• Copenhagen calamity

  The outcome of the COP 15 climate summit has dashed hopes and set back progress.

• Clean coal funding boost

  The government’s Carbon Capture and Storage Incentive will fund four projects.

• Pre-Budget: Boiler boost but no new green taxes
• UK faces fines for neglecting air quality
• UK wins key case on sewage nutrient removal
• Chemical waste fire costs Veolia £240,000
• £101,000 bill for plutonium incident
• Carbon trading scam reaches epidemic levels
• 500 airlines miss emissions trading scheme
• Eat less meat to save the planet, says SDC
• ENDS infographic: Big fall in oil pollution incidents at commercial premises

Corporate

• Airlines could reap ETS profits

  A Carbon Trust report says airlines could make windfall profits from the EU ETS.

• Businesses pressed to seize green opportunities
• Guide highlights tensions in corporate engagement
• Agency wins prize for eco-management
• Balfour Beatty announces CO₂ target

Energy & carbon

• New nuclear reactor plans fall short on safety

  Report on nuclear reactor designs outlines safety concerns.

• Wave developers hit by funding shortages
• Olympics claims 17% carbon emissions cut
• UK needs more trees to boost carbon sinks
• Action urged for all commercial buildings
• London Array to be made in Denmark
• London’s carbon footprint mapped
• Germany enters offshore wind arena
• International offsets: poor value for money?

Pollution & clean-up

• Ofwat announces water prices

  Water firms are allowed to charge an extra £1.3bn compared with an interim determination.

• Thames phosphorus targets 'unachievable'
• Licensed nuclear sites ‘no threat’ to health
• Launch of soil generic assessment criteria
• EU ruling setback for Alcan power plant

Supply chain

• Government spotlights suppliers’ emissions

  Few suppliers reporting emissions had reduction plans to match national targets.

• Products still failing to meet energy label claims
• Toy surveys continue to find heavy metals
• Co-op tops fish survey
• First timber case under Lacey Act

Waste & resources

• Waste cuts douse incinerator plans

  Recycling successes push Surrey to ditch incinerator plans.

• Early Recyclebank results suggest success
• Government may scrap council landfill targets
• Reports warn over waste prevention messages
• Infamous waste exports landfilled
• Wales fractionally ahead on recycling

Science

• Pollution concerns over air con gas

  Researchers find proposed new car air conditioning refrigerant may boost pollution.

• Renewable energy from osmosis switched on
• EU biomonitoring takes a small step forward
• Tropical nations lack forest baseline data

• Change the batteries

  A new battery recycling regime starting next year will challenge producers.

• Branding carbon

  Few of the UK’s leading brands can claim to be carbon leaders.

• A climate storm

  Sceptics' claims that scientists fudged climate data are debunked.

National

• Aviation's growth 'needs restraint'

  Passenger numbers must not grow more than 60% by 2050, says advisory committee.

• Utilities to start fitting smart meters in 2012
• Zero-carbon route set for commercial buildings
• Hazwaste strategy not cutting it with industry
• Recycling target for packaging deferred
• Water abstraction plans prove deeply unpopular
• Ofwat 'should take lead on metering'
• Revised groundwater rules come into force
• Aviation: now boarding for emissions trading
• Major services to report on climate adaptation
• Industry pressured on EU ETS phase III data
• Second wave of eco-towns announced
• Small sewage discharge consultation
• Plan to treble marine protected areas
• COMAH regulations ammended
• Post-Buncefield guidelines for storage
• EDF to sell Bradwell land for nuclear plant

International

• EU climate department launched

  The European Commission is to set up a department to combat climate change.

• Commission appeals EU ETS allocation ruling
• Ireland unveils plans for waste incineration tax
• Concern over variation in nations’ REACH fines
• Australian ETS in political tug-of-war
• REACH committee extends candidate list
• Countries agree to work on supergrid
• Impact of noise on marine life assessed

• Tom Burke

  The global climate regime lies in ruins after Copenhagen.

• Top Conservatives line up to take green ground
• MPs endorse fast growth for UK aviation sector
• Lib Dems propose tax on domestic flights

• Richard Macrory

  Court decision highlights the dilemma faced when the Environment Agency and councils duplicate controls.

• Conoco and SGS share £44,000 water penalty
• Odour complaints cost composter £40,000
• £176,000 confiscation order for fly-tipper
• Builders fined for pollution offences
• Energy firm fined for diesel spill
• Illegal fishing leads to £34,000 penalty
• Enviro-Waste pays out £34,000 over breach
• School fined for sewage failure
• Scrap metal dealer hit with £31,000 penalty
• Waste offences cost director nearly £20,000
• Crisp maker fined for water pollution