New report warns skills shortages threaten circular economy progress
A new report warns that skills shortages will hold back the UK's efforts to move towards a circular economy, drawing upon the appraisal of...
Observers respond to Labour’s fracking announcement
Energy secretary Ed Milliband has announced plans to bring forward legislation that will raise political and procedural barriers against any resumption of fracking, one...
Over half of all brownfield sites could be built on rapidly
New research from countryside charity CPRE appears to reveal that over half of brownfield sites had full or in-principle permission in 2024.
The UK’s huge...
Friendly soil fungus could replace chemical sprays in battle against crop diseases
A common soil fungus could help farmers reduce their reliance on synthetic fungicides, new research suggests, by producing natural airborne chemicals that suppress devastating...
New findings: UK energy from waste sector could go carbon negative by 2035
The UK’s energy-from-waste (Efw) sector could be carbon negative by 2035 if Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is deployed rapidly, according to a...
Rising temperatures mean more noise for those living near airports, claims study
Warmer air from climate change will tend to make departing aircraft create more noise pollution around European airports by 2050, according to new findings.
Scientists...
Consultation launched on mandatory water-saving features for new homes
Simple water-saving measures could save families in new homes over £100 a year on bills, while supporting a wave of new housing across Britain,...
Insects in Britain not in freefall, but facing local upheavals, study finds
Fears of population collapse may be overstated, but many communities are being reshaped (words: Rothamsted Research)
Fears of a nationwide collapse in Britain’s insect populations...
CIWM issues ten policy calls to boost growth, jobs and net zero
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has outlined ten policy recommendations for the sector and for the UK Government to deliver on their...
Citizen scientists reveal global hotspots of plastic pollution
Plastic pellets, bio-beads and other microplastics are polluting coastlines around the world, with new research showing sharp regional differences in the types and concentrations...
Tentacle-like underwater robot will make offshore inspections safer and more precise, say creators
A tentacle-like underwater robot that its creators say can safely interact with offshore structures is being primed for a role in the inspection and...
Drone swarm advance would boost speed and safety, say researchers
An advance that might allow drones to retain high speed while avoiding collisions in cluttered environments has been reported by researchers at Durham University
A...
New geological ‘pathways’ discovered beneath Welsh capital
Scientists have discovered cavities in the clay underneath Cardiff, which will influence the siting of future geothermal developments.
Understanding how heat moves within the subsurface...
World’s first commercial ammonia engine for shipping launches
The world’s first full-scale commercial ammonia-fuel engine has been completed by Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG), marking a milestone in efforts to decarbonise global shipping.
A...
Alarming levels of microplastic pollution revealed by Hampshire chalk stream study
Chalk streams – globally rare rivers once known for their gin-clear waters – are being impacted by microparticle pollution to a disturbing extent, according...
First CO2 injections mark milestone for Norway’s Longship CCS project
The first captured CO₂ has been injected into the subsea reservoir – 100km off the west coast of Norway - being used for Longship,...
Space-based solar power could significantly advance net zero efforts in Europe
Solar panels situated in space could reduce Europe's requirement for land-based renewable energy by up to 80%, expediting the journey to net zero, according...
UK plans for geological disposal of nuclear waste declared “unachievable” by Treasury
Plans to dispose of the UK’s high-level nuclear waste in an underground repository – a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) – have been described as...
Plastics pollution talks conclude in deadlock again, but progress is still possible
The latest round of UN negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution came to a gruelling close on 15 August, without reaching...
Spending Review 2025: A catalyst for sustainable, integrated infrastructure?
Ann Gordon, UK & Ireland Transport Lead, Ramboll reflects on the significance of the government's Spending Review in June, and why she believes it...
