09 Jun 2016

The Environmental Audit Committee publishes report finding that the Government is failing to protect communities at risk of flooding. Report: Flooding: Cooperation across Government Report: Flooding: Cooperation across Government (PDF 1.11 MB) Inquiry: Flooding: Cooperation across Government Environmental Audit Committee Funding for flood defences The Committee warns that a reactive approach to funding for flood defence […]

09 Jun 2016

Bruce Horton: The Housing and Planning Bill also completed its progress through Parliament and is now an Act. It requires the government to review SuDS planning policy and councils to create registers of brownfield land with automatic planning consent. However, the final Act stops short of the amendments called for by CIWEM and others, including […]

09 Jun 2016

Two reports on the relationship of business with climate change policies. A new report commissioned by the Environment Agency says climate change is presenting UK businesses with opportunities as well as risks. It is based on survey data showing that 86% of companies have identified one or more climate-related risks, and approximately 1 opportunity for […]

09 Jun 2016

Three items on water resources  1. Past & Future Drought Events in Europe In case you missed it (I did), a recent European Commission report investigates the trends and impacts of past and future meteorological drought events in Europe. It estimates the damage caused by droughts in Europe over the last 60 years at over […]

09 Jun 2016

Order: 6th These big storm events are notable, common and expensive; lucky it wasn’t SE England. Seine rises 6m above normal for a 34 year high not as high as the 8.10m in 1910 Comparisons with the 1910 flood & in pictures Across Europe 14 people have died in this storm event Don’t keep your […]

07 Jun 2016

THE MARINE WORLD A Natural History of Ocean Life This new and fascinating book brings together information on the entire spectrum of marine life from microscopic plankton to giant whales. Major marine environments and ecosystems from the coastal sand dunes to the deep seabed are also described. In 544 pages plants, fungi, microorganisms and all […]

07 Jun 2016

An important contribution to this major decision from the main NGOs – RSPB, WWF, and TWT. To download the report click here. BusinessGreen picked up on the Countryfile coverage of the environmental issues – which wasn’t exactly detailed – but also goes on to reflect on recent contributions (with links) to the environmental debate. Boris […]