Inform Tracker
The latest developments in environmental and sustainability policy, regulation, legislation and voluntary initiatives
POLICY GREEN ECONOMY COUNCIL
DETAILS The Green Economy Council held its first meeting on 16 February to discuss how government and industry can work together to support the transition to a green, low-carbon economy and minimise the costs for business while maximising the opportunities.
The council will uniquely bring together ministers from BIS, DECC and Defra. WEB
decc.gov.uk
1,000 APPRENTICES GET GO-AHEAD DETAILS At least 1,000 Green Deal ap- prentices could receive government funding towards their training, as part of plans to insulate the UK’s homes and businesses against rising energy prices and reduce carbon emissions. Funding for the apprenticeships is part of a package of measures announced by the Government to create a skilled workforce for its flagship Green Deal programme. WEB
decc.gov.uk
RENEWABLES INDUSTRIES PROSPECTS BOOSTED
DETAILS The UK’s green & renewable industries prospects for sustained growth have been boosted as Skills Minister John Hayes has announced a new National Skills Academy (NSA) for Environmental Tech- nologies. The Skills Academy will receive up to £2.5M of funding over three years, matched by employers. It will work with in-
dustry and training providers to ensure that employers in new areas of business such as the installation, maintenance and repair of photovoltaic panels, ground source heat pumps and biomass products have a highly skilled workforce to help them grow, and to support the Government’s ambitions for renewable energy and low carbon growth. WEB
decc.gov.uk
CARBON ACTION PLAN LAYS DOWN WHITEHALL DEADLINES
DETAILS A cross-Government action plan on climate change backed by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister has launched, setting strict actions and dead- lines for Whitehall.
The new Carbon Plan sets out what has to happen and by when if the Government is to live up to its green ambitions, meet tough domestic carbon targets and encour- age greater action internationally. WEB
decc.gov.uk
RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE
DETAILS Details have been announced for DECC’s Renewable Heat Incentive. DECC is aiming for the regulations that underpin this scheme to be approved by Parliament in summer 2011, with the scheme being introduced shortly thereafter. It will be introduced in two phases; in the first phase, long-term tariff support will be targeted in the non-domestic sectors, with domestic users coming in the second phase. WEB
decc.gov.uk
More Sustainable Business
RESEARCH SHOWS FIRMS CAN SAVE MONEY BY HELPING ENVIRONMENT DETAILS British businesses can save around £23B a year by improving the way they use energy and water, and by reducing waste, according to government research, which identifies huge potential savings from resource efficiency – using materials, energy and water more efficiently in ways that need very little or no investment.
Most of the potential low-cost savings come from using raw materials more ef- ficiently and generating less waste. This is calculated to offer an annual saving of around £18B. Energy (£4B) and water (less than £1B) efficiency make up the remainder. WEB
defra.gov.uk/environment/economy/ business-efficiency
GREEN INVESTMENT BANK ‘MUST BE ABLE TO BORROW’
DETAILS The UK could lose out on hun- dreds of billions of pounds of vital in- vestment in green energy projects if the Government waters down its plans for a Green Investment Bank, MPs warn in a new report. The Coalition Agreement promised to establish a Green Investment Bank and the Chancellor pledged £1B to capitalise it in the Spending Review. If the Office for Na- tional Statistics (ONS) classifies the bank as ‘public sector’ its borrowing could appear on the Government’s balance sheet and so undermine its deficit reduction strategy. WEB
publications.parliament.uk/pa/ cm201011/cmselect/cmenvaud/505/
50502.htm
than just a magazine
THE WEBSITE HAS ARRIVED
WWW.SUSTAINABLEBUSINESSONLINE.COM
NEWS/BLOGS/KNOWLEDGE HUBS/VIDEOS/INTERVIEWS/PODCASTS DIGITAL EDITIONS/ARCHIVED FEATURES/AND MORE
40 | Sustainable Business | June 2011
www.sustainablebusinessonline.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52