Category Archives: Government
Government must boost STEM skills for UK competitiveness
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has today published a report that calls upon the Government to take immediate action to ensure enough young people study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at university. Without this, the … Continue reading
Moving Forward with the NEWP – One Year On
Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman MP, announced yesterday that the Government would make £750,000 of extra funding available to create additional Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs). Those NIAs that were not successful … Continue reading
Cross-party committee challenges “Greenest Government Ever”
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) has published a report of an inquiry into the Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) today, challenging ministers to put nature in the heart of economic decision-making. EFRA is appointed by the House … Continue reading
Government and Research Councils Set Out Open Access Policy
The UK Government has today published its official response to the ‘Finch Report’, the output of a working group led by Dame Janet Finch that considered how to expand access to the published findings of research. To complement the Government’s … Continue reading
The first year of the Natural Environment White Paper: an evaluation by Wildlife and Countryside Link
The Natural Environment White Paper (The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature, NEWP) was published a year ago in June. The White Paper set out four ambitions to achieve a healthy natural environment to be the foundation of green … Continue reading
'Green Food' for a Green Economy
Greater investment is needed in agricultural research, enhanced knowledge exchange is required between different stakeholders in supply chains and detailed discussion must take place regarding how to reduce consumption and waste. These are some of the headline conclusions from the … Continue reading
Planning for a Healthy Natural Environment
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) when launched earlier this year was welcomed cautiously by environmental NGOs. The final content was widely acknowledged as an improvement on previous iterations, with guidance to local authorities clear that the pillars of sustainable … Continue reading
Contribute to the work of the IPBES
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is currently advertising opportunities to inform the development of the initiative’s work. Ecologists can contribute to discussions on the priorities for IPBES and are also invited to put themselves forward … Continue reading
Investing in Peatlands – Demonstrating Success
This week ecologists from across the UK, Europe and from as far away as Tibet descended upon Bangor University to consider the major challenges and opportunities facing the restoration and conservation of the globe’s peatlands. The meeting was organised jointly … Continue reading
Parliamentarians to Consider the Science behind Bioenergy
An event in Westminster on Tuesday 10th July will allow parliamentarians, and other interested individuals, to consider the science behind bioenergy. Organised by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), and sponsored by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), … Continue reading