Category Archives: Environment
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
National survey reveals poor state of British ponds
According to a report published on 4th February by the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology and Pond Conservation, 80% of ponds in England and Wales are in a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition, thus failing to provide vital habitat for … 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
European Commission Focussing on UK Air Pollution
According to the European Environment Agency, nearly 3,000 Londoners die every year from inhaling particulates, airborne particles emitted mostly by car exhausts. Six months ago, the European Commission gave formal notice that it was prosecuting Britain for failing to meet … Continue reading
New El Niño Likely to Have Major Impacts
A new ‘El Niño’ is intensifying, and whilst it may have lead forecasters to a perhaps premature prediction of a ‘barbecue summer’, it is likely to have major impacts on global weather systems over the coming year. Forecasters say this … Continue reading
Calls for Clearer ‘Green’ Commitments at the G20 Summit
Experts are strongly urging G20 members to insert clear green commitments when they meet in London this week to come up with solutions to the global economic downturn. UN climate negotiators have warned that the G20 summit will not succeed … Continue reading
Government Backs Battle Agaisnt Plant Diseases
The government has pledged £25 million to help eradicate the plant diseases Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum, which are spreading across the UK. Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum are fungus-like pathogens which cause potentially lethal infections in oak and beech … Continue reading
A Million Ponds by 2059
Yesterday evening, the BES Science Policy Team attended the launch of the Million Ponds Project. The ambitious project is a national initiative to reverse the long-term decline in ponds; from around a million 100 years ago, to 500,000 now. Of … Continue reading
Severity of Global Warming Underestimated
Leading climate change scientist, Professor Chris Field has announced that the severity of global warming over the next century will be well beyond anything predicted. Field, a senior member of the Nobel-prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC), revealed … Continue reading
Return of Set-Aside Schemes for Farmers
Environment secretary, Hilary Benn has announced new proposals to bring back payments for farmers who set aside areas of uncultivated land to promote biodiversity and environmental benefits. The system of subsiding farmers for setting-aside areas of land from agricultural production … Continue reading