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The government has announced their plans for a strategy which will set out their vision for transitioning to a net zero economy ahead of COP26 in November 2021. This was part of the government's official response to the Committee on Climate Change's (CCC) progress report for 2020. The government has not formally updated its official decarbonisation strategy since 2017, which was...

Ofwat has agreed to give up on the use of 'archaic' non-gender neutral terms in the Wholesale Retail Code and Market Arrangements Code. The issue was raised when members of the Ofwat Panel brought up of the term “Chairman” being used throughout the Market Arrangements Code in their meeting on 30 June. To promote equality and inclusivity, it has been proposed,...

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a consultation on extending the Warm Homes Discount scheme to winter 2021/2022. The consultation also proposes a number of minor changes to industry initiatives, small operational changes and some considerations around the future of the scheme, beyond the one-year extension. Under the Warm Homes Discount scheme, the qualifying customer can have...

Leeds’ planned Clean Air Zone is no longer required due to businesses switching to cleaner vehicles faster than expected, a joint review by Leeds City Council and central government has concluded. Senior councillors will discuss the conclusions and proposals to voluntarily introduce new air quality targets that go further than the national standards at a meeting of the council’s Executive...

The water industry has launched its first ever innovation strategy setting out a vision for the sector up to 2050. The strategy, which has been developed by 19 water companies from across the UK and Ireland alongside UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) and consultants Arup, was unveiled at a virtual event involving representatives from all UK water companies. Gemma Domican, Policy...

Tesco has announced that it has established a £2.5bn revolving credit facility, where rates and interest are tied to progress against the company's key environmental targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Tesco will benefit from a lower interest rate loan margin if the company delivers environmental targets, aligned with three existing KPIs included in its Little Helps Plan sustainability...

The UK’s first ever local government green bond, for West Berkshire District council, has closed after reaching its £1 million target five days early. 22% of the funds raised came from West Berkshire residents, who each invested an average of £3500. The Community Municipal Investment (CMI) attracted 640 investors in total. Lynne Doherty, Leader of West Berkshire Council, commented on the news: “I’m...

Interconnection with EU nations, regardless of trading arrangements post-Brexit, will continue to play a pivotal role in driving wholesale power prices and system flexibility in the future, new research by Cornwall Insight highlights. The consultancy's modelling of the GB and EU markets shows that increased interconnection through the 2020s and 2030s could provide a route for excess offshore wind power...

The Environmental Audit Committee has announced that it will look at electrical, gas and hybrid heat pumps, marking the next phase of its Technological Innovation and Climate Change inquiry. Heat pumps transport heat from one location (such as the air outside) to another (such as a hot water system inside) using a small amount of external energy, which is often...

Fast-tracked funding to help local communities drive their green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has been announced by the Scottish Government. The Community Climate Asset Fund will provide grants of up to £100,000 for projects supporting community climate action including those that boost energy efficiency in community buildings, and that enable the purchase of electric bikes and vehicles. Smaller grants of...