Our work
Using robust research, our Policy and Insight Team investigate the biggest challenges facing people and the planet – providing in-depth commentary on the causes, effects and solutions.
From analysing how the Budget exacerbates the climate emergency, to exploring ways to reduce pesticide use, our aim is to influence policy-makers and help drive change.
Latest
Sandra Bell10 May 2022
The UK government has made levelling up a priority. Senior Sustainability Analyst Sandra Bell sets out 5 tests to assess the strength of the government’s approach and whether it will help the poorest communities. As the government's programme progresses, including draft legislation following the Queen’s Speech, Friends of the Earth will use these tests to report on progress.
Sandra Bell04 Apr 2022
For the second year running the government has given temporary approval to lift the ban on bee-harming chemicals against the recommendation of its own advisors.
Mike Childs21 Feb 2022
Meeting climate targets through electric heating backed by renewably-produced hydrogen.
Clare Oxborrow06 Jan 2022
Commodity supply chains are trashing forests and trampling human rights. Clare Oxborrow explains why the government’s new Environment Act will fail to protect communities and why it must take effective action to regulate UK companies.
26 Oct 2021
This report explores how the UK government supports fossil fuel extraction at home and abroad. It reveals the 40 new UK oil, gas and coal extraction projects that are in the pipeline for approval in the next few years.
Mike Childs and Paul de Zylva22 Oct 2021
Carbon offsetting and nature offsetting are both worsening the climate and nature emergencies. They can’t be made to work, at least not at scale, and trying to do so is dangerous distraction from the real job at hand, cutting carbon emissions and restoring nature.
Rebecca Murray10 Sep 2021
With the government abandoning its attempt to write communities out of planning decisions, forthcoming legislation later this year may be the chance to finally align the planning system with the climate and nature emergencies. But, as Senior Planner Rebecca Murray explains, the most recent policy documents released by government do anything but that.
Paul de Zylva04 Oct 2021
We face a climate emergency and nature is in crisis – what will it take for our leaders to do the right thing?
Mike Childs21 Apr 2020
Hydrogen fuel has long been hailed as the silver bullet that will free us from fossil fuels, but it's time for a reality check on its production and use in a low-carbon economy .