Insight

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.

Nine principles for using our land wisely at a time of climate and nature crises

Sandra Bell01 May 2020

How we use our land sometimes seems like a 1000-piece jigsaw where we need to put the right pieces in the right places - to cut climate emissions and boost nature. It’s particularly tricky because there’s more than one correct way to complete it. In this article I propose 9 principles that fit with Friends of the Earth’s approach to tackling the climate and nature crises here and overseas – a guide to completing the jigsaw.

The impact of coronavirus on the planning system

Kate Gordon24 Apr 2020

COVID-19 is causing widespread disruption to the UK planning system, which is there to ensure that the development and use of land is in the public interest. How can the right of the public to hold local decision-makers to account (and scrutinise plans for development) be protected during these difficult times?

The role of hydrogen in our future

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 .

Rewild our countryside and refarm our cities

Alasdair Cameron01 Apr 2020External link

Bringing more food production into our cities will have many benefits argues Alasdair Cameron

Ending plastic pollution – briefing

Julian Kirby19 Mar 2020

Friends of the Earth's briefing on how to end plastic pollution.