Shifting shores: Adapting to change

Posted on: 14 April 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

A clear national strategy is urgently needed to help coastal areas adapt to the twin pressures of rising sea levels and extreme weather, according to a new report from the National Trust. 

Read more online

Engaging for Change: IIED Strategy 2014-2019

Posted on: 1 April 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The International Institute for Environment and Development has announced its new strategy for the period 2014-2019. Over the next five years, IIED will build on its landmark work with partners on each of four research themes: climate change, natural resources, human settlements and sustainable markets.

Read more online

Ecology rights and city development plans: The case of Mumbai

Posted on: 13 March 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Mumbai’s development plan is revised every twenty years. The revision process of the current plan is underway for preparation of a new plan for 2014-2034, to be launched some time later in 2014. Amongst many issues that active citizens and environmental groups have flagged is that of ecology and environment. This articles argues that sadly, ecology and environmental causes are considered by authorities as huge burdens on the “development” agenda, particularly so in “land starved” cities, as is Mumbai.

Read more online

The state of national capital: Restoring our national assets

Posted on: 11 March 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The economic benefits of natural assets need to be incorporated into planning decision making, according to a report from government advisory body the Natural Capital Committee. The Natural Capital Committee was set up as a result of the Government’s 2011 Natural Environment White Paper, The Natural Choice, with a clear remit to identify which natural assets may be being used unsustainably, to ensure the development of national and corporate natural capital accounting, and to advise on research priorities.

Read more online

Common Land Fact Sheets

Posted on: 7 March 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The Foundation for Common Land, a charity dedicated to the protection and management of commons, has launched a series of publications demonstrating that commons make a greater contribution to the environment than any other farmland in Britain. Ten Factsheets covering wildlife, archaeology, tourism, rare breeds, carbon storage, water supply, uplands, agriculture and water and flood management have been published.

Read more online

Greening the European Semester

Posted on: 5 March 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Two studies published by the European Commission recently show how environment policy can spur economic growth by boosting flood protection and making more of a switch to greener taxes. One produces more evidence about the overall economic benefits from timely investment in defences against flooding, and the other highlights the advantages of moving the tax burden away from labour and towards resource use and pollution.

Read more online

Access to nature

Posted on: 12 February 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Access to Nature is a grant programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund and run by Natural England. Natural England works on behalf of a consortium of eleven other major environmental organisations and distributes £28.75 million funding, which aims to bring lasting change to people’s awareness of, access to and engagement with the natural environment, particularly those with little or no previous contact with the natural environment. A total of 115 grants have been awarded. This paper is one part of the final round up of the formative evaluation process that has sat alongside the Access to Nature programme across its lifetime. It focuses on programme management, providing a brief overview of the five years of Access to Nature and how the management challenges have varied over that time.

Read more online

Social innovation and the environment

Posted on: 7 February 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

Grassroots innovations which bring both social and environmental improvements are explored in the latest In-depth Report from Science for Environment Policy, published online today. From urban beekeeping in Copenhagen to pedal-powered distribution in Paris and community farming in London, social innovation can help create new jobs, improve social inclusivity and strengthen local economies, whilst delivering benefits for nature, air quality and climate change mitigation, among many other valuable functions. The report presents case studies of social innovation as well as research into frameworks and evaluation methods which can help policymakers understand social innovation and its environmental implications.  

Read more online

Noise action plans: large urban areas, roads and railways

Posted on: 31 January 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

The Government has published Noise Action Plans to address the management of noise issues and effects from large urban areas, roads and railways. A further document provides a report on progress on the implementation of the Environment Noise Directive (END) in England, and more specifically on progress made in implementing the first round of the Noise Action Plans, including the long term strategies on managing noise from road, rail, and industrial sources. It also provides a high level summary of the implementation of the first round of airport Noise Action Plans prepared separately under the END by the relevant airport operators.

Read more online

Flood and coastal erosion risk management spending

Posted on: 27 January 2014
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News

This note considers publicly available data on flood and coastal erosion risk management expenditure (FCERM) in England. It looks at how this has changed following recent government spending decisions, the introduction of Partnership Funding, and in comparison with estimates of the long-term investment need.

Read more online