UK Highlights – Queen’s Speech, Barrages and Butterflies
The Green Investment Bank, electricity market reform and proposals for the water industry all made it into the Queen’s Speech on May 9, and environmental groups and business leaders are pressing for further details on Government plans. A proposed tidal barrage across the Severn estuary, the Government’s commitment to green growth and the UK’s springtime weather has also made the headlines.
UK Highlights – Easter eggs, airports and health reform
With Parliament breaking for Easter Recess, politicians have been busy stoking up the debate on airport capacity in the South East, turning the spotlight on wasteful Easter egg packaging, and discussing ways to better engage the public on climate change. Ministers have launched a new Carbon Capture and Storage competition, a new energy saving advice line and set out plans to cut emissions from heat. After the twists and turns of NHS Reform debate, the Health and Social Care Bill has finally received Royal Assent and the Prime Minister has launched a challenge to tackle the “crisis” in dementia care.
UK news highlights
What with climate change negotiations, the cross-governmental Carbon Plan, Water White Paper, Electricity Market Reform, smart meter roll out, UK’s first Carbon Capture and Storage plant, red tape challenge, and lessons from Deepwater Horizon and Fukushima, it has been a busy few weeks for ESTH issues in the UK.
UK news – green growth
UK green groups and businesses have been digesting the impact of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on plans for a low carbon economy.
Weekly highlights of UK news
With preparations underway for the UN Climate Summit in Durban, the UK Government has been setting out its position ahead of negotiations. In other green news, DEFRA has published a revised timetable for the designation of Marine Conservation Zones, London Mayor Boris Johnson has launched plans to help London become “zero waste” and MPs have urged the Government to do more to improve air quality.
Weekly highlights of UK news
Each week, we plan to bring you a mix of the latest eye-catching news from the UK Government across the ESTH spectrum. Here are some highlights from the last week.
At Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, told delegates that the new British economy will be built on “leading in advanced manufacturing, technology, life sciences, green engineering. Inventing, creating, exporting.” Read more 