The Government has released its latest consultation supporting the intention outlined in the Queen’s Speech last week to enshrine principles in law and set legally binding improvement targets to protect the environment. In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The Government aims to set a clear long-term trajectory to 2030 is designed to provide time and certainty to non-domestic landlords, businesses and the...

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On Monday, 14 October 2019 the UK Government announced its plans, during the Queen’s Speech, for the long overdue Environment Bill. The Queen stated that the bill, published the following day, will enshrine principles in law and set legally binding improvement targets to reduce plastics, cut air pollution, restore biodiversity and improve water quality. The Government has clearly stated that its overall ambition is to leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it. The Bill outlines the...

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It is unsurprising that the Government has delayed the deadline for the smart energy meter rollout by four years until 2024. Previously, suppliers were required to fit smart meters to all supplies by the end of 2020. Customers are not obliged to have a smart meter fitted, but energy firms must have offered them to all UK households by the end of the new deadline. The benefits of the smart meter roll out are that readings would be automatic,...

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Boris Johnson has requested that the EU reworks the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the union to allow Britain to significantly diverge from European rules after Brexit. Theresa May had committed to a level playing field in key areas such as the environment and social standards. Although non-binding, the political declaration that was drafted by Mrs May, was intended as the key document defining the path of future negotiations once Britain has left the EU. The European Commission...

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The UK has formally received the backing of all countries responsible for agreeing on the host of the COP26 climate conference. The event will take place in Glasgow in December 2020, with more than 30,000 national policy leaders, business representatives and climate scientists from across the world in attendance. As part of the bid to host, the UK Government has agreed that the event will be hosted in partnership with Italy, with the main event held in Glasgow and a...

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The Scottish Government has unveiled it’s legislative programme for the year, entitled Protecting Scotland’s future. The manifesto is wide-ranging but has a strong focus on efforts to tackle climate change, putting the transition to net-zero emissions at the heart of the Scottish National Investment Bank’s work. The Scottish government has pledged to ensure that, by 2024, all new homes must use renewable or low-carbon heat. The new policy package has been widely welcomed across the UK's green economy, including by...

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Small energy companies risk going out of business which will see thousands of business and domestic customers be forced to move to the supplier appointed by Ofgem. The energy industry is going through a period of consolidation following the significant rise in the number of energy suppliers, from 12 to 70, since 2010. In total, 14 suppliers have crashed out of the market since the start of 2018. When a supplier ceases to trade, Ofgem appoints a supplier to...

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The Government is seeking views on market barriers to energy efficiency in the UK. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy (BEIS) is looking at how it can create new markets for energy efficiency, develop the wider energy market to contribute to flexibility, deliver a robust network infrastructure and provide reliable alternatives to distributed generation. The conclusion of the Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) pilot, including publication of the final evaluation report, and the recent changes in electricity systems and...

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A new study produced by researchers from the University of Cambridge and published by the National Bureau of Economic Research predicts that average global temperatures will rise by more than 4°C by 2100 based on current trajectories. It claims that all nations will be impacted whether rich or poor, hot or cold. The study used data from 174 countries dating back to 1960 to reach its findings. Adopting a business-as-usual approach to climate change mitigation and carbon emissions will also...

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Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has undertaken a huge overhaul of cabinet ministers; officially the biggest clear out of Cabinet without a change of party in power. Boris Johnson oversaw 17 ministers being sacked or resigning from their posts. Both the BEIS Secretary and the Energy Minister have left as part of the new-look Government, which also includes a significant reshuffle at Defra. Former Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom has replaced Greg Clark as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial...

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