure systems, often from the Azores or mainland Europe, have lingered over the British isles, blocking the usual flow of Atlantic weather fronts that bring damp weather. The result was not only the sunniest spring on record, but with only three summers sunnier since 1910, the fourth sunniest season overall since records began. The Met Office recorded 653.3 hours of sunshine – 43% above average – over spring, beating the previous high in 2020 by more than 27 hours. Sunshine did not just bring heat on land: there was an unusual heatwave in the sea, with waters around the UK reaching record temperatures for April and May. Some areas were up to 4C warmer than usual. Lack of rain left farmers and gardeners struggling. By mid-May, the UK was experiencing its driest spring for a century. Recent rainfall has eased conditions slightly but this spring still ranks as the sixth driest since 1836. The 128.2mm (5in) of rainfall was about 40% below the long-term average. Emily Carlisle, a Met Office scientist, said: 'This spring shows some of the changes we're seeing in our weather patterns, with more extreme conditions, including prolonged dry, sunny weather, becoming more frequent. 'The data clearly shows that recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th-century average, although natural variation will continue to play a role in the UK's weather.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘Mud matters' – research shows saltmarshes are significant carbon store
Saltmarshes are 'significant' carbon stores, but are at risk from rising sea levels, new research reveals. A report from conservation charity WWF in partnership with insurance giant Aviva highlights the important role of saltmarshes around the UK's coasts in tackling climate change and protecting coastal communities. The report reveals findings from a solar-powered 'carbon flux tower', funded by Aviva, which measures the exchange of key greenhouse gas carbon dioxide between the air and the saltmarsh on the Ribble Estuary, Lancashire. It is a technique already used to monitor carbon capture and releases in other vital habitats such as woodlands and peatlands, but has now been adapted and applied to saltmarsh, with the Ribble Estuary producing the first results from a new network of towers. The data show the habitat is a significant 'sink' or store of carbon dioxide, and while there are seasonal fluctuations in storage and release of the gas, the amount absorbed during the spring and summer outweighs what is released during the autumn and winter months. WWF and Aviva are calling for saltmarshes to be included in the UK's 'greenhouse gas inventory' – the official record of the country's emissions and removals which is used to track progress towards reducing climate pollution to zero overall, known as net zero. The two organisations argue that including saltmarshes would improve national reporting and help unlock funding and policy supporting the habitat's protection and restoration. Experts warn that 85% of the UK's saltmarshes, which provide wildlife habitat, carbon capture and natural flood management through slowing the movement of seawater inland, have been lost since the mid 19th century. The remaining habitat plays a 'crucial role' in shielding coasts from rising seas and storm surges, helping protect assets worth more than £200 billion in England and Wales, the report said. But with climate change driving rising sea levels, the new report, produced in collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the RSPB, assesses how the country's remaining marshes are faring as waters rise. To find out if saltmarshes were able to maintain their height above sea level, the conservationists set up a network of surface elevation tables, which measure how marsh height changes over time, across six UK saltmarshes. The assessment found that generally saltmarshes were gaining height, although the results varied by region. Marshes in areas such as Chichester and The Wash in East Anglia appear to be expanding, while those in North Norfolk and the Ribble are showing signs of struggling in the face of rising sea levels, the report said. Tom Brook, ocean conservation specialist at WWF, said: 'The results are in, and mud matters. Saltmarshes are powerful natural allies in the fight against climate change – storing carbon, protecting our coasts and supporting rich biodiversity. 'As extreme weather and rising sea levels put more people and places at risk, the case for protecting and restoring these habitats has never been stronger. 'This research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that saltmarshes are not just ecologically important but essential to building a resilient, net zero future.'
