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Scottish distilleries receive £11.3m Government funding pot for hydrogen and biogas
A string of Scottish distilleries have received funding from the UK Government's Net-Zero Innovation Portfolio, to help them switch to low-carbon heating systems that use hydrogen and biogas.
1.5C 'only just' in reach: Business leaders and green economy react to Glasgow Climate Pact at COP26
After two weeks of tense negotiations, climate protests and sweeping climate announcements, COP26 has officially closed with the formation of the Glasgow Climate Pact, an agreement to raise climate ambitions that has seen green groups call for heightened policy and business interventions to keep 1.5C alive over the coming years.
Nicola Sturgeon calls on non-state actors to 'keep making life uncomfortable' for nations lagging on climate
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told COP26 attendees that "frankly, no climate pledges are being kept" at the moment, urging business leaders and others to keep the pressure on world leaders at the summit and beyond.
Scotland outlines plans to double onshore wind capacity by 2030, ramp up regenerative agriculture
On the eve of COP26, the Scottish Government has launched a consultation on a new onshore wind generation target for 2030 and provided new funding for restoring nature on farms.
6 top tips for getting the most out of COP26
COP26 is officially opening in Glasgow on Sunday (31 October). For first-time COP attendees looking for more climate treats than tricks this Halloween, edie has pulled together advice for getting the most out of the event.
The COP26 Climate Action Plan: Workshop summary report
Released just ahead of COP26, this report maps out a business action plan to accelerate change across the climate summit's key pillars of Clean Energy, Clean Transport, Nature-Based Solutions, Climate Adaptation and Green Finance.
edie Explains: Carbon Offsetting
What is carbon offsetting in the terms of a businesses’ carbon emissions strategy? How does the carbon offset process and its market work? And, at what point should a business turn to carbon offsetting?
Glasgow unveils Green Deal draft to reach net-zero emissions by 2030
Glasgow City Council has unveiled its draft plan for a new Green Deal that would see the city reach net-zero emissions by 2030 while also improving resiliency and quality of living.
Green hydrogen facility planned for oil terminal in Orkney
TotalEnergies has forged a consortium with Macquarie's Green Investment Group and Renewable Infrastructure Development Group, aiming to create an industrial-scale green hydrogen plant in Orkney, Scotland.
Report: UK must invest additional £97bn in nature within a decade, to meet own targets
The UK will need to increase its investment in nature by at least £44bn and by as much as £97bn, by 2032, to meet its own environmental commitments.
Heat and Buildings Strategy: Scotland sets out investments to deliver net-zero built environment
With still no sign of the UK's Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Government has unveiled its intention to cut emissions from the built environment by 68% by 2030 through a £1.8bn investment plan to transform the nation's building stock to net-zero by 2045.
Business giants support UK National Parks restoration project
Major UK businesses including Santander UK, Gatwick Airport and Southern Co-op have all backed a new National Parks project aimed at rolling out restoration schemes across the UK.
Orkney flexibility trials deliver 24,000 peer-to-peer trades
A Government-backed local flexibility market trial has seen more than 24,000 peer-to-peer trades take place, enabling local wind energy to power homes and provide flexible services to the national energy market.
NABERS: New energy rating scheme for offices available in UK
A new energy rating scheme for UK offices has officially launched this week in a bid to help businesses reach net-zero targets by bridging the gap between the design and in-use energy performance of their buildings.
£12bn for offshore wind and £1bn for hydrogen: Flurry of low-carbon tech investments for UK
Ørsted has revealed plans to spend £12bn with Scottish firms on offshore wind, in the same week that Ineos confirmed a £1bn hydrogen investment and the UK Government opened a new fund to help high-carbon businesses to decarbonise.
SSE to combine projects to create 4.1GW offshore wind farm in Scotland
SSE Renewables has announced plans to merge two proposed offshore windfarms in a move that would create enough clean power to provide for all of Scotland's households twice over.
Morrisons to launch six 'zero waste' stores in Scotland
Retailer Morrisons has confirmed plans to trial six "zero waste" stores in Edinburgh, which could be replicated across all its stores nationwide if successful.
Low-carbon business: PwC and Silentnight announce science-based targets as Howden makes net-zero pledge
'Big Four' accounting firm PwC has had its climate targets validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), while bed brand Silentnight has committed to develop SBTi-approved targets within 24 months.
What makes a sustainability leader? Meet Consumer Engagement champions Zero Waste Scotland
With the entry deadline for edie's 2022 Sustainability Leaders Awards less than a month away, this series showcases the achievements of previous winners and reveals their secrets to success. Up next: Winner of our 'Consumer Engagement Campaign' award, Zero Waste Scotland.
UK's oil and gas sector pushes Government to back 18 new projects as Cambo row rolls on
As environmental groups and the Government's own climate advisors push for new North Sea oil and gas projects to be stopped, the sector's industry body is arguing the case for up to 18 new projects.
Lidl to trial traffic light 'eco-labels' this autumn
Lidl GB will add new on-pack 'eco labels' to dozens of its most popular own-brand product lines this October, giving shoppers more information about the carbon and biodiversity impact of their choices.
Scottish Government draws up plan for green recovery from Covid-19
The Scottish Government has put forward a draft policy programme for aligning its economic recovery plans for Covid-19 with its long-term climate, nature and social targets, developed under an agreement with the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group.
Oxford University's eco-halls and an offshore wind milestone: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Maersk inks deal for low-carbon shipping fuel as Virgin Atlantic confirms support for direct air CO2 capture
Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk has inked a deal for 'green' e-methanol, while Virgin Atlantic has signed on to purchase carbon credits from a new direct air carbon capture facility.
UK Government issues first 'green transition loan' for business
The UK Government has issued its first state-backed 'green transition loan' for a business, providing engineering and energy consultancy Wood Group support to scale up low-carbon product and service offerings.
Saudi Arabia's first wind farm and the Solent's oyster restoration: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Glenmorangie marks 'milestone' on oyster reef restoration scheme in Scotland
A scheme funded by Glenmorangie to return native European oysters to the Dornoch Firth, in a move to boost biodiversity and improve the landscape's ability to sequester carbon, has successfully completed its latest phase.
BP and ScottishPower report milestones for low-carbon hydrogen projects
BP has named a string of corporate buyers for its proposed blue hydrogen production facility in Teesside, while ScottishPower has published research outlining how a major green hydrogen production hub could be created by 2024.
Mars, Diageo and Dropbox unveil major renewables milestones
Mars, Diageo and Dropbox have all unveiled plans to add more renewables to their electricity mix, with Diageo planning for an onsite solar farm in Scotland.
No air-freighted food on the menu for COP26, in bid to cut emissions
The catering company for the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow, which is set to host COP26 in November, has announced plans for a total ban on air-freighted produce in the UK.
Glenfiddich to power delivery trucks with onsite biogas fuelling stations
Scotch whisky brand Glenfiddich has introduced fuelling stations at a distillery in Scotland to enable parts of its fleet to run on biogas made from the residues of its own distilling process.
Vodafone trials 'UK's first' smart electricity substation on road to net-zero
Telecommunications giant Vodafone has partnered with UK Power Networks to trial 'smart' methods of delivering energy flexibility at electricity substations, designed to improve efficiency and cut emissions.
British Glass outlines net-zero roadmap for 2050
The businesses representing the UK's glass sector have outlined a new roadmap that will enable the industry to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
ScottishPower and Shell bid to develop large-scale floating windfarms in UK
ScottishPower and Shell have submitted a joint bid to develop large-scale floating offshore windfarm systems in the northeast of Scotland, with a decision expected to be made next year.
UK's clean energy pipeline on course to unlock 625,000 green jobs
The UK's focus on decarbonisation and clean energy looks set to unlock 625,000 jobs, equivalent to 90% of jobs lost to the coronavirus pandemic, according to new research.
edie Explains: The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
What are the TCFD recomendations? Why does climate disclosure matter? How do you access the financial impacts of climate change? And, what is scenario analysis? This free edie Explains guide gives you everything you need to know.
'Less talk and more action is needed': Green economy reacts to major climate adaptation report from the CCC
Environmental charities, think tanks and business groups are urging the UK government to take the Climate Change Committee's (CCC) new advice on building resilience to risks including floods, heatwaves and international supply chain disruption.
Work underway to create 'UK's biggest electric bus charging station' in Glasgow
Public transport operator First Bus has begun work to retrofit its Caledonia depot in Glasgow to host 162 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, claiming the project will be the largest of its kind in the UK once complete.
Plans unveiled for UK's second plastic-to-hydrogen recycling plant
After plans to build a plastic-to-hydrogen recycling facility near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, were approved last year, the developers have unveiled plans for a second UK site in Scotland.
£2bn for net-zero: SSE outlines bumper low-carbon spending plans for this financial year
Utility major SSE has unveiled plans to invest £2bn in low-carbon projects and supporting infrastructure this financial year, after posting a rise in profits led by renewable energy.
COP26 will go ahead in person, Alok Sharma confirms
COP26 President Alok Sharma has confirmed that the Government is planning to host the conference in-person rather than on Zoom, stating that face-to-face meeting is important to deliver "an inclusive summit".
Report: UK must more than double onshore wind capacity by 2030 to meet climate targets
RenewableUK is urging Ministers to set specific, legally binding 2030 targets for renewable energy generation to help deliver its net-zero target, including growing the nation's onshore wind capacity to 30GW.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Faye Hyslop, SGN
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Faye Hyslop, environment manager at SGN.
ScottishPower planning 'UK's largest' green hydrogen electrolyser near Glasgow
With the publication of the UK's Hydrogen Strategy imminent, ScottishPower has unveiled plans to build a 20MW electrolyser, co-located with its Whitelee onshore wind farm.
Uber's EVs and Hubbub's network of food waste heroes: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: How can the circular economy help us get to net-zero?
The new edie podcast episode is streaming now, featuring four exclusive interviews to mark Circular Economy Week.
Ground broken at biomethane refuelling station in first for Scotland
Scotland's first renewable biomethane refuelling station will open this year, the developers have announced, after ground was broken at the project site today (25 March).
'Outrageous hypocrisy': Government condemned over £16bn oil and gas sector 'bailout'
Green groups have expressed their anger at the Government's new £16bn sector deal that pledges to align the oil and gas sector with the national net-zero target, while also ending financing for overseas fossil fuel projects, with many frustrated by a refusal to end oil and gas licensing.
New blue hydrogen and captured carbon storage projects unveiled for the UK
BP has announced plans to build the UK's largest blue hydrogen production facility in Teesside, while the Government has committed new funding for carbon storage infrastructure off Aberdeenshire.
Plans unveiled for green hydrogen hub in the Scottish Highlands
The Port of Cromarty Firth and ScottishPower are among a consortium of businesses pushing for the development of green hydrogen hub in the Highlands, powered by offshore wind.
Koala conservation and electric buses for COP26: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Budget 2021: Sunak confirms Net-Zero Innovation Fund, announces freeports to spur green investment
Rishi Sunak delivered his Budget for 2021 today (3 March), pledging to put green investment at the heart of the UK's economic recovery from Covid-19. But the Chancellor has come under fire for failing to mention a number of critical policy enablers for the UK's net-zero carbon transition.
Mission Possible: Achieving a green recovery for the public sector
edie's Mission Possible campaign has evolved to focus on the green recovery, with a new series of reports outlining the challenges that businesses in key sectors face in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, and the opportunities that the green recovery will bring. Up next, the public sector.
Sustainability Leaders Awards 2021: Meet the Winners
This special report provides in-depth profiles of all of the winners of edie's 2021 Sustainability Leaders Awards, along with exclusive comments from our judges and summaries of all 189 finalists across 24 categories.
Spotlight on renewables: How did the UK's energy mix change in 2020?
EU data released this week revealed that renewable generation overtook coal and gas in 2020. But what happened in the UK's renewable energy markets in 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic? Here, we round up the key facts and stats on capacity and output.
Meet edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020: Amy Oroko, Matthew Algie
This new series profiles the members of edie's 30 Under 30 - a nomination-based community of 30 hugely talented young sustainability and energy professionals who have already achieved great things or are showing fantastic promise. Up next: Matthew Algie's sustainability manager Amy Oroko.
Report: 10 million high-carbon jobs to be retrained or replaced as part of net-zero transition
Research from a new cross-party programme exploring the net-zero transition in the UK has warned that 10 million jobs will either need to be retrained or replaced if the nation is to meet its climate commitments.
New Years Honours 2021: The sustainability champions on the Queen's list
The outstanding achievements of dozens of people working across the UK's environmental sphere have been recognised by the Queen in this year's New Year's Honours list. Read on to find out more about the newly-awarded scientists, policy experts, green finance champions and conservationists.
UK's net-zero target should be 2045, 100 councils and mayors tell Boris Johnson
English and Scottish local authorities representing one-third of the population have committed to reaching net-zero community emissions by 2045 - and are urging the UK Government to follow suit.
Green recovery: UK urged to accelerate 'just' transition from North Sea oil and gas
With thousands of UK-based oil and gas workers on furlough and the sector's economic recovery likely to be slow, policymakers are facing calls to cap North Sea fossil fuel production and reskill communities for low-carbon industries.
North Sea energy sector requires 'urgent investment' to reach net-zero
Investment into net-zero technologies such as floating offshore wind and clean hydrogen could capture up to £125bn in annual benefits from the North Sea energy sector, but a new report has warned that jobs in the area could fall by at least 20% without incentivising policies.
Mission Possible: Achieving a green recovery for retail
edie's Mission Possible campaign has evolved to focus on the green recovery, with a new series of reports outlining the challenges that businesses in key sectors face in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, and the opportunities that the green recovery will bring. Up next, retail.
Jaguar's 'smart city' tests and Arsenal's climate commitment: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
McDonald's plant-based burger and Scotland's green hydrogen: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
University of Strathclyde students and staff complete 15,000 sustainable behaviour change activities
Students and staff at the University of Strathclyde have collectively completed more than 15,000 actions designed to reduce waste and emissions since 2019.
Unilever and UK Government back chemical plastic recycling innovation
A joint project hoping to scale-up chemical recycling for hard-to-recycle plastics waste, involving Unilever and synthetic fuel giant Neste, has received a £3.1m grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
World's first hydrogen-powered double-decker bus hits Scottish streets
Real-world trials of the world's first hydrogen-powered double-decker bus have officially begun in Aberdeen - five years after the city unveiled a hydrogen production and bus refuelling facility.
Scotland must go beyond power to meet net-zero by 2045, Committee on Climate Change warns
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has told the Scottish Government that it should apply learnings from the low-carbon transition in the nation's electricity sector to heat and transport, lest it risk missing its 2045 net-zero target.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A Blueprint for Business Leadership
With less than 10 years to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), action is still not happening at the speed or scale required - despite a groundswell of ambition and action from organisations of all sectors and sizes. This report offers an end-to-end overview of exactly how businesses can advance global progress towards achieving all 17 of the Global Goals.
Scotland commits £1.6bn for national green recovery
The Scottish Government has outlined a new £1.6bn spending framework that will form part of an enhanced New Deal for the country that will improve biodiversity, slash emissions from heating and buildings and support 5,000 low-carbon jobs.
BEIS to review whether UK's oil and gas licencing regime is net-zero compatible
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will review whether its plans for the future oil and gas licencing regime are "aligned with tackling climate change" and compatible with the UK's 2050 net-zero target.
Brewdog achieves 'carbon negativity', offsetting more emissions than it generates
Brewdog has announced that it is now offsetting more emissions than it generates across Scope 1 (direct), Scope 2 (power-related) and upstream Scope 3 (indirect) sources.
The ESG Handbook 2020: Spurring the green recovery
Green finance and ESG investing were reaching a tipping point, then the coronavirus pandemic swept across the world. The virus hasn’t so much as tipped the scales towards ESG investing but rather poured most of the world’s financial system towards it.
'Green Swan' observatories and Europe's biggest electric plane: The best green innovations of the month
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best from June 2020.
Government blocks Vattenfall's offshore windfarm expansion
The Government has refused to grant development consent for Vattenfall's 340MW windfarm extension off the coast of Kent, and has delayed two other planning decisions in the South East, in the same week that Total acquired a 51% stake in the £3bn Seagreen project in the Scottish North Sea.
UK windfarms to spur green job growth
The firms behind the world's biggest offshore wind farm Dogger Bank have outlined plans to create 200 new jobs at the Port of Tyne, while Scottish Power plans to use its wind farms as part of an energy cluster scheme that will support 600 jobs in Scotland.
Local energy trading market launched on Orkney islands
A trial focused on delivering real-time trading between renewable generation and local grid flexibility on the Orkney islands has been successful, with project lead Electron noting that more than 1,300 trades have been completed as part of a demonstration projected.
'Normal was a crisis': Why the Green New Deal is the perfect response for the post-Covid-19 economy
As the economy and society continue to suffer from the impacts of the coronavirus, experts are already exploring how to stimulate a financial recovery. All roads could lead to a Green New Deal, but the green economy will need a clear and concise voice to push policy towards it.
Wales unveils plans to ban single-use plastics from 2021
The Welsh Government will bring "restrictions" around certain single-use plastic items, including straws and cotton buds, into effect in the first half of 2021.
Pathways to net-zero: decarbonising your business in the 2020s
This 90-minute special webinar equips energy and sustainability professionals with practical insights and fresh guidance to deliver deep decarbonisation and accelerate climate action.
30 Under 30: Class of 2019 report
Back in 2018, edie put out a call for ambitious young sustainability and energy professionals to join 30 Under 30 - a new, nomination- based community in which they could share ideas and further their careers. This report showcases the achievements of the inaugural 30, the Class of 2019.
RBS's climate goals and Aldi's plastic bag crackdown: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Automated EVs and SC Johnson's sports stadium plastic: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Scotland Budget outlines multi-million-pound pots for net-zero heat and agriculture
The Scottish Government has this week published its draft 2020-21 Budget, which sets aside millions of pounds for ocean conservation and decarbonising sectors such as heat and agriculture.
Lloyds Banking Group commits to net-zero fleets and 100% renewable electricity
Lloyds Banking Group has today (6 February) joined all three of The Climate Group's business sustainability initiatives, committing to source 100% renewable electricity, reach net-zero fleets and improve energy productivity.
In action: EDF battery storage optimisation with a financial services company
A financial services company worked with EDF and its partner, Upside Energy, to support an energy storage fund by realising financial returns from its assets. In turn, the Fund achieved this financial goal by focusing on specific source of revenue generation.
National Grid: 400,000 energy jobs must be filled to hit net-zero
More than 117,000 roles will need to be filled in the energy sector by 2030, and a further 283,000 by 2050, if the UK is to meet its net-zero target.
Glasgow to phase-out single-use plastics within two years
Glasgow City Council has approved new measured to reduce plastic use across the local area, headlined by a commitment to phase-out single-use items by 2022.
Single-use plastics: The 2020 roadmap for sustainable business
It’s been one of the biggest sustainable business issues of the past decade: tackling the scourge of single-use plastics. In 2018-19, the so-called “Attenborough effect” gave this issue the mainstream attention it deserved, and thousands of businesses duly began to ramp up their efforts to eliminate single- use plastics from their operations and the supply chain.
Electric buses to operate in Glasgow for first time in 60 years
Electric buses will run on a commercial route in Glasgow for the first time since the 1960s, after bus operator First Glasgow introduced two new vehicles to assist with the city's net-zero aspirations.
edie explains: Hazardous Waste
What is 'hazardous waste'? How does it impact businesses and how is it handled and managed, and what are the key business considerations?
WWF: Scottish farmers can align with net-zero without ditching beef
Scotland's agriculture sector could slash emissions by more than one-third by 2045, if measures to boost carbon sequestration, improve animal health and reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of fertiliser are implemented.
How has pop culture responded to the climate emergency in 2019?
From Coldplay cancelling their tour until they can find a carbon-neutral option, to James Bond producers debuting the spy's first fully electric car, all the signs point to sustainability shaping pop culture. But how deep does this impact run, and what's in store for 2020?
CCC: Scotland must 'immediately' increase net-zero action in preparation for COP26
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has issued its annual progress report to the Scottish Parliament, urging Ministers to "begin work immediately" on implementing short-term net-zero legislation.
Climate-related financial disclosure: Business best practice in 2020
This one-hour webinar, hosted in association with edie’s upcoming Sustainability Leaders Forum 2020, will explore how businesses are using the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFDs) to align with investor needs and enhance their sustainability strategies.
Food giants team up to fund Edinburgh's first on-street recycling infrastructure
On-street recycling infrastructure for food and drinks packaging has been installed in Edinburgh for the first time, as part of a campaign run by charity Hubbub and backed by businesses including McDonald's, Costa Coffee and Nestle.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: A circular economy technology tour with HPE
For episode 73 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast, edie reporter Sarah George takes a tour of Hewlett Packard Enterprises' (HPE) Technology Renewal Centre in Scotland - a facility helping to tackle e-waste by refurbishing and recycling retired business tech.
Scotland Climate Bill: MSPs unanimously back 2045 net-zero target
Scottish MSPs have voted 113 to 0 to back the introduction of a new Climate Bill, committing the nation to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
International allies give go-ahead for UK to host COP26
The UK last night (10 September) formally received the backing of all countries responsible for agreeing on the host of the COP26 climate conference.
