Environmental, Waste and Renewables Update

Guardian: Heather burning ban on peatland to be expanded under Government plans

A ban preventing the burning of heather and other vegetation across swathes of peatland will be expanded under Government plans. The Environment Department (Defra) said it will consult on increasing the protected area from 220,000 to more than 368,000 hectares of England’s deep peat – an area equivalent to the size of London, Manchester and the West Midlands put together. The ban would apply to more than half of the country’s 677,250 hectares of blanket bog, including the entire area of upland deep peat.

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Herald: The green watchdog that gets £3.8m-a-year of public funds

The publicly funded Environmental Standards Scotland has raised concerns about the nation's compliance with international law when it comes to protecting Scotland's precious landscape. It has led to one environmental protection group to question the competence of a judges-led body which is trying to change the rules which allows the public to get affordable access to justice and comply with the Aarhus Convention.

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Scotsman: Plans for 500-hectare Scottish plantation lodged as forestry called 'inherent risk' to community

Community groups have said commercial forestry poses “an inherent risk” to people and nature as a consultation on plans for a new 500-hectare conifer plantation in the Scottish Borders is due to close. The plans have been lodged by Gresham House, one of the largest private owners of Scotland’s forests.

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Insider: North Sea Taskforce calls for 'urgent action'

The North Sea Transition Taskforce has called on the UK Government to rapidly establish a long-term, integrated plan to deliver a just energy transition in the North Sea. Its new report finds the window of opportunity to secure the future of the North Sea is closing fast - but acting now could deliver economic growth, green jobs, energy security and climate leadership.

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