21 Jun 2017
Bob Earll The Grenfell Tower episode has revealed systematic failings in many areas but seems to me symptomatic of many issues covered routinely by water and environmental interests. This week’s CMS water news reinforces these points on flooding and social deprivation and water abstraction. Now Michael Gove the chief cheer leader for denigrating ‘experts’ is […]
21 Jun 2017
A cross party group of MPs, including the current Water Minister Therese Coffey, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch and former Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon, attended a chalk stream discovery day on the River Itchen last week to learn about problems facing all rivers and in particular the English chalk streams. These unique habitats are under […]
21 Jun 2017
Dismal year for Thames as another fine is imposed this time by Ofwat. WWF responds to Thames Water fine of £8.55m for missing leakage targets by 47m litres per day. Rose O’Neill, Water Policy Manager at WWF responded to news that Thames Water has been fined £8.55m for missing leakage targets by 47m litres per day. […]
21 Jun 2017
Two-thirds of cities experiencing relative economic decline face above average flood disadvantage according to new research by Sayers and Partners for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The report, Present and future flood vulnerability, risk and disadvantage: A UK assessment highlights how flood risks interact with social vulnerability across the UK to create flood disadvantage, an issue […]
21 Jun 2017
The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership ‘The launch of the Natural Capital Protocol has led businesses to become more aware of their impacts and dependencies upon the natural environment. However, the metrics that are used to quantify impacts and dependencies across businesses are inconsistent and do not link to commercial drivers. This working […]
21 Jun 2017
Guardian ‘Ratty returns: hundreds of water voles released in UK’s biggest reintroduction Almost 700 of the endangered rodents, immortalised in Wind in the Willows, will be released in Northumberland – and it’s all thanks really to the otter. The biggest reintroduction of water voles in the UK began this week, with 325 voles released into […]
19 Jun 2017
Overview – Points post the election – drivers for the environmental agenda 1. Michael Gove to be Environment Minister, probably not because he has any interest in environment but to bring him from the back benches where he might have made trouble. He will have his work cut out with the Defra on agriculture, fisheries […]
19 Jun 2017
Seán Lynch [seanlynch@umail.ucc.ie] I would like to bring Ireland’s “Our Oceans Wealth” strategy into question i.e. the undebated sale of our natural assets. In Bantry Bay, West Co. Cork which is said to have the cleanest coastal waters in Ireland, a licence has been issued to industrially harvest 1,860 acres of native kelp forest with […]
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