Eco Chamber

What were the regulation-slashing announcements in Sir Keir Starmer's speech, and do they signal a war on nature? Who is the 'nature voice' in the government’s new clean power unit? And are dams and reservoirs for hydro projects among the “least intrusive” of renewable energy technologies? Find out in this week's episode of the 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.This week ENDS journalists look at:The regulation-slashing stance taken by prime minister Sir Keir Starmer in his latest speech The nature charity chief appointed to the government’s new clean power unitAnd what you need to know about the Disneyland-style theme park plans haunting a nature reserve, deposit return scheme dramas; and a new natural capital reportFor this week’s fact-check, the team evaluate the truth behind a claim that dams and reservoirs are among the “least intrusive” of renewable energy technologies, made in a Telegraph article, in the wake of the government’s new dam building drive.

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.In this week’s episode, the team explores:The Office for Environmental Protection's landmark legal action on how the government implements its statutory requirements to restore and improve the environmental condition of waterways.Northern Ireland's new environmental improvement plan published after more than a year-long absence.And for the news-in-brief section the team learns: Why the communities secretary approved housing in Cambridge despite water supply issues.The pesticides in our foodsAnd the appointment of a new climate envoy. For this week’s deep-dive the team brings you an ENDS' exclusive on the sewage sludge fertiliser spreading toxic PFAS on our crops and soil.

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.In this week’s episode, the team explores:The Labour Party conference and the takehomes, takeovers and takedowns that took place during its Liverpool event. And for the news-in-brief section the team learns more about: New guidance on scattering pet ashes The ‘world's rarest lichen’ discovered in Cumbria And the Welsh watchdog looking to cut staff numbers. For this week’s deep-dive, the team factchecks the truth behind claims that Labour is looking to buyout Thames Water

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.In this week’s episode, the team explores:PFAS. How much is it going to cost and how long have our agency’s known about its dangers? And planning for the UK’s first new deep sea coal mine in decades has been quashed by the courts… why?In the news-in-brief section the team discusses:DEFRA's order to ‘regulate more effectively’. Labour’s climate and nature special envoys and Severn Trent's £300K payout following the pollution of a Gloucestershire brook.For this week’s deep-dive, the team factchecks the true cost of renationalising the water companies.

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.In this week’s episode, the team explores:The implications of Labour's new water bill, which includes the threat of criminal action against water company executives who don't clean up their act. Why conservationists want to close loopholes emerging in biodiversity net gain policy.In the news-in-brief section the team discusses: The final report on Grenfell TowerScotland’s nature bill.And the energy majors pursuing oil and gas in the North Sea. For this week’s deep-dive, the team factchecks the Conservative's claim that Labour’s ‘reckless plans’ are compromising food security in favour of giant solar farm development.

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.In this week’s episode the team discusses:Labour's plan to eradicate bovine TB through the use of badger and cattle vaccines and also the planned five-year badger cull still ahead.Why the new government has ditched its legal defence of North Sea oil and gas field consents.For the news-in-brief: Natural England has received just three applications for biodiversity net gain credits in the scheme’s first six months, Drax pays £25m after an Ofgem probe finds data governance failures, and conservationists have launched a judicial review to reduce livestock grazing on Dartmoor, why?And finally, in this week’s deep-dive, the team speaks to Jo Bradley of Stormwater Shepherds on toxic road run-off, the ecological poisoning of our wildlife and the poorly devised monitoring regimes that govern the fallout from our motorways.

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 finds out about London City Airport's expansion and how it fits into Labour's green agenda as a whole. We also learn about the toxic sludge being spread on our farmers’ fields, who’s regulating it, and why is George Monbiot involved?And the news-in-brief: Scotland’s nature fund will be spent on public pay disputes, how does Scotland's drinking water rank globally, and why is Ed Miliband celebrating a big solar victory?For this week’s fact check, the ECO Chamber analyses the Advertising Standards Authority's pursuit of Virgin Atlantic for its claim that it had flown the world’s first flight on 100% sustainable aviation fuels.

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 finds out about the Walsall chemical spill and the thousands of litres of toxic waste that’s leaked into the town’s canal.We also learn about the golf courses in the firing line for over abstraction during the hottest year on record.And the news-in-brief: Labour drops legal action against a sign-wielding climate activist, provisional fees for extended producer responsibility have at long last been published by the government, and the Net Zero Teesside legal action has been thrown out by the courts, why?For this week’s deep-dive, the ECO Chamber speaks to Ben Reynolds, the executive director of the Institute for European Environmental Policy UK about policy divergences and chemicals between the UK and the EU.