• And yet it warms

  In the face of scepticism, those who care about climate change must go on reminding the public of the science.

• Castle Cement's record fine

  Padeswood plant breaches cost Castle £304,650.

• ‘Climategate’ fuels scepticism

  Negative coverage of climate science will increase public misunderstanding.

• M&S pays for recycling expansion
• British Airways boosts biofuel
• National Trust to cut fossil fuel 50% by 2020
• Councils call for nuclear plant at Dungeness
• Investors thirsty for risk data on water scarcity
• Leading air quality expert dies
• London airport expansion plans stall
• New head for N Ireland Environment Agency
• ENDS infographic: • ENDS infographic: UK scores highly in global Environmental Performance Index

Corporate

• Property owners fail green test

  Commercial property firms and funds failing to implement effective environmental policies.

• ENDS’ Carbon Trust challenge rejected
• Welsh Water plans drive to boost efficiency
• Environmental tools directory launched
• Study highlights EMAS benefits
• Firms trial personal carbon trading
• NetJets clarification
• Kraft to honour Cadbury CO2 pledge
• Trade bodies cut environmental jobs

Energy & carbon

• US airlines launch UK legal action

  Three carriers challenge their inclusion in the EU emissions trading scheme.

• Corus closure spurs debate on free allocations
• Biofuel firms fail to act on land use change
• Certification fails to improve green tariffs
• Slump confuses 2008 emissions cuts analysis
• Algal biofuels may emit more
• Wave and tidal power developers boosted
• Aid department to encourage renewables investment
• Chepstow: the new centre of UK wind?
• Consultancy gains PassivHaus pass
• Barrage across Solway looks unlikely

Pollution & clean-up

• Contaminated land guidance under review

  Announcement appears to be a recognition of widespread feeling that existing guidance is inadequate.

• Flame retardant sector reports emissions cuts
• Errors blight European pollution data
• Experts dismiss wind farm noise health claims
• VMD appeals against information ruling
• Recession means UK might meet NO2 cap
• Reclamation of Scottish land hits seven-year low
• Draft land condition skills framework published

Supply chain

• First forest footprint survey

  The Forest Footprint Disclosure Project received a limited response in its first year.

• Dulux launches 'sustainable' paint
• Waitrose ahead on HFC fridge gas phase-out
• Firms double response rate to carbon survey
• Survey finds car emissions poorly presented online
• Certification scheme for restaurants launched

Waste & resources

• Ombudsmen slam agency's waste failings

  The agency and two councils have been censured for failing to close an illegal waste dump.

• NFU criticises low feed-in tariffs
• Newsprint mill forced into administration
• Business group calls for focus on resource use
• Asda expands trial of refillable packaging
• Plant to recycle mixed plastics on the way
• Little improvement in illegal waste exports
• Second Recyclebank trial sees benefits

Science

• EU 'failing to sustainably manage fish’

  Europe's failure to manage stocks sustainably breaches its international legal obligations, says study.

• Misconduct claims surface over BPA study
• More proof of PFOA link to disease
• Phthalates may affect early childhood behaviour
• Brazilian biofuels' 250-year carbon debt
• Food safety authority to survey European food

• Water sector faces the carbon crunch

  How will climate concerns shape the industry and water quality targets?

• Tesco’s growing pains on the road to zero-carbon

  ENDS looks at how the UK's biggest supermarket hopes to cut emissions while continuing to grow as a business.

National

• Government approves civil sanctions regime

  Natural England and the Environment Agency will soon be able to issue civil sanctions for legal breaches.

• Sweeping reforms for power markets mooted
• Final microrenewables feed-in tariffs outlined
• Heat incentive unveiled, but questions remain
• Consultation begins on new pesticides regime
• EU ETS opt-outs on offer for smaller emitters
• CRC draft order laid before Parliament
• London plans climate adaptation, mitigation
• Zero-carbon schools target faces hurdles
• Environmental permitting rules laid
• Agency consults on lime sector guidance
• HSE tracks REACH pre-registration errors
• Scottish Government consults on air quality rules
• CHP emissions allowances to be cut

International

• Copenhagen pledges reveal deep divisions

  Most countries see the accord only as a stepping stone to an elusive UN global climate deal.

• Industry riled by new REACH plans
• Failed fisheries policy set for reform
• Europe focuses on new biodiversity targets
• Engineering concerns over RoHS proposal
• Commission reports on Nitrates Directive
• Germany, Spain to exceed 2020 renewables targets
• Stricter EU ecolabel rules enter force
• Commission calls for EU waste agency
• Work to start on BAT reviews
• EU to ring-fence clean coal allowances

• Intervention likely if renewables policy fails

  Lord Hunt has defended national policy statements on energy.

• MPs urge reform of EU emissions trading scheme
• Tories outline green priorities
• Scots vote to pass marine bill
• Social tariff clause added to flood and water bill
• Government future-proofs carbon capture levy
• Morley retains climate committee chair

• Richard Macrory

  A Supreme Court decision on costs in environmental cases is likely to impact decisions in lower courts.

• Case highlights different views of legal standing
• Mercury exposure costs processor £175,000
• Water firms fined £374,000 for pollution
• £92,000 compensation for water pollution
• Cement company fined following explosion
• Small fine for illegal pesticide storage
• Man fined £9,000 for river silt pollution
• Cartridge maker lands £8,000 packaging fine
• Waste oil firm prosecuted for effluent breach