Comment

• Alas, it's business as usual

  It's no use having a Department of Energy and Climate Change if other departments don't do their bit.

News

• 'Call to action' for UK

  Projections show dangers ahead of unmitigated climate change.

• Agency wants flood investment doubled
• Greater London Authority to cut environment team
• Home energy efficiency plan scrapped
• Cemex lands £20,000 dust fine
• FoE to announce job cuts
• New Environment Agency directors announced
• Sceptical N Ireland environment minister moves on
• Leominster river saved from pollution
• New SDC chair appointed

Corporate

• Consultancies rein in staff costs

  Staff flexibility and cost control will help see out the recession.

• Business calls for tough carbon curbs
• Government's low-carbon policies under fire
• Guidelines published to help firms report carbon
• Thumbs up for pensions' responsible investments
• Scottish government plans to stop emissions growth
• Average green salaries top £50,000

Energy & climate

• First biogas grid injection project

  Gas from sewage sludge digestion is the first of five trials to come on line.

• Climate change costs steepen
• 'Change needed' to meet climate challenge
• FoE questions jatropha's suitability for biofuel
• Government buildings energy ratings disappoint
• Magnox struggles to meet discharge limits
• Carbon Trust to help schools cut energy bills
• Investment in renewables overtakes fossil fuels

Pollution & clean-up

• Low-carbon innovation needed in water sector

  Senior water industry consultant advises water firms to adopt radical solutions to meet green goals.

• Row over private water supplies
• Renewables strategy favours biomass
• Arsenic and nickel SGVs published
• Scotland makes slow progress on contaminated land
• Flue gas desulphurisation completed at Rugeley

Supply chain

• Study compares foods' sustainability

  Study of home-grown and imported food finds big differences between products and seasons.

• REACH substance fora hit difficulties
• WWF links UK brands to deforestation
• Debate over fish-farm certification
• Used car labelling scheme announced
• Gadgets could triple power use, warns IEA

Waste & resources

• Mixed plastics recycling 'is viable'

  WRAP says collecting, sorting and recycling is viable but councils need more funds.

• Strong interest in battery collection schemes
• Latest WEEE trading goes smoothly
• Call for more on-the-go recycling in London
• N Ireland to repatriate waste to the Republic
• WRAP supports sorted waste collection
• Cumbria closes MBT plant deal

Science

• Call to put ocean acidity on Copenhagen agenda

  Scientific academies from 70 countries have called for acidification to be put on the Copenhagen agenda.

• Bisphenol A stays in the body longer
• Pesticide exposure linked to Leukaemia

FEATURES

• Marine algae: the real green biofuel?

  Now that the hype is settling, the true potential for algal biofuels is starting to emerge.

• Water's home truths

  Improved household efficiency is needed to cope with water stress and climate change.

  • Water companies’ metering plans
  • Folkestone & Dover tackles water scarcity

• M&S on the road to sustainability

  At the halfway mark, is Marks and Spencer's five-year strategy still on track?

Policy Briefing

National

• CRC consultation responses

  Trade bodies have raised concerns over cost and damage to reputation.

• DEFRA sets weak carbon reporting guidelines
• Carbon capture levy for power firms proposed
• Packaging strategy to be overhauled
• Guidance issued to prevent pollution
• DEFRA responds to Royal Commission's nano report
• UK plan to cut sulphur in marine fuels issued
• Scottish EIA rules amended
• New air quality guidelines issued
• Paint enforcement delegated to councils
• DECC consults on radioactive substance exemptions
• Agency consults on standard permits
• DEFRA to perform new C&I waste survey

International

• EU on course for Kyoto cuts

  The latest figures indicate the EU will meet its Kyoto emissions target.

• Bonn climate talks make slow progress
• Aviation emissions latest
• SAICM conference
• EU proposal to widen biocide rules
• IMO adopts ship recycling convention
• Commission confirms UK nitrates derogation
• First REACH priority list submitted
• Landfill Directive diverts waste

Parliament & Politics

• MSPs debate climate bill amendment

  Scotland's bill could stop unabated coal-fired power stations being approved.

• MPs report on ship emissions
• Energy efficiency schemes 'should be merged'
• Green jobs change in Cabinet reshuffle
• Call for climate adaptation leadership
• Greens make gains in local elections

In Court

• Richard Macrory

  Ruling means councils will need to give reasoning behind EIA screening decisions.

• Conservation and access to justice
• Biffa fined £60,000 for hazwaste offences
• Car parts firm fined for packaging offences
• White Rose pays £32,000 for waste breach
• Developer fined for toxic spill
• Thames prosecutes metals firm
• Composter in court for nasty smells
• United Utilities fined £10,000
• Director fined for abandoning waste
• Textile firm fined after acid kills fish