Drilling more North Sea oil and gas won't drive down UK energy prices, says fact sheet put out by the UK government on the impact of Iran war
Interestingly, it's quite similar to the one the then Tory-led govt put out in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
06.03.2026 14:40
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NEW
Britain used as much coal last year as it did in 1600, driving down greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4%
Story on @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org analysis of UK govt data
👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
05.03.2026 18:07
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80% of houseolds in England have access to green or blue space within a 15 minute walk, the govt's first estimate has found.
(Blue space is jargon for sea/lake/river etc).
The metric matters because 3 years ago ministers promised 100% of people would be 15 mins away
www.gov.uk/government/s...
04.03.2026 10:11
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After by-election, Labour could lose donor Dale Vince to Greens too
The energy entrepreneur criticises the government’s heat pump subsidies and says he would happily talk to Reform about climate change
Dale Vince, the renewable energy entrepreneur and Labour’s “green knight”, is still weighing up whether to donate to the Greens or Keir Starmer’s party at the next election.
Interview also covers:
- heat pumps
- Labour climate record
- airline & Ecotricity
👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
27.02.2026 11:53
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Comparing fuel pumps to electric vehicle public chargers
There are now almost twice as many public electric car charging points in the UK as there are petrol/diesel fuel pumps, a government analysis has found.
Obviously it's not a perfect like-for-like comparison given recharging/fuelling times, but symbolically important.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
27.02.2026 11:50
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When I interviewed Green party leader @zackpolanski.bsky.social in Nov, he said: "I think it is fair to say that 30 to 40 seats would... be a huge achievement for the Green Party" at the next general election.
Suspect they be having a new conversation about that after Gorton and Denton result.
27.02.2026 09:24
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‘It was terrifying’: hundreds fall sick after swimming in bathing waters
More than 1,200 people became ill last year, despite most waters being rated good or excellent. One mother said ‘no family should have to go through this’
More than 1,200 people became sick after swimming in designated bathing waters across England last year, despite three quarters of those official swimming spots being rated “good” or “excellent”.
Comes as "Fountain of Filth" installed in London
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
23.02.2026 16:59
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AI data centre surge would put UK’s climate change targets at risk
MPs call for ‘national conversation’ on potential drawbacks of sharp rise in data centres, which would use more power than the UK uses at its peak
The data centres needed to power the UK's artificial intelligence revolution would use more electricity than the entire country consumes at its peak.
MPs called for a “national conversation” about data centres, including putting climate change targets at risk.
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
23.02.2026 15:58
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British fruit and veg treated with ‘toxic’ pesticides
Ten substances linked to medical issues including infertility are no longer allowed in the EU, but continue to be sprayed on UK crops
UK shoppers are being sold food grown with 10 “toxic” pesticides that have been banned by the EU because it has linked them to cancer and infertility.
They could be banned from next year under a trade deal, but a lobbying drive is attempting to delay a ban 👇
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
18.02.2026 14:58
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Wales is already well ahead of England on recycling, this just cements that.
It's also a possible backdoor to glass being included across the rest of the UK DRS one day...
12.02.2026 17:00
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Written Statement: The Deposit Return Scheme for Drinks Containers (Wales) Regulations 2026 | GOV.WALES
Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The UK bottle return scheme (DRS) will include glass after all.
But only in Wales, not the rest of the country.
Notable because glass industry had heavily, and successfully, lobbied for it to be excluded from the scheme.
www.gov.wales/written-stat...
12.02.2026 16:58
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it was. But it doesn't make action today academic...
11.02.2026 16:00
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*quitting*, I mean. I'm here for the edit button, Bluesky...
11.02.2026 15:58
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Britain needs to think beyond net zero, says UN climate scientist
Machines that suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere could help reduce global warming, but Jim Skea believes breaching the 1.5C limit is ‘inevitable’
Britain needs to think beyond net zero and discuss what it does about tackling the "overshoot" of the world's 1.5C goal, says Jim Skea, chair of the IPCC
Interview here, including what he thinks about the US quittig the IPCC:
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
11.02.2026 15:57
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‘Green laws hold up nuclear plans — but we can’t say where’
Despite calling for a reduction in planning protections for the landscapes, the energy department admits it can’t identify any where regulations are a problem
The energy department, run by Ed Miliband, has admitted that it cannot name a single national park where regulations are holding up nuclear projects, despite a review urging that protections for the landscapes be reduced.
Latest on Fingleton review
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
11.02.2026 10:04
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Nature is the "ultimate foundation" for the economy, the King has told global experts meeting in Britain to discuss the decline in biodiversity.
Charles told delegates at an @ipbes.net meeting that nature is "vitally important" and underpins the climate, food, water and air we rely on.
04.02.2026 10:21
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How much will it cost the UK to reach an 87% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040?
In a new letter, @thecccuk.bsky.social confirms about £4bn a year (£26bn a year of costs minus £22bn a year of savings).
www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
87% by 2040 is a stepping stone to net zero by 2050
03.02.2026 10:40
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The UK government has finally issued a plan for tackling "forever chemicals".
Except the PFAS plan isn't much of a plan — it's a promise of more tests and more consultations later down the line.
Doc here
lnkd.in/enArqKPs
03.02.2026 09:46
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Green Shoots presents The Mend of the World: An Evening with Tom Heap - Norwich Arts Centre
Interesting upcoming talk with @tomheap.bsky.social where he promises to: "Bust media peddled myths about the cost of green energy, the unpopularity of climate action, the role of China and the unshakeable dominance of fossil fuels."
norwichartscentre.co.uk/event/green-...
27.01.2026 10:44
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The US is now formally out of the Paris Agreement, one year after it triggered the exit process from the climate treaty.
It has subsequently announced it will also withdraw from the UNFCCC and IPCC.
27.01.2026 10:01
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Wood-burning stoves to come with health warnings
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
22.01.2026 16:41
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Cattle farms may be treated like chemical plants under pollution rules
Ministers are proposing to force farmers to apply for environmental permits usually reserved for industry amid growing concerns about the impact on waterways
Intensive cattle farms face a crackdown on the pollution they spill into rivers under sweeping water reforms.
Government plans mean that beef and dairy farmers may have to apply for environmental permits usually reserved for incinerators & chemical plants
www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...
20.01.2026 16:44
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