Eco Chamber

The global market in artificial intelligence is projected to hit $4.8 trillion by 2033, according to the UN’s latest analysis, and it seems all that anyone can talk about. But with its drain on water resources, and high energy demands, the technology could pose serious environmental risks. As AI’s deployment in the environmental space gathers pace, how are the UK’s green professionals squaring this circle? On this week’s ECO Chamber, host James Agyepong-Parsons speaks with ENDS Report editor Jamie Carpenter about how the sector is changing, and what’s at stake. The ECO Chamber is brought to you by journalists at ENDS Report.

The government has announced that the flagship nature policy, biodiversity net gain, is set to see substantial revisions in 2026 with development sites up to 0.2 hectares in size to be exempt from the requirement. Labour has also revised England’s national planning policy blueprint – the National Planning Policy Framework. On this week’s ECO Chamber, host James Agyepong-Parsons speaks with lawyer Alexa Culver from RSK Wilding to unpick these updates, and hears why she says Labour’s net gain changes are a ‘wound’ to nature markets ‘but not a fatal one’.For this year’s final episode, ENDS Report deputy editor Tess Colley also looks back at the biggest UK environmental moments in Labour’s second year of government. PLUS: South East Water blames its own water sources following a two-week window where customers had to boil their water, the House of Lords has slammed the government’s response to its waste crime inquiry, and PFAS monitoring methods underestimate the true scale of forever chemical pollution, a cross-party group of MPs have been told. 

In this episode, we investigate the representation of working class voices in the UK’s environment sector, reveal exclusive ENDS analysis on the industry’s make-up and hear from those trying to break glass ceilings.New ENDS analysis shows that of more than 260 environmental professionals surveyed, more than two-thirds of respondents felt that working class individuals are either significantly or slightly under-represented in their organisations.Only a fifth felt this group was fairly represented. But the picture is arguably more nuanced that the data shows.To help wrestle with the numbers, in this podcast we speak to:Nadia Shaikh - a campaigner on land access and chair of the RAVEN networkDr Ciara Dwyer - a research fellow for DEFRA and co-chair of the Socioeconomic Equality and Diversity (SEED) networkSarah Mukherjee - chief executive officer at the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental ProfessionalsEmma River-Roberts - founder of the non-profit Working Class Climate Alliance

The economist John Fingleton has published his recommendations to streamline planning laws for the development of UK nuclear power – and they could have implications far beyond the nuclear industry.The prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has endorsed all of Fingleton’s recommendations and in a speech last week, promised to go further citing “well-intentioned, but fundamentally misguided, environmental regulations” as derailing the country’s infrastructure growth plans.On this week’s podcast, ECO Chamber host, James Agyepong-Parsons, and ENDS Report deputy editor, Tess Colley, speak with Georgia Dent, the chief executive officer at the Somerset Wildlife Trust to find out what it means for environmentalists. The team also discusses the Office for Environmental Protection’s latest report looking at England’s protected nature sites. PLUS: The creation of a national park in Wales has been rejected due to its ‘adverse impact’ on development prospects; DEFRA confirms the green light for Habitats Regulations changes tied to offshore wind; and the High Court has dismissed a legal challenge over Luton Airport’s expansion.

This week the government published its long-awaited Environmental Improvement plan. The report is intended to lay out how the government will deliver on the Environment Act 2021’s legally-binding targets.The reception has been mixed – but why has the prime minister’s words on the day sparked debate?On this week’s podcast, ECO Chamber host, James Agyepong-Parsons, and ENDS Report deputy editor, Tess Colley, speak with Ruth Chambers, senior research fellow at the think-tank Green Alliance to find out. From nature targets to a promised PFAS action plan, the team discusses the implications and potential impact of the new EIP. The team also gets to grips with the ramifications of the new budget wherein policies on climate and nature were notably absent. PLUS: A former top ranking officer in the British Army has warned that the UK could become an ‘ungovernable state’ if climate change is not taken seriously; nature duty amendments in a new Devolution Bill have been quashed; and the UK takes a leaf out of the Trumpian handbook at an international meeting intended to uphold environmental democracy. 

Climate negotiations at COP30 in Belém, Brazil have come to an end. On this week’s podcast, ECO Chamber special guest Dr Timo Leiter from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, and a veteran of eight international climate conferences, shares his insights on the latest summit.  The ENDS Report team discusses the progress made – or not made – on trade measures, climate finance and adaptation,and limiting global warming to a 1.5C increase. Did the ambitions of the 190 countries at COP 30 succeed, and what was it like without the US at the table?  The team also discusses the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as it nears the end of its journey through Parliament: the Commons’ latest rejection of two pro-nature amendments have meant last minute changes were put forward by the upper house… but did they succeed? PLUS: Conservationists and land managers have warned the government against changing England’s flagship biodiversity net gain policy, an environment minister has been accused of ‘impinging the independence’ of the Office for Environmental Protection, and in Northern Ireland an investigation has been launched into the regulation of sewage discharges into Belfast Lough.