Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos, Environment Secretary Liz Truss, the Environment Agency and its ex-boss Lord Smith all suffer from a blind spot, writes David Lowry - the dangers of fracking, its radioactive emissions and the toxic chemicals that threaten to pollute our aquifers. As for official advice that 'regulation needs to be strongly and robustly applied' - pass the Tippex!
… form outdoor radon or indoor levels in nearby homes." But its advice did not stop there. The … risk of radon gas being pumped into citizens' homes as part of the shale gas stream. Unless …
Cuts to feed-in tariffs and hostility to large-scale farms have undermined the UK's solar energy sector. But changes are under way in the heart of government. Could 2014 be the UK's 'year of the sun'?
… of solar PV in the UK - the number of 'solar homes' is set to tip over the 500,000 mark in … a large 40MW farm - enough for around 12,000 homes - near the village of Wroughton in his …
A new report on the Channel's fisheries is a timely reminder of the ecological trend to 'simplification' as whole trophic levels are stripped away by over-exploitation, writes Horatio Morpurgo. Yet the government's profit-focused vision of 'sustainability' is missing the essential element - allowing the recovery of marine ecosystems.
… able to exploit cod at greater distance from home ports and at greater depth. Problem? What … of legal abstractions where you don't feel at home quite. Let me end, then, with an …
Camping needn't mean crowds, drunk people tripping over your guy ropes and queues for school-style washblocks. Find yourself a tiny campsite, says Dixe Wills, and you'll have an altogether different holiday
… pockets of camping bliss out there to write home about were soon dispelled. Tips from … A dollop of land in the Irish Sea, Piel is home to four houses, a castle and a pub. Ideal … community life This extract from the new book Homemade Kids offers some inspirational ways …
Deep in the heart of Fife, Pitcairlie House is a magical place to spend a chilled out weekend getting back to nature, says Kristen Harding
… it. The kitchen was a welcoming place to come home to at the end of a long day of hiking and … and quality products. We raved about their home made steak and ale pie for days. …
The previous government came in on a bold promise to be the 'greenest ever', writes Jonathon Porritt. But what we got was a shameful record of ideologically driven policies that promoted fossil fuels, undermined action on climate, obsessed over nuclear power, did nothing to arrest the decline in the nation's wildlife and biodiversity - and suggest even worse to come.
… watered down the goal of making new homes as carbon-efficient as possible, set out … from their obligation to build zero-carbon homes, and sought to unpick provisions in the …
Supporters of HS2 assert that it will cause prosperity to trickle down from London to the entire North of England, writes Tony Payne. But economic theory and hard experience tell us that the reverse is more probable - that it will help London to 'suck out' northern wealth.
… help us understand regional divides closer to home. In the global context 'north' and …
Maria Evrenos left her wallet at home for a week to discover that even an inexperienced urban forager can survive without money for a week by treasuring other people's trash.
… Maria Evrenos left her wallet at home for a week to discover that even an …
With the US, China, Germany and other countries firmly fixing their aim on a low carbon, renewable energy future, the UK government has chosen precisely the opposite track, write Noam Bergman, Lee Stapleton & Mari Martiskainen. Its mission to destroy wind and solar power, undercut energy efficiency and boost nuclear power and fracking threatens serious, lasting damage.
… has announced it will scrap the zero carbon homes target for 2016. The target was …
Deep in rural Sussex at Wakehurst Place, in a large nature reserve of 500 acres of National Trust woodlands and lakes, stands the Kew Gardens Biological Research Centre. Sixty feet beneath is a nuclear bunker. This is the British National Doomsday vault, home to the UK’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB). If apocalyptic disaster strikes, this bunker will hold key bio-scientists and all remaining plant life.
… This is the British National Doomsday vault, home to the UK’s Millennium Seed Bank (MSB). … among countless others, are currently homeless, having previously entered into a …
Thanks to pro-GMO politicans and lobbying by powerful agribusiness interests the UK and other EU countries may soon find supermarket shelves flooded with GM foods, both imported and home grown, writes Linda Kaucher. We must press parliamentary candidates now to defend us from this serious and long-term debasement of our food and farming.
… flooded with GM foods, both imported and home grown, writes Linda Kaucher. We must …
A stones throw from where Cuadrilla lost its bid to develop a fracking operation in Lancashire, a solar farm has just won planning permission with widespread local support, writes Ben Lucas. However a 194-turbine offshore wind farm near the Isle of Wight has been refused planning consent.
… enough electricity to power around 1,300 homes and save approximately 2,310 tonnes of …
At the inspiring new 3,500 acre 'wildland' of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex, the nightingale is making itself at home amid the thorny thickets, writes Hazel Sillver. That's proof to any that need it that the bird's extinction is far from inevitable - if only we can muster the will to save it! It also offers a wonderful opportunity to hear its magical song ...
… Sussex, the nightingale is making itself at home amid the thorny thickets, writes Hazel …
Sneaked out shortly before MP's Christmas recess, the Government's decision to 'carry on culling' badgers with no evidence that the slaughter is reducing the incidence of bovine TB is a travesty of process, writes Lesley Docksey. But it does have one useful outcome - it has exposed Defra's claims that the cull is 'science-led' as arrant nonsense. Science never even got a look in.
… Dorset - made just as MPs were about to go home for their Christmas jollifications - …
In its decision to leave the EU, the UK is cutting itself off from one of the world's most effective systems of climate governance, write Tim Rayner & Brendan Moore. But we still have our own Climate Change Act and can lead the EU, if not as a member, at least by example - provided current and future Conservative Party leadership make their commitment clear, and implement their promises.
… negotiations . But can this be maintained? At home in particular, can it follow the pithy …
It’s a problem more usually associated with pensioners but according to new research fuel poverty has become an issue amongst younger people – particularly students - too.
… income before housing costs on heating their homes to an acceptable level - defined, in …
The government appears as determined as ever to push ahead with fracking as a central plank of its energy policy, writes Richard Heasman - ignoring growing evidence of health and environmental harm. But with the economics of fracking undermined by heavy energy price falls, the UK industry may never get off the ground.
… extract shale from right underneath people's homes . This is irrespective of a wide range …
The cost of offshore wind power in the North Sea is 30% lower than that of new nuclear, writes Kieran Cooke - helped along by low oil and steel prices, reduced maintenance and mass production. By 2030 the sector is expected to supply 7% of Europe's electricity.
… - enough to power more than a million homes. Next year, a 150-turbine wind farm off …
Despite promises to phase out subsidies to the coal, oil and gas industries, a new report G20 governments are still providing them with massive financial help, writes Alex Kirby. The UK alone is spending over £1.2 billion per year to support fossil fuel exploration and production at home and abroad.
… fossil fuel exploration and production at home and abroad. Leaders of the G20 group of …
When Oxeye daises looked like taking over her mini-meadow, Jo Cartmell was tempted to intervene. But instead, she held back and let nature take its course. Now, a few seasons later, the floral diversity has only increased, taking in some unexpected but welcome arrivals - along with their insect companions, all making their home on what used to be an unloved patch of lawn.
… their insect companions, all making their home on what used to be an unloved patch of …
Tidal lagoons could generate 8% of the UK's electricity, writes Stephen Tindale, and go on doing so for 120 years to come. With the Hinkley C nuclear project looking ever more dicey, and with promises to shut down coal fired generation by 2025, a promised new tidal lagoon In Swansea Bay would come in very useful. So why hasn't the government included it in the Energy Bill?
… included it in the Energy Bill? Peter Scott's home is to be restored and opened to the …
The cash-strapped Cumbrian Museum is rebranded to tell 'The Sellafield Story'. The UK's favourite scientist Brian Cox and Government Minister Baroness Verma provide razzmatazz along with the Happy Robot. Lollypops anyone?
… You might think that with Copeland being home to Sellafield, this area would be best …