Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

As the UK’s green regulators work to improve processes and outcomes, the country’s independent public spending watchdog - @nao.org.uk - makes a series of key recommendations.

#environment #climate #policy

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

National Audit Office: Defra, Environment Agency, Natural England need strategic reform

As the UK’s green regulators work to improve processes and outcomes, the country’s independent public spending watchdog makes a series of key recommendations. Organisations including the Department f...

environmentjournal.online

January 9, 2026 at 12:30 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

New strategic policy recommendations turn natural capital into critical infrastructure.

It's time to re-assess what we prioritise in terms of economic value.

#economy #environment #climate #UK @isepglobal.bsky.social

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

These strategic policy recommendations turn natural capital into critical infrastructure

A new report based on insights from experts in transport, energy, water, and finance shows how environmental decline leads to economic loss, and shows how we can rethink value. Natural Capital is Cri...

environmentjournal.online

January 8, 2026 at 4:55 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

2025 was a good year for #EV manufacturers in the UK, which is now Europe's second biggest electric vehicle market.

#travel #automotive #electriccars

environmentjournal.online/transport/ca...

Carmakers meet UK EV sales target for second year running

Sales of new pure electric vehicles surpassed 470,000 in 2025, as low emission cars account for almost half of the total market. In comparison, the number of internal combustion cars running on petro...

environmentjournal.online

January 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

The office decorations may have come down, but there’s still time to make your festive waste stream circular.

#waste #christmastree #pollution

environmentjournal.online/waste-recycl...

Christmas trees should never wind up in landfill

The office decorations may have come down, but there’s still time to make your festive waste stream circular. January isn’t most people’s favourite month. After the highs of Christmas and New Year we’...

environmentjournal.online

January 7, 2026 at 1:11 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

We roundup the UK's very first Green Future Fellows projects - from energy storage in ammonia to computer memory systems that run cold.

@raeng.org.uk #technology #climate #science

environmentjournal.online/headlines/ho...

Homegrown heroes: UK’s first Green Future Fellows rewarded for eco efforts

£39 million has been awarded to innovators working on high impact climate solutions. Here’s what you need to know about the projects and pioneers. The first ever Green Future Fellows were recognised ...

environmentjournal.online

January 7, 2026 at 9:18 AM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

UK and US #oil firms and investment funds are circling #Venezuela - home to more untapped barrels of crude than anywhere else.

But the technology and processes required to extract this form of black gold pose a grave threat to our #environment.

environmentjournal.online/energy/venez...

Venezuela’s oil rush is a climate catastrophe waiting to happen

The South American country has the largest black gold reserves in the world. Reopening its market to UK and US prospectors raises huge environmental questions. Since US forces captured Venezuelan Pres...

environmentjournal.online

January 6, 2026 at 2:27 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Workers' rights and Scope 3 emissions should be enough to convince leaders to clean up supply chains this year.

#environment #equality #employment #emissions

environmentjournal.online/headlines/wo...

Workers’ rights, Scope 3 emissions: cleaning out supply chains for 2026

Just 6% of UK organisations are on track to reduce off-site carbon output. Poor health, safety and staff conditions prevail at third party workplaces. So how about making a New Year’s resolution with ...

environmentjournal.online

January 6, 2026 at 11:17 AM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Total natural #water storage is declining in many parts of Europe, including groundwater.

Meanwhile, northwestern regions are now worth more than their historic weight in H20.

Confused? We explain a pioneering @ucl.ac.uk study.

#climatechange #climate

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

Satellite analysis reveals worrying European groundwater weight loss

More than two decades of data have been used to determine a gradual loss of both surface and subsurface supplies across swathes of the continent. Scientists at University College London, in collabora...

environmentjournal.online

December 17, 2025 at 12:21 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

22 months on, the #Bradford Clean Air Zone may have saved local services £180 million.

@york.ac.uk

#airpollution #airquality #pollution #publichealth

environmentjournal.online/waste-recycl...

City of Bradford Clean Air Zone delivers authority £180m savings

According to one assessment, the emissions-reducing policy has also boosted productivity. York University’s study of Bradford’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) claims a £180.84million boost to the regional econ...

environmentjournal.online

December 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

But the worst for chocolate waste.

So what if a form of red algae could eat the leftovers and produce an eco-food colouring?

#christmas #foodwaste #climate

environmentjournal.online/waste-recycl...

Can red algae eat our Christmas chocolate waste?

Approved for use in the US, scientists are turning factory offcuts and discarded cocoa shells into a new colourant. Developed by researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (K...

environmentjournal.online

December 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Can a world drowning in #debt even survive the #climate crisis?

Based on the current #economic direction, maybe not.

@sussex.ac.uk

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

A world drowning in debt cannot survive climate decline

Financial and environmental crises are feeding off each other, creating a new global poverty-environment trap, with little hope of disruption under the current system. According to a new paper publish...

environmentjournal.online

December 16, 2025 at 12:57 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

26 years after a total ban, asbestos remains Britain’s leading cause of work-related death. Numbers are expected to rise again.

Removal experts, engineers, and doctors explain the insidious legacy in schools, hospitals and town halls.

environmentjournal.online/features-opi...

Safe spaces: the insidious legacy of asbestos in UK public buildings

One of the most dangerous forms of air pollution is not being taken seriously despite the huge threat to teachers, students, doctors, nurses and council staff. Policy changes could help, but successiv...

environmentjournal.online

December 11, 2025 at 3:32 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Aberdeen is getting a new EV ultra rapid charging hub.

#ev #electricvehicle #transport

environmentjournal.online/transport/ab...

Aberdeen is getting a new EV ultra rapid charging hub

The new facility in the Blackburn neighbourhood will benefit from four 240kW dual socket charge points, powering up to eight electric vehicles at a time. Delivered by EV charge point Believ, the new...

environmentjournal.online

December 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

'FastTech' and cheap Christmas lights are a leading cause of bin lorry, recycling plant and landfill fire.

The UK spent £1.7bn on these items during 2024's festivities.

#ewaste #electricalwaste #pollution #recycling
@recycleelectricals.bsky.social

environmentjournal.online/waste-recycl...

‘FastTech’ Christmas lights are setting waste streams on fire

183million cheap plug-in and battery products were bought ahead of the holidays last year, sending the risk of blazes at recycling centres rocketing. According to a new report from Recycle Your Elect...

environmentjournal.online

December 10, 2025 at 2:46 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Imagine if the 40million miles of road in the world were a vast #carbon storage network?

Can Carbon Crusher make it happen?

#emissions #CCS #carbon #travel #potholes

environmentjournal.online/transport/ma...

Mars Rover technology can turn our roads into carbon storage networks

With Britain’s pothole epidemic making headlines again for all the wrong reasons, can a new approach to laying tarmac offer a solution? Carbon Crusher Inc., an American and Norwegian ‘road-tech’ start...

environmentjournal.online

December 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

£7.8m will go to southern and central Scotland #communities hosting #energy transmission infrastructure.

Upskilling and development, social cohesion projects, green improvements and more will be funded through the investment.

environmentjournal.online/energy/7-8m-...

£7.8m for southern and central Scotland communities hosting energy transmission infrastructure

Funding will be delivered through one of the UK’s leading electricity transmission and distribution network management companies. SP Energy Networks has announced a £7.8million fund aimed at providin...

environmentjournal.online

December 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

What happens when the press misinterprets and miscalculates #science?

We speak to a researcher about the dangers of reporting inaccuracies, and how falsities spread like wildfire across media and social media.

#population #water #environment #climate

environmentjournal.online/headlines/wh...

When the media misreported a human population study, and everyone panicked

Headlines grossly misrepresented a groundbreaking paper through misinterpretation, miscalculation, reproduction and automation. The original researcher explains why this is so damaging. In the grand ...

environmentjournal.online

December 4, 2025 at 2:02 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

A school in Canning Town, #EastLondon, has launched a pioneering community #solar project which could save the campus over £6k per year, and deliver cheap #energy to neighbours.

#newham #London #schools

environmentjournal.online/energy/first...

First-of-its-kind energy project launches at Canning Town school

The scheme aims to prove ‘benefits of local solar generation’, making electricity more affordable for the community with the hope of triggering policy change. E.ON Next’s pilot has launched in Canni...

environmentjournal.online

December 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Over 440 councillors across @teamlabouruk.bsky.social, @greenparty.org.uk, and @libdems.org.uk signed an open letter calling for more local power to tackle #climate crisis.

#GreaterManchester #EastMidlands #Calderdale #Dorset #Hertfordshire #nature

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

Why London, Manchester, Calderdale, Dorset, Herts leaders backed Devolution nature amendments

In total, more than 440 councillors support additions to the Community Empowerment Bill which put more power in the hands of local government to to mitigate and adapt in the face of our changing clima...

environmentjournal.online

December 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

What’s in Downing Street's new #Environment Improvement Plan?

We take a closer look.

#nature #waterpollution #airquality #airpollution #biodiversity

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

What’s in Downing Street’s new Environment Improvement Plan

A comprehensive document has been published detailing goals and measures government will take to improve and support nature. Here’s what you need to know. Unveiled yesterday. Monday 1st December, the...

environmentjournal.online

December 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

Millions of Britons are misinformed on the most cost effective way to stay warm this winter.

Is it up to local authority comms to break through the noise?

environmentjournal.online/energy/counc...

#energy #heating #localgovernment

Council comms teams must help households reduce bills

According to a new national survey, millions of Britons are misinformed on the most cost effective way to stay warm this winter. Conducted this autumn by energy saving specialists at Utilita, researc...

environmentjournal.online

November 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

New research suggests there may be more effective ways to restore Britain's #woodlands than purely focusing on new plantations.

@stir.ac.uk #nature #biodiversity

environmentjournal.online/climate-chan...

Tree planting may not be the best approach to reforesting

New research suggests there may be more effective ways to restore Britain’s woodlands than purely focusing on new plantations. Led by Dr Elisa Fuentes-Montemayor, Senior Lecturer in Nature-Based Solu...

environmentjournal.online

November 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM

Environment Journal

@environmentjournal.bsky.social

#UKbudget is revealed tomorrow.

Some analysts claim the UK could save €35billion from future balance sheets by taking #energy independence seriously.

environmentjournal.online/energy/uk-bu...