£12bn Offshore Wind Package Lands Ahead of Cop31
RWE and KKR will put £12bn into two Norfolk windfarms, as the prime minister prepares for the Cop31 summit. The news follows the Jackdaw gasfield approval.
Category: Environment
Fossil CO2 Set to Flatline in 2026 as Iran War Pushes Renewables
Scientists forecast that carbon dioxide from fossil fuels will barely move this year. Higher oil and gas prices pushed people towards electric cars and solar and wind power, but total emissions still edged up.
Earthshot Prize Venue in Mumbai Draws Criticism Over Its Owner
Conservationists object to the Earthshot awards being held at a Mumbai centre owned by Reliance Industries, which is also tied to a controversial zoo.
Wales to End Funding for Its Uganda Tree-Planting Scheme
The Welsh government will stop paying for the Size of Wales tree-planting programme in Uganda after March 2027. Ministers cite budget pressure; the charity wants a rethink.
Ørsted Finishes Revolution Wind Despite US Shutdown Orders
The 704-megawatt farm off the US East Coast reached commercial operations in October. Ørsted also reported higher nine-month EBITDA but a third-quarter net loss and lower nine-month profit.
Regulators Give South West Water Six Weeks on Leaks
Ofwat, the Environment Agency and Defra say the company has missed leakage targets for seven years. Parts of its region remain in severe drought.
Study: Warming Seas May Unbalance Food Webs Around UK
A four-year Cefas-led study projects more fish species but fewer plankton species in UK waters by 2050. Researchers warn this could weaken marine ecosystems and food security.
Liverpool Study Finds Beavers Kept a Cheshire Site Wet in Drought
University of Liverpool research says a beaver enclosure in Hatchmere stayed wet through the 2022 drought. The author hopes it will help shape wild release policy.
Britain Records 3,472 Bluetongue Cases in Its Worst Season Yet
MPs heard that this year's bluetongue outbreak has strained farmers, with no direct treatment for sick animals and vaccine costs putting some off. Devon is the worst-hit county.
Four Planned UK Data Centres Weigh Gas Power Despite Net Zero Aim
BBC research says plans for on-site gas generation could emit more CO2 than Manchester, Liverpool and Southampton together. The government says such power would be tightly controlled.
Hot, Dry Year Squeezes the White Truffle Harvest
Truffle hunters in Italy and Croatia report smaller, scarcer white truffles after drought and heat. Prices in Alba are running 20% to 30% above last year.
Vandalised Oil Tank Kills 13 Birds at Antrim Wildfowl Park
Heating oil from a vandalised home tank polluted the ponds at Broughshane Waterfowl Park. Thirteen birds have died and the County Antrim park is closed while the oil is removed.
Healey Will Veto Offshore Wind Projects That Do Not Cut Bills
The chancellor says new offshore wind bids will be signed off only if the grid can take all their power without raising costs for consumers.
Ministers Weigh Quieter Fireworks After Consultation
Ministers have ruled out a full ban but propose cutting the permitted noise of consumer fireworks and restricting louder ones to professionals. Animal charities back the plan, the fireworks industry does not.
Wildfire Smoke Killed an Estimated 3,560 in Indonesia in September
A think tank estimates fire smoke caused twice as many deaths in September as in August. A record 57.8 million people breathed unhealthy to hazardous air, and the fires are more intense than in 2015.