UK highlights – Clean Energy Ministerial
Energy Ministers from 23 of the world’s leading economies gathered together in London last week for the third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) to help accelerate the transition to clean energy technologies. A joint press release was released from Energy Ministers outlining commitments made on energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy access, and other cross-cutting initiatives. Under pressure from green groups, UK Government Ministers were keen to demonstrate their renewed commitment to be the “greenest government ever” and give a clear vision to investors in renewable energy.
UK highlights – birds counts, renewable energy and Rio+20
This weekend kicks off the Big Garden Birdwatch, set aside an hour, make yourself a cup of tea and count the birds in your garden or local park. The RSPB have even provided a handy counting sheet to help! In other ESTH UK highlights, Ministers have been busy with the UK’s first marine energy park, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, preparations for the Green Deal, the Rio+20 Conference and a legal battle over cuts to solar tariffs. MPs have warned the smart meter rollout faces challenges, the UK Carbon Price will outsource emissions, and there is renewed opposition to health reforms. Green charities are concerned about ‘Boris Island’ and give their thoughts on the year ahead. And you need to count your hedgehogs too.
Weekly highlights of U.S. Government news
Please allow me to introduce myself, Michael Wautlet, the new Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Officer at the U.S. Embassy in London. I encourage all of our readers to post comments and ask questions about blog posts, announcements, or events related to ESTH topics.
Climate Change. Today’s “U.S. Government highlights” cover a range of issues from the past two weeks. I begin with the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Durban, South Africa. Jonathan Pershing, the Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change at the U.S. Department of State and head of the U.S. delegation for the first week of the Read more 
The Coalition’s natural environment commitments
Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of 35 green voluntary organizations in the UK, has published Nature Check, a report analyzing progress on the Government’s natural environment commitments.
Weekly highlights of UK news
This week, Energy & Climate Secretary Chris Huhne said nuclear power remains a key part of the UK energy mix and the Government is committed to UK carbon budgets. The Government won key votes in the House of Lords on the Health and Social Care Bill and Defra has moved ahead with plans in the Natural Environment White Paper to help communities create more green spaces.