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People across the UK want to see more support for local authorities to deal with the threat of climate change and more support for Net Zero action to address the cost-of-living crisis, according to a new poll from YouGov and commissioned by UK100. The poll comes as the process to select the next UK Prime Minister gets underway, following the...

Setting net zero targets isn’t enough without a clear strategy to meet them. The race may be on – but, for most UK industries, the playbook needs writing, Anna Jakobsen, EMEA Leader for Sustainability, Resilience and ESG at GHD, tells ICON readers in this exclusive thought piece.   Sustainable corporate practices are undeniably good for the planet – but it’s good...

'A record amount' of renewable energy has been secured through the biggest ever round of the UK government’s flagship auction scheme, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced. Described as the 'most successful ever', the fourth round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has secured almost 11GW across a range of clean technologies, including offshore wind,...

A new monitor will help inform policy decisions to reduce Scotland’s vulnerability to future financial and environmental shocks, helping build 'a more prosperous, resilient, equal and sustainable economy', the Scottish Government has announced. The Wellbeing Economy Monitor will complement traditional metrics like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and include measures such as child poverty, levels of greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity,...

A major new platform to help reduce food waste is currently being trialled. Founding partners Co-op and Microsoft, supported by technology consultancy BJSS and Team ITG, have created Caboodle, a not-for-profit digital platform that enables supermarkets, cafés and restaurants to connect with community groups and volunteers to redistribute surplus food. According to Wrap, around 1.1 million tonnes of food goes to...

A new study questions the long-held economic belief that humans are all motivated to want more and more, which could be important for sustainability policies. Led by psychologists at the universities of Bath, Bath Spa and Exeter, the study challenges the idea that unlimited wants are human nature, which could have important implications for the planet. Lead researcher, Dr Paul Bain...

High-quality cropland soils limit losses in response to warmer climates and support higher yields, according to new research. The international team of experts, including Professor Pete Smith from the University of Aberdeen, found that improving soil quality could reduce the climate change-induced decline in crop production in China by as much as 20 percent. In the study, published in Nature Climate...

With increasing demands for electrification and rising standards of living, it’s essential that we find new and smarter technologies to meet the future, Lauri Lehtonen from Stora Enso tells ICON in his thought piece.     Batteries are big business - and a big conversation point, too. By now, most reasonably informed people will be aware that batteries are an essential tool...

On 22 June, the European Commission unveiled a new plan to enhance the contribution of EU trade agreements in protecting the climate, environment and labour rights worldwide. In its Communication on “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth”, the Commission has put forward how to further strengthen the implementation and enforcement of Trade and Sustainable Development...

UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) invested an average of £61,250 on their own sustainability during the last 12 months, new research from Aldermore has found. With the green agenda becoming more prominent across society, businesses have been increasingly willing to take action, with over half (53%) of SMEs investing in their own sustainability during the last 12 months. This represents...