Asia Forestry Summit opens
Key forestry experts from governments, the private sector and NGOs gathered today for the opening of the Asia Pacific Rainforest Summit 2016 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. Regional leaders reinforced the importance of working in partnership between governments, private sector, forest scientists and communities towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the Paris […]
Renewable energy outperforms coal in new official UK electricity statistics
The Government’s new annual energy statistics show that renewable energy sources are replacing coal as mainstream technologies generating power for British homes, offices and factories. Today’s figures confirm that 25% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewables last year – an increase of 29% on 2014. Nearly half of this (48%) came from wind […]
Five simple steps to take to help our bees
Planting bee-friendly flowers and cutting grass less often are among five simple steps the public are being urged to take to help our precious pollinators thrive—as, despite public concern about bee populations, more than half of those asked say they have not taken any pollinator-friendly actions in the last year. In a recent YouGov poll, […]
Business rates on rooftop solar installations could go up nearly eight times next year
As reported by the Financial Times today, the Solar Trade Association has uncovered that business rates taxes on commercial rooftop solar installations will rise by between six and eight times as of April next year unless Ministers intervene. Paul Barwell, CEO of the Solar Trade Association, commented: “This is a huge increase in the running […]
UK solar industry sees new record in electricity generation
The UK solar industry is today (Monday 4th July) celebrating its third ‘Solar Independence Day’, the UK’s annual celebration of solar energy. To mark the occasion, which will see people all over the country post photos using the #SolarIndependence hashtag, the Solar Trade Association (STA) has launched its latest initiative to raise standards in the […]
Scottish Energy Minister highlights ground-breaking innovations in offshore wind
The new Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse has said that “Scotland has the potential to be at the forefront in all stages of offshore renewable energy”. Speaking at RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind conference in Manchester, Paul Wheelhouse MSP noted that “what is important is the size and boldness of our ambitions”. As evidence of this, […]
Government proposes severe cuts to Anaerobic Digestion Feed-in Tariffs
The DECC has published a consultation document proposing major reductions in support for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) under the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme. Cuts would take effect from January 2017 and are anticipated to have a serious impact on the biogas industry, with the proposed changes likely to end many AD projects planned in the UK, […]
‘Don’t just make plans – open opportunities’
A call for strategic decisions and actions, not just strategies was at the heart of the high-level ThinkForest seminar on the bioeconomy, which was held in Helsinki on 7 June. The Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn, placed forests at the centre of a sustainable, flexible European bioeconomy, ‘the next economic wave’. ‘It’s a […]
Kellogg’s enlists ‘Compost Chef’
Kellogg’s has enlisted a ‘compost chef’ as it begins working towards its landmark sustainability commitment to more than halve its greenhouse emissions. Renowned soils expert Anna Becvar is working with Kellogg’s British farmers to ensure the health and sustainability of their crops. Ms Becvar is advising farms in the Kellogg’s Origins Programme – the Manchester-based […]
