31 Jul 2024

One of the major credit rating companies, Fitch Ratings, has warned that some UK water companies will “find it challenging” to maintain existing ratings for AMP8 In a new report, Fitch says the Draft Determinations recently announced by UK water regulator Ofwat for the AMP8 April 2025 to March 2030 investment period, introduces several significant changes […]

31 Jul 2024

Ofwat has launched a new consultation on its draft guidance for an environmental incentives common framework – the regulator expects all parties, including developers, to collaborate and take a pragmatic approach to implementation. Many water companies currently offer developers discounts on their new connection charges for meeting certain standards of water efficiency or sustainable drainage […]

31 Jul 2024

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has published four technical outputs as an early step in the process for the revision of the SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard. The SBTi announced the timeline and published the Terms of Reference for the review of the Corporate Net-Zero Standard in May 2024, ensuring that the Standard continues to […]

30 Jul 2024

New analysis of observations shows that extremes of temperature in the UK are most affected by human induced climate change. This means the UK is seeing, on average, more frequent periods of hot weather, bringing challenges for infrastructure, health and wellbeing. The observations also suggest an increase in rainfall extremes. The State of the UK […]

30 Jul 2024

The Blue Marine Foundation, alongside partners at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Portsmouth, University of Essex and Zoological Society of London have published a report highlighting the intrinsic value of UK coastal habitats, and how to ensure their long-term protection and restoration. The report, titled ‘Restoring Our Seascapes: Evidence and Actions For […]

30 Jul 2024

One of the new UK Government’s key energy pledges from the 2024 general election was the creation of Great British Energy – also called GB Energy. Over the course of this parliament, the new government intends to invest £8.3 billion of funding into this new, publicly owned green power company. Energy secretary Ed Miliband has […]

30 Jul 2024

The Political guidelines for the next European Commission (2024-2029) include commitment to A European Oceans Pact which will “focus on boosting the blue economy and ensuring the good governance and sustainability of our oceans in all of their dimensions”. There is also a commitment to appoint a Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner “tasked with ensuring the […]

30 Jul 2024

The European Commission launched infringement proceedings against five  EU Member States for failure to control and enforce the landing obligation – notably against France, Spain (INF_21_4681), the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland (INF_21_5342)  noting that there is a need to help ensure the end of the “extensive, illegal and undocumented discarding of catches in several sea […]