Eco Chamber

Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK's biggest green news stories, and take a forensic look at one of the deep-rooted environmental issues facing us today. For this week's big green news, the team discusses:Why Environment Secretary Steve Barclay’s department DEFRA has called time on approving any new energy from waste plants while he himself has been burned in connection to an incinerator in his own patch.The EA’s first ever chief regulator, who are they and what's their plan to help the regulator? And the good news that beavers are building a new landscape in Essex. We’ll be taking a look at what’s been going on at the Spains Hall Estate. For our deep dive, we’ll be exploring the complexities of the Norwich Western Link road where a super colony of protected barbastelle bats are at the centre of a construction dispute between the Conservative-run council and wildlife regulator Natural England. 

Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK's biggest green news stories, and take a forensic look at one of the deep-rooted environmental issues facing us today. For this week's big green news, the team discusses:Thames Water’s fresh financial crisis after shareholders refused to back £500 million worth of funding to prop up the ailing water company. It blames regulatory arrangements but does that hold water?Ofwat's new duty to promote growth... how will this impact enforcement? And finally, we’ll be looking over the border and discuss the good news that Scotland’s recycling rates are at an all time high.For our deep dive, we’ll be speaking we’ll be exploring the kelp forests of Sussex.

Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK's biggest green news stories, and take a forensic look at one of the deep-rooted environmental issues facing us today.For this week's big green news, the team discusses:Labour’s net zero secretary Ed Miliband and the party’s abandoned flagship £28bn annual fund to combat climate change.A controversial move by the National Park Authority of Dartmoor to seek changes to the way sites of special scientific interest are graded that some say is a backwards step for nature.And the news that lawyers are trying to take the government to court after energy secretary Claire Coutinho approved plans for Drax to install carbon capture technology at its Yorkshire biomass plant. But will they win? We’ll find out. For our deep dive, we’ll be speaking with insect and biodiversity net gain expert Nat Duffus from the University of Oxford on why net gain might be neglecting one of nature’s most important living organisms on this planet… can you guess which ones they are?

Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK's biggest green news stories, and take a forensic look at one of the deep-rooted environmental issues facing us today.For this week's big green news, the team discusses:The UK’s environmental watchdogs coordinated investigation into ‘possible failures’ to comply with environmental law to protect wild birds.The latest move to strip Natural England of its powers to designate protected sites.And the nature watchdog’s comeback over the designation of a protected site in Cornwall. For our deep dive, which really does shine a light on the issue, ENDS Compliance manager Alice Fillan speaks to ECO Chamber producer James Agyepong-Parsons about the pollution problems of artificial light and the unwanted sounds of the built environment.

Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK's biggest green news stories, and take a forensic look at one of the deep-rooted environmental issues facing us today.For this week's big green news, the team discusses:The government plans to turn Cambridge into the Europe’s answer to Silicon Valley, and other green spring budget updates.The good, bad and the ugly of the EA’s scorecard. A political row over Rishi Sunak’s sentiments in a Rural Payments Agency email.For our deep dive, which really does get below the surface, ENDS editor Jamie Carpenter is learning all about animal noises, biodiversity net gain, and artificial intelligence with the “King of Bioacoustics”, Dr Carlos Abrahams.The director of ecoacoustics at consultancy Baker Consultants and part-time lecturer at Nottingham Trent University gives insights into the fascinating emerging area which relates to our planet’s soundtrack, and what it tells us. 

Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK's biggest green news stories, as well as taking a forensic look at one of the deep-rooted environmental issues facing us today.For this week's big green news the team discusses:Why the notorious Walleys Quarry landfill has been given a suspension noticeWhat Ofwat's new 'growth duty' will mean for regulating water companiesWhy Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aren't happy about Westminster’s shortlist for the new climate watchdog boss