02 Feb 2021

The Environment Bill was due to have its Report Stage and third reading on Tuesday 26 January 2021, however the government instead tabled a motion to carry over the Bill to the Second Parliamentary Session due to exceptional pressure on the Parliamentary timetable as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The government says that carrying over the Bill will allow for […]

02 Feb 2021

Defra: ‘Households in areas at risk of flooding that install flood defence measures could soon be able to acquire discounted insurance premiums, under plans outlined by the UK government today. The proposals, which have been launched for consultation, would see insured households that experience flooding not only claim money to cover any damage, but also […]

02 Feb 2021

Unearthed, Greenpeace report on Data from the Environment Agency. ‘Inspections found that more than 3,400 crucial flood defence assets across England were in poor condition last year, according to figures seen by Unearthed. The finding comes as communities across the north grapple with the consequences of flooding, with 53 flood alerts active across England as of Sunday afternoon. […]

02 Feb 2021

Mark Avery – An active campaigner for the protection of peat has written an extensive blog on the Defra announcement. The announcement is good news – it regulates the environmental harm caused by burning of vegetation on peat soils, mostly upland peat soils. What is the harm? The harm is manifold: blanket bog is a […]

26 Jan 2021

President Biden has signed an order that means the US will return to the global fight against climate change. He is also committed to 100% clean electricity by 2035. The new administration will also protect “biodiversity, slowing extinction rates and helping leverage natural climate solutions by conserving 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030”. […]

26 Jan 2021

With river levels remaining high in the wake of Storm Christoph and subsequent snowfall, it has emerged that  swathes of England’s vital flood defences are ‘almost useless’. An investigation by Unearthed found that thousands of England’s vital flood defences were in such a state of ruin last year they would fail to protect communities from extreme […]