Defra

'Priority' species in freefall across England, Defra confirms

Policy

'Priority' species in freefall across England, Defra confirms

Government department publishes sobering assessment of lack progress to date against objectives of 25 Year Environment Plan

clock 20 July 2022 • 4 min read
Alan Lovell appointed as new Environment Agency chair

Policy

Alan Lovell appointed as new Environment Agency chair

Experienced business leader to take up post in September, replacing outgoing chair Emma Howard Boyd

clock 19 July 2022 • 2 min read
Plumbing the depths: Environmental performance at UK water companies 'hits new low'

Infrastructure

Plumbing the depths: Environmental performance at UK water companies 'hits new low'

The latest Environmental Performance Assessment report reveals performance across UK water companies worsened in 2021, despite recent flurry of record-breaking fines

clock 14 July 2022 • 5 min read
Food Strategy: How the government served up a dish that disappointed almost everyone

Policy

Food Strategy: How the government served up a dish that disappointed almost everyone

The government’s new Food Strategy has sparked an angry response from environmental and farming groups alike, but is it really as bad as its critics suggest?

clock 14 June 2022 • 12 min read
Missing crucial ingredients: Campaigners slam government's new Food Strategy

Policy

Missing crucial ingredients: Campaigners slam government's new Food Strategy

Farming and environmental groups unite in condemning new Food Strategy, accusing government of taking ambitious proposals and 'stripping them to the bone'

clock 13 June 2022 • 8 min read
Around 50 peatland, tree planting and biodiversity projects scoop government grants

Biodiversity

Around 50 peatland, tree planting and biodiversity projects scoop government grants

Defra and the Environment Agency to provide grants of up to £100,000 to environmental groups, local authorities and businesses

clock 30 May 2022 • 2 min read
Packet In: Pilot launched for household collection of flexible plastic

Waste

Packet In: Pilot launched for household collection of flexible plastic

Industry-led consortium aims to recruit local authorities to take part in new FlexCollect project

clock 19 May 2022 • 3 min read
Six months since the Environment Act was passed, there's still no sign of nature recovery

Policy

Six months since the Environment Act was passed, there's still no sign of nature recovery

Ministers must press ahead with bold biodiversity targets that can unlock much-needed investment for efforts to enhance nature, argues The Wildlife Trusts' Elliot Chapman-Jones

clock 12 May 2022 • 6 min read
'Missed opportunity': Ministers shelve sustainability disclosure rules, commit to binding environmental policy principles

Legislation

'Missed opportunity': Ministers shelve sustainability disclosure rules, commit to binding environmental policy principles

Draft Defra policy statement promises to embed the environment 'at the heart' of all policymaking on the same day as reports reveal key corporate sustainability rules have been delayed

clock 12 May 2022 • 6 min read
'We're getting a lot wrong on waste': New data confirms UK recycling rate fell during pandemic-hit 2020

Recycling

'We're getting a lot wrong on waste': New data confirms UK recycling rate fell during pandemic-hit 2020

Environmental groups demand more action and support from government to drive up household recycling rates in wake of latest figures

clock 12 May 2022 • 3 min read