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£10 billion was raised from the sale of the the UK's first Gilt this morning. According to the government, this will be followed by a second issuance later in the year. In November 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans for the UK to issue its inaugural Sovereign Green Bond (or ‘Green Gilt’) in 2021. Government bonds, or gilts,...

Over half of homeowners (52%) have plans for green home improvements over the next decade but costs and finance options are the greatest barriers to carrying these improvements out, according to new research from NatWest and IHS Markit. In the context of the UK government’s 2050 net zero target, the Greener Homes Attitude Tracker from NatWest, based on responses from...

To help businesses understand how to communicate their green credentials while reducing the risk of misleading shoppers, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a new Green Claims Code. The CMA has warned businesses they have until the New Year to make sure their environmental claims comply with the law. Businesses are advised to check their green claims against...

Nuclear industry employment has grown solidly in 2021, according to the Nuclear Industry Association’s annual Jobs Map. The civil nuclear sector employs 61,371 people across the UK, an increase of over 1,700 compared to 2020. However, according to the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, urgent investment is needed to 'sustain that trend...

A new report by Zero Emission Social Housing Task Force outlines recommendations on what is required to achieve zero emission housing whilst ensuring support for tenants in reducing their energy bills and achieving carbon savings. In March 2021, the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce (ZEST) was convened by the then Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning. Sally Thomas and Aubrey...

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is seeking views on how the government should incrementally introduce an opt-in switching scheme and test opt-out switching. In the Energy white paper, the government announced plans to address the factors that have caused excessive charging in the domestic energy retail market on an enduring basis. Therefore, BEIS is set to: create the...

The Scottish Affairs Committee calls for transmission charges and grid investment to be equally shared across the UK to help strengthen the Scottish renewables sector. This follows concerns, outlined in the Committee’s report ‘Renewable Energy in Scotland’, that some renewable projects in England and Wales have a competitive advantage as they are paid to connect to the grid, whereas Scottish...

Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which runs ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos,  is urging world governments and policy-makers to put nature at the heart of all decision-making to jointly tackle the combined global threats of climate change and biodiversity loss, and will be calling on leaders to make this commitment at COP26. Ahead of Great Big Green Week, a national week of events celebrating action on climate...

The UK social investment market must be overhauled to unlock new capital for businesses and projects that benefit communities and society, according to a new report by Gareth Davies MP and thinktank Onward. Since the first “social impact bond” (SIB) was launched in 2011 to reduce reoffending at Peterborough Prison and Big Society Capital was created, the British Government has...

The Environment Agency has issued new advice about reducing avoidable plastic waste at events and stadiums to sports clubs, venues and event organisers across England as part of a drive to prevent plastic pollution. Around 12 million tonnes of plastic enter our environment each year, an equivalent to a bin lorry load every minute. Of all plastic produced, 50% is for...