LATEST NEWS & VIEWS

QUEEN’S SPEECH: ENERGY BILL MUST ALIGN WITH NET-ZERO AND THE COST CRISIS
The UK government set out its legislative agenda for the 2022-23 session of Parliament in today’s Queen Speech. Including outline proposals to drive energy security and transport changes. The proposals including in the announcement focused on driving economic growth,...

NEW CLIMATE-FOCUSED EDUCATION STRATEGY UNVEILED
The Department for Education has launched its Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy which includes the launch of a new Natural History GCSE. This follows previous commitments to make all education establishments Net-Zero Carbon in operation. New curriculum...

ENVIRONMENT BILL: NEW TARGETS AND NATURE RECOVERY PLANS UNVEILED
New, long-term environmental targets have been announced by the Government to boost biodiversity, protect habitats, reduce water consumption and pollution, and halve waste. The new targets will be consulted on and, if supported, will be enshrined in law through the...

RICS LAUNCHS NEW INTERNATIONAL BUILDING OPERATION STANDARD FRAMEWORK
A new framework, the International Building Operation Standard (IBOS), has been developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) which is expected to improve building use and support more flexible working environments. The Framework has been unveiled...

THE JOURNEY TO A ‘B’ GRADE EPC
A Strategic Approach to the New Requirements with the Net Zero Carbon Context An estimated 1 million non-domestic buildings will need to undergo upgrade works to meet the government’s proposed ‘B’ grade Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) by 2030. The government...

CLEAR LACK OF COMMITMENT TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES AS GOVERNMENT SLASHES SUBSIDY
The Government has announced cuts to the Plug-in Car Grant for the second time this year demonstrating a lack of commitment to the future of electrifying vehicles. Given the recent hike in fuel costs, this has not been well-received by car manufacturers and motorists....

UK CCC CALLS FOR GREATER GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO NET ZERO
The Climate Change Committee has called for the Government to demonstrate greater ambition to achieve the measures outlined in the Glasgow Climate agreement signed at COP26. The UK's climate watchdog has called on the UK Government to deliver a "genuine increase in...

WORLD LEADERS AGREE GLASGOW CLIMATE PACT AT COP 26
With the COP26 Summit drawing to a close In Glasgow, world leaders have agreed a new 'Glasgow Climate Pact'. All nations have agreed to set new climate targets by the end of next year, the phasing down of unabated fossil fuel use and the ending of inefficient...

LONG-AWAITED ENVIRONMENT BILL ENSHRINED IN LAW
It has been more than two years since the Environment Bill was introduced and finally, during the second week of COP 26, it finally received Royal Assent. Whilst there has been significant criticism with regard to the strength of action, the Act has been largely...

JUST MORE HOT AIR – DISAPPOINTING END TO G20 SUMMIT
World leaders departed from Rome from the G20 Summit heading for Glasgow to Cop26 on 31st October 2021 having met to discuss actions to address economic recovery from Covid-19, the ongoing public health emergency, and the climate crisis. One would have expected, given...