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CLIMATE NEWS - Making positive news visible
10032025 CLIMATE NEWS – making positive news visible
(News sources: newsnow.co.uK | bbc.co.uk | www.gov,uk news and communications)
Reporter: James Godman. Climate News aim to highlight positive climate news on the wires and to raise awareness and to help you to take action.
UK Government and UK Related News
1.
Millions of pounds of fines imposed on water firms will fund environmental schemes to protect the country’s waterways after fears the money would be diverted to the Treasury. The water restoration fund received £11m in fines and penalties from April 2022 to October 2023.It was reported in January https://uk.news.yahoo.com/treasury-seeks-keep-water-firm-145802354.html that the Treasury was looking to keep money earmarked for projects across the country. River trusts have submitted bids to improve and monitor the health of a number of rivers, including the River Derwent in Derbyshire and the River Waveney on the Norfolk-Suffolk border.
Successful applicants to the fund will be notified on Monday, with work due to start this year. Projects will focus on improving the water environment in the same regions where the water company fines and penalties were issued.
Environment secretary Steve Reed said: “After years of failure, our rivers, lakes and seas are awash with pollution. The sewage scandal ends now. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/steve-reed “This government has already placed failing water companies under tough special measures through the water act, with new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against lawbreakers. This week we’re going even further, investing millions of pounds of funding from water company fines into cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas.”
The announcement of the money for the restoration schemes comes after the Water (Special Measures) Act was passed last month to ensure firms are held to account. New laws will strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for law breaking. Water firms will also be required to install monitors at every sewage outlet, with data independently scrutinised by regulators.
Environmental campaigners wanted an amendment in the new bill to ensure all future fines imposed on water firms would be ringfenced for restoration projects. The amendment was not included in the new bill and ministers have been repeatedly challenged over how future criminal fines and civil penalties will be used.
Charles Watson, chair of the charity River Action, said any money for restoration was welcome but £11m was a small amount compared with the billions of pounds paid out in dividends
2.
Reading University - University of Reading decided to divest from fossil fuel companies several years ago and change our financial providers to those that shared our concerns about climate action. Democratically elected politicians in the US and elsewhere may find it politically convenient to tell lies about climate change, looking to the next election. But even popularity can’t turn lies into truth. At times like this, we need people, and institutions, that have a longer-term outlook. Governments and companies come and go. Real communities, and solid values, persevere.
https://rdg.today/from-the-vice-chancellor-standing-firm-on-climate-action/
3.
Winners of the UK’s ‘Climate in My Community’ competition showcased their creative talents through art, film, and storytelling at the British High Commission Islamabad to celebrate Commonwealth Day 2025. British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said: “I’ve been blown away by the exceptional quality of entries to this competition, creatively bringing to life the threat from and solutions to climate change. Pakistan’s young people are full of creativity and energy, and this competition has shown how powerful their voices can be in shaping the climate conversation. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who took part.” https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-high-commission-celebrates-young-climate-storytellers-on-commonwealth-day
4.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed will today (Monday 10 March) pledge to ‘clean up Windermere’ setting out the Government’s support for the long-term ambition of ‘only rainwater’ entering England’s largest lake.
This comes ahead of a thorough feasibility study – established by the ‘Only Rainwater’ local coalition including United Utilities, the Environment Agency, Ofwat, Save Windermere, Love Windermere, the Lake District National Park authority, and Westmorland and Furness Council. The study will determine what would be needed to eliminate sewage discharges into the lake, drawing on successful examples and innovation from around the world to create a roadmap for delivery. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-ambition-to-end-sewage-discharges-into-windermere
5.
Drivers across the Midlands will benefit from more than 16,000 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers as the region secures over £40 million in government investment.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood has today (7 March 2025), confirmed that 13 local authorities across the Midlands, supported by Midlands Connect, have received £40.8 million from the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to roll out thousands of chargers across the region. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/electric-boost-over-16000-electric-vehicle-chargers-on-the-way-for-the-midlands
6.
The number of UK homes installing heat pumps supported by government-funded incentives rose to a record level last year. Figures released on Thursday showed 52% more of the low-carbon heating systems were installed than in 2023.
Experts said part of the rise was due to an increase in the grant offered by the government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) to persuade people to switch from gas boilers. But the heat pump industry warned that running costs needed to fall for the government to hit its targets to install hundreds of thousands of the devices each year as part of its Net Zero plan to tackle climate change.
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: "The energy shocks of recent years have shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes and help more people benefit from homegrown energy. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e4nlxlq08o
7.
Blenheim Estate planted 270,000 trees to improve biodiversity, water quality and public access, as well as generate income through timber production. https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/transforming-blenheim-estates-low-grade-farmland-into-woodlands-for-nature-and-communities
8.
Sea Otters serve a crucial role, helping to restore the giant kelp forests they rely on by removing their top predators, the sea urchins.
Kelp forests tower above the ocean floor, with the large brown algae providing food and shelter for thousands of species. However, they are threatened by storms, pollution, warming waters, and overharvesting. Sea otter population growth during the last century has enhanced kelp forest resilience, according to researchers the https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/sea-otters-kelp-forests-sea-urchins-b2711979.html
UK Government House of Commons
Select & Joint Committees held in the House of Commons
https://whatson.parliament.uk/commons/2025-03-10/
11 March 2025
House of Lords Chamber 2:30pm
Plans to assess the ‘scope 3 emissions’ of licensed oil and gas fields, and what impact they have on their emission reduction targets.
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb Green Life Peer.
12 March 2025 - Nitrogen - Oral evidence. 10:00am
Committee https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/515/environment-and-climate-change-committee
Inquiry Nitrogen
12 March 2025 - Unlocking community energy at scale - Oral evidence. 3:00pm Public
Committee https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/664/energy-security-and-net-zero-committee
Inquiry Unlocking community energy at scale
12 March 2025 at 3:00pm
House of Lord Chamber 3:00pm
Similar treatment for equivalent UK businesses to EU proposals to exempt 80 per cent of eligible EU companies from new carbon border taxes
Lord John Charles Fuller
13 March 2025 Short debate
House of Lords
Biodiversity and conservation
Lord Chris Stephen Grayling
International News
9.
This month, the United Nations Statistical Commission will adopt a new framework which enables countries to go beyond GDP and finally make nature count. The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) will enable countries to measure their natural capital and understand the immense contributions of nature to our prosperity and the importance of protecting it.
By complementing GDP with statistics from the SEEA EA, policymakers will be able to make better economic decisions about natural resources and ecosystems, something that is essential for a green COVID-19 recovery. https://www.un.org/en/desa/making-nature-count-0
10.
Countries agreed to raise $200 billion a year by 2030 to help developing countries conserve biodiversity at the resumed Conference of Party (COP16) of the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Rome last week. The deal marks a major breakthrough after negotiations over a finance package were suspended last November in the closing hours of COP16 in Cali, Colombia, over funding disagreements.
11.
The representative of Iraq to the United Nations and the Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, Abbas Kazim Obaid, confirmed today, Friday, support for the climate change summit in Brazil. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that "The representative of Iraq to the United Nations and the Chairman of the Group of 77 and China, Abbas Kazim Obaid, met with André Correa, the President-designate of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP30, which will be held in Brazil," noting that "the two sides discussed the multiple challenges facing the climate agreement, and ways to implement commitments and pledges to achieve common goals." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_77
12.
Vikram Solar to set up 1 GWh solid-state battery plant in Chennai. The Indian company plans to set up a 1 GWh fully integrated solid-state cell and battery manufacturing facility, with proprietary battery management system (BMS) tech, which can be scaled up to 5 GWh. Indian solar module manufacturer Vikram Solar has announced plans to set up an integrated solid-state cell and battery manufacturing facility with a capacity of 1 GW, in Chennai. The venture will contribute to the energy storage landscape by delivering sustainable, innovative battery solutions with improved performance, the Kolkata-based company said.
The company plans to set up a 1 GWh fully integrated solid-state cell and battery manufacturing facility with proprietary battery management system (BMS) tech, it added. https://evertiq.com/news/2025-03-07-vikram-solar-to-set-up-1-gwh-solid-state-battery-plant-in-chennai
13.
Boston mayor outlined Thursday how the city is preparing for when more severe heat, coastal flooding, or extreme weather events hit here.
“Over the last few months, our hearts have gone out to the families impacted by some of the worst wildfires in California history, or the recent flooding in Kentucky, or events all across the country and even much closer to home,” said Mayor Michelle Wu at an emergency preparedness press conference Thursday. “Here in Boston, we’re lucky we haven’t experienced events to such an extreme.
“But in the last decade alone,” she continued, “Boston has seen three of the four highest instances of coastal flooding, the largest one day snowfall since 1872 and last year, we experienced two storms that caused flooding on Lewis Street, right here in East Boston.”
Boston is most likely to experience upticks in extreme heat, coastal flooding, intense storm water surges, and the likelihood of “extreme weather events such as bitter cold,” Wu said.
Concerning News
14.
Researchers have found that women and girls in the conflict-torn nation of South Sudan are facing greater health risks and worsened inequality due to the negative impacts of climate change as the country battles record-breaking heat.
The findings published ahead of International Women’s Day marked on March 8, by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group of scientists, said February’s heatwave was made about 10 times more likely – and 2 degrees Celsius hotter – by human-caused climate change.
Friederike Otto, WWA’s lead and a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, said the study reiterated how people who are already struggling under unequal conditions experience the most harm from extreme weather worsened by the burning of fossil fuels.
“Unyielding gender roles, the need to care for children and a lack of other options than exposing themselves to excruciating heat, means that in war-torn South Sudan, each of the now frequent heatwaves hits women more, deepening the divide between the genders,” Otto said. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2025/03/07/women-bear-brunt-of-south-sudans-heatwave-made-worse-by-climate-change/
15.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has proposed changes to the EU's CO2 standards, granting car manufacturers a more flexible three-year timeframe to meet emissions targets instead of strict annual compliance.
This change which would allow manufacturers to balance emissions reductions across 2025-2027 rather than meeting a single-year target in 2025, aims to provide more time for carmakers to meet targets while maintaining overall emission reduction goals.
The European Commission said however that it would stick to its target that by 2035 all new cars and vans sold in the European Union would have zero CO2 emissions. https://www.am-online.com/news/eu-sticks-to-2035-zero-emissions-target-for-new-cars
Other News
16.
New hydrogen sensor could make clean energy safer and more reliable https://knowridge.com/2025/03/new-hydrogen-sensor-could-make-clean-energy-safer-and-more-reliable/#google_vignette
17.
Alan Titchmarsh has urged Britons to choose Cornflakes or Weetabix over eating avocados to help save the planet. The TV gardening expert told The Times his issue with avocados stems from their environmental impact. “Most of those sold in the UK are grown where the rainforest has been felled at an alarming rate to accommodate them,” he said. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/choose-weetabix-over-avocados-due-to-climate-change-says-alan-titchmarsh/a438846672.html
Events
18.
Oswestry to host its very own 'Seedy Saturday' this month. The event will be held in the Climate Action Hub and invites gardeners, allotment holders, and community groups to share and swap seeds, as well as experience and knowledge.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their spare seeds, which should be packaged and labelled with details such as the plant name, year of harvest, and any additional descriptions.
In return, they can browse through other growers' offerings and take home new and exciting varieties. https://www.oneoswestry.co.uk/event-category/whats-on/
19.
Greenpeace Bournemouth and Poole is inviting the local community to an eye-opening exhibition that puts a human face on the climate crisis. Taking place for one day only on Saturday March 22, 2025, the event will be held in the downstairs function room of the Triangle Taproom (formerly Poole Hill Brewery), with doors open from 15:15 until 17:30.
The exhibition shares the powerful, personal stories of Filipino communities devastated by extreme weather events. Visitors will see images of treasured belongings destroyed by typhoons, alongside video interviews and audio recordings from those on the frontlines of climate change. https://westcountryvoices.co.uk/greenpeace-bournemouth-and-poole-hosts-exhibition-highlighting-the-human-cost-of-climate-change/
20.
Events to get people involved in community-led climate action have been organised in Gwynedd. Gwanwyn GwyrddNi events take place between 29 March and 20 April. Taster sessions will allow people to see various Gwynedd projects, from growing food to community energy initiatives. People can get broken items fixed at repair cafes to help reduce waste, and learn about food preservation and local produce at the new Pickling Shed in Dyffryn Nantlle. https://www.gwyrddni.cymru/en/
21.
The Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health Conference will discuss research and evidence on the rapidly evolving public health policies relating to sustainable cities, health protection for climate risks, and the future of food systems. The 2025 Annual Conference will present recent research on climate and health, in discussion with key decision makers. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-change-public-health-and-local-action-tickets-1234638068699?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*16rqqpa*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTQyNjM4NjQ0NS4xNzQxNTk4OTI2*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTc0MTU5ODkyNi4xLjAuMTc0MTU5ODkyNi4wLjAuMA..
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