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Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced that she is commencing a review of strategic planning policy on oil and gas development. The review will include consideration of unconventional hydrocarbon development, commonly referred to as fracking. Hydrocarbon development involves the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas and can be undertaken by conventional or unconventional methods. Announcing her decision, the Minister stated:...

Legislation which is set to lead to increased support to more than 19,400 children and young people to help their families heat their homes this winter has been laid in the Scottish Parliament. The legislation extends the eligibility for the Child Winter Heating assistance to young people aged 16 to 18 in receipt of the enhanced daily living component of...

29m homes must be retrofitted by 2050, 1 million homes each year, to reach goal of net zero emissions and the retrofit industry will need to grow by at least a factor of 10 to achieve this ‘retrofit revolution’. This is according to a new paper by Bankers for Net Zero and the Green Finance Institute, which sets out 'a...

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s Export Credit Agency, has unveiled a new plan to go net zero by 2050, decarbonising its financial portfolio and increasing its support for green exports. As part of its new Climate Change Strategy, the new target will require UKEF to increase its support for clean growth, renewables and climate adaptation exports while also improving...

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised its 2005 Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) to decrease the burden of disease that results from exposure to air pollution worldwide. The updated guidelines provide recommendations on air quality guideline levels as well as interim targets for six key air pollutants. Whilst not legally-binding, like all WHO guidelines, AQGs are an evidence-informed tool for...

Ofgem is issuing Colorado Energy, Igloo Energy Supply Limited, Neon Reef Limited, Whoop Energy Limited and Symbio Energy with provisional orders, compelling them to pay around £765,000 in total into the Feed-In Tariff scheme. Administered by the energy regulator, the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) provides payments to owners of small-scale renewable energy generators, and is paid for by suppliers. According to Ofgem,...

Businesses in some of the UK’s most polluting and energy-intensive industries will be able to bid for a share of £220 million in government investment to help cut their carbon emissions and the costs of their energy bills as the government announces Phase 2 of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF). £220 million will support green projects that help businesses...

Greater action, investment and embracing natural solutions are crucial to reversing biodiversity decline by 2030, the five UK statutory nature agencies say in a new report published today. The 'Nature Positive 2030'-report marks the first anniversary of the Leader’s Pledge for Nature, which has been signed by over 80 Heads of State from around the world. A collaboration between Natural England...

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has told the Environmental Audit Committee that there will be a consultation in the coming months to examine the recycling of batteries for electric vehicles. The announcement comes as the Committee publishes the Government’s response to its letter on the UK supply chain for battery electric vehicles. Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, commented:...

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy addressed the Parliament yesterday following his weekend meeting and subsequent roundtable discussion with energy suppliers and consumer groups about the challenges they currently face following concerns of global gas price rises. The meeting on 20th of September was attended by senior representatives from Scottish Power, Ofgem, Octopus, Shell Energy, E.ON,...