New reports will enable UK to make the most of its natural assets Four new reports on Natural Capital published today will enable governments and businesses to take an evidence-based approach to valuing the UK’s natural assets. Natural Capital refers to the assets within our natural environment that provide benefits for humans. Plants, animals, freshwater, […]
Editorial Containment News – September 2018 Two years on from the vote to leave the EU the lack of clarity on even the most basic elements of the uncoupling are not comforting for the potential impact leaving will have on our environmental regulations. Initial fears of a ‘bonfire’ of environmental legislation and ‘watered down’ regulations have eased somewhat, […]
The release of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in waste water from treatment plants (WWTPs) is currently not regulated anywhere in the world, with the exception of a few plants in Switzerland. Yet thousands of PhACs or their by-products — excreted by humans — can be found in waste water and some of these may harm […]
Yorkshire Water is stepping up the fight against one of the UK’s most invasive non-native aquatic weeds by working with scientists from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to release an army of mites to suppress the weeds. Approval has been given for the release of a novel biological control agent – the […]
Sept 18th: Agreement reached on scallop fishing: BBC & Guardian Sept 13th Defra George Eustice ‘Mr Speaker I wish to take this opportunity to update the House on recent developments regarding the scallop fishery in the Bay de Seine following altercations that occurred on the 27 August. Any violence taking place is unacceptable and the […]
If the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 without a deal, find out how this would affect businesses and others. These standards include areas such as waste, air quality, water, and protection of habitats and species. A scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario) remains unlikely given […]
NAO Report Summary 1. In March 2019, the UK is set to leave the EU. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is one of the government departments most affected by EU Exit. 2. Defra’s portfolio is very varied, covering the chemical and agri-food industries as well as crucial policy areas such as agriculture, fisheries and the […]
Greenpeace: The government is failing to monitor almost half of England’s “most important wildlife sites”, putting them at risk of fly tipping, pollution, water contamination, invasive species, and the unchecked impacts of a changing climate. Of the 4,126 sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) currently in existence, 47% have not been examined in the last […]