Comment

• Disappearing in the haze

  UK air quality has improved but there is still much to do, especially on particulates.

News

• Government slow to tackle energy conservation

  Record oil prices have not led to a radical policy shift to a low-carbon economy.

• Green New Deal manifesto
• Water UK flooding report
• DEFRA debates food security
• RTFO’s first monthly report
• Consultation on existing homes emissions
• Climate camp targets Eon

Corporate

• Private firms fail to report

  ENDS survey reveals poor disclosure compared with listed counterparts.

• WWF calls for end to oil sands mining
• Water companies draw up plans
• Government's IT strategy
• Assurance guide published
• Banks invest in coal

Energy & climate

• Wind supply chain problems

  Supply chain reports cast doubt on the UK's ability to meet its 2020 renewables target.

• Solar power reaches grid parity
• Green electricity supply guidelines
• US cap-and-trade takes shape
• Consumer choice to reduce new car emissions
• Firm applies for Teesport biomass plant
• Support for electric cars
• CHP plants get go-ahead
• Good month for wind
• RCEP climate adaptation study
• Driving on hard shoulder increases CO₂

Pollution & clean-up

• Spotlight report

  Industry and agriculture have improved their environmental performance, says the Environment Agency.

• Site management ratings
• PFOS and PFOA in food
• Progress of sorts on contaminated land
• EU food agency on bisphenol A
• Air pollution and construction

Supply chain

• Product roadmapping update

  DEFRA is considering how it can prompt industry take the lead on sustainable products.

• Green marketing changes urged
• Platinum supply clean up
• Property life-cycle costing
• UK palm oil refinery planned
• Greenpeace produces plywood guidance

Waste & resources

• Packaging growth halted

  WRAP says supermarkets have halted growth in packaging waste.

• Threat of WEEE enforcement
• Construction waste roadmap
• Landfill gas fuels vehicles
• Incinerator challenge fails
• WRAP to trial mixed plastics recycling
• Nanotubes declared hazwaste

Science

• Extreme rainfall

  Historical data confirms the link between warming and extreme rainfall, according to two new studies.

• Mothers’ dioxins exposure affects children
• Nanotech firms unenthusiastic about reporting
• Marine methane mystery solved

FEATURES

• Sectoral climate agreements

  Global sectoral deals to cut emissions are being floated as an answer to EU competitiveness worries.

  • How sectors tackle emissions

• Farewell Tony Juniper

  ENDS talks to the just-departed director of Friends of the Earth.

  • The story so far

• Squaring the nitrogen cycle

  Scientists are working to build a holistic picture of the impacts of nitrogen-based pollutants.

Policy Briefing

National

• Scottish zero-waste proposals

  The Scottish Government outlines bold proposals to help meet its zero-waste ambitions.

• Eco-towns standards
• Nitrates Directive u-turn
• Construction soils code
• Market surveillance improved
• Phosphate ban opinions
• Waste exemptions review
• Scottish marine proposals
• NO₂ consultation
• EUETS auctioning rules clarified
• Severn barrage study widened
• Sustainable homes code costed
• Schools included in carbon commitment
• Waste oil quality protocol
• Trade body to report emissions
• Timber procurement guidance
• Packaging export rules change
• Microgeneration certification expanded
• Scottish waste management licensing

International

• Sustainable consumption and production action plan

  EU sets out action plan to link environmental measures on energy, labelling and procurement.

• Eco-design Directive recast
• Green public procurement strengthened
• EU eco-label revised
• EMAS revamp
• NEC Directive delayed again
• Ozone regulations revised
• PAHs in food
• Commission demands particulates information
• REACH safety guidance
• Green biomass standards

Parliament & Politics

• Vehicle excise duty rift

  Environmental Audit Committee fails to agree on supporting the VED regime for cars.

• Climate support for councils urged
• Lords scrutinise Planning Bill
• Draft Marine Bill considered
• Forests and shipping inquiries
• Carbon capture for coal demanded

In Court

• Richard Macrory

  The ECJ has dismissed a challenge to EU fisheries rules, underlining its strict approach to standing.

• Landfill tax clarified
• Hills Waste fined over leachate levels
• £30,000 fine for milk pollution
• Veolia fined for sewage leak
• Modest fine Ondeo oil slick
• Brickmaker’s diesel spill