Environmental News on this day... for October 2020, 2019, 2016, 2011

Take a trip into the past and see what stories were in the news in October 2020, 2019, 2016, 2011

Report: Green recovery would cut global emissions by 7% and create millions of jobs

If all major nations developed strong plans for a green recovery from Covid-19, global annual emissions would be 7% lower in 2030 than in 2019 and millions of new jobs would be created in sectors including energy, transport and materials.

Businesses and green groups call for Government to set out 'negative emissions' policy framework

The National Farmers Union (NFU), Heathrow Airport and the Renewable Energy Association (REA) are amongst the organisations that have formed the Coalition for Negative Emissions, which is this week calling on the UK Government to set an "unambiguous commitment" to carbon capture and negative emissions.

Issue green sovereign bond to finance UK's Covid-19 recovery, investors urge Government

A group of 30 major investors with more than £10trn of assets under management collectively are calling for the UK Government to launch a green sovereign bond to ensure adequate funding is put behind its mission to deliver a "green" Covid-19 recovery.

Net-zero blockchain and hydrogen train milestones: 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.

#SustyTalk: Signify's Joao Pola on business leadership for net-zero

edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with Signify UK & Ireland's chief executive Joao Pola, who outlines what it takes to embed climate action in business from the boardroom and beyond.

Common Agricultural Policy to remain part of EU's biodiversity funding, despite criticism

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), voted on this week in the European Parliament and Council, will remain by far the biggest funding source for biodiversity protection schemes at EU level, despite claims that it has encouraged intensive and damaging farming.

Fighting food waste and engaging one billion people on climate change: 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.

UK concrete and cement industry claims it can 'go beyond net-zero' by 2050

The trade body representing the UK's concrete and cement industry has published a roadmap for achieving 'net-negative' emissions across the sector by mid-century, in which carbon capture and storage (CCS) plays a key role.

Tesco links £2.5bn loan to key emissions, energy and food waste targets

Tesco has established a £2.5bn revolving credit facility whereby rates and interest are tied to progress against the company's key environmental targets.

Net-Zero Business podcast: Exploring Nespresso's plans for carbon-neutrality and catching up with Inspired Energy

In response to the accelerated pace at which corporates are examining and setting net-zero targets to help alleviate the climate crisis, edie has launched a new spin-off of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast. Up next, discussions on insetting and offsetting with Nespresso.

Green Party declares 'nature emergency'

The Green Party has built on its declaration of a 'climate emergency' by declaring a 'nature emergency' in response to biodiversity decline.

Lego launches reuse platform for old plastic bricks

The Lego Group has announced the launch of a pilot programme that will see the company partner with recycling charity Give Back Box to enable consumers to donate old lego bricks to be redistributed to children's non-profits in the US.

How closed-loop supply chains are spurring Apple's decarbonisation efforts

EXCLUSIVE: Apple's vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives Lisa Jackson believes that companies should look at the synergies between the circular economy and decarbonisation in order to create resilient supply chains.

Massive wind turbines and microplastic weather forecasts: The best green innovations of the week

Every week, 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.

Zalando: Net-zero targets the first step to net-positive businesses

EXCLUSIVE: Zalando's director of corporate responsibility and sustainability Kate Heiny believes that operating at net-zero emissions both operationally and across the value chain can act as a catalyst for businesses to truly move beyond mitigation and "less bad" to help regenerate the planet.

FCA launches new measures to tackle 'greenwash' as green finance booms

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has unveiled a string of new measures designed to prevent issuers from 'greenwashing', covering challenges such as climate risk reporting and the accessibility of 'green' products such as mortgages.

Shell commits £10m to offset emissions from customer fuel purchases in UK

Shell will spend £10m over the next year to offset the emissions from customers' fuel purchases at more than 1,000 service stations in the UK, following a successful trial in the Netherlands.

'We can beat the sceptics': Boris Johnson bolsters net-zero commitment in Tory conference speech

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has used his platform at the Conservative Party conference to argue that the UK is primed to lead the global transition to net-zero emissions by mid-century.

Brexit 'could help UK to reverse solar VAT hike', Conservatives claim

Leaving the EU with a Brexit deal could help the UK Government reverse its recent VAT hike on domestic solar and energy storage, a Conservative MP and former MEP has claimed.

E-sustainability Alliance: Defra launches new coalition championing green IT

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new initiative bringing together businesses, NGOs and policymakers in a joint ambition to making the UK's information technology (IT) sector more sustainable.

Petrol cars allowed to exceed pollution limits by 50% under draft EU laws

New European cars with petrol engines will be allowed to overshoot a limit on toxic particulates emissions by 50% under a draft EU regulation backed by the UK and most other EU states.

Industry leaders unite to develop deforestation guidance

Mars, L'Oreal and Tetra Pak are among a host of international businesses that have come together to form a new cross-sector initiative to help tackle deforestation and develop better climate change accounting methods.

Capacity market provides another twist in the Government's air quality battle

As the UK Government returns to court over illegal air quality levels, new analysis from think-tank Sandbag has warned that up to £800m could be spent in the UK to subsidise a plethora of new diesel generators during the next 15 years.

Sainsbury's boss clashes with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall over food waste management

Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe has fended off a fresh wave of criticism from celebrity chef-turned-eco-warrior Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall about the "ridiculous system" of exacting cosmetic standards of the fruit and veg sold by Britain's supermarkets.

Europe poised for electric car boom as sales surge towards half a million

Europe will have more than 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads by the end of 2016 thanks to technology advancements, a rapid fall in the price of batteries and successful European Union (EU) policy enablers, a new report has revealed.

Volkswagen pumps €20m into Sustainability Council and low-carbon aspirations

Volkswagen has this week continued its brand rebuilding process in the wake of dieselgate, by announcing a new €20m fund to finance projects related to lowering carbon emissions a meeting emissions regulations post-2025.

Ikea and McDonald's go 'all-in' for sustainable coffee

Furniture retailer Ikea and fast food business McDonald's have both announced fresh commitments to sell coffee from certified-sustainable sources.

Quarter of global emissions could be covered by a carbon price in 2017, says World Bank

If policymakers can embed a carbon price within "complimentary" green legislation, then climate change mitigation costs could fall by almost a third by 2030, a new report from the World Bank has found.

SDGs underpin 'positive progress' of corporate sustainability reporting

Nearly a third (30%) of world-leading companies are now implementing the framework into their sustainability and integrated reports, as the push to mainstream non-financial reporting continues to gain momentum.

Developed nations 'confident' of hitting $100bn climate action pledge

Developed countries are "confident" that $100bn will be financed annually to aid climate actions in developing countries by 2020, a new report compiled by the UK and Australia has revealed.

Sustainability icon Tony Juniper to campaign for renewable energy

Legendary environmental campaigner Tony Juniper is to lead a new group promoting renewable energy.

Boiler recovers 15% of waste energy

A pioneering boiler which claims to recover 15% of waste energy to pre-heat domestic water or space heating using condensing technology has launched.

powerPerfector buys its own global technology rights

Energy efficiency company powerPerfector has bought the worldwide rights to its voltage optimisation system.

Northern Ireland reports cleanest waters in 15 years

Environment minister Alex Attwood has announced that all of Northern Ireland's 24 bathing waters passed EC Bathing Waters Directive mandatory standards for water quality in 2011.

E.ON to green thousands of homes

A multi million pound scheme hopes to green deprived areas of a city through a series of scheme to massively cut its energy use.

Amica offers free WEEE collection service for retailers

Electrical retailers and distributors can save hundreds of pounds a year by taking advantage of a new free WEEE collection scheme, set up by kitchen appliance manufacturer Amica.

Virgin Atlantic set to pilot low carbon industrial waste jet fuel

Virgin Atlantic claims to have developed the world's first low carbon aviation fuel made from industrial steel waste gases, with just half the carbon footprint of fossil fuel alternatives.

UK firms still too lax on confidential data disposal, research finds

Almost a fifth of UK organisations have been victims of serious data fraud, as new research is released revealing worrying gaps in confidential data disposal.

Governments urged to reform fossil fuel subsides

Half a trillion dollars spent propping up fossil fuels is 'inefficient' and needs reforming according to a new analysis.

WEEE recycling target poised to hike up to 85%

The European Parliament has voted to raise the collection target for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from 65% to 85% in Brussels today (October 4).