England

'Absolute priority': Ofwat told to step up scrutiny of water firms' environmental efforts

Legislation

'Absolute priority': Ofwat told to step up scrutiny of water firms' environmental efforts

England's water companies must do more to protect environment and ensure resilient supply, government tells Ofwat

clock 02 February 2022 • 3 min read
For peat's sake: Defra eyes ban on peat-based compost sales from 2024

Legislation

For peat's sake: Defra eyes ban on peat-based compost sales from 2024

Labour and green groups describe measures as 'damp squib', arguing it does not go far enough to protect and restore habitat-rich carbon stores

clock 18 December 2021 • 4 min read
Peatland boost: Five restoration projects share £16m in government funding

Biodiversity

Peatland boost: Five restoration projects share £16m in government funding

Funding expected to see thousands of hectares of vital peatland restored across England

clock 31 August 2021 • 2 min read

BusinessGreen

New government fund backs natural solutions for tackling escalating climate risks

Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund provides up to £100,000 to 27 nature-based climate projects across England

clock 14 July 2021 • 3 min read

Infrastructure

'Extremely disappointing': Water sector failing on pollution goals, Environment Agency warns

None of England's nine water and sewerage firms achieved all environmental expectations between 2015 and 2020, watchdog reveals

clock 13 July 2021 • 5 min read

Supply chain

NHS becomes world's first health system to commit to net zero

Plan includes a string of new targets and commits NHS to reducing emissions under its direct control to net zero by 2040, before bringing its supply chain footprint in line by 2045

clock 01 October 2020 • 4 min read

Waste

Plastic bags: Government confirms all retailers in England to levy 10p charge from April

Defra announces plan to double 5p plastic bag charge and extend levy to all retailers from next year

clock 31 August 2020 • 3 min read

BusinessGreen

Government gives councils more powers to establish car-free streets

But campaigners say the DfT must go further to actively promote the prioritisation of space for pedestrians and cyclists.

clock 21 April 2020 • 3 min read

Biodiversity

New rewilding charity to tap crowdfunding to purchase and restore depleted land

New charity Heal plans to raise £7m to buy and rewild 500-acres (200ha) of land in southern England within two years, before replicating the project further afield.

clock 31 March 2020 • 3 min read

Policy

Taps risk running dry within 20 years in parts of England, government warned

Government's spending watchdog warns climate change could devastate water supplies in parts of England unless urgent action taken to reduce demand

clock 25 March 2020 • 3 min read