10 Jun 2025

  In a landmark step for ocean conservation, Argentina has officially designated a vast new marine protected area along its southern coast — one nearly the size of Greater London. The newly established Patagonia Azul Provincial Park spans 729,000 acres (around 295,000 hectares) in Chubut Province, securing a critical stretch of coastal and marine ecosystems […]

05 Jun 2025

Image description: A tree standing in the middle of a lake, taken in Gwynedd, Wales. Image by Lucas Hartmann / Pexels.   The Welsh Government has introduced a new law intended to protect biodiversity and enhance the wellbeing of the people of Wales. The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies said […]

05 Jun 2025

Image description: Woodland and bluebells. Image by Charles Miller / Pexels.   Irreplaceable habitats threatened by Planning Bill  Part Three of Labours’ Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been highly contentious since its introduction, with the UK’s leading nature organisations labelled it “a license to kill” and calling for it to be completely scrapped after the […]

05 Jun 2025

Image description: Aerial view of a reservoir. Image by Kelly / Pexels.   Government gives two new reservoirs the go-ahead The Environment Secretary Steve Reed has seized control of the planning process to build two major reservoirs for the first time since the 1990s, in what the government is hailing as “a significant intervention to […]

05 Jun 2025

Image Description: Water treatment facility from a birds-eye view. Image by Tom Fisk.   The Independent Water Commission has released its interim report, ahead of its final findings due in the Summer. Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the Commission, has set out five areas where he believes wide-ranging and fundamental change is needed to reset […]

05 Jun 2025

Image: A man paddleboarding. Image by Kampus Production / Pexels.   In March, the government announced reforms which it says will modernise “outdated” regulations around bathing water quality, and will “keep pace with Britain’s love of swimming”. The system for monitoring the more than 550 designated, outdoor, swimming sites in England and Wales will be […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: Whaleshark in the dark by Aaim Zameer   A new scientific study has revealed that vast areas of the ocean have grown significantly darker over the past two decades, with potentially serious consequences for marine ecosystems. Researchers used satellites and computer models to examine how far sunlight penetrates the upper layers of the ocean. […]

03 Jun 2025

Image: EU flag – Alexey Larionov   The United Kingdom is facing mounting criticism for its delay in ratifying the High Seas Treaty, also known as the Global Ocean Treaty, as the European Union and several of its member states move swiftly ahead. The treaty, aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, […]