News from 0 2005 on edie

Happy Christmas to all our edie readers

This is the last edie news posting of 2005 and we would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our readers for their support and feedback throughout the year.

Does avoiding the ‘do-nothing scenario’ mean going nuclear?

Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks warned of the dangers of doing nothing on energy policy, this week, in a speech that critics saw as another step towards building the next generation of nuclear power stations.

MPs fairly happy with Defra’s performance

Politicians charged with summing up Defra's performance over 2005 believe the department has had a good year but that there is still plenty of room for improvement in some key areas.

Negative perceptions could blight sustainable communities plan

Plans to build genuinely mixed sustainable communities in the Thames Gateway could well be blighted by the fact that many people have negative perceptions of new build homes in large developments.

China – UK coal fired carbon capture deal announced

The UK and China have reached a deal to develop clean coal technology with carbon capture and storage and build a demonstration project in both the EU and China by 2020.

Euro waste plan rubbished by environmentalists

The European Commission has unveiled its proposals to reduce waste and conserve resources - and they have been promptly dismissed as fit for the recycling bin by environmental pressure groups.

Long reach of Europe’s chemical trade law

Thai manufacturers are being urged to pay close attention to Europe's REACH agreement if they want to avoid a sharp fall in exports.

Scots planning bill criticised for putting developers before communities

The new Scottish planning bill, hailed by the Executive as "the most fundamental and comprehensive reform of the planning system" since it was created in 1948, has been attacked by campaigners for being unfairly biased.

EA to dish out eco-ASBOs

Environmental criminals such as fly tippers and vandals are to face the same restrictive punishment as anti-social yobs.

Lib Dems bolster green credentials

The Liberal Democrats went on the offensive this week trying to persuade the nation they were the party to be trusted on the environment.

Five Billion Euro programme of investment for Irish water infrastructure

Ireland has announced a €5 billion investment plan for water and sewerage infrastructure focused on plugging leaks and cutting red tape to speed up construction.

‘Could do better’ Euro-environmentalists grade UK presidency

The good work done on climate change by the UK during its European presidency has been undermined by the eco-unfriendly budget deal hammered out this week.

Year: 2005