A global oceans summit wrapped up Friday with world leaders taking major steps toward marine protection and vowing a showdown when nations meet to negotiate rules for deep-sea mining next month. - Seabed row - France and like-minded countries vowed to block any effort to permit deep-sea exploration at negotiations over a mining code at the International Seabed Authority next month, said Poivre d'Arvor.

A summit on the state of global oceans concludes Friday with nations having tested the waters on deep-sea mining and making strides towards protecting unpoliced reaches of the high seas. Alarmed at US President Donald Trump's unilateral push to fast-track deep-sea mining, leaders called for strict global rules to govern the ocean floor to stop a damaging race for critical minerals.

May 2025 was the second-warmest on record, with the Northern Hemisphere experiencing its second-hottest spring, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Although global temperatures dipped below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time in 22 months, experts warn that this threshold will likely be exceeded again soon.

Iceland is experiencing unprecedented heat, with temperatures soaring to record highs in May, exacerbating Greenland's ice melt at an alarming rate. Scientific analysis attributes this extreme weather directly to global warming, primarily driven by fossil fuel emissions. The accelerated melting threatens to disrupt global ocean currents and contribute to rising sea levels, impacting coastal regions and indigenous communities.

Dozens of countries at the UN oceans summit on Tuesday took a first step toward recognising an invisible but growing threat to marine life -- underwater noise pollution. In a step toward a quieter ocean, 37 countries led by Canada and Panama have launched a new effort to reduce harmful underwater noise pollution.

Indonesia has revoked permits for four mining companies in Raja Ampat after videos surfaced showing nickel extraction damage to the pristine islands. The decision follows public outcry and Greenpeace's exposure of forest and vegetation destruction. While one company will continue operations under close monitoring, activists urge further action to ensure complete cessation and prevent future permit reissuance.

At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, Secretary-General Guterres cautioned against turning the deep oceans into a wild west, amid debates on seabed mining regulations. President Macron advocated for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, emphasizing the need to protect marine biodiversity. A global pact to protect marine life in international waters is nearing implementation.

A fleet of research vessels has gathered in Nice for the UN Ocean Conference, commencing with a parade to highlight ocean conservation. Delegates will address critical threats like rising temperatures and pollution, pushing for the ratification of the High Seas Treaty to protect international waters. The conference aims to accelerate ocean protection efforts and enforce existing marine protected areas.

Britain's Labour government announced that new homes will feature rooftop solar panels by default, aiming to lower energy bills and meet carbon-reduction goals. Energy secretary Ed Miliband highlighted this as a significant step towards a ooftop revolution. The initiative, part of a plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029, includes low-carbon heating and high energy efficiency standards.

India is finalizing an incentive program for recycling critical minerals. This includes copper, lithium and nickel. The Union budget has allocated Rs 1,500 crore for this initiative. It falls under the National Critical Mineral Mission. The goal is to boost self-reliance and promote green energy. Public sector firms will invest significantly.

Greenpeace Africa protested Coca-Cola's massive plastic production, erecting a display outside their Johannesburg office on World Environment Day. The activist group highlighted Coca-Cola's status as a top plastic polluter, producing 120 billion throwaway bottles annually. They urged the company to reduce plastic use, invest in reusable packaging like glass and cans, and support a global treaty to cap plastic production, criticizing their recycling efforts as insufficient.

Human Rights Watch said Sunday that migrant workers in the Gulf were at risk from extreme heat, urging countries to extend protections for labourers exposed to soaring temperatures. Because Gulf states are dragging their feet on evidence-based labour protections, migrant workers are unnecessarily dying, experiencing kidney failure, and suffering from other chronic illnesses, he added.

France and China have found points of convergence on the environment, French minister for ecological transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher said Friday at the end of a visit to Beijing. Points of convergence were clearly felt, Pannier-after holding meetings with multiple Chinese officials, including environment minister Huang Runqiu and natural resources minister Guan Zhi'ou.