06 Aug 2020

In praise of red tape: getting regulation right Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, gives a speech at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry on environmental regulation. This is a Must Read detailed speech by Sir James Bevan, CEO of the Environment Agency – on the Post-Brexit regulatory regime   Click here […]

24 May 2017

Different sources of information, different perspectives on Bathing Beaches: EU, EA, KBT. Blue Flag and Seaside Award winners announced19 May 2016 Keep Britain Tidy ‘With the staycation a popular choice for holidaymakers again this year, our coastline is the place to be, with 143 English beaches flying a Blue Flag or Seaside Award, after we […]

14 Dec 2016

Europe: new report says water quality improves but challenges remain The quality of drinking water and bathing water, and the effectiveness of waste water treatment across the European Union continues to improve – but challenges remain, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report has been published. However, pollution from sources like waste water treatment […]

13 Dec 2016

The Guardian: Birds & Habitats Directive The European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, has been forced to abandon an overhaul of flagship nature laws after an unprecedented campaign that mobilised over half a million people in protest. The popular birds and habitats directives protect almost a fifth of Europe’s landmass, about 200 wetlands, meadows and marine habitats, and more than […]

09 Jul 2016

2016 Marine bird pSPAs consultation SNH ‘Welcome to the public consultation on the proposal to designate a suite of proposed Special Protection Areas (pSPAs).  The aim is to protect some of Britain’s most important coastal and offshore waters for marine birds.  Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is carrying out this consultation on behalf of Scottish Ministers    […]

09 Jul 2016

Three articles – two new Dickon Howell’s blog and the link to the important IEEP report which set out the implications of departing the EU 1.IEEP: The potential policy and environmental consequences for the UK of a departure from the European Union In their report this March, The potential policy and environmental consequences for the UK of […]

07 Dec 2015

Fitness check conference outcomes: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/conference_en.htm  The draft document on the consultation of the fitness check on the Habitat & Birds Directive http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/docs/consultation/Fitness%20Check%20final%20draft%20emerging%20findings%20report.pdf  Commentary from IUCN 25 November 2015 | News story  The EU Nature Directives are effective, coherent, relevant and fit for purpose, but insufficient  implementation remains a serious issue, and must be stepped up […]

18 May 2015

You may well have noticed many different wildlife NGOs campaigning on this issue; this post provides the detailed background to the campaign with the evidence, and references in the Wildlife Link Position statement. Morwenna Mckenzie, Policy and Campaigns Coordinator, Wildlife and Countryside Link: ‘100 voluntary organisations across the UK have joined forces to call for […]