• Reaching beyond the moon

  Building a low-carbon economy will need the wider involvement of society.

• Going low carbon

  The government launches its Low Carbon Transition Plan.

• Draft water price limits announced
• Tory u-turn on planning quango
• Brazil intercepts illegal UK waste
• Green groups shed more jobs
• DEFRA wins pesticides appeal
• Poll shows support for UK population limit
• Turner wants high-carbon investment ban for RBS
• Civil penalties for green offences proposed
• ENDS infographic: Sustainable energy investment dampened by recession

Corporate

• ‘Carbon positive’ chemicals

  The global chemcials industry claims its products save more carbon than they emit.

• BT flouts carbon guidance

  Firm continues to claim emissions reductions for green tariff power.

• 'More needed' on responsible investment
• WWF pushes for business travel alternatives
• Cement industry claims big carbon cuts
• Firms to disclose deforestation role
• Legal action launched over RBS investment
• Students rank universities' green performance

Energy & carbon

• Many sectors to get free EU ETS allowances

  Few sectors are likely to miss out on free phase III emissions allowances.

• Fuel suppliers struggle to meet biofuel standards
• Government moves on buildings' energy efficiency
• Study finds poor micro-wind output
• Fund announced for low-carbon buses
• Exxon invests in algal biofuels

Pollution & clean-up

• Noise's health impacts confirmed

  Science panel calls for a permanent committee on noise and funding for research.

• SEPA names poor PPC sites
• Drinking water incidents rise
• Study finds exposure to air-borne benzene
• Committee reassesses harm from air pollution
• Agency tests bathing water predictions
• EPUK to update air quality guidance
• CORRECTION: Cryptosporidium project

Supply chain

• Ikea's green timber struggle

  Only 7% of the solid wood used in Ikea products is certified as sustainable.

• Asda offers 'low-carbon beef'
• Users not ready for HCFC ban
• Phone makers to standardise chargers
• Carbon Trust rethinks label requirements
• Government ICT staff unaware of green targets
• BSI consults on building materials standard

Waste & resources

• Councils could face steep increase in waste arisings

  Waste arisings could rise by 2% if councils are made to dispose of certain waste for free.

• Vehicle recylers just miss ELV target
• Recession’s impact on recycling overstated
• E-transfer note trial extended
• Salt End incinerator gets permit
• Supermarkets just miss plastic bag target
• Construction waste standard launched

Science

• Climate schemes come in for scruitiny

  Can innovative climate change schemes save the planet?

• HFCs could hinder climate mitigation

• The choke points in raising local air quality

  Councils have been given the task of meeting EU air quality standards, but they face a number of hurdles.

• Mr Environment’s farewell frustrations

  The outspoken chair of the government's Sustainable Development Commission is leaving after nine years in the role.

• Waiting for China's emissions to peak

  The country's policies do not look like they will rein in emissions before 2030.

• Norwich’s low-emission zone
• Low-emission zones abroad
• Biography

National

• Low-Carbon Transition Plan published for UK

  The government has set out an ambitious roadmap for meeting tough, legally binding carbon budgets.

• Government outlines low-carbon traffic plan
• Renewable energy strategy
• Low-carbon industrial strategy
• Eco-towns shortlist announced
• Anaerobic digestion plans outlined
• Consultation on EU waste law transposition
• HSE to police chemicals supply chain
• Row over river basin plans
• Walker review supports water metering
• Wales to charge for carrier bags
• NI implements groundwater rules
• NI consutls on private water supplies
• Ofwat responds to Cave review findings
• DEFRA consults on eco-design and energy labelling
• Treated timber's wate status under review
• DEFRA corrects air quality reports
• Biomass and air quality guidance issued
• Zero-carbon homes definition becoming clearer

International

• World leaders adopt 2°C limit

  The G8 and major developing countries have agreed on the need to limit global warming to 2°C.

• UK publishes Copenhagen roadmap
• Shipping emissions talks disappoint
• Global bodies discuss trade and climate link
• Call for combined chemical risk assessment
• EU ministers vote on industrial emissions laws
• Commission rules on PM₁₀ deadlines
• Environment ministers divided over biowaste
• European court rejects REACH challenge
• Views sought on indirect land use
• Effectiveness of REACH studied

• Labour’s environmental rhetoric fails to convince

  The government needs to match talk with action on energy and climate policy.

• Scottish Climate Change Bill through parliament
• MPs debate Marine Bill loophole
• MPs call for illegal timber ban
• MPs call for better bee data
• Natural England under fire over SSSIs
• Government responds to geo-engineering report
• MPs want aircraft 'stacking' reduced

• Pesticides ruling leaves policy to government

  The Court of Appeal has signalled that it will leave substantive environmental policy issues to government.

• Agency's demolition waste appeal fails
• Drax protesters convicted
• Strabane council fined
• Newham prosecutes firm for rotting flesh odour
• £15,000 for diesel spill
• Developer fined for silt discharge
• Permit breach costs tyre firm £28,000
• Food firm fined for packaging offences
• £10,000 bill for skip firm