Author Archive
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Economic risks of climate change get bigger
The economic risks from unchecked climate change are bigger than previously estimated, according to a new paper by Professor Lord Stern, chair of the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, and Simon Dietz, who is a co-director. The study warns that the standard DICE model, used in a wide range of economic studies of the potential impacts of climate change, does not reflect the full extent of the risks because it "embodies a false assumption ...
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New measures to strengthen bovine TB controls
In a new consultation, the Government is proposing further measures to strengthen the UK's bovine TB cattle controls, as follows: The removal of pre-movement exemptions for cattle moving between several holdings under the same farm ownership, known as Sole Occupancy Authorities. This will remove the possibility of some cattle keepers in the high risk and edge areas moving their animals over long distances without any TB testing. There will still be the ability to move cattle ...
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Cash to promote and inform on EU agricultural produce
Trade organisations representing UK agricultural sectors have a fresh chance to apply to the Rural Payments Agency for EU funding towards promotion and information programmes for agricultural products. Producers of one or more of the products listed below can apply for up to half the cost of marketing their goods abroad in a scheme designed to raise awareness and increase sales of EU food products. The application process for the two schemes, one for internal markets (EU ...
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Boost for UK infrastructure with new Bill
Today has seen the publication of new legislation designed to encourage investment in Britain’s infrastructure. The Infrastructure Bill aims to create stable long-term funding for work on the country’s major road network and to make it easier to sell surplus and redundant public sector land and property, allowing more homes to be built on brownfield sites. The legislation will also give local people the right to buy a stake in renewable energy projects Other measures include: making a number ...
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Rural Payments Agency looking for new people
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is looking for new people to join the Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel. Appeals panels meet to consider appeals from farmers and traders against decisions made by the RPA in administering the various schemes that it operates, and makes recommendations to the Farming Minister for his final decision. RPA customer director, Justin Chamberlain, comments: “We have made significant improvements in the service we provide to customers in recent years and ...
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Heavier summer downpours with climate change
Extreme summer rainfall may become more frequent in the UK due to climate change, according to new research led by Newcastle University and the Met Office. The study, which used a state-of-the-art climate model, has provided the first evidence that hourly summer rainfall rates could increase - while summers are expected to become drier overall by 2100, intense rainfall indicative of serious flash flooding could become several times more frequent. The results, published in Nature Climate Change, ...
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SMEs get new “bank rating” website
The Federation of Small Businesses has launched a new website showing results from a survey of thousands of UK SMEs, who were asked about their experience of the banks they use. The site, which is free to use, will be updated with new survey data every six months. It shows results in three main ways: Business Current Account - Shows scores for all the banks that respondents said they use for a current account. Each bank’s overall score is ...
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China welcomes UK green construction standards
Buildings in China could soon be built to British green construction standards, Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has announced. UK construction firm, Building Research Establishment, has signed an agreement with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to set up a training and R&D centre in China’s fastest growing city. The centre will deliver training on a national scale to other cities and promote services, including certifying buildings to green construction standards, possibly creating up to £200 million of work ...
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Weald shale-gas prospects written off
Having completed an estimate for the amount of shale gas in the Weald Basin in south-east England, the British Geological Survey has reported that "No significant gas resource is recognised using the current geological model". The news comes alongside the launch of a government consultation on proposals to simplify the existing procedure for shale gas and oil and deep geothermal underground drilling access. The proposals are: underground right of access for shale gas and deep geothermal operations only ...
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EU to ban driftnet fishing
The EU has announced plans to impose a full ban on driftnet fishing in European waters because of concerns about threats posed to protected species. A driftnet is a type of fishing net that drifts close to the surface of the water and protected species such as turtles and some kinds of sea birds and mammals are getting caught in them. While there are already some restrictions in driftnets in place, concerns persist about the impact of their use and there ...
