Landmark ruling finds Downing Street’s ‘all on black’ environmental plan is not legal, leaving many asking where from here?  Delivering a verdict on last Friday 3rd May, the High Court upheld the case brought about by Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth and Good Law Project, judging that the UK Government breached the Climate Change Act by adopting its own Carbon Budget Delivery Plan.  Claire Coutinho, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, is now expected to draw up a revised plan within the next 12 months. This must ensure the UK’s legally-binding carbon budgets, and i ..read more

Calls are being made to end the destructive fishing practice, which is notorious for high rates of bycatch and damage to the seabed.  An analysis of satellite data by Global Fishing watch shows that despite the high number of trawling hours in UK waters, one-quarter of this damaging activity was caused by just 10 vessels.  None of those boats were registered in the UK, with British ships responsible for just 6% of the total number of trawler fishing hours recorded last year.  As a result of this practice, habitats are effectively being bulldozed beneath the surface of the sea ..read more

But just over half of graduates from associated courses find full-time employment in relevant fields.  Data analysed by EssayPro using the Higher Education Statistics Agency [HESA] shows that Veterinary Sciences have a 79% employment rate following graduation, the highest of any discipline.  Architecture had the fourth highest intake into industry after courses are completed. The lowest intake of any field came from Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. Just 43% of people who graduate from these subjects manage to find a full-time job. Average intake into industry across ..read more

The digital platform has implemented a new partnership with the UK electric vehicle network, creating a more comprehensive product.  APCOA operates more than 750 electric vehicle [EV] charge points at locations across the country. These range from 160 at Reading railway station, to two units at King William Car Park, Hull.  Zapmap will now carry a range of information on these facilities, including real time reports on availability, charger types and speeds based on compatibility with the model of a user’s vehicle.  ‘APCOA’s live data partnership with Zapmap is another positive ..read more

Dr Pablo Pereira-Doel is a lecturer in Hospitality Information Technology at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Water Literacy and Sustainable Water Behaviour Area Lead at the Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey. He environmental challenges facing the sector, and has partnered with some of the leading names in the industry to help bring footprints down.   Water use is one of the most pressing issues, with the average hotel getting through between 100 and 200 gallons of fresh water each day. In a bid to help bring this down, consumer and industry ..read more

Rocketing energy and food bills, wage stagnation and a mortgage crisis have left pandemic-weary Britons looking for value at any cost. The 2024 Consumer Voice Report: Tackling the Brand Crisis’ includes responses from 2,000 UK adults. The results show that price is now the overriding factor in purchasing decisions and choosing which brands to buy.  While 70% of those involved in the study agreed that sustainability remains important, cost leads people to abandon brands and look elsewhere more than any other aspect. This shows how ongoing economic challenges, which began at the start of t ..read more

Solar panels, heat pumps and energy-efficient measures can now be installed at little-to-no cost to households.  ECO4 Flex and the Great British Insulation Scheme Flex [GBIS] is now being offered by Essex County Council through the Better Housing Better Health scheme.  Combined household incomes must be lower than £31,000 and the offer is only available to properties with an Energy Performance Certificate between D and G. Council tax bands A to D are also invited to apply. A low EPC rating can cost hundreds of pounds per year in energy bills, reduce the value of a property and ultim ..read more

The North West combined authority ranks top for for the number of residents transitioning to plug-in vehicles.  Overall, between 2009 and 2023 Greater Manchester saw 1,045,910 new electric vehicles [EVs] hit the region’s roads. This represents around 10% of the UK total, with the borough of Stockport leading within the ten councils comprising the region, with 837,067 registrations. Data from the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency was analysed by Howden Insurance, and also showed that Outer London ranked second, with 908,775 plug-ins. Therein, Hillingdon ..read more

Protecting the environment for future generations is one of the most pressing challenges for individuals, businesses, and governments today. Following the COP28 summit last year, where world leaders pledged to triple renewable energy capacity and reduce global emissions by 43% before 2030, the focus has now shifted to moving beyond rhetoric and translating these commitments into tangible action. Central to this effort is the imperative for all industries, from manufacturing to financial services, to rapidly reduce their carbon footprint and transition to net zero. Environmental blind-spots Fi ..read more

Using ONS data, an survey has revealed which parts of the country offer the best access to nature based on proximity to population.  Conducted by ecological consultancy Arbtech, the research honed in on availability of green spaces within 1km of the average resident of local authorities within wider regions. London took the top spot when analysed in this way, offering 6.74 parks in around a half-mile of most homes.  The North West was second, at 4.91, followed by the North East with 4.45, Yorkshire & the Humber (4.27), and the West Midlands (4.23). Specific neighbourhoods, borou ..read more