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The government has committed to upgrade as many private rented sector homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C by 2030, where 'practical, cost-effective and affordable' in England and Wales. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a consultation that sets out a suite of policy proposals towards achieving this. These proposals seek to bring benefits to...

Consultation on how to cut ammonia emissions from the use of solid urea fertilisers to better protect human health and the environment has been launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Ammonia emissions are harmful to natural habitats and rivers and lakes, as well as to human health, with 87% of the UK’s ammonia emissions coming...

Defra and the Welsh Government have published the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 to protect and improve the health of honey bees in England and Wales. The plan sets out four key outcomes for beekeepers, bee farmers, associations and government to work towards to help protect honey bees, which continue to face pressure from a variety of pests, diseases and environmental threats...

The Environment Bill returned to Parliament today after a pause due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Bill sets out a vision to allow UK's environment to prosper for future generations and ensure that we maintain and enhance our environmental protections. A key vehicle for delivering the vision set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, the Bill seeks to enhance wildlife,...

Over half (51%) of Wales’ energy needs are met from renewables and Wales is 83% of the way towards meeting its local ownership target of 1GW by 2030 – with 825 MW of renewable energy capacity in local ownership, new report shows. The Energy Generation 2019 report was published on the second day of Wales Climate Week digital conference. Welcoming the...

Plans to commission a Scottish Centre of Expertise in Biodiversity have been announced as part of the new draft strategy for the environment, natural resources and agricultural research programme. The Centre will bring together experts who will advise policymakers in government, local authorities and public bodies on how best to combat biodiversity loss. The Centre will be established during the course...

A rapid non-statutory review into Nottingham City Council and the 'serious governance and risk management issues' associated with the council’s private energy company Robin Hood Energy was confirmed today by Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick. The council has agreed to this short, informal review to identify the issues it is facing and make recommendations for action that should be taken. Mr...

The Competition and Markets Authority will investigate descriptions and labels used to promote products and services claiming to be ‘eco-friendly’, and whether they could mislead consumers. This new programme of work is a response to the growing number of products and services being marketed as environmentally friendly, as awareness of environmental issues grows. In 2019, UK consumers spent £41 billion a...

SES Water has successfully prosecuted Lanes for Drains Limited for illegally taking water from a fire hydrant through the unauthorised use of a standpipe, pursuant to Section 174 of the Water Industry Act 1991. The company, based in Leeds, pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place in Wallington in February 2020, and was ordered to pay £9,281.70 in fines...

Severn Trent Green Power is expecting 50,000 pumpkins to arrive at its food waste plants after Halloween, where they’ll be converted into green energy. Teams based across eight depots in the Midlands, Oxfordshire, South Wales and London, estimate the leftover Jack O’ Lanterns will create 22 megawatt hours, enough to power almost 2,000 homes per day. The expected jump in pumpkin...