Latest news with #GreenAlliance
ITV News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
'Flaws' in Welsh Government plans for new environmental law 'must be corrected'
Plans to introduce a new independent body to monitor the Welsh Government's compliance with environmental laws need to be rethought, according to campaigners. The Green Alliance, an organisation that campaigns for more political action on climate change, said it largely welcomed the Welsh Government's draft Environment Bill as a "major milestone" but "flaws in the bill must be corrected". If the law is passed, it would require Welsh ministers to consider environmental impact more thoroughly when making policy and see a body established to monitor, report, and enforce environmental law compliance from Welsh Government and public authorities. It would also introduce a biodiversity target setting framework, which includes requirements to evaluate, monitor and report on progress. Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, said his government's plans represent a "significant step forward" in their efforts to protect the environment. The Environment Bill is described by Welsh Government as enshrining environmental protection within all areas of policy-making. Natural Resources Wales and Senedd ministers would need to think about prevention, a precautionary approach and that "the polluter pays" principle, when making policy that impacts the environment. Other key parts of the Bill include: The establishment of the Office of Environmental Governance Wales, ('the OEGW') - a statutory body that will provide strategic oversight of environmental law. It will monitor, report, and enforce environmental law compliance. A biodiversity target setting framework that includes requirements to evaluate, monitor and report on progress. Welsh Ministers will be required to lay draft regulations before the Senedd that set targets that focus on reducing the risk of extinction of native species; the effective management of ecosystems; reducing pollution; and the quality of evidence to inform decisions relating to biodiversity, access to that evidence and its use and application. Welsh Ministers must take steps to promote awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the threats it faces. The Deputy First Minister said the bill signifies a commitment to protect the environment for future generations. The Bill has been mostly welcomed by environmental charities and groups. The RSPB said it was "delighted" the Bill had "finally" been laid out but it would like to see the legislation go even further to address the nature emergency. That is a sentiment echoed by the Green Alliance, who have raised questions over how the independence of the OEGW will be protected. The Green Alliance claimed: "At present, there is no provision in the bill to safeguard the body's independence or financial security, as there is in English and Scottish legislation. "The Welsh Government is also proposing to require the OEGW to cede power on its enforcement decisions to a panel which will include people appointed by Welsh Ministers. This would undermine the body's governance and must be removed from the final version of the bill. "No information has yet been provided on the timetable for setting up the new body or the transition from the non-statutory Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales." Ruth Chambers, senior fellow at the organisation said the Welsh Government has "swerved the issue" of the new body's independence. She added that instead of ensuring independence, it instead holds "direct government control over its board appointments, budgets and enforcement decisions. Equivalent bodies in the rest of the UK are independent". "Wales should rethink now if it really wants a body with teeth that can do its job properly," she said. The Green Alliance also criticised the planned biodiversity target framework as not urgent enough, "with the first targets not due until three years after the bill has passed". The Environment Bill will be introduced to the Senedd on Monday 2 June, with the Climate Change Secretary making a further statement on the plans in the chamber on Tuesday 3 June.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Complex discussions over who runs Worcestershire County Council
Complex discussions over who runs council - Reform 11 minutes ago Share Save Phil Wilkinson Jones Local Democracy Reporting Service, Worcestershire Share Save BBC Reform won 27 seats on the county council after last week's elections "Complex" discussions are taking place to determine who will control Worcestershire County Council, Reform UK has said. The Conservatives lost control of the council at last week's election, but no single party won the 29 seats needed for a majority, leaving the local authority in no overall control. Reform is the biggest party on the council now with 27 seats. Alan Amos, who won the Bedwardine seat for the party, said: "These are the most complex set of discussions I've seen. I've seen people having conversations who I've never seen talking to each other before." He said his party wanted a stable majority "as you have to be able to plan ahead in order to get things done". "Nobody knows what's happening yet. There are furious and desperate attempts to form an anti-Reform coalition that haven't been successful," he added. It would make sense for the other parties "to admit they won the election to give them the chance to run the council", he said. The Tories lost 33 councillors in the latest elections, but remain the second largest party Matt Jenkins, who won re-election in St Stephen, said he would continue as the leader of the Green and Independent Alliance at county hall. Alan Bailes, the new independent councillor for Alvechurch, has joined the group, which already includes Tom Wells, the long-serving independent councillor for Powick & Longdon. "Our group is up to 10 now, so we have more clout. The independents are still independent, but we work together on motions and ideas," Jenkins said. "We are in discussion with other groups. Reform are very close to the magic number of 29 and we expect them to try to form a minority administration. "We have full council on 22 May and don't want to be in a rush, but discussions are still ongoing." Adam Kent, former cabinet member for economy and skills, has been elected as the new Conservative group leader having held his seat in Wythall. The group is much-diminished with 12 councillors, having had 45 following the elections in 2021. Kent said he was awaiting the results of other parties' leadership elections. "Once group leaders are in place, we'll be able to have more constructive discussions," he said. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Farming Today 29/4/25 Energy infrastructure, growing pulses for animal feed, horticulture report
One of the government's major objectives is to deliver greener energy across the UK; but to do that, thousands of acres of farmland and wider countryside are being affected, as electricity generated from offshore windfarms and solar developments is routed to the national grid. In a new report, the Institution of Engineering and Technology has outlined the specific costs of pylons and cables buried underground and on the seabed. The report estimates in the next decade there will need to be five times more onshore transmission infrastructure than has been built in the last 30 years, and four times the amount that currently exists offshore. All week we're looking into pulses. Many of us eat peas, beans or lentils as part of our diet. Pulses also make up a major part of animal feed in the form of soya. That comes mostly from South America where rainforest is often cleared to grow it. The Nitrogen Climate Smart Programme is a project looking to replace imported soya with home grown pulses. We visit a farm taking part in trials to grow pulses. The UK economy could get a boost if everyone ate more UK-grown fruit and veg according to a new report by the Green Alliance, a think tank which works with environmental groups. It says we currently import five sixths of our fruit and half of our veg but expanding horticultural production could add £2.3 billion to the national economy and create more than 20 thousand jobs. Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney
The Herald Scotland
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Expanding UK fruit and veg growing ‘could add £2.3bn to the economy'
But helping the domestic horticulture industry expand in line with people eating the right amount of fruit and vegetables could add £2.3 billion to the economy – or more if the proportion of produce that was homegrown increased. It could also support up to 23,520 additional jobs and boost farm incomes by 3% across the country, without threatening self-sufficiency in other foods, the report said. Increasing domestic fruit and veg production would boost the economy, a report said (Chris Ison/PA) The researchers estimatd 113,622 hectares of land (281,000 acres) would be needed to expand horticultural production by 86%. That is less than the 133,000 hectares used to grow crops for bioenergy, which the think tank argues is an 'extremely inefficient' way of generating energy, producing 100 times less energy than solar per hectare, and which has to be subsidised to make it viable. Green Alliance also said the £5 billion horticultural sector accounts for 9% of the total contribution agriculture makes to the economy, but uses less than 1% of the UK's farmland. The beef and lamb industries combined are worth 1.9 times more to the economy, but use 76 times more land, the think tank said. The report said prioritising the horticultural industry makes sense, given the pressure on land to meet food security, climate, energy and nature demands. It called for a new horticultural strategy from the Government to increase demand and supply of domestically produced fruit and vegetables, which would address barriers including high energy prices, unfairness in supply chains and retailers disproportionately profiting from unhealthy food. It also recommended removing subsidies for bioenergy crops and working closely with the new land use framework to identify areas for horticulture to avoid ploughing up lowland peat which would release more carbon emissions. The £2.3 billion estimated boost to the economy is based on an assumption that if fruit and veg consumption grew, the proportion that was imported would remain steady. If the UK became 10% more self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables that could deliver an extra £3.3 billion to the economy, the report said. Lydia Collas, head of natural environment at Green Alliance, said: 'We need to eat more fruit and vegetables to improve our health. 'But if we don't grow more of them here, we'll let profitable horticulture and the jobs it could support go elsewhere. 'We currently import more than half of our apples when we have everything we need to eat British apples year-round. 'If the Government is serious about improving people's health and ensuring farmers have sustainable livelihoods, it needs a horticulture strategy.' A Defra spokesperson said: 'Our commitment to farmers and growers remains steadfast. 'That's why this Government is investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history, and is going further with reforms to boost profits by backing British produce. 'Our cross-Government food strategy will make sure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet and nourish individuals, now and into the future.'
Western Telegraph
27-04-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Expanding UK fruit and veg growing ‘could add £2.3bn to the economy'
A study by environmental think tank Green Alliance warns that intake of fruit and vegetables would need to increase by 86% for Britons to meet health advice to eat five portions a day, with just a third of people in the UK eating the recommended amount. But helping the domestic horticulture industry expand in line with people eating the right amount of fruit and vegetables could add £2.3 billion to the economy – or more if the proportion of produce that was homegrown increased. It could also support up to 23,520 additional jobs and boost farm incomes by 3% across the country, without threatening self-sufficiency in other foods, the report said. Increasing domestic fruit and veg production would boost the economy, a report said (Chris Ison/PA) The researchers estimatd 113,622 hectares of land (281,000 acres) would be needed to expand horticultural production by 86%. That is less than the 133,000 hectares used to grow crops for bioenergy, which the think tank argues is an 'extremely inefficient' way of generating energy, producing 100 times less energy than solar per hectare, and which has to be subsidised to make it viable. Green Alliance also said the £5 billion horticultural sector accounts for 9% of the total contribution agriculture makes to the economy, but uses less than 1% of the UK's farmland. The beef and lamb industries combined are worth 1.9 times more to the economy, but use 76 times more land, the think tank said. The report said prioritising the horticultural industry makes sense, given the pressure on land to meet food security, climate, energy and nature demands. It called for a new horticultural strategy from the Government to increase demand and supply of domestically produced fruit and vegetables, which would address barriers including high energy prices, unfairness in supply chains and retailers disproportionately profiting from unhealthy food. If the Government is serious about improving people's health and ensuring farmers have sustainable livelihoods, it needs a horticulture strategy Lydia Collas, Green Alliance It also recommended removing subsidies for bioenergy crops and working closely with the new land use framework to identify areas for horticulture to avoid ploughing up lowland peat which would release more carbon emissions. The £2.3 billion estimated boost to the economy is based on an assumption that if fruit and veg consumption grew, the proportion that was imported would remain steady. If the UK became 10% more self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables that could deliver an extra £3.3 billion to the economy, the report said. Lydia Collas, head of natural environment at Green Alliance, said: 'We need to eat more fruit and vegetables to improve our health. 'But if we don't grow more of them here, we'll let profitable horticulture and the jobs it could support go elsewhere. 'We currently import more than half of our apples when we have everything we need to eat British apples year-round. 'If the Government is serious about improving people's health and ensuring farmers have sustainable livelihoods, it needs a horticulture strategy.' A Defra spokesperson said: 'Our commitment to farmers and growers remains steadfast. 'That's why this Government is investing £5 billion into farming, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country's history, and is going further with reforms to boost profits by backing British produce. 'Our cross-Government food strategy will make sure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet and nourish individuals, now and into the future.'
