Are England’s new plans for trees and peat fit for purpose?
Paul de Zylva20 May 2021
The government’s Peat and Trees Action Plans were expected, but are they worth the wait? Paul de Zylva picks the highs, the lows, and points to what comes next.
Three things the government must do to end the peat scandal
Paul de Zylva21 Apr 2021
If the government wants other nations to step up to the climate and ecological crises, it must show a clean pair of hands on peat.
Why the government is wrong to ever allow banned neonics on our fields
Sandra Bell25 Mar 2021
Documents revealed by Freedom of Information rules show that when the government gave temporary approval to lift the ban on bee-harming chemicals it went against the recommendation of its own advisors.
An emergency plan on green jobs for young people
01 Mar 20211.36 MB PDF file
There are over 500,000 young people aged 16-24 out of work, and numbers are expected to grow substantially with the end of the furlough scheme. This is a youth unemployment emergency. Friends of the Earth commissioned consultancy Transition Economics to identify how to create green jobs quickly, with a focus on green apprenticeships, and to identify the scale of funding needed. And to put the level of funding into context, we also asked them to estimate the economic scarring impact from periods of unemployment. Read the report.
The climate crisis - how international trade must change
Kierra Box08 Feb 2021
Trade campaigner Kierra Box starts a conversation about which trade policy levers could deliver positive change and where politics needs to shift.
Faster, deeper and fairer carbon pollution cuts needed
Mike Childs27 Jan 2021
Faster, deeper and fairer cuts to carbon emissions than those recommended by the Climate Change Committee are possible and necessary.
Privatising the planning system: just for the few?
Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Senior Planner14 Jan 2021
Why proposed planning reforms are socially unjust and bad for climate change.
Climate emergency - how do local authorities get people out of their cars?
Mike Childs07 Jan 2021
Why making the right decisions about car use now can help local authorities on the pathway to net zero.
Why council action on climate is vital
Sandra Bell08 Dec 2020
Sandra Bell explains why local council action is vital to achieving a green recovery and net zero, and why the government must give them greater support as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.
Friends of the Earth's response to changes in the current planning system
Kate Gordon, Senior Planner12 Nov 2020
The government is proposing changes to the current planning system. Our response outlines our concerns that these will make it harder for local authorities to take account of sustainable development and climate change in planning decisions, remove local democratic oversight and reduce fairness and transparency.
Planning for the future - Friends of the Earth response to the White Paper
Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Kate Gordon12 Nov 2020
The government recently consulted on its proposed radical reforms to the planning system. We outlined our concerns that these will diminish local accountability, erode local democracy by curtailing the right of communities to influence planning and development in their area and fail to tackle the urgent climate and ecological emergencies.
Missing in action: natural climate solutions in England's national parks
Danny Gross29 Sep 2020
This report uncovers the untapped potential of natural climate solutions in England’s national parks, and explores how the government and National Park Authorities can better support woodland creation and ecosystem restoration in these treasured landscapes.
England's green space gap
Paul de Zylva, Chris Gordon-Smith, Mike Childs15 Sep 2020
This report exposes how widespread green space deprivation is, how it is an issue of racial injustice as well as concern from a public health perspective, and what needs to be done to fix the problem. It also showcases great examples of community led initiatives.
England's Green Space Gap, full report
Paul de Zylva, Chris Gordon-Smith, Mike Childs13 Sep 20201.85 MB PDF file
The full report of England's Green Space Gap including more detail, more data, and more references.
How can government help English councils act on climate breakdown?
Sandra Bell28 Aug 2020
Local authorities can take some action on climate change but they could do so much more if the government empowered and enabled them.