The government set out its position ahead of the December Copenhagen climate negotiations last Friday. Climate secretary Ed Miliband called for the UK to be “persuaders for a global agreement consistent with the science” Full article DECC press release Prime Minister's speech Road to Copenhagen document Act on CO2 calculator Greenpeace response Friends of the Earth response Act on Copenhagen website
The Scottish Parliament last week went well beyond the Climate Change Act 2008 for England and Wales by adopting an emissions reduction target of 42% by 2020, in anticipation of a strong global climate deal Full article Scottish Government press release Climate Change (Scotland) Bill (as passed) Climate change delivery plan WWF press release
EU environment ministers reached provisional agreement on the controversial Industrial Emissions Directive last week – but the watered-down proposals have displeased some states and environmental groups Full article European Commission press release European Environment Bureau press release Council of Ministers press release Industrial Emissions Directive (as agreed) Swedish EU presidency suggestions CBI press release WWF press release
The government's independent review on water charging, chaired by Anna Walker, issued an interim report on Monday supporting metering as the main charging mechanism Full article DEFRA press release Report Letter to stakeholders Metering Cost Benefit Analysis figures Environment Agency response to call for evidence Water UK press release Consumer Council for Water press release
The government must take action on forest products if international efforts to halt deforestation are to succeed, the Commons Environmental Audit Committee said on Monday Full article Commons Environmental Audit Committee report
The United States House of Representatives has passed the Waxman-Markey bill, which commits to an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions from major sources by 2050, and boosts renewables and energy efficiency. It will now be discussed in the Senate. US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce press release US Renewable Fuels Association press release Pew Center on Global Climate Change press release Global Wind Energy Council press release
The Carbon Trust, Greenpeace, the Royal Society, the CBI and other groups have called for a "revolution" in the commercialisation of renewable power and energy efficiency technologies. A report by the trust says that this could pump £70bn into the economy and generate almost 250,000 jobs in wave and wind power alone. Carbon Trust press release Report (requires registration)
Environment and development organisations the World Development Movement, PLATFORM and People & Planet have launched legal action against the Treasury for 'bailing out' the Royal Bank of Scotland. The bank's continuing loans to fossil fuel producers are inconsistent with the government's climate policy, they say. World Development Movement press release Further details from People & Planet
Bills on water and flood management and on energy are expected to be introduced in the next session of Parliament. The energy bill would enable the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to provide financial assistance for carbon capture and storage trials. Prime Minister's statement to the Commons Building Britain's Future website Key deliverables Draft legislative programme and consultation DECC press release DEFRA Marine and Coastal Access Bill policy document
The Business Department (BIS), the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department of Health have established a state investment fund, partly aimed at clean technologies. Private sector investment could raise the fund to £1bn. BIS press release
Tackling the economic crisis and securing agreement at Copenhagen this December are two of the main priorities for the Swedish presidency of the European Union, which began yesterday. Swedish Presidency of the European Union Presidency priorities European Environmental Bureau press release Ten green tests for the Swedish presidency Czech EU presidency on its environmental record The Greens / European Free Alliance press release Open Europe report European Environmental Bureau assessment of the Czech presidencyEuropean Environmental Bureau assessment of the Czech presidency
Drinking Water in England and Wales was 99.96% compliant with EU standards in 1998, according to a report issued yesterday by the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Drinking Water Inspectorate report Water UK press release
Sustainable Development Commission press release Report Supporting document
DEFRA consultation on marine licences Marine programme plan 09/10 Marine research plan Research programme review
The UK's science academy, the Royal Society, has published a report that considers the best ways to achieve a low-carbon economy in the short, medium and long term. Royal Society press release Report Related documents
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is seeking to restructure the regulation of the nuclear energy sector. DECC press release Consultation
DECC press release Response to consultation Impact assessment Areas of low income under the community energy saving programme (CESP)
The Carbon Trust has amended the terms of its loans to improve energy efficiency in small and medium-sized companies, lowering the minimum amount to £3,000 and doubling the maximum to £400,000. Carbon Trust press release
Companies that install, maintain or service equipment that contains F-gas refrigerants will have to hold a certificate from an appointed certification body from Saturday. DEFRA
Department for Transport revised emission factors Response to consultation
The Department for Transport are seeking bids for funds to boost the number of low-carbon buses on the UK's streets, which use at least 30% less fuel than conventional vehicles. Emissions of air pollutants are also much lower. Department for Transport press release Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership press release
The Health and Safety Executive has alerted local council inspectors to changes made in the control of major accident hazards (COMAH) regime by the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (CHIP 2008). HSE guidance
Environment Agency regulatory position statement on postal / courier battery take-back schemes Statement on 'orphan' waste treatment plants Statement on air separation units Statement on accelerated carbonation trials
The Environment Department (DEFRA) has made a 60% cut in environmental permit fees for council-regulated plants that have been mothballed or are operating at reduced capacity. DEFRA press release Guidance Declaration Sample letters Amendment for part B (LAPPC) plants Amendment for part A2 (LA-IPPC) plants
Guidance funded by the Environment Department (DEFRA) on assessing and managing the effect of biomass combustion on air quality has been published by Environmental Protection UK and the local government regulatory body LACORS EPUK / LACORS guidance
European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change monitoring report Report on health impacts of ultrafine particulates (PM2.5)
Welsh Assembly Government press release Consultation on climate plans RSPB press release Consultation on plastic bag charging Consultation on 'zero waste' proposals
Scottish Government press release Renewables action plan Strategic environmental assessment
The Scottish Government issued a consultation on Monday that proposes that the public sector should only use low carbon vehicles by 2020, and that almost all new vehicles should be low carbon by then. Scottish Government press release Consultation
SR 2009 No. 246 Water Supply (Water Quality) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 Explanatory memorandum
World Trade Organization press release Report summary Report
European Commission press release Council Directive 2009/71/EURATOM Foratom press release
Commission Directive 2009/70/EC on difenacoum, didecyldimethylammonium chloride and sulphur
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