DEFRA

Pesticides urgently need reform – the UK’s overdue action plan must make these drastic changes

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The Wildlife Trusts, WWF, Toxicity, Silent Spring, Science, Human, Research, Neonicotinoid, Government, Friends, Breast cancer, Environment, Climate change, RSPB, Organic, School, DEFRA, Health, River, Farmer, Friends of the Earth, Hospital, Agriculture

There is widespread recognition that the ongoing global increase in pesticide use is a significant contributor to the biodiversity crisis.

Key Points: 
  • There is widespread recognition that the ongoing global increase in pesticide use is a significant contributor to the biodiversity crisis.
  • But we still haven’t heeded the warning that Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring, gave us in 1962.
  • If we are to tackle the biodiversity crisis, then radical and specific action is needed by governments around the world to mitigate the impact of pesticides.
  • It is deeply concerning that the UK national action plan for the sustainable use of pesticides is six years late.

On target?

  • But several European countries are making significant progress through the use of targets in these areas.
  • Many environmental organisations also called for more concrete plans to support farmers to properly implement integrated pest management.
  • Research has shown that integrated pest management is an effective way to reduce pesticide use.

Strengthening the strategy

  • Now that a final plan is thought to be imminent, members of the Pesticide Collaboration is gearing up to prepare a response.
  • As outlined by this coalition, there was broad agreement that the national action plan’s new iteration should include:


a continued commitment to the precautionary principle and a hazards-based approach to pesticide regulation
ambitious and unambiguous targets to reduce impacts of pesticides on the environment via reducing usage and toxicity (and not simply a promise to introduce such targets at a future date)
a strategy to phase out pesticide use in urban areas
provision of support, advice and training for farmers to adopt integrated pest management, with a clear definition of what is meant by the term
a commitment to breaking the link between agronomic advice and profits from pesticide sales (at present most of the agronomists who advise farmers work for pesticide companies)
an end to emergency authorisations of banned chemicals.

  • Other issues that have been raised by environmental organisations include provision for better monitoring of pesticide use and environmental fate.
  • For example, monitoring of rivers is patchy while soils are scarcely ever screened for pesticides.


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Dave Goulson is a member of the Green Party

Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN) Receives Agreement from the UK Government for Continuation of the UK National Treaty Dialogues on Plastic Pollution

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 20, 2023
The Coca-Cola Company, Waste management, Environmental Investigation Agency, Multi, Food, Government, ENGO, ExxonMobil, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Coca-Cola, Plastic, Plastic pollution, DEFRA, Environment, University of Plymouth, Paris Agreement, Bottled water, Nestlé, Unilever, Primark, Morrisons

This multi-stakeholder engagement initiative, designed by OPLN in 2022, fosters cross-sector collaboration in shaping the UK's approach to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.

Key Points: 
  • This multi-stakeholder engagement initiative, designed by OPLN in 2022, fosters cross-sector collaboration in shaping the UK's approach to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.
  • The UK National Treaty Dialogues programme brings together key stakeholders from all facets of the plastics lifecycle, including upstream (plastic production), midstream (manufacturing, retail and distribution), downstream (waste management), environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs), and academia.
  • Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
    "The severe effects of plastic pollution continue to impact our wildlife, ocean and natural habitats across the world.
  • The UK National Treaty Dialogues for Plastic Pollution commenced with the first session on November 1st, 2022, ahead of INC-1 in Uruguay.

Ocean Plastics Leadership Network (OPLN) Receives Agreement from the UK Government for Continuation of the UK National Treaty Dialogues on Plastic Pollution

Retrieved on: 
Friday, October 20, 2023
The Coca-Cola Company, Waste management, Environmental Investigation Agency, Multi, Food, Government, ENGO, ExxonMobil, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Coca-Cola, Plastic, Plastic pollution, DEFRA, Environment, University of Plymouth, Paris Agreement, Bottled water, Nestlé, Unilever, Primark, Morrisons

This multi-stakeholder engagement initiative, designed by OPLN in 2022, fosters cross-sector collaboration in shaping the UK's approach to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.

Key Points: 
  • This multi-stakeholder engagement initiative, designed by OPLN in 2022, fosters cross-sector collaboration in shaping the UK's approach to the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.
  • The UK National Treaty Dialogues programme brings together key stakeholders from all facets of the plastics lifecycle, including upstream (plastic production), midstream (manufacturing, retail and distribution), downstream (waste management), environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs), and academia.
  • Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
    "The severe effects of plastic pollution continue to impact our wildlife, ocean and natural habitats across the world.
  • The UK National Treaty Dialogues for Plastic Pollution commenced with the first session on November 1st, 2022, ahead of INC-1 in Uruguay.

ISS A/S - Interim report for 1 January – 30 June 2023

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
DEFRA, DKK, Sale, LTM, Acquisition, Investment, Growth, ISS, Retail

In H1 2023, price increases in Turkey contributed around 3%-points, and revenue from projects and above-base work were flat.

Key Points: 
  • In H1 2023, price increases in Turkey contributed around 3%-points, and revenue from projects and above-base work were flat.
  • In a separate company announcement, ISS today announced the intention to divest its French business, except for Global Key Account customers.
  • The strategic direction is confirmed following the appointment of Kasper Fangel as the new Group CEO from 1 September 2023.
  • As we continue our journey towards a stronger, simpler and closer ISS, we today also announce a refocusing of our business in France.

Cibus Applauds the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 Passed in the United Kingdom

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 15, 2023
Genetically modified organism, College of Engineering (KNUST), DEFRA, Marketing, Breeding, Fertilizer, Act, Gene editing, Research, Doctor of Philosophy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Plant, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Pesticide, CBUS, Herbicide, SAN, United Kingdom, Entrepreneurship, Environment, Food security, Food, Legislation, Agriculture, Management, Transition

SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS), a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies for royalties, welcomed the passage of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 (the “Act”) into law in the United Kingdom.

Key Points: 
  • SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cibus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBUS), a leading agricultural technology company that develops and licenses plant traits to seed companies for royalties, welcomed the passage of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 (the “Act”) into law in the United Kingdom.
  • The Act removes plants produced through precision breeding technologies from regulatory requirements applicable in England to the environmental release and marketing of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).
  • It is expected to enable the development and marketing of gene edited crops in England.
  • Productivity Traits such as these are the primary target of Cibus’ gene editing efforts.

The UK's recycling system is confusing, chaotic and broken – here's how to fix it

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 5, 2023
DEFRA, Review, Department, Plastic, Food, Friends, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Fear, Research, Recycling, Government, Collection, Confusion, Consumer electronics, Bottled water

Research from Wrap, a climate action charity, has found that 82% of UK households regularly add at least one item to their recycling collection that’s not accepted locally.

Key Points: 
  • Research from Wrap, a climate action charity, has found that 82% of UK households regularly add at least one item to their recycling collection that’s not accepted locally.
  • And data from recycling facilities shows that over 16% of the recycling is contaminated.
  • Plastic pots, tubs, trays and bottle tops along with metal lids may also count as contaminants – depending on where you live.
  • In some instances, this confusion can even result in people just not bothering to recycle at all.

Breaking it down

    • On top of each area operating its waste collection in a different way, lots of packaging now comes with confusing logos and messaging.
    • We’re also now confronted with lots of multi-material packaging – those envelopes with plastic windows and also cake boxes and crisp tubes.
    • If indeed you even have to separate your recyclables by type where you are.

Crackdown on confusion

    • Wishcycling is when people optimistically stick items in the recycling bin hoping they can be collected when in reality they can’t.
    • Defra has said it wants to make recycling easier and more consistent so that all councils collect the same materials.
    • Others were storing plastic fruit netting for fear of it not being appropriately dealt with and ending up causing environmental harm.
    • Tackling the confusion around what can and can’t be recycled is also needed because it’s adding to plastics’ bad reputation.

Flood warning expert: I worked on UK's emergency mobile broadcast – here’s what we learn from tests like these

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 24, 2023
People, DEFRA, Volunteering, Panic, Environment, University, Disability, Anxiety, Natural hazard, EE, Fire, Environment Agency, Research, Climate change, Flood, Risk, Hearing, Child, Fujitsu, Weather, News, Mobile phone, Mail

At 3pm on April 23, an unusual warning sound was emitted from millions of phones across the UK.

Key Points: 
  • At 3pm on April 23, an unusual warning sound was emitted from millions of phones across the UK.
  • This was the first test of the government’s
    national emergency alert system, which will eventually be used to warn people about nearby flooding, fires and other hazards.
  • This kind of “cell broadcast” is already used around the world to deliver many kinds of warning messages, from missing child alerts to wildfire evacuation instructions.

How would people respond?

    • We published our findings in the journal Natural Hazards.
    • We worked with 90 participants selected from 360 volunteers based at the University of Hull (where I work), ensuring that our cohort matched the university’s demographic make up.

1. It got their attention

    • While this is to be expected, we know from research on disaster response that strong negative emotional responses can inhibit people’s ability to take protective action.
    • This highlights the urgent need for more and better consideration of often-marginalised and vulnerable people in order to make emergency messaging accessible to everyone.

2. People are likely to act


    People consistently reported they would change their behaviour in response to messages: depending on the message they’d been sent they would prepare for evacuation, check to see whether the message was accurate, contact people or click a link included in the message for more information. We found that people who had been flooded in the past were more likely to want specific information about evacuation routes, suggesting that experience of flooding prepares people for the practical reality of being in a serious flood in the future.

3. People worry if it’s legit

    • There is, of course, a risk that the impact of the alert signal will be diminished if too many messages are sent for less dangerous hazards.
    • This is good news for the UK: it will now have a robust, reliable and secure way of communicating with citizens.

Star Technical Solutions work with industry partners in new initiative exploring decarbonisation in the refrigeration sector

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 16, 2022
Carbon, School, Partner, George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science, LSBU, Transport, University, Food, Business, Human resource policies, Doctor of Philosophy, Carbon Trust, Partnership, STS, Research fellow, Research, BEIS, Consultant, London South Bank University, Government, Engineering, Air conditioning, News, DEFRA, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Ministry, Climate change, Department of Transport (Victoria, 2008–2013), Renewable energy, Refrigeration

GLASGOW, U.K., Dec. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Star Technical solutions will take part in a research project aimed at investigating energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from the transport, industrial and commercial refrigeration (TICR) sectors in the UK. These sectors that are major users of energy across many businesses will play a critical part in the UK's net zero agenda. It will explore six subsectors in depth: datacentres, food and drink manufacturing sites, and chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, retail, cold stores and transport refrigeration units.

Key Points: 
  • Industrial refrigeration consultants, Star Technical Solutions, will work in partnership with the TICR consortium to help industry achieve net zero targets.
  • It will explore six subsectors in depth: datacentres, food and drink manufacturing sites, and chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, retail, cold stores and transport refrigeration units.
  • The work will run for two years and outputs will include roadmaps, sector-specific guidance, training and a programme of events in 2023/4.
  • To find out more about Star Technical Solutions, visit https://www.star-ts.co.uk/

Ricardo Appointed by Defra to Develop and Maintain the UK’s Air Quality Emissions Scenario Modelling Tool

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Environment, Climate Change, Environmental Issues, Consulting, Engineering, Professional Services, Manufacturing, Green Technology, Other Health, Health, Consultant, Scenario, Government, Welsh, Multi-effect Protocol, Clean Air Zone, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Engineering, Environment, UK Government Decontamination Service, Multimedia, Welsh Government, DEFRA, London Stock Exchange, Ricardo plc, National Air and Space Museum, Policy, Air pollution, Travel, Legislation, Government of the United Kingdom, Climate change, AQ, Food, Poultry, Renewable energy, Environmental remediation

Ricardo, a global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company, has been selected by the UK Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to develop and maintain the UKs Air Quality Emissions Scenario Modelling Tool for the next three years.

Key Points: 
  • Ricardo, a global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company, has been selected by the UK Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to develop and maintain the UKs Air Quality Emissions Scenario Modelling Tool for the next three years.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221122005480/en/
    Ricardo appointed by Defra to develop and maintain the UKs Air Quality Emissions Scenario Modelling Tool, to help the UK fight climate change and health impacts relating to air pollution.
  • Rachel Yardley, Technical Director Air Quality for Ricardo said: We are pleased that Defra is continuing to trust Ricardos world-leading expertise and to use the Scenario Modelling Tool.
  • Maintaining the UKs Air Quality Emissions Scenario Modelling Tool is the latest example of Ricardo supporting the nation to improve urban air quality.

Verra Mobility Expands Toll and Violation Management Solutions in Europe with New Partner Agreements

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 18, 2022
SEC, Union, CAZ, Regulation, Terminology, Judgement, Solution, Disclosure, Department, Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Food, Forward-looking statement, Collection, United Kingdom, Software, Hope, Travel, Environment, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (Nova Scotia), EETS, NASDAQ, Industry, Company, Department for Transport, Clean Air Zone, National, DEFRA, Regulation Fair Disclosure, Partnership, MESA, Compliance, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Taxicab, Transport

MESA, Ariz., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verra Mobility (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, announced today it is continuing to expand its European operations with new contract wins, partnerships and strategic memberships to further solve complex challenges for rental, fleet and issuing authorities operating within Europe's evolving transportation infrastructure.

Key Points: 
  • "These partner agreements are a critical next step as we expand our European footprint in tolling services and violation management," said Tsjerk-Friso Roelfzema, general manager Europe, Verra Mobility.
  • "Verra Mobility makes road travel in Europe more seamless and connected by providing toll solutions to our global rental car partners.
  • Verra Mobility (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter and more connected.
  • Verra Mobility's transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility and support healthier communities.