The Icon

Water companies have made progress towards meeting challenging targets set by the regulator to tackle issues such as leakage, but some companies’ environmental records are still not good enough, according to the latest annual assessment of water companies’ performance by Ofwat. The regulator has also issued an assessment on companies’ financial strength and raised concerns about the resilience of some...

Small and medium-sized businesses, public sector organisations, and community groups developing low carbon projects across Newcastle, Northumberland, and North Tyneside can now access up to £2m of investment per project through the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s Green New Deal Fund. The Fund, which opens to applications today, will invest £18 million in low carbon infrastructure in the North of...

Hundreds of thousands of trees will be planted in communities across England thanks to funding through the Nature for Climate Fund, Defra and the Forestry Commission have announced as National Tree Week was launched on Saturday 27th November. Over £12 million will be allocated to the successful applicants to four funds supporting tree planting efforts for future generations. Forestry Minister, Lord...

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) seeks views on proposals to mitigate the impact of smart meter customers switching suppliers ('churn') on energy suppliers’ minimum installation requirements for the second year of the new four-year smart metering policy framework in a new consultation. In June 2021, the government confirmed the tolerance levels for the first two years of...

Ministerial government departments have, for the first time ever, voluntarily published their first annual modern slavery statements setting out how they are tackling the potential risk of modern slavery in their supply chains. The statements, including the Home Office’s statement, can be found on GOV.UK and the modern slavery statement registry. The government has also published a progress report which highlights how government has met...

Currently ranked third in the world in recycling, Wales upheld its recycling rates last year despite the pandemic, new 2020-21 stats have revealed. Nationally the recycling rate was 65.4% in the country, with 18 of 22 local authorities exceeding the statutory minimum target of 64%, and 13 reporting an increase in performance on the previous year. Exceptionally the next statutory minimum...

New inquiry by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee investigates the extent of underrepresentation amongst those working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), and asks what policies the Government, industry and academia could use to address it. The cross-party group of MPs will explore the implications that a lack of diversity in STEM has for the UK’s...

Following reports about 'widespread unpermitted releases of sewage into the environment' by water and wastewater companies, Ofwat launched an investigation on 18th of November to establish whether companies are complying with their statutory and licence obligations. According to the water regulator, new information, and analysis by the Environment Agency, suggests that water and wastewater companies may have released sewage into...

As part of the fourth allocation round of the Contracts for Difference Scheme, the UK government will ensure that £20 million per year will be ringfenced for Tidal Stream projects in what is described as their 'biggest investment in a generation' into tidal power. Full details of all Contracts for Difference scheme announcements will be released on 25th of November...

A new guide to decarbonising public sector buildings and creating a net zero public estate has been launched by the Cabinet Office. The Net Zero Estate Playbook will ensure consistent approaches, such as using solar panels, LED lighting and greener building materials, are applied across public buildings as they help decarbonise Britain’s largest property portfolio. The guide provides Government property professionals...