Why council action on climate is vital
Sandra Bell08 Dec 2020
Sandra Bell explains why local council action is vital to achieving 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.
Policies for green and fair recovery plans across the UK
14 Jul 2020
Right now, there's an unprecedented breadth of people, organisations, and businesses calling for COVID-19 recovery plans to be green and fair. We spell out the policy changes needed to deliver on this aspiration.
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.
Finding the land to double tree cover
Guy Shrubsole with research by Chris Gordon-Smith17 Mar 2020
Is there really space in the UK to double tree cover? And where’s best to grow all those trees?
Post Brexit - the UK at the crossroads
Kierra Box, Trade Campaigner06 Mar 2020
The UK has left the European Union. Will the government make the right decisions to protect the environment?