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New University of Manchester research highlights the various ways UK higher education institutions are beginning to tackle emissions associated with business travel and catering. According to the researchers, these are two substantial contributors to emissions in this sector, and difficult to decarbonise. Lead author on the research paper Professor Claire Hoolohan, The University of Manchester commented on the findings: “Many universities...

New energy tariffs designed for a low carbon future could leave people on bad deals even worse off, according to new research. The study, led by University of Leeds with researchers from UCL and University of Waikato in New Zealand, found that new types of contracts could benefit all types of customer, with opportunities to sell excess energy from solar...

The new environmental watchdog for England will be launched on an interim basis ahead of its formal establishment as part of the Environment Bill. From July, the new Interim Office for Environmental Protection will be set up in non-statutory form to provide independent oversight of the government’s environmental progress and to accelerate the foundation of the full body. The interim body...

The cost of water risks to business could be over five times greater than the cost of taking action now to address those risks, according to a new report by CDP, a non-profit that runs an environmental disclosure platform. The report, titled A Wave of Change, finds that the companies disclosing through CDP’s water security questionnaire in 2020 risk losing...

The Welsh Government have set three new targets to address fuel poverty in Wales to meet its obligations under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. By 2035: No households are estimated to be living in severe or persistent fuel poverty as far as 'reasonably practicable.' Not more than 5% of households are estimated to be living in fuel...

The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) replaced the UK’s participation in the EU's ETS on 1 January 2021 following the end of the Brexit transition period. The UK ETS applies to energy intensive industries and aviation by controlling emissions from greenhouse gases. It covers activities involving combustion of fuels in installations with a total rated thermal input exceeding 20MW (except...

Welsh Government has published a strategy to support a green recovery in the country by transitioning into a ‘circular economy’, in which resources and items are kept in use for as long as possible and waste is avoided. Wales is already ranked the third best country for recycling in the world and the new strategy, titled 'Beyond Recycling', aims to...

The first auction of the UK's post-Brexit emissions trading scheme will be held on 19 May 2021, the Government has announced. The UK ETS applies to energy intensive industries and aviation by controlling emissions from greenhouse gases, seeking to encourage businesses to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they emit to meet the UK’s statutory emissions reduction commitments. The UK scheme...

Energy regulator Ofgem has found that 18 suppliers did not adhere to price protection rules, which protect a customer’s tariff price when they decide to either switch suppliers or tariffs after a price increase. Several of the suppliers self-reported the issue to Ofgem. Following this, all suppliers were requested to self-assess their practices, which revealed that 18 suppliers were not...

Energy Networks Association (ENA), the industry body for the energy networks, seeks to make providing companies providing flexibility services to the energy sector easier by 'refreshing and streamlining' a common contract used across the sector. One example of providing flexibility services could be businesses striking demand-side response agreements to adjust their electricity use at the times of day when they...