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Households with ‘green’ suppliers, those only offering electricity tariffs backed by Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGOs) certificates, rocketed from less than 20% in 2017 to 65% 2021, according to the latest research from Cornwall Insight. According to their findings, this percentage would be even higher if green tariffs from suppliers that also offer standard non-green also or ‘brown’ supply...

The Government has confirmed that further financial support for community energy projects, such as the continuation and expansion of the £10m Rural Community Energy Fund, is to be considered as part of this year’s Spending Review. The Spending Review determines how much is spent on public services. Within his response to a letter from the Environmental Audit Committee proposing ways to...

Great Britain’s electricity system is on track to be powered free of fossil fuels and at 100% zero carbon in just four years’ time, according to a new National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) report. According to the electricity system operator for Great Britain, this is a key enabler for a zero carbon electricity system by 2035, in line with...

Today is Sustainable Gastronomy Day, an annual United Nations' observance day dedicated to celebrating seasonal ingredients and producers as well as preserving wildlife and culinary traditions across the world. Gastronomy often refers to science or art of good eating, while sustainable gastronomy means being mindful where the ingredients come from, how the food is grown and how it gets to...

Councils have a significant role to play in supporting and advancing the UK’s net zero ambitions in partnership with government, industry and communities, according to a national membership body for local authorities. Following the G7 summit in Cornwall this past weekend and ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, the the Local Government Association (LGA) has highlighted some of...

Natural England is calling for new offshore wind farms to leave nature in a better state than before and avoid any irreparable damage to the environment. A new approach document sets out how offshore wind energy can play a vital role in nature recovery as well as tackling climate change. Natural England will seek to ensure new projects ‘build in’ plans...

Group of 7 (G7) finance ministers and central bank governors have voiced their support for mandatory climate-related financial disclosures based on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. Consisting of 31 members from across the G20 and chaired by Michael R. Bloomberg, TCFD was established to develop recommendations for more effective climate-related disclosures that could promote more informed...

More of the Government’s largest new infrastructure projects must leave nature and biodiversity in an overall better state than before development, as the Government commits to delivering a ‘nature positive future’. Responding to the Dasgupta Review on The Economics of Biodiversity, which was published earlier in the year, the Government agreed with the Review’s central conclusion that nature, and the...

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced changes to the Affordable Warmth Scheme eligibility criteria to help more households who are in fuel poverty. The changes are: Increasing the income threshold from £20,000 to £23,000. Dis-applying of certain benefits from the calculation of income; namely Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance and Attendance Allowance. Minister Hargey commented on...

A new investment programme that is set to help deliver Scotland’s just transition to a net-zero emissions economy has been launched by the Scottish Government. The Green Growth Accelerator will speed up delivery of low carbon infrastructure projects across Scotland and provide extra resources and technical support to local authorities to get projects off the ground more quickly. Once fully opened,...