Research from Pesticide Action Network (PAN) shows that the UK is failing to phase out pesticides that have been found to be harmful to human health and the environment at the same rate as the EU. Thirteen of the 36 chemicals are considered highly hazardous pesticides under UN definitions used to identify the most harmful […]
The BBC reports that the UK government was defeated in the House of Lords last week, when their bid to weaken rules that protect environmentally vulnerable waters from extra nutrient pollution, a retreat from EU environmental standards, was blocked. The proposed amendment looked to scrap rules that prevent new developments from being approved if there […]
As England enters the autumn, the National Drought Group met to reiterate the importance of all sectors continuing to plan and invest for future droughts. Experts are pushing for more investment now to ensure England is in the best possible position ahead of future droughts, the National Drought Group heard last week (13 September). The […]
Defra has published a summary of responses and the government response to the recent consultation on continuous water quality monitoring and event duration monitoring. The consultation sought views on the government’s proposals to enhance the monitoring of storm overflows and final effluent discharges into watercourses Some key points from the government’s response Urban Pollution Management […]
Waterwise is encouraging households to join its water awareness campaign by turning off their taps for a few hours during Water Night on 19 October to support stronger action on climate change and water awareness. To take part in Water Night, households will turn off all non-essential taps between 5pm to 10pm during the evening of […]
This week’s Climate Week in New York involves numerous businesses, governments and environmental groups, and runs alongside the UN general assembly which will, on Wednesday, include a gathering of more than 100 national governments aimed at heightening global ambition to cut emissions. The UN has warned the world is well off track to meet goals that would avert disastrous […]
A new governance structure for the Foundation for Water Research (FWR) has been launched, as part of the efforts to refresh the mission of this vital body analysing and translating water research for different audiences. The water sector is in flux in the UK and the revitalised FWR, which recently joined the IES family, has a critical […]
The government’s environmental watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), has identified possible failures to comply with environmental law by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Environment Agency and Ofwat in relation to the regulation of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The failures relate to a possible misinterpretation of the law, which […]