New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, announced on 28 September 2015 that his nation plans to create a South Pacific marine sanctuary the size of France, saying it would protect one of the world’s pristine ocean environments. The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary would cover an area of 620,000 square kilometers about 1,000 kilometers off New Zealand’s […]
Guardian ‘Carney warns of risks from climate change ‘tragedy of the horizon’ Bank of England governor tells Lloyd’s insurers that ‘challenges currently posed by climate change pale in significance compared with what might come’ Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, has warned that climate change will lead to financial crises and falling […]
Elizabeth Truss speech to Wildlife & Countryside Link (Sept 15th) https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/elizabeth-truss-speech-to-the-wildlife-and-countryside-link This speech at the meeting which saw the launch of the Blueprint for Water’s vision The speech is a very strange mix of the well-trodden Government path of supporting all things farming and economic with very little mention of nature conservation. It highlighted a […]
Sustainable Development Goals to 2030 The UN Summit provided a platform for the world’s leaders to outline their views – this item covers the main website and David Cameron and President Obama’s speeches and the Goals for Water and Marine. Website https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/resources.html What David Cameron had to say https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pms-speech-to-the-un-sustainable-development-goals-summit-2015 And something a little more inspiring […]
Defra ‘Sir James Bevan has been appointed chief executive of the Environment Agency following a competitive recruitment process. Sir James Bevan has been appointed chief executive of the Environment Agency Sir James has had a long career in government and will leave his current role as the UK’s High Commissioner to India to take up […]
Water Availability and Quality Programme, Defra ‘We are writing to inform you that Defra has earlier this week, issued The Water Framework Directive (Standards and Classification) Directions (England and Wales) 2015 to the Environment Agency. These Directions have been published as an associated document of the Water Environment (WFD) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, SI […]
Natural England ‘An innovative new approach to protecting great crested newts could enhance their population and reduce delays to major building projects. Natural England is launching a pilot project that will bring more flexibility to the licensing system for great crested newts, while providing more of the weedy ponds which they favour. The aim is […]
Despite tap water being freely available and safe in many countries, bottled water is widely consumed around the world. This has negative effects on the environment, including water wastage and pollution. This study assessed beliefs about purchasing bottled water and tested three strategies to change behaviour, showing that combining persuasive information and social pressure can […]