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 – clean energy, green growth and climate science
London is set to host the Clean Energy Ministerial amid debate in UK politics over the direction of green policy and the cost of environmental measures to families and businesses. The Coalition Government has made announcements on fracking, investment in climate science, the green deal and EU emissions targets, and MPs have called on the government for greater clarity on the “outsourcing” of carbon emissions abroad.
Great Lakes Wind; Rio+20; Power Plant Standards; Clean Water Act; New York, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia Energy Efficiency Efforts; Earth Day; and Other U.S. News
Last week, President Obama called for an end to $4 billion in U.S. oil and gas subsidies, instead using that money to “double-down on investments in clean energy technologies… investments in wind power and solar power and biofuels, investments in fuel-efficient cars and trucks, and energy-efficient homes and buildings.” I, therefore, begin this week’s blog entry with the recently signed Great Lakes Wind Agreement, which streamlines procedures for offshore wind development in several Midwestern states. Watch the President’s full video address below. Other U.S. Government highlights this week include recent sustainable development efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in preparation for Rio+20. There are also newly proposed carbon emissions standards by the EPA for power plants, the approval of E15 blended gasoline for the U.S., and national recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. I discuss efforts to improve energy efficiency in federal buildings and at state and local levels in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Georgia. I finish with advances in science on biofuels, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and the creation of a $5 million DOE supercomputer institute.
UK preparations for Rio+20 Earth Summit
The UN conference on Sustainable Development will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20-22 June, 20 years after the original Earth Summit. With just three months to go, the UK Government has been setting out its priorities, building on the conferences’ two main themes: the green economy and the institutional framework for sustainable development.
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 UK news
This week, MPs published a report on preparations for the Rio+20 Earth Summit next year and Ministers sought to counter accusations that the Cabinet is at odds over its environmental commitments. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne made the case for renewable energy while Climate Change Minister Greg Barker warned that solar subsidies must be reviewed to remain sustainable. In other news, if you are carving pumpkins this weekend, scroll down for some green Halloween tips.