New UK law won’t halt deforestation or protect human rights
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.
The future of Drax: old, inefficient, damaging and expensive
09 Dec 2021
Drax power station in Selby, Yorkshire is old, inefficient, environmentally damaging and will need £billions of subsidies to survive. We argue it should start preparing for closure and its workers retrained for decent jobs elsewhere.
Failing to insulate – a double threat of fuel poverty and climate harm
Mike Childs22 Nov 2021
There’s a price to pay for decades of underfunding energy efficiency improvements to the UK’s older and badly insulated houses. And the price is causing harm to the poorest in society, pensioners, people of colour, young people and people with health and disability challenges. These communities suffer disproportionately from fuel poverty and the impact of climate breakdown, which is exacerbated by inefficient, energy-hungry homes.
Tackling climate breakdown – how do government strategies measure up?
Mike Childs16 Nov 2021
In the run-up to and at the climate talks at COP26, there was an avalanche of pledges, promises and strategies – but do they add up? Mike Childs, Head of Science, Policy & Research, gives his verdict.
Tip of the iceberg: The future of fossil fuel extraction
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.
A dangerous distraction – the offsetting con
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.
Global Britain? 6 ways the UK can protect and restore nature
Paul de Zylva04 Oct 2021
What can the government do to restore nature here and overseas?
Reducing greenhouse gases: our position
Mike Childs14 Jul 2021
Why we need to reduce global warming greenhouse gases rapidly: Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland's position.
Near You
12 Jul 2021External link
Near You is a data-driven tool that provides you with stats about your area's performance on climate and shows you how to work with local leaders to improve key areas like woodland cover and transport.
20 actions parish and town councils can take on the climate and nature emergency
Mike Childs24 Jun 2021
Parish and town councils may not be as powerful as local authorities but they can be a force for change in addressing the climate and nature emergency.
2021 - A big year for climate, nature and poverty
Paul de Zylva03 Jun 2021
Will government and business leaders act on the triple emergency? Or will government and business-as-usual win?
Are England’s new plans for trees and peat fit for purpose?
Paul de Zylva20 May 2021
Like proverbial double decker buses, two major action plans have arrived at the same time. The government’s Peat and Trees Action Plans were expected, but are they worth the wait? Paul de Zylva picks the high, 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.
Aviation and climate change: our position
11 Mar 2021
Emissions from aviation continue to grow but need to fall. There are no technical fixes. Instead we need to curb frequent flying and stop airport expansion.
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.