Category Archives: Energy
NERC-Defra Marine Renewable Energy Sandpit
Expressions of interest are invited to attend a 3 day sandpit as part of the NERC/Defra Marine Renewable Energy Research Programme. The aim of the sandpit is to fund research project(s) which will develop an understanding of the environmental benefits … Continue reading
Local Authorities given go ahead to generate renewable energy
From 18th August Local Authorities across the UK will have the restrictions on generating and selling renewable energy removed, following an announcement by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne this week. The potential for Local Authorities to lead … Continue reading
New energy and environment ministers announced
David Cameron has now announced his new Cabinet, including the key environmental portfolios within the coalition government. Policies in this sector have caused significant disagreements between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in the past, most notably on nuclear energy which … Continue reading
Conservative – Liberal Democrat announce coalition agreements
Details of the agreements between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have been announced, outlining the coalition’s stance on several environmental topics. A document on the Liberal Democrat’s website outlines measures seeking to fulfill “joint ambitions for a low carbon and … Continue reading
RSPB Challenges Severn Barrage Plans
The RSPB has this morning challenged the proposed development of a barrage across the Severn Estuary, citing evidence from a study by the Dutch Government of a similar development at the Oosterschelde estuary in the Netherlands. The study of the … Continue reading
Government to Fast Track Wind Turbines
The Housing Minister, John Healey, yesterday announced that the UK Government is planning to abolish the need for planning permission in relation to wind turbines of up to 50ft in height, provided the turbine makes no more than 45 decibels … Continue reading
The Environmental Side of the Queen’s Speech
The Queen’s Speech in Parliament today, in which she set out the legislative agenda for the Government, was just 7 minutes long. This is far shorter than normal, and reflects the fact that there is very little parliamentary time between … Continue reading
Committee on Climate Change Reports on Government Carbon Policy
The first annual report to Parliament by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), published today, concludes that a step change is required in the pace of UK emissions reduction to meet carbon budgets, and that in some areas, new policy … Continue reading
Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty
This morning the BES Policy Team attended the launch of the Royal Society’s new report, “Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty”. The report is the first to provide a wide-ranging assessment of potential future geoengineering options (the large scale … Continue reading