Almost a third of English councils’ environmental services budgets will be cut in 2010/11 and a further third will see an increase of 2% or less, according to a survey by the BBC Full article BBC survey results (Excel spreadsheet)
Outgoing UN climate chief Yvo de Boer has told ENDS that a full climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol is unlikely to emerge by the Cancun summit in November, 2010 Full article
A leaked draft of the European Commission’s plan for centralised auctioning of emissions allowances for Phase III of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) has fuelled disagreement over how trading platforms will be set up Full article Leaked draft
The environment department (DEFRA) is consulting on proposed packaging targets for 2011-20 which aim for an overall recycling rate of 70% by 2020 Full article DEFRA web page
Supermarkets have agreed to cut the greenhouse gas impact of grocery packaging by 10% over the next three years Full article DEFRA press release WRAP case studies Courtauld Commitment web page Packaging study DEFRA consultation
Obligations on energy suppliers to improve household energy efficiency became clear on Tuesday with the long-awaited publication of the government’s Household Energy Management Strategy (HEMS) Full article DECC press release Warm Homes, Greener Homes CBI press release
Future air quality policy will be linked to carbon budgets, the government promised yesterday in an update to its 2007 air quality strategy Full article DEFRA press release Air pollution: action in changing climate
Marks and Spencer (M&S) announced dozens of new commitments aimed at improving its environmental and ethical performance on Monday Full article M&S Plan A commitments
Northern Ireland Department of the Environment press release
The European Commission has authorised cultivation of BASF’s genetically modified ‘Amflora’ potato for industrial use and as animal feed - it will be only the second GM crop that can be grown in Europe. The high-starch variety will be used mainly in pulp and paper applications, and cultivation could begin this year. Three GM maize varieties were approved for food and feed uses, but not for cultivation. European Commission press release Q & A Greenpeace press release International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements press release
The department of energy and climate change has released a scoping report for a strategic environmental assessment of wave and tidal energy projects off English and Welsh shores. DECC press release Scoping document
A more strategic approach to decisions on English land use will be needed to meet the challenges of the next 50 years, according to government futures thinktank Foresight. Competing demands on land including farming, housing, renewable energy, water and ecosystem services need to be weighed up in a consistent and coherent way, it says. BIS press release Report
The Infrastructure Planning Commission is expected to handle Thames Water's application to build a major sewer to handle London's sewage and stormwater. It will also help bring the UK into compliance with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive ENDS Report 417, p 19. DEFRA press release
Energy and climate secretary Ed Miliband has written to the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to suggest ways in which the organisation could improve the reliability of its reports. Letter from Ed Miliband
The IPCC and the UN Environment Programme are to jointly request an independent review of IPCC procedures. The review may be conducted by a major scientific body or national science academies. Details are under discussion and will be announced "in early March". Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change press release
The department for transport (DfT) must embrace demand management, more clearly present information on transport emissions and produce a climate change adaptation strategy, according to the Commons Transport Committee. House of Commons Transport Committee report
DCLG impact assessment on hort term holiday lets Houses in multiple occupation Commercial buildings Property advertisements Clarification on sale and letting
SI 2010 No. 433 The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 Explanatory memorandum
SSI 2010 No. 60 The Management of Extractive Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2010 Executive note
European Commission press release Report Impact assessment Impact assessment summary Evaluation of international schemes Evaluation of efficiency improvements in bio-energy production
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