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Eco Chamber
The highways from hell killing our waterways PLUS the latest general election green policy pledges
Season 2024, Ep. 94
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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.
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For this week’s Big Green News, the team discusses:
- The latest green policies and pledges hoping to win votes at the next election. We’ll discuss Labour’s pledge to create national forests for all, the Lib Dem’s love for water slides and water policy action and discuss where a new Conservative government might stand on the environment if elected.
- For the news-in-brief, we find out more about the firefighters being tested for PFAS contamination, the phosphates moratorium lifted in Poole Harbour and new data confirming that the Asian hornet is now able to tough it out when it comes to the UK’s winters.
- For our Deep Dive, we’ll speed through the facts of the secret ecological killer that is road run-off – a toxic cocktail of chemicals that is infiltrating our waterways across the country.
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136. Unplanned consequences? Planning Bill steams ahead and British Steel scoop
15:20||Season 2025, Ep. 136Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:The attempts being made by MPs to amend the controversial Planning and Infrastructure Bill.How documents obtained by ENDS have revealed the repeated environmental breaches at British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant.Plus, we get you up to speed on why sewage sludge fertiliser suppliers may be ‘particularly at risk of PFAS litigation in the UK, what the green watchdog said in its submission to a major review of water regulations, and the union leader calling for an urgent meeting with the government over its quango review.135. Down but not out? Greening Britain’s steel and Gove’s return
14:02||Season 2025, Ep. 135Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories, and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:The government's intervention over the running of British Steel in Scunthorpe and its net zero future.The return of former environment secretaries - like Micheal Gove - who have ascended to the House of Lords.Plus, ‘agile’ environmental permitting, ‘local species extinction’ via the Planning Bill, and Westminster's PFAS probe.134. Trump tariff turbulence meets UK net zero
17:55||Season 2025, Ep. 134Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories, and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:The implications of US president Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs and the knock-on impacts on net zero policies in the UK.How the environment sector has responded to the Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell announcing he is stepping down - while Natural England’s chair Tony Juniper steps up for a third term.Plus, a landmark legal ruling on rivers; Natural England’s new five-year plan, and DEFRA quangos face existential threat.133. Bees saved from the bonfire? DEFRA review recommends red tape revolution
21:58||Season 2025, Ep. 133Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories, and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:The Corry review and the burning consequences for nature and environmental policy. How experts are warning that the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill may breach international environmental law. Plus, Alan Lovell's departure as Environment Agency (EA) chair, the government’s £150m ‘employee exit schemes’, and the EA’s dirty waste tyre exports-problem.132. Road run-off rage as DEFRA braces for budget cuts
17:57||Season 2025, Ep. 132Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories, and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:An exclusive on how toxic chemicals from road run-off are spilling within striking distance of protected sitesWhat the environment secretary has told MPs about the future cuts needed for the DEFRA Group to remain in budgetPlus, we learn more about the government's new National Action Plan on pesticides, the OEP's reaction to the environmental implications of the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and Tony Juniper’s reappointment as chair of Natural England.131. Eight legs, 15,000 homes and an action plan
26:53||Season 2025, Ep. 131Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories, and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:The Treasury’s action plan to cut the administrative burden of red tape and what it means for environmental regulationSir Keir Starmer’s attack on the “watchdog state” where “distinguished jumping spiders” are holding back the development of whole new townsPlus, we explore how excess phosphates have stung development within a Welsh special area of conservation (SAC), discuss the government’s new reforms to the bathing water regulations, and look at the start of work to clean up plastic nurdles following the collision of two ships last week in the North Sea.WATCH NOW > LEGACY: How the Environment Act was made – and what its architects think of it now, which is free for a limited time only.130. EA's hazardous staffing crisis and nature levy lurches forward
13:58||Season 2025, Ep. 130Every week, the ENDS team enters the ECO Chamber to discuss the UK’s biggest green news stories, and bring you up to speed on the latest developments in environmental policy.This week, ENDS journalists discuss:An exclusive on why the Environment Agency (EA) is struggling to recruit staff to regulate England’s most hazardous sites.The big announcements laid bare in the government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, including its new nature levy.Plus, how Walleys Quarry owes the EA £600,000, the government's big plans for the North Sea transition away from fossil fuels, and the North Sea tanker collision.129. DEFRA frees the beavers and fresh Walleys Quarry woes
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