Green jobs were front and centre as Sadiq Khan has launched his election manifesto for 2021 The incumbent Mayor seeks to build on promise to make London carbon neutral by 2030 as he sets out election manifesto Sadiq Khan has promised to help create hundreds of thousands of green jobs across the UK capital if […]
Octopus Electric Vehicles launches salary sacrifice EV leasing scheme for businesses
The Tesla Model S is one of the EV models available on the scheme Participants can save almost £14,500 through the scheme, which offers EV models from Tesla and Jaguar among others, Octopus Electric Vehicles claims An electric vehicle (EV) version of the popular cycle-to-work scheme is being launched this week by Octopus Electric Vehicles, […]
Polestar targets 'world's first' offset-free carbon neutral electric car by 2030
EV and hybrid carmaker Polestar is owned by Volvo | Credit: Polestar The Swedish EV innovator revealed the goal in its first annual review, at which it also revealed plans to publish the full carbon footprint of its latest Polestar 2 vehicle Swedish electric car innovator Polestar today announced a “moonshot goal” of creating the […]
How can governments turn the tide of plastic pollution post-pandemic?
Legislative action against plastic waste is expected to grow over the coming decade As economies emerge from Covid-19, it is crucial governments set their sights on rapid action to curb plastic pollution worldwide, a new UNEP and WRI report implores Driven by the immediate priority to curb the spread of Covid-19 across the world last […]
Report: Record US and EU coal plant retirements offset by China coal boom in 2020
The 2GW West Burton A coal station in Britain is to close by September 2022 | Credit: EDF Just under 38GW of coal plants were retired in 2020, largely in the US and EU, but just over 38GW of new coal plants were commissioned in China, Global Energy Monitor calculates Global coal power capacity development […]
MPs urge government to unlock potential of UK tidal power
Tidal energy has significant potential to supply clean energy to the UK grid, the EAC has concluded The EAC has emphasised the potential of tidal power to both provide clean energy for the grid and provide broader economic benefits, in a letter sent to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng The government should step up support for […]
Engagement, transparency, and accountability: Consumer Goods Forum launches blueprint to tackle global deforestation crisis
Deforestation for commodity production is driving forest destruction across the tropics The CGF has published a report detailing its strategy for tackling deforestation related to the production of four key agricultural commodities: palm oil, soy, beef, and pulp and fibre-based packaging The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) has this week set out a new strategy to […]
Study examines how to turn old wind turbine blades into circular economy gold
Around 325,000 wind turbine blades will need to be decommissioned globally by mid-century The UK has a golden opportunity to develop a world-leading wind turbine blade re-manufacturing industry, argues a new report from the Energy Transition Alliance The UK government should work with wind energy businesses to support the development of wind turbine blade recycling […]
Study: Recipe tips and advice could help reduce household food waste by a third
Food waste is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions Hellman’s commissioned research explores how households can take steps to tackle the 900 million tonne global food waste mountain produced in the home Setting aside just one day a week to make a meal using solely ingredients already present in the kitchen could slash […]
Renewably powered pints: Molson Coors signs wind energy agreement with RWE
Molson Coors will power 100 per cent of its operations – including at its flagship site in Burton-on-Trent – with wind power RWE wind farms in South Yorkshire will provide the Molson Coors Brewing Company with 100 per cent of its energy for at least the next ten years A string of the UK’s most […]
Study: Development banks are backing clean energy, but are struggling to kick fossil fuel habit
The World Bank provided almost $6bn of support for fossil fuel projects between 2018 and 2020 Analysis of investments made by nine of the world’s biggest development banks has found that they spent four times more on clean energy than fossil fuels in 2020 Multilateral development banks (MDBs) such as the World Bank and European […]
Greener TV: ITV and Sky announce raft of climate initiatives
The first episode of Sky’s new Daily Climate Show will air on 7 April The British broadcasters, who are both committed to reach net zero by 2030, have announced ambitious new climate initiatives in the past week Two of the UK’s biggest media companies have launched high profile new climate initiatives in the past week, […]
Race to Zero: Third of UK's biggest companies now committed to net zero targets
A third of FTSE 100 firms have pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions AstraZeneca, BT Group, Sainsbury’s, and Unilever are among the British corporate giants who have signed up to the UN’s flagship Race to Zero campaign Almost a third of the UK’s biggest businesses have now pledged to eliminate their contribution to climate […]
How wind and solar drove a record fall in coal power in 2020 – and why it's nowhere near enough
Coal-fired power generation is declining – but not fast enough, analysis from Ember suggests Analysis from energy think tank Ember celebrates a record fall in coal-fired power generation through 2020, but warns the global energy system remains far from alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement Wind and solar soared to new generation heights […]
NFU: British farmers stepping up net zero investments despite industry uncertainty
Amid industry uncertainty, British farmers are choosing to invest in net-zero initiatives such as tree planting and renewable energy A new ‘confidence survey’ from the NFU has found British farmers are increasing investments in soil health, tree planting, renewable energy generation, and energy efficiency A growing number of UK farmers are planning sustainability investments that […]
Uber Green: EV-only service goes live in London
Uber Green is launching in London today Uber has launched a dedicated EV service in London, dubbed Uber Green, which it aims to have live across 60 European cities before the end of the year Londoners looking to shrink their carbon footprints have a new tool at their disposal from today, as Uber Green launches […]
Tesco launches 'climate manifesto' promising sweeping action to accelerate net zero transition
Tesco has launched a “climate manifesto” ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow Priorities include cutting energy emissions and supporting the transition to electric transport, as Tesco aims for net zero emissions by 2035 Supermarket giant Tesco yesterday set out a new climate change “manifesto” outlining five key areas of action where it calculates […]
'Time to Transform': WBCSD report plots course towards prosperous, sustainable future
Achieving the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals will require “transformative change”, the WBCSD argues The report outlines actions that businesses can take across nine key areas, including energy, transport and mobility, and products and materials A new report seeking to set out how businesses can play a lead role in driving the transformation of […]
UK offshore wind: Industry predicts £60bn investment blitz to drive 69,000 jobs
The forecast is outlined in a new report from the OWIC, which details £60bn of planned investment in offshore wind between now and 2026 The UK’s offshore wind industry is already the world’s biggest – and it is set for booming growth over the next five years, according to new research from the Offshore Wind […]
Crown Estate plans giant floating wind farms for the Celtic Sea
The UK government is aiming for 1GW of floating wind capacity by 2030 Floating wind projects as large as 300MW could be developed in the Celtic Seas the Crown Estate outlines plans to design leasing contracts for early commercial-scale projects Giant floating wind farms could soon be established in the Celtic Sea, after the Crown […]
Shipping industry emissions keep on climbing, new IMO data reveals
New figures show that significant improvements in carbon intensity have been made since 2012, although these have slowed in recent years Total shipping industry emissions grew by almost 10 per cent from 2012 to 2018, accounting for 2.89 per cent of total global anthropogenic emissions, according to the fourth International Maritime Organisation (IMO) greenhouse gas […]
NatWest and Microsoft pool expertise to help businesses slash emissions
NatWest is working with Microsoft to help its business customers reduce emissions NatWest will help its business customers harness Microsoft’s data and AI expertise to calculate and shrink their carbon footprints NatWest is teaming up with Microsoft to help its business customers slash their carbon emissions, the firms announced today. The British bank will draw […]
Jobs, transport, internet: South Wales climate jury lays out its green transition priorities
The South Wales Valleys are among the most deprived parts of the UK The IPPR is coordinating “climate citizens’ juries” across four of the most deprived parts of the UK, gathering ideas on how to ensure they benefit from the green transition As the coal mines shuttered and the UK’s manufacturing base declined through the […]
'Incredibly risky': Campaigners urge policy-makers not to be seduced by unproven CCS
BECCS advocates claim burning biomass and capturing the emissions is a carbon negative energy source BECCS proponents argue the technology can play a critical role in helping the UK reach net-zero, but a group of campaigners and academics are arguing the government should direct subsidies to more proven technologies Academics and environmental campaigners have issued […]
UK's first consumer-owned wind farm secures green light and fresh funding
Graig Fatha wind farm is the latest community-funded clean energy project to get the green light in the UK The Graig Fatha wind farm will be owned by an initial 675 households who have signed up to Ripple Energy’s platform The UK’s first ever consumer-owned wind farm is set to be built in Coedely, south […]
New report reveals two thirds of firms see sustainability as key to corporate strategy
Embracing more sustainable business practices is increasingly critical to commercial success, businesses say Autodesk commissioned study finds that over three quarters businesses believe embracing sustainability measures gives them a strategic edge Firms across Northern Europe are embracing sustainability as a fundamental part of their long-term business strategy, a new report released today by design software […]
Over $50bn is at risk from deforestation – but just one per cent of firms are taking 'best practice' action
The world lost almost 12m hectares of biodiversity-rich rainforest in 2019 New CDP survey of corporate efforts to combat deforestation for agricultural commodities have found an increasing number of firms are taking at least some action – but only a tiny fraction are on top of the problem The world lost a football pitch of […]
Green bonuses: How ESG criteria are increasingly informing executive pay
Executive pay is increasingly influenced by ESG criteria, a PwC study has found Nearly half of FTSE 100 companies currently have an ESG measure in either annual bonus targets or long-term incentive plans, research from PwC has found Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are playing a growing role in determining executive pay, a new […]
Survey: Nine in 10 UK businesses stepping up efforts to operate ethically
More businesses are studying ways to operate ethically, a new survey has found Climate change and the covid-19 pandemic are the key drivers propelling this shift in attitudes, the survey found Nine in 10 UK businesses are making efforts to become more ethical in response to growing pressure to curb and eliminate social or environmental […]
Steel decarbonisation now: ArcelorMittal launches trio of trailblazing initiatives
Steel production is responsible for around eight per cent of direct emissions from global fossil fuel use One of the world’s biggest steel-making firms, ArcelorMittal, has this week launched a sweeping new new package of initiatives aimed at driving down both its own carbon emissions and those of the industry more broadly. The company debuted […]
New private sector coalition launched in bid to reverse biodiversity loss
Habitat destruction and other drivers of biodiversity loss has a severe economic impact, researchers have shown Named the UK Business and Biodiversity Forum, the new group will support British businesses as they try to tackle worsening biodiversity impacts and risks A new coalition of British businesses launching today has pledged to work to reverse biodiversity […]
Study: Five-fold jump in urban fossil fuel bans worldwide
Cities cover just three of the world’s landmass but account for 75 per cent of carbon emissions A billion people now live in cities with a renewable energy target or policy in place, according to the latest analysis by green think tank REN21 Cities around the world rapidly stepped up their efforts to tackle climate […]
'To be or not to be': Shakespeare's Globe among London businesses committing to slash their energy use
Shakespeare’s Globe is among the first businesses signing up to a new initiative to cut the energy use of London businesses New Business Climate Challenge programme launched by Mayor of London aims to help firms across the capital accelerate efforts to curb their emissions “There are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than are […]
Google update details data centre decarbonisation progress
Data centres accounted for around one per cent of global electricity use in 2019 Google says its customers can use new data on server farms’ performance to inform decisions on where to base their Google Cloud operations Tech giant Google has today released a raft of data illuminating the level of progress towards its overarching […]
'Forceful and accelerated': Top investor body predicts global climate policy response
Deep-reaching policy interventions through the decades ahead will be necessary to align major sectors of the economy with net-zero Principles for Responsible Investment analysed policy trends to formulate detailed predictions on the likely extent of government intervention in key sectors of the economy as the net zero transition progresses The policy response to climate change […]
AFC Energy and Mace join forces to swap diesel for hydrogen in UK construction
Mace is partnering with AFC Energy to replace diesel generators on its construction sites The construction industry is seeking ways to replace diesel generators as a source of temporary power on construction sites Efforts to decarbonise the UK’s construction industry advanced a notch this week, as hydrogen tech firm AFC Energy and building giant Mace […]
'ACE' sustainability roadmap targets waste and emissions from beverage packaging
Recycle bins separating glass, plastic, paper and Tetra Pak in Santiago de Chile The new roadmap is published a year after the EU first unveiled its ambitious circular economy action plan to cut waste, emissions and pollution A new roadmap seeking to guide the packaging industry towards a sustainable future was published today, with a […]
Apple green bonds powering major clean energy projects from Reno to Esbjerg
Apple has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030 The investments are part of Apple’s drive to achieve carbon neutrality across its business and product life cycle by 2030 Solar in Reno and wind in Chicago are two of a string of major new investments in renewable energy from tech giant Apple, as part of […]
Microwave boiler unveiled as potential replacement for the UK's gas boilers
The race is on to replace the UK’s gas boilers, which will begin being phased out from 2025 The new microwave boilers join heat pumps and hydrogen as potential solutions to decarbonise heat in the UK, responsible for around a seventh of the country’s total CO2 emissions A new microwave boiler that could have the […]
Tees Valley: Government announces £5m funding boost for hydrogen transport hub 'masterplan'
Hydrogen is a potential decarbonisation solution for all modes of transport Pop-up trials at the site could see local shops, supermarkets, and transport firms benefit from cutting-edge hydrogen technologies Plans to build a pioneering hydrogen transport research and development facility in the Tees Valley moved a step closer to fruition this week, as the government […]
VW reveals plans for six new battery factories across Europe by 2030
The new plants will provide batteries for VW’s rapidly growing range of electric vehicle, including the ID.3 The race to secure vehicle battery supplies is heating up, as the world’s biggest car firms prepare to go electric Volkswagen (VW) is planning to build six battery factories across Europe over the next decade, as the world’s […]
Capacity Market: Are the UK's £350m of gas power subsidies compatible with net zero goals?
Energy giant Drax won contracts to build three new gas units in the latest Capacity Market auction 1.4GW of new gas power won £350m of funding in the government’s latest Capacity Market auction, held last week, sparking concern among campaigners The UK government’s decision to invest £350m in support of the construction of new gas […]
Trio of aluminium decarbonisation pathways detailed in new industry report
The aluminium industry is estimated to generate around three per cent of the world’s total direct CO2 emissions A new report from the International Aluminium Institute outlines how the industry can decarbonise while simultaneously meeting massive increases in anticipated demand Aluminium is a key resource not just for homes and consumer goods, but also for […]
Oddbox adds recipes and food waste reduction tips in fresh rebrand
Oddbox prevents surplus fruit and veg from going to landfill by distributing it across London and the south east Oddbox is aiming to save 35,000 tonnes of fruit and veg from going to landfill by 2035 Surplus fruit and veg distributor Oddbox has announced it is conducting a thorough rebrand that will give the green […]
New consumer EV association launches as forecourt operators accelerate charger roll out
Rolling out the required infrastructure for the whole population to shift to EVs is among the biggest challenges of the net zero transition The Electric Vehicle Association is open to anyone currently driving or intending to drive an EV, with membership costing £20 a year As the UK’s Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution accelerates in advance […]
Expert bodies call for £5.3bn spending blitz to catalyse national home retrofit push
UK homes are responsible for around a fifth of the country’s total carbon emissions The Construction Leadership Council publishes a new blueprint for tackling the UK’s inefficient housing stock, as Bankers for Net Zero calls for policy interventions to drive green home investment An expert blueprint for the decarbonisation of the UK’s housing stock has […]
Anthesis targets three gigatonne cut in clients' CO2 after securing funding injection
Sustainability consultancy has worked with corporates including Tesco and Target to develop sustainability and carbon reduction strategies Anthesis has secured an undisclosed “multi-million pound” investment from Palatine Private Equity, which the sustainability specialist said would help propel a fresh wave of its work to reduce clients’ carbon emissions by a total of more than three […]
Net Zero Finance: Financial innovation and how to bridge the green investment chasm
Mobilising billions of dollars of low carbon investment is a huge challenge, but it is also a massive opportunity for those financiers willing to innovate in pursuit of net zero emissions Net zero is suddenly everywhere, from Rishi Sunak’s budget to Larry Fink’s latest annual letter to CEOs, which declared that “the world is moving […]
Biffa to help Manchester bin air pollution with electric refuse vehicle fleet
The new electric trucks are able to complete an entire shift on a single charge, according to Biffa Waste management firm has partnered with Manchester City Council to roll out 27 zero emission electric waste trucks, which are taking to the streets of the city this week The pollution and carbon emissions caused caused by […]
'A complex puzzle': UKGBC launches guide on procuring renewable energy and carbon offsets
Slashing the carbon emissions of the UK’s building stock is among the biggest obstacles facing the country as it races to reach net-zero The guide responds to findings published at the end of last year that the bulk of new renewable energy purchases in the UK are having little impact on the country’s overall carbon […]