26 Apr 2023

The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a new report ‘Regulating to achieve environmental outcomes’, in which it scrutinises whether Defra is using regulation effectively in pursuit of its environmental agenda. It found green improvements, including those relating to water, are being put at risk by shortcomings in Defra’s oversight of regulation. According to the report, […]

26 Apr 2023

South West Water has announced that its ongoing hosepipe ban now includes Cornwall and parts of Devon, and that restrictions could last until December. The company says that “our water resources across the region remain under pressure and as we go into the summer period we have taken the necessary action to safeguard supplies and […]

26 Apr 2023

New report from ClientEarth and European Environmental Bureau Also see the press release Exactly a year ago, the European Commission announced it would rapidly ban thousands of the most notorious chemicals still found in consumer products and contributing to growing human infertility, serious illnesses and environmental harms. Media coverage was extensive. It published a roadmap promising bans of the most […]

26 Apr 2023

Rivercraft 2, a suite of games launched this week, will help to educate children and young people about the risks of flooding – and inspire young people to careers where people can make a difference. Produced by a partnership of the Environment Agency, Microsoft and developers BlockBuilders to engage young people on flood risk reduction, […]

26 Apr 2023

Eco-friendly gardeners should be given a cut in their council tax, scientists have recommended, as research shows cities may have lost as much as 50% of their green garden space over the past two decades. Paving over gardens and using plastic grass has become a trend in recent years, which contributes to flooding, rising urban […]

19 Apr 2023

An update to PAS2080 has been launched update by the British Standards Institute (BSI) on managing and reducing carbon in the built environment. The standard has an expanded scope, a new emphasis on whole life carbon, and stronger alignment with the transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2050. The built environment contributes around […]

19 Apr 2023

Defra is seeking views on the government’s proposals to enhance the monitoring of storm overflows and final effluent discharges into watercourses. This consultation closes on 23 May 2023. Consultation description The Environment Act 2021 introduced requirements for sewerage undertakers to: monitor sewerage assets and the impact they have on their local environment, and publish data […]