WOBO Governor David Gibson thanks edie for the links provided and the ability to share the information with both members and fellow professionals.
UK Government launches ‘Skills England’ with focus on future-proofing workforce for green transition
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched Skills England, a government body aimed at developing a nationwide skills strategy, while providing levy funds for businesses to spend on training and future-proofing the workforce.
The organisation, in collaboration with central and local government, as well as businesses, training providers and unions, will provide strategic oversight of the nation’s post-16 skills system, in line with the Government’s forthcoming Industrial Strategy.
The current lead non-executive director at the Department for Education (DfE), Richard Pennycook CBE, has been appointed as Skills England’s interim chair. A permanent board, chair and chief executive officer is expected to be appointed in due course.
Available on-demand: edie’s sustainable investment webinars on financing the green revolution
edie’s recent webinars dedicated to mobilising and scaling up finance to accelerate climate action are now available to watch on-demand, at your convenience.
Hosted during edie’s dedicated Climate Finance Week of digital content and events, the Climate Finance Inspiration Sessions offered up an afternoon of live, interactive webinar presentations and discussions – all dedicated to mobilising and scaling up finance to accelerate climate action.
Recordings of the two edie webinars are now available to watch on-demand at your convenience. The first session (one hour) was a Q&A-style climate finance discussion; the second session (one hour) included a series of quick-fire case studies.
Rolls-Royce announces hydrogen research programme for sustainable aviation fuels
Rolls-Royce has launched a new research programme, in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to explore the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon aviation fuel.
At the Farnborough International Airshow, Rolls-Royce announced an expansion of its multi-year partnership with TCS to research hydrogen fuel system technology.
This initiative aims to address three present challenges to using hydrogen as a low-carbon aviation fuel, including fuel combustion, fuel delivery and fuel systems integration with an engine.
As part of the collaboration, TCS will support the engineering activities of Rolls-Royce such as system design, component design, supply chain support and programme management, leveraging its expertise in aircraft manufacturing.
Heritage England is encouraging local councils to support the owners and occupiers of historic homes and buildings in improving energy efficiency, fitting low-carbon heating systems and adding onsite renewable energy generation.
The public body, which plays a central role in helping people conserve and promote England’s listed buildings and historic sites, has set out information on how older buildings can reduce energy consumption and emissions without harming features of historical importance.
New guidance out 23 July emphasises that the decarbonisation of historic buildings is non-optional, in light of the UK Government’s legally binding 2050 net-zero target and interim carbon budgets. These buildings are estimated to account for 5% of the UK’s annual carbon emissions.
The law on waste segregation is changing!
Following consultation in 2021, in 2023 the UK government announced nationwide plans to streamline waste collections. From 31st March 2025, all domestic households and commercial organisations will need to have implemented separate food waste storage…
London’s climate is changing, so more action is needed on extreme heat risk
Dr Ashok Sinha, Chair of the London Sustainable Development Commission, outlines the stark findings of the capital’s recent climate resilience review – and what can be done to improve the situation for residents and workers facing extreme weather risks. Read more
Keir Starmer: Great British Energy to have £8.3bn budget and target further £60bn
Great British Energy, the publicly-owned clean energy investment company the Labour-led UK Government is creating, will work closely with the Crown Estate to roll out renewables across its £16bn portfolio of land and seabed.
The partnership is the first for Great British Energy and has been confirmed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Energy Security and Net-Zero Secretary Ed Miliband today (25 July).
The duo have also confirmed the Government’s intention to support GB Energy with £8.3bn of public money this Parliament, and aim to unlock up to £60bn from other sources – mainly private investment – within the same timeframe.
Labour pledged before the general election to strive for a decarbonised power grid by 2030, five years sooner than the Conservative Governments led by Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
Businesses push Defra to get back on track with deforestation law and packaging waste policy
Major retailers are urging the UK Government to rapidly instate new legislation to tackle deforestation in commodity supply chains, with Ministers also under pressure to provide businesses clarity on long-delayed packaging sustainability policies.
Ten of the UK’s largest supermarkets, plus major industry body the British Retail Consortium, have implored Environment Secretary Steve Reed to rapidly introduce new legislation to tackle illegal deforestation in the supply chains of forest risk commodities.
The call to action is being made via an open letter from the Retail Soy Group (RSG). WWF estimates that soy production has increased 15-fold since the 1950s, as humanity has sought to feed more livestock and produce biodiesel. Production has encroached on forests and other biodiverse landscapes in the US and South America, including Brazil’s tropical savanna region, the Cerrado.
Two weeks left to apply for edie’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2024
Environment, energy and sustainability professionals in the UK are encouraged to apply for a place in edie’s popular 30 Under 30 initiative, with applications open now for the 2024 cohort.
More than just a list, the annual 30 Under 30 initiative shines a spotlight on talented sustainability and net-zero professionals – aged under 30 – who are delivering on efforts to build a better future and showing fantastic promise.
Open to self-nominations and recommendations from co-workers, 30 rising sustainability stars are selected by a panel of independent judges and offered an unrivalled opportunity to connect with one another, gain valuable industry recognition and develop their skills and knowledge.
Applications for edie’s 30 Under 30 Class of 2024 are NOW OPEN! You have until Friday 9 August to complete your application. Access the entry form here.
The chosen 30 Under 30 members get to attend an exclusive launch party and photoshoot in London; take part in an editorial profile interview for the edie website; and be offered bespoke networking and event opportunities throughout the year.
Take our 10-minute survey on sustainability reporting and disclosure attitudes
edie is calling on readers to take part in a short survey on sustainable business, with findings set to be used to provide a progress update on the state of corporate sustainability and attitudes toward reporting and disclosure requirements.
The 10-minute online survey is primarily targeted at in-house sustainability/CSR/energy professionals as well as managers who hold some level of responsibility for their organisation’s strategy in these areas and will be used to help shape edie’s content moving forward. The survey can, however, be taken by all readers and individual responses kept anonymous.
Results of the survey will be used to help form edie’s next report on the state of corporate sustainability in the UK.***
Now in its fourth edition, edie’s Sustainable Business Tracker provides a quarterly progress update on the state of corporate sustainability and reporting and disclosure and requirements on sustainability teams.
The survey is primarily targeted at in-house sustainability/CSR/net-zero managers and practitioners, along with other professionals who are helping to shape or deliver their organisation’s sustainability and decarbonisation strategy.