Environment

Monday, October 19th 2015 - 10:02 UTC
US imposes new curbs on Arctic waters oil and gas exploration

The US government has announced new curbs on oil and gas exploration in Arctic waters off Alaska's northern coast. It comes after oil giant Royal Dutch Shell last month stopped its Arctic activity citing “disappointing” tests.
Thursday, October 15th 2015 - 06:52 UTC
HMS Protector to assess fish stocks and update Ross Sea charts

Ice ship HMS Protector is heading for waters no Royal Navy vessel has visited in 80 years as she begins a marathon deployment to Antarctica. The Plymouth-based icebreaker and survey vessel will ensure the world’s fishermen are not stripping the largely-unspoiled waters of the Ross Sea of marine life.
Wednesday, October 7th 2015 - 05:37 UTC
Chile announces world's third largest fully protected marine area

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced this week the creation of the Nazca-Desaventuradas Marine Park, giving Chile claim to the largest marine reserve in the Americas -- as well as the Easter Island Marine Park, which will be the third-largest fully protected marine area in the world.
Wednesday, October 7th 2015 - 01:51 UTC
Prince Charles Sustainability charity in Chile for ocean international conference

The Director of The Prince’s Charities’ International Sustainability Unit (ISU) which has been set up to reflect The Prince of Wales’ vision and aims in the area of sustainable development, Justin Mundy is in Chile to participate in Our Ocean international conference.
Tuesday, October 6th 2015 - 10:17 UTC
BP agrees to pay 20bn dollars to settle claims with Gulf of Mexico 2010 oil spill

Oil giant BP has agreed to pay $20bn to settle claims with the US stemming from the company's Deepwater Horizon oil spill. An explosion on BP's deep-water drill, off the coast of Louisiana in 2010 killed 11 workers.
Monday, October 5th 2015 - 23:20 UTC
Agricultural expansion main factor of Brazil's deforestation and it's expanding

Agricultural expansion is the chief contributing factor to the deforestation of Brazilian ecosystems and has accelerated in recent years, according to an official study released last week.
Friday, October 2nd 2015 - 06:19 UTC
Cold 'blob' in part of North Atlantic Ocean puzzles scientists

Over the past few months, scientists have been trying to explain an area of very cold temperatures in a part of the North Atlantic Ocean. In fact, when the rest of the world was recording above average highs in temperature, making the year the hottest to-date, this part of the Atlantic was cold. The area is being called the Atlantic “blob.”
Wednesday, September 30th 2015 - 07:32 UTC
New Zealand announces huge marine reserve; fishing and mining industries 'surprised'

New Zealand has revealed plans to turn an area of the South Pacific about the size of France into a marine reserve. The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary lies north of the mainland and includes a chain of islands and underwater volcanoes.
Wednesday, September 30th 2015 - 07:25 UTC
Blue whales reported to be back in Barents Sea after a century

Blue whales are returning to the Barents Sea in the area of Svalbard, according to employees of Holland's Institute of Sea Research. The 17 species spotted means the mammals are returning to the region after a century of absence.
Monday, September 28th 2015 - 10:57 UTC
Shell stops Arctic oil exploration following 'disappointing' results

Royal Dutch Shell has stopped Arctic oil and gas exploration off the coast of Alaska after “disappointing” results from a key well in the Chukchi Sea. In a surprise announcement, the company said it would end exploration off Alaska “for the foreseeable future”.