Category Archives: Pollution
Water Friendly Farming, a landscape-scale research initiative for protecting water bodies
The BES Policy Team attended the launch of Water Friendly Farming, a new research initiative on sustainable water management in the Portcullis House today. The programme is run by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Pond Conservation, Syngenta and other … Continue reading
Recent research may require adjusted thinking on the topic of greenhouse gases and climate change
Climate change and the continual rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are well established in the environmental policy agenda. However, although the general scientific evidence for climate change is now rarely refuted, the issue continues to be a very large, … Continue reading
Policy Lunchbox: Science in the Devolved Nations Post Election
Today’s policy lunchbox organised by the Biochemical Society focussed on opportunities for influencing science policy in the devolved nations post election. A brief presentation led by Hilary Leevers from Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) preceded a discussion about the … Continue reading
The true cost of nitrogen pollution
The European Nitrogen Assessment (ENA), a major new investigation, today released its findings revealing the environmental and economic cost of nitrogen pollution in Europe. The ENA, conducted by over 200 international experts, estimated that nitrogen pollution is already costing Europeans … Continue reading
EFRA Select Committtee Criticises Defra Waste Policy
The EFRA Select Committee has today released a report criticising Defra’s waste policy, stating that the Department’s strategy has no clear targets for the reduction of England’s waste and instead concentrates efforts on improving recycling rates for domestic waste, which … Continue reading
Melting Glaciers Releasing Trapped Pollutants
New research shows that concentrations of pollutants in the environment and atmosphere may increase with global warming, as melting glaciers release pollutants which became trapped in their ice at the end of the twentieth century. A team of researchers working … Continue reading
Noise Pollution Not an Insignificant Concern
A review of recent studies into noise pollution and biodiversity has concluded that noise is becoming a major threat, interfering with the way species communicate, mate and hunt. The authors found that man-made noise is already creating a host of … Continue reading
“Killer” spices and toxic plastic
New research presented at the American Chemical Society meeting in Washington this week (and reported in National Geographic) suggests that herbs and spices may offer an alternative to chemical pesticides. Oils from thyme, rosemary, mint and other herbs should repel … 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
GM Crop that Needs Less Fertilizer
Canadian Scientists have successfully developed genetically modified (GM) rice plants that take-up and metabolise nitrogen more efficiently, thereby reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers and increasing yields. Nitrogen is quantitatively the most essential nutrient for plants and a major factor … Continue reading