• An American tragedy

  The rest of the world is entitled to expect action from the world's number two emitter.

• Green skills gap looms

  Trade bodies warn of skills shortages threatening the low-carbon transition.

• Copenhagen climate deal will be a work in progress
• Rainforest deal could increase rate of loss
• CRC benefit may be twice original estimate
• Royal Commission wants moon and stars returned
• Firms plead ahead of Buncefield trial
• CIWEM calls on parents to ‘stop at two’
• Economics for a finite planet: ENDS Lecture
• Agency swoops on hazwaste dumpers
• ENDS infographic: Green shares outperform the wider market through the recession.

Corporate

• Carbon Trust helps firms cut process energy use

  Britvic, Carrs Billington and Tarmac are helping to improve their sector's energy efficiency.

• Housebuilders question zero-carbon target
• Sky’s the limit for misleading carbon claims
• BP fined for more Texas refinery safety violations
• JP Morgan to buy Ecosecurities
• Chemical firms’ scarce green progress
• Greener firms garner ‘green globes’
• More warnings over carbon commitment

Energy & carbon

• Recession 'raises chances to stay at 2°C'

  IEA sets out scenario for developing global energy supplies that contains the risk of climate change.

• EU urged to adopt 30% emissions target early
• Water firms report 40% boost in renewables
• UK ports look to offshore wind in shipping decline
• More offshore wind on the way in Skegness
• Europe will not make its own biofuels
• Deforestation carbon emissions played down
• Financial boost for onshore wind

Pollution & clean-up

• Environmental crime

  Fines up, pollution incidents down in 2008, says agency.

• Chloramine disinfection cuts by-products: study
• DEFRA ordered to disclose documents
• NO₂ link to child health still unclear
• Hatfield bromate ruling contested
• Bathing water quality stagnates

Supply chain

• Retailers don't know their REACH

  ENDS survey finds floor stores fail to respond on high-concern SVHCs.

• UK salmon farms rate poorly on environment
• Palm oil body backtracks on emissions criteria
• Sainsbury’s deadline for fridge CO2
• Ecolabel for tools aims to save carbon and money
• Emissions protocols for supply chains and products
• Sugarcane standard to keep lax CO₂ goal

Waste & resources

• Waste inspections dip

  The Environment Agency undertook 36% fewer inspections in 2008/09.

• Agency plans for MBT worry waste firms
• Wales goes ahead with bag tax despite criticism
• Recycling jumps, but rejection rates stir doubts
• Packaging recycling label gains ground
• Scotland reaches landfill goal
• Regrinding drill bits could save carbon

Science

• Impotence joins list of BPA health impacts

  Exposure to oestrogenic plastic ingredient bisphenol A has been linked to impotence.

• Legacy POPs released into glacial meltwater
• Scientists sound alarm over nanosilver products

• Penetrating the verbal fog of war

  Tom Burke calls for Copenhagen's underlying goal to be kept in sight admid the verbal fog of war.

• Copenhagen - what’s in it for us?

  What are the likely impacts of the UN climate summit’s outcome on politics and policy in Europe and Britain?

• Can markets count on Copenhagen?
• Cognitive dissonance on a global scale
• A history of emissions and climate diplomacy
• Time to call a limit on transport carbon
• Shipping
• Aviation
• No global deal for high-carbon industry
• Wanted: hard cash to halt deforestation

National

• Nuclear power planning juggernaut rolling on

  Government propses streamlined planning guidelines for new nuclear power stations.

• Policy statement pushes planning for renewables
• New ports policy favours predict and provide
• DEFRA consults on air quality rules for England
• Carbon capture levy proposed for power suppliers
• Waste exemption limits set to be increased
• Farmer-led biodiversity plan gains broad support
• Agency updates its corporate strategy
• Consultation on phosphate ban in washing powders
• Recycling regulations for WEEE to be revised
• Drinking water guidance revised
• Environment Agency publishes more soil guidelines

International

• Ozone meeting rejects plan to cut HFC use

  A plan to save 80 billion tonnes of carbon was rejected at a Montreal Protocol meeting in November.

• EU ministers fudge climate funding plans
• Kyoto mechanisms take EU way beyond 8% cuts
• Appeal leads ECHA to reverse REACH decision
• Laxer limits for van CO₂ emissions
• New European pollution register unveiled
• Study to put value on ecosystem services
• New Energy Star criteria for PCs
• Slow progress on proposed POPs
• New rating for energy-efficient products
• More ecodesign standards proposed

• Marine Bill gains royal assent

  The Marine and Coastal Access Act introduces a UK marine planning system.

• Commission calls for green tax consensus
• Agency in the dark over illegal waste exports
• Private member’s bill forces renewables move
• Committee mounts inquiry on air quality
• Transatlantic collaboration on inquiry announced
• Queen unveils bills on CCS and flooding

• Richard Macrory

  A tribunal has ruled that strong belief in climate change can be a philosophical belief.

• Allowing erosion did not breach law, says court
• Waste oil firm lands £125,000 safety fine
• Biffa pays £55,400 for its asbestos handling
• Thames Water fined for polluting golf course
• Agricultural firm fined for polluting river
• Chevron fined £11,500 for oil pollution
• Marine oil firm fined for Fal estuary spill
• Sweet maker fined £14k for stream pollution
• Correction: Anaerobic digestion firms fined
• First fine for operator self-monitoring rule