Environmental News on this day... for June 2016, 2015, 2012, 2007

Take a trip into the past and see what stories were in the news in June 2016, 2015, 2012, 2007

June 2016

The Net Positive Project will provide guidance to companies in continually reducing their negative impacts or footprints

Major businesses join new coalition to go 'net-positive'

Dell, Hewlett Packard (HP) and Kingfisher are among a host of major businesses to form a cross-sector coalition that aims to increase the number of companies that go beyond reducing negative sustainability impacts to provide "net-positive" contributions to society, the environment and the global economy.
Lidl has pledged to communicate directly with suppliers to gain a better understanding of production challenges and consumers’ needs

Lidl makes ethical fruit and veg pledge to support British suppliers

German discount retailer Lidl has today (21 June) announced a commitment to the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Fruit and Vegetable Pledge, underlining the importance of maintaining long-term, sustainable relationships with its British farmers and suppliers.
Britain has in recent years installed up to 10GW of solar power – enough to power more than three million homes

More than half of jobs in UK solar industry lost in wake of subsidy cuts

The solar power industry says it has seen the loss of more than half its 35,000 jobs due to recent changes in government energy policy, just at a time when solar power has eclipsed coal as a major generator of Britain's electricity.
The Prosper initiative covers “five shared imperatives” that tailor themselves to creating meaningful contributions to the SDGs

How the Sustainable Development Goals are shaping corporate responsibility at SABMiller

International brewing company SABMiller has revealed annual cuts to key environmental footprints, after tweaking its "Prosper" sustainability initiative to align to the global targets established in the United Nation's (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Sustainability professionals have formed a general consensus that a pan-European approach is essential for tackling complex and transboundary environmental issues

EU referendum: How will sustainability professionals be voting?

As Britain's European Union (EU) referendum draws ever nearer, edie has collated the figures of a range of in/out surveys, with a clean sweep of poll results indicating that the majority of sustainability professionals are in favour of voting to remain in the EU.
With the fit-out of the Building Centre set for completion in October 2016, the UKGBC will hope to create a best practice example for an industry struggling to adapt to low-carbon trends

UKGBC to create sustainable exemplar for built environment through headquarters retrofit

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has unveiled the blueprints for the refurbishment of its London headquarters, which attempts to outline the feasibility of sustainable initiatives in the built environment.
Recycling remuneration: Local authorities that have taken on recycling rewards schemes have seen a significant growth in recycling rates

Could rewards schemes reinvigorate Britain's static recycling rates?

Long-term investment in rewards-based behaviour change schemes is the only way to reinvigorate plateauing recycling rates in a post-Brexit Britain, with 'quick-win' solutions failing to deliver for local authorities across the country.
Leadsom said the government’s commitment to cooperating with others to tackle the issue remains as strong as ever

Leadsom: Energy policy will not change due to Brexit

The UK's energy policy will not change as a result of the vote to leave European Union, energy minister Andrea Leadsom has said.
The 12 cement companies – collectively worth $120bn – have been warned that “significant innovation” is necessary in order to drive efficiency beyond current standards

Aggressive innovation needed as tipping point looms for cement industry

Global cement companies have been urged to innovate as a means to "future-proof" the sector, after a new report from climate change research provider CDP warned that the majority of emission reduction targets in the industry look set to expire.
According to the paper, biofuel could be used to power the food supply chain which would create vibrant employment systems for low-income, rural regions

Is biofuel production the long-term answer to enhancing food security?

With the United Nations calling for countries to mobilise efforts to improve food and energy security, new research has suggested that an accelerated push to generate sustainably sourced biofuel could actually eradicate long-term hunger.

See more news from June 2016


June 2015

The solar array on the roof of F1's Leicestershire factory

Metal manufacturer targets £170,000 solar savings

A UK metalwork manufacturer expects to save £170,000 on its energy bills after installing a 28.5kWp solar PV array on the roof of its Leicestershire factory.
The UK’s share of energy from renewable sources – which includes heating as well as electricity – was 5.1% for 2013

UK and France 'may miss EU renewable energy target'

Britain, France, Netherlands, Malta and Luxembourg are projected to miss binding goal of getting 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020
Renewables accounted for a larger share of a smaller pie according to BP's Spencer Dale

BP: 'two sides to the renewables story'

Renewables were the fastest growing form of energy in 2014, but the sector's progress can be viewed as a "glass half-full' or half-empty", according to BP's chief economist.
Ben Ainslie Racing headquarters. Photo courtesy of Shaun Roster

Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie calls on sports teams to champion sustainability

Four time Olympic gold winner Sir Ben Ainslie has called on the UK's sporting organisations to raise the profile of sustainability, as the Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) sailing team's new energy efficient headquarters in Portsmouth reaches its final stages of construction.
The early end to the RO for onshore wind could stop the construction of around 2,500 turbines

Amber Rudd: Onshore wind cuts will protect consumers and boost other renewables

The early end to onshore wind subsidies will protect consumer bills and help cut the costs of other renewable technologies, Energy Secretary Amber Rudd has claimed.
The tidal lagoon will be situated on the eastern side of Swansea Bay, between the docks and the new university campus

Swansea Bay tidal power plant approved by DECC

It's official: Britain will be home to the world's first ever tidal lagoon energy project as Energy Secretary Amber Rudd has granted planning permission for a giant tidal power plant off the coast of Wales.
More than 40,000 farmers have already benefited from Starbucks' Global Farmer Fund

Starbucks allocates £19m for farmers fighting climate change

Global coffee giant Starbucks has added £19m to its Global Farmer Fund which offers loans to farmers help them become more resilient to climate change.
The efforts to slim down a text of around 90 pages into what could form the basis of a new global agreement on greenhouse gas emissions failed to make significant progress

Sluggish pace mars Bonn negotiations on text for Paris climate deal

Climate change negotiators meeting in Bonn on Thursday made slow progress as two weeks of talks drew to a close, with participants and civil society groups frustrated by the sluggish pace of forging a potential agreement.
The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US met in Germany on 7-8 June 2015. Photo: EU Council

G7 leaders make historic pledge to phase out fossil fuels

The G7 summit of economic powers has thrown its weight behind a goal to phase out greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2100 in what has been hailed as an unequivocal sign on climate action.
Government funding for the charging-point rollout totalled £592,000, covering roughly a third of the cost

London's charging: Fire Brigade installs EV plug-in points

The London Fire Brigade has unveiled 156 electric-vehicle charging points at 76 fire stations and sites around the capital.

See more news from June 2015


June 2012

Offshore wind industry aims to be cost competitive by 2020

Offshore wind power will be a "vital part" of the UK's low-carbon energy mix in the future and has the potential to compete with other energy sources - if costs come down, according to energy minister Charles Hendry.

UK's smart water network needs long-term strategy

The Government must develop a long-term water resource strategy for the UK's smart water network if it is to drive water efficiency and prevent supply disruptions.

There are definitely two sides of the fence when it comes to how positive Rio+20 has been

Rio+20 draft divides opinion

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, say the Rio+20 draft agreement is broadly positive but that they would have liked it to be stronger and to go further, others fail to see the positive angle...

Hospitality industry launches carbon measurement tool

A group of major global hospitality companies have joined forces to launch a new tool to help measure and report on their carbon emissions.

British paper industry calls for delay to marine fuels sulphur limit

The UK's paper industry has criticised a European Parliament agreement to limit the sulphur content of marine fuel, arguing it will "distort" competition and damage economic growth.

Ford seeks UK waste partners for recovery push

Motor giant Ford is seeking to enter into strategic partnerships with waste management firms as part of its zero waste drive.

Gorbachev warns Rio+20 against 'backsliding' on climate change

World governments have been accused of 'backsliding' on climate change by the highly influential Climate Change Task Force (CCTF) who also said that the final document from this week's Rio+20 meeting will be meaningless.

Business welcomes Green Deal 'progress'

Business leaders have welcomed clarification from government on the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), but warned that there is "still plenty of work to do".

Food industry waste deal targets £45m in savings

A new voluntary agreement on food and packaging waste has been unveiled for the foodservice sector which aims to save over £45m and cut carbon by 342,000 tonnes.

UN makes new sustainable energy commitments

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has marked Energy Day at Rio+20 by issuing three new commitments to action in support of his Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.


See more news from June 2012


June 2007

Recycled water important for Australia's future

Recycled water will be an "important" part of Australia's future drinking supplies, the government said this month.
Short, sharp storms are likely to become more frequent as the climate changes

Expect an increase of short, sharp storms with climate change

Severe floods have affected many parts of the UK over the past week, with more storms in store according to new forecasts from the Met Office.

Waste and recycling board for London

Government has announced plans to bring in a waste and recycling board for London in the next financial year, with a budget of £19m.

Hilary Benn new Environment Secretary

News in Brief

Aim to reach waste neutrality in construction

A tool measuring performance towards 'waste neutrality' in construction has been launched by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).

Missing newsletter recovered

News in Brief

Recycling is not enough

Recycling alone is not enough to meet the UK's escalating waste problem and people must change their habits to consume less in the first place, according to the Economic and Social Research Council.

Architecture Week kicks off with a green theme

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) kicks off Architecture Week 2007 today, celebrating ten days of events.

Glastonbury seeks to persuade festival goers to go green

News in Brief
Has cod fishing in the North Sea had its day?

Ban North Sea cod fishing, say scientists

Marine scientists have called for a total ban on North Sea cod fishing.

See more news from June 2007