He is the best Defra Minister for the last eight years. His speeches are thoughtful and not simply driven by politically correct automaton and so for those interested in the huge interactions between landuse, agriculture and water and the environment these speeches provide a useful update on thinking. Oxford Farming Conference 2019 address by the […]
Devon’s ‘largest ever’ fatberg discovered in Sidmouth sewer An unwanted Christmas present of hardened fat, oil and wet-wipes longer than six double-decker buses, has been discovered in a Sidmouth sewer under The Esplanade. The 64-metre fatberg is the biggest ever discovered in Devon or Cornwall and is thought to be one of the largest found […]
EU Copernicus-backed research highlights worrying decline in ocean health Dramatic changes in the extent of sea ice at the poles, huge variations in the ocean circulation in the Atlantic, a sharp increase in carbon uptake are some of the more sobering findings detailed in a comprehensive new report published as a supplement of the Journal […]
New environment protections set out in flagship bill Draft clauses for the first Environment Bill for 20 years have been published by the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove Published 19 December 2018 Defra ‘Today the Environment Secretary published draft clauses on environmental principles and governance to be included in an ambitious, broader Environment Bill set for introduction next […]
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society commentary Observer editorial sums up the futility of this decision not least in terms of the reputational damage this will inflict upon Japan. Defra: There is widespread coverage of Japan’s decision to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The Times, Guardian and Daily Mail praise the Environment Secretary Michael Gove for joining international condemnation of […]
Defra: Marine Protected Areas Network Report published 2018 Report to Parliament under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 on progress on a Marine Protected Areas Network Executive summary. This report has been laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It meets the requirements of section 124 of […]
The House of Lords EU Energy and Environment sub-committee Watch George Eustice explain the changes BBC: New EU rules on fishing quotas could have a “grave” impact on the UK’s fishing industry, a House of Lords committee has said – just a day before the new policy is introduced. Under previous rules, crews often discarded, […]
Dutch News article starts to show the levels of debris on the beaches Reuters ABC News Up to 270 shipping containers have fallen from one of the world’s largest cargo ships into the North Sea Sea, attracting treasure hunters and clean-up volunteers alike to beaches in the Netherlands. Key points: Some containers are thought to […]