The government has published its response to the independent, global Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity. Key points The Government agrees with the Dasgupta Review’s fundamental conclusion: nature, and the biodiversity that underpins it, ultimately sustains our economies, livelihoods and well-being, and so our decisions must take into account the true value of the […]

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The CCC has issued its 2021 Progress Report to Parliament. This is the CCC’s annual assessment of UK progress in reducing emissions and biennial assessment of progress in adapting to climate change. Key messages The Government has made historic climate promises in the past year, for which it deserves credit. However, it has been too […]

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Defra: “The UK government has set out its marine commitments to mark World Ocean Day, as it advances its role as a global leader in marine protection both domestically and internationally.” Click here. Eighty countries from all corners of the world – from India to Guyana, South Korea to Austria – have pledged to support […]

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Defra: In June 2019, the Secretary of State commissioned former Environment and Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon to undertake an independent review to examine whether and how the strongest protections for areas of sea, Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), could be introduced. The Benyon Review into HPMAs, published in June 2020, concluded that “HPMAs are an essential component of the MPA network”, […]

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edie piece conveys disappointment expressed by environmental charities, thought leaders and Green Party ‘Missed opportunity’ headline from the Independent Wildlife Trusts concerned about nature recovery and planning reform From the Guardian – Johnson’s planning laws an ‘utter disaster’, say countryside campaigners Following last week’s item on storm overflows, the Rivers Trust responds. PRESS RELEASE 11 […]

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From Water Briefing Greener UK – a coalition of the country’s leading green groups – has concluded that environmental protections in areas such as nature restoration and chemicals are either no stronger or weaker than they were pre-Brexit. Since 2017 Greener UK has tracked the strength of environmental standards as the UK takes back control […]

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Last week’s Budget saw a range of announcements and initiatives, but has been widely criticised as being out-of-step with the UK’s net-zero carbon transition and insufficient to meet the government’s climate ambitions. See BBC for more. Key announcements included: A new Net-Zero Innovation Portfolio, which will provide £1bn funding for low-carbon technologies and systems. Funding will be […]

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