18th June 2009 – DEFRA today published the document UK Climate Projections 2009 indicating how climate change will affect this country over the rest of the century. The government is working on a five point plan to tackle the issues of climate change. Read more at the DEFRA website.
24 March 2009 – Green Alliance – The government has launched a new task force to tackle climate change, which will include representatives from government departments and the third sector (charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises). Read more at the Green Alliance website.
4 March 2009 – Cadbury have announced that their Dairy Milk bars will be produced from Fairtrade chocolate from the end of the summer 2009. This will triple Fairtrade cocoa sales in Ghana making a massive difference to farmers’ lives. Read more at the Cadbury website.
15 January 2009 – BBC – The government has today announced its decision to allow the expansion of Heathrow airport, despite strong opposition from within parliament and environmental groups. Read more at the BBC website.
02 January 2009 – 2009 could be one of the five warmest years on record according to British climate scientists. This is despite the cooling effects of the La Nina phenomenon in the Pacific. More information can be found at Planet Ark
16 December 2008 – The Independent – Scientists are reporting that the Arctic may be melting at an unrecoverable rate, something which it was not expected to see far at least another ten years. More information can be found on The Independent website.
11th December 2008 – Planet Ark – The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has announced that more funds are to be made available for large-scale biomass installations. More information can be found at Planet Ark and the DECC website.
02 December 2008 – Planet Ark – Britain’s Chief Climate Change Advisor has warned that households will face energy bill rises as the country moves towards meeting renewable energy targets set for 2020. Read more at Planet Ark
20th November 2008 – Planet Ark – The UK government has made over €64 million through the sale of carbon emission permits this week. More are expected to be auctioned next year but the UK government has not earmarked the proceeds for environmental projects. Read more at Planet Ark
27th October 2008 – The Guardian - The UK government is due to announce tommorrow that they will include emissions from shipping and aviation in the climate change bill. Previously, a loophole would have meant that the emissions from these sources would not have been included in the 80% cuts to be made by 2050. See more at the Guardian website.
7th October 2008 – The Telegraph – The Climate Change Committee has advised the UK government that the country should aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, up 20% from current targets. In addition, they made clear that the emissions should include other greenhouse gases, not just carbon. For more information visit the Telegraph website.
30th September 2008 – The consumer watchdog Energy Watch has closed for business today, with new groups now taking on their mantel. Consumers and small businesses can now contact Consumer Direct, Consumer Focus or the Energy Ombudsman website.
28 August 2008, Guardian – Charity shops are seeing a boom in clothes sales despite high street stores often struggling. This is attributed to a combination of increased thriftiness as well as looking for more ethical buys. Read more at the Guardian website.
20 August 2008, The Telegraph – A House of Lords committee has criticised the government for focussing on decreasing household waste rather than insisting that businesses and supermarkets reduce their waste, which has a greater impact overall. Read more at the Telegraph website.
14th August 2008, New Energy Focus – Work has begun on a new visitor centre at the Whitelee wind farm in Scotland. Scottish Power intends to educate visitors about wind energy and other forms of renewable power. More information can be found at the New Energy Focus website.
30th July 2008, BBC – According to the BBC’s Green Room viewpoint, biomass is to be critical in the move towards renewable energy in Europe. Find out more about David Williams’ thoughts on this at the BBC website.
21st July 2008, Yorkshire Evening Post – House buyers are willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly home, according to research quoted in the Yorkshire Evening Post. The article recommends ways in which you can make your home greener. Read more at the Yorkshire Evening Post website.
18th July 2008 – The UK government has acknowledged that the country is unlikely to meet the 2020 target of 20% carbon emission cuts compared to 1990. Experts have been claiming this for some time. For more information visit Planet Ark website.
15th July 2008, Planet Ark – The UK government has come in for criticism from the Sustainable Development Commission for its “extremely poor” record in cutting its own carbon emissions. Read more at Planet Ark website.
14th July 2008, Planet Ark – London sees the opening of the self-styled ‘world’s first ecological nightclub’ on Thursday. The club will use renewable energy, including some produced by dancers on the dance floor, and walkers and cyclists receive free entrance. Find out more at the Planet Ark website.
9th July 2008 – Planet Ark – Boris Johnson has scrapped plans to change the London congestion charge in favour of vehicles with lower emissions. Concerns had been raised about charging gas guzzlers £25 a day whilst allowing small, fuel-efficient vehicles in free of charge, as opposition to the scheme felt that this would increase congestion and possibly emissions. See more at the Planet Ark website.
9th July 2008 – The Guardian – G8 talks have hit problems despite the US at last agreeing to ‘consider and adopt’ a 50% cut in emissions by 2050. Five leaders of developing nations have called for the developed countries to go even further than this. Read more at the Guardian website.
4th July 2008, Planet Ark – Next week’s group of eight summit is unlikely to result in targets for cutting greenhouse gases being agreed, according to a British official. It is hoped, however, that the meeting will lead to a 2009 deal. Find out more at the Planet Ark website.
23rd June 2008 – Planet Ark – The UK government is reported to be putting forward a plan next week to significantly increase the output of electricity from renewable energy. Dubbed a ‘green revolution’, this could include measures to ensure that homeowners increase energy efficiency. For more information visit the Planet Ark website.
19th June 2008, Planet Ark – A parliamentary report has declared that the UK is likely to miss renewable energy targets for 2010. The government committed to using renewable sources of energy for 10% of the country’s electricity requirements but the figure currently stands at less than 5%. For more details visit the Planet Ark website.
27th May 2008, Tidal power has been harnessed to generate electricity for Britain's National Grid for the first time, it has been announced. visit the Telegraph website.
27th May 2008, A Couple from Flintshire are set to experience the benefits of becoming more energy efficient by having a monitor installed in their home. visit the Wrexham Leader website.
7th May 2008, Planet Ark – Environmental groups are in disagreement over whether carbon capture and storage is a sensible option to reduce global warming. Some groups, such as WWF, argue that this provides an emergency solution, whilst others, including Greenpeace, denounce the projects. For more information visit the Planet Ark website.
