Insight

Fact check: the reliability of renewable energy

Sandra Bell03 Feb 2026

Friends of the Earth’s Sandra Bell addresses claims that the UK must drill more North Sea gas and pursue fracking due to limits on renewable energy, showing how renewables can reduce exposure to gas price shocks and ease cost-of-living pressures.

Fact check: Why are our energy bills so high?

Sandra Bell03 Feb 2026

Friends of the Earth’s Sandra Bell examines claims that support for renewable energy is to blame for the UK’s high energy bills, and sets out the evidence showing how renewables help cut costs and reduce cost-of-living pressures.

Fact check: the real cost of net zero

Sandra Bell03 Feb 2026

Friends of the Earth's Sandra Bell analyses disinformation about the cost of net zero transitions and challenges claims that scrapping climate action will save billions.

Fact check: the 'war on drivers'

Sandra Bell28 Jan 2026

Friends of the Earth’s Sandra Bell examines claims that restrictions on petrol cars and the transition to electric vehicles amount to a ‘war on drivers’, and sets out the evidence showing why scrapping these policies would not save money.

Fact check: Why it’s wrong to ignore climate science

Sandra Bell14 Jan 2026

Friends of the Earth’s Sandra Bell addresses disinformation claiming that climate change and extreme weather aren’t caused by human carbon emissions, presenting the evidence that climate change is real, human-driven, and already impacting those least responsible.

Challenging climate disinformation

Sandra Bell14 Jan 2026

In a series of fact-checking articles, Sandra Bell considers the evidence and challenges widespread disinformation about climate breakdown.

Three things the government must do to end the peat scandal

Paul de Zylva12 Nov 2025

If the government wants to restore depleted nature in the UK and reduce risks from climate breakdown, it must show a clean pair of hands on peat.

Why air pollution is an environmental justice issue

06 Nov 2025

Find out which neighbourhoods in England and Wales have the highest levels of dirty air and how its impacts are unfairly distributed across society.

Is the government’s new climate plan fit for purpose?

Mike Childs30 Oct 2025

The government has just produced a new climate plan which it was legally obliged to do following the High Court ruling that the previous climate plan, produced under the previous government, was not fit for purpose. Friends of the Earth experts have rapidly delved into the details of the new climate plan to provide an assessment of whether this plan is a significant improvement or not.

Data centres - are our heads in the cloud?

Mary Stevens26 Oct 2025

Why the government urgently needs to rethink its approach to data centres and AI infrastructure.

Nature and climate crises – why English devolution is falling short

Sandra Bell30 Sep 2025

How English devolution fails to give regional authorities the power to address climate and nature breakdown and why we’re advocating an amendment to the new Bill.

How polluter pays taxes can fund a bold and fair climate plan

29 Aug 2025

Taxing polluting companies and wealthy individuals could fund climate action. Here we answer some common questions about how polluter pays taxes would work in the UK.

Which neighbourhoods are most vulnerable to heatwaves?

11 Aug 2025

New research identifies the areas in England most at risk from dangerous temperatures and how a new adaptation plan could mitigate the impacts.

Why protecting freedom to protest is so important

Joanna Watson17 Jun 2025

Joanna Watson reflects on the role that protest plays in a healthy democratic society and why it underpins our campaigning, activism and legal work.

Full data analysis: England's onshore renewable energy potential

24 Apr 2025276 kB XLSX file

Download the spreadsheet containing our full data analysis on England's potential for onshore renewable energy.