The devolved nations and Europe

The latest news and analysis from the devolved nations and Europe, covering air management, energy, land, ecology and development, environmental law, environment and sustainability management, environmental politics, products and chemicals, waste and resources and water management;

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Scotland

Industrial emissions

Emissions from Scottish industry fall short of pre-pandemic levels

Greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish industry in 2022 were up on 2021, but did not return to pre-pandemic levels, hinting at a continued long-term downward trend, according to figures from Scotland’s environmental regulator

Environmental Law

The Environment Act powers that have yet to come into force

The Environment Act was signed into law nearly two years ago, but a number of provisions from the act are yet to come into force. ENDS has compiled a list of the provisions that have not been introduced. Here’s what you need to know

Air

Scottish Parliament approves air quality improvement plan after nitrogen dioxide level breaches

The Scottish Parliament has approved an air quality improvement plan for addressing the continued failure in some areas to meet statutory limit values for nitrogen dioxide, and accepted recommendations by the post-Brexit green watchdog Environmental Standards Scotland

Industrial emissions

Health supplements firm pays out £75k following F-gas leaks

A health supplements manufacturer has paid out a penalty of £75,000 for failing to install a system that would have detected a series of accidental releases of fluorinated greenhouse gas

Wales

Energy

Welsh coal mine continues operations without planning permission

The Ffos-y-Fran coal mine in South Wales has continued operations despite its application for a licence extension being revoked in September last year

Environmental Politics

2022 in pictures: The biggest green news stories from the past year

Here is a month-by-month overview of some of the biggest green news stories from 2022 in pictures

Products & Chemicals

Does the UK need a dedicated Chemicals Agency?

Delays, distractions and missing details have, by many accounts, been the defining factors of chemical regulation during the UK post-Brexit transition. But could a dedicated UK chemicals agency help smooth the process? Shosha Adie reports

Climate change

Current global efforts ‘insufficient’ to meet Paris 1.5 degrees pledge, report finds

Countries' efforts to limit the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century are 'insufficient', finds the latest UN Climate Change reports

Northern Ireland

Land, Ecology & Development

Extinction, declines and hope: 10 key trends highlighted in landmark State of Nature report

The UK continues to be one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with wildlife continuing to decline, according to a landmark study...

Energy

Call for evidence on impact of air pollution in Northern Ireland extended again

A call for evidence on the impact of air pollution, including ammonia, on the environment has been extended by Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for the second time

Land, Ecology & Development

‘Decade of missed opportunities’: Report finds one in six species at risk of extinction in the UK

Latest State of Nature report finds UK’s wildlife has declined in abundance on average by 19% since 1970...

Environmental Politics

OEP ‘disappointed’ as officials confirm deferral of key Northern Ireland environment plan

The Office of Environmental Protection has told Northern Ireland’s environment department it 'remains disappointed' that there is no timeline to publish a new Environment Improvement Plan...

ENDS
Europe

Europe's environmental news and information service

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ENDS Waste & Bioenergy

Tracking the waste-to-energy and biomass energy industries

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ENDS Compliance Manager

Track legislation and demonstrate compliance in support of EHS management requirements

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