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Morning News - Monday 3rd June 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 03.06.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Asda agrees to donate all surplus stock to FareShare - The Grocer

Asda has announced it will redistribute all surplus stock from its supply chain to 910 UK charities under the terms of a new partnership with food charity FareShare. The pioneering supply chain model will provide an additional 3.6 million meals each year across the UK and increase the quantity of chilled food sent to FareShare by 1,500 tonnes, a 41% increase in the total of all food currently redistributed by the charity.

Coalition energy policy 'threatens to destroy environmental case for HS2' - Guardian

Ed Davey attacks 'blinkered' climate change sceptics - BBC News

Energy Secretary Ed Davey is to make an unprecedented attack later today on climate change sceptics, complaining that right-wing newspapers are undermining science for political ends. He is set to accuses climate sceptics of nimbyism, publicity-seeking, and "blinkered... bloody-mindedness". His speech today comes ahead of a crucial Energy Bill vote, during which Mr Davey will be accused by backbenchers of betraying his party's green credentials.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Lord Sugar calls for green energy target - Financial Times

Energy firm says UK's shale gas resources could be huge - BBC News

Google completes search for first African solar project - BusinessGreen

Australia's wind energy debate spinning out of control - Guardian

Food

Asda aims to slash waste by giving away millions of surplus meals - BusinessGreen

Millennium Centre, Swansea Uni and hotel join Welsh waste agreement - ELN

Bumblebee project may help reverse UK decline - Independent

Finance

Cutting our carbon would help UK business - Financial Times

Ethical banking in Italy - The Economist

EU hails resounding success of green start up grants - BusinessGreen

Abbott strangles $20bn green investment – to save 50c/week - RenewEconomy

Other Interesting Stories

The readers' editor on... when unattributed facts need backing up - Guardian

Short-haired bumblebee given a second chance after being declared extinct - Times

On The Blog

Eco Hero: Clare Hierons, CEO of Carbon Leapfrog

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Morning News - Tuesday 28th May 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 28.05.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Green groups attack government resistance to EU climate change goals - Guardian

Green campaigners and industry experts have hit out at the government's plans to block new EU-wide renewable energy targets, which they say are essential to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and creating a green economy. Ed Davey will oppose any new goals on increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity generation, but will argue for climate change goals that would be tougher than any yet agreed in an international forum. Another nail in the coffin on the 'greenest government ever' promise.

Energy suppliers urge UK to back gas-fired power - Financial Times

Food banks struggle to feed hungry as demand rises - Guardian

A grim picture of a North London charity struggling to keep up with the inexorably rising demand for food parcels, as funding is cut.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Majority of EU states oppose Chinese solar panels duties - Telegraph

Tesla repays loan nine years early - Today's Energy Solutions

Best Western checks-in to electric motoring - BusinessGreen

Gamesa agrees supply of 230MW in India - Today's Energy Solutions

Food

Prince Charles attacks food production methods at German symposium - Guardian

EU fisheries ministers use bullying tactics to allow overfishing - WWF

Co-operative to phase out food waste to landfill by July - BusinessGreen

Faroe Islands face trade sanctions over fishery quotas - Independent

Finance

We need investment to return to its ‘patient evolutionary path’ - Blue&Green Tomorrow

UK green bus fleet gets £12m funding boost - BusinessGreen

HSBC veteran Niall Booker to lead troubled Co-op bank - Telegraph

Morning News - Friday 24th May 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 24.05.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

No 10’s new energy adviser is a former British Gas lobbyist - Independent

David Cameron has appointed Tara Singh, a former lobbyist for British Gas, to be his personal advisor on energy and climate change. Ms Singh was previously public affairs manager at British-Gas owner Centrica, a role which involved frequent contact with the Conservative Party. She is responsible for briefing the prime minister on a day-to-day basis on issues relating to energy and climate change, at a time when the Energy Bill is expected to be submitted for review. Critics will question whether impartial, and unbiased advice will be given to the Prime Minister.

House votes to take Keystone decision out of Obama’s hands - Grist

U.S. House of Representatives have passed a bill that would allow Keystone XL to bypass environmental laws and be built without approval from President Obama. The House voted 241-175 to do away with an ongoing environmental review for the northern leg of the tar-sands pipeline project and make it more difficult for opponents to file appeals. There is a glimmer of hope to be found in that support from the Democrats is waning, thanks to years of campaigning by environmentalists.

HSBC reviews logging policy as Bill Oddie film sparks petition - Independent

HSBC has ordered an audit of its relations with logging companies after Bill Oddie and NGO Global Witness exposed its links to clients responsible for the destruction of rainforests in Borneo. The campaign highlighted how HSBC clients have contributed to deforestation in the Malaysian state of Sarawak where less than 5 per cent of rainforests are untouched by logging or plantations. The humorous video went viral, in response to the public's outrage.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Fracking could ruin German beer industry, brewers tell Angela Merkel - Telegraph

Carbon capture in Europe a 'farce', say researchers - BusinessGreen

A perfect storm of energy supply problems - Financial Times

Will green energy prove cheaper than gas? - Guardian

Food

Booker sees boost from horsemeat scandal - Guardian

Tesco pledges action on food waste - Guardian

March Against Monsanto planned for UK cities - Farmers Weekly

Senate rejects GM food labelling amendment to farm bill - Guardian

Finance

A vision for the future - Move Your Money

Austerity fails to dent charitable giving - Telegraph

Entrepreneurs selected for social investment project - Blue&Green Tomorrow

‘The crux of sharia banking is ethical banking’ - Blue&Green Tomorrow

Other Interesting Stories

Feral: Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding by George Monbiot – review - Guardian

Running shoes leave large carbon footprint, study shows - Guardian

The double-edged sword of boycotting disposable fashion - TreeHugger

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Morning News - Tuesday 21st May 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 21.05.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Green heating payments to double for householders - Guardian

The government announced a development in its stopgap plans before the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme's repeatedly delayed launch in 2014. These one-off payments to help householders switch from heating their homes with oil to greener systems such as biomass boilers and solar thermal will double in most cases.

A third of councils 'in breach' of EU energy efficiency laws, FOI reveals - BG.

A third of all local authorities in England and Wales could be in breach of an EU directive designed to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

'Tangible' sign of support as Government doubles renewable heat funding - Edie

Could a tablet app help reduce wind farm objections? - BusinessGreen

Biofuels a boon for Brazil's rural poor, but obstacles remain elsewhere - Guardian

Australian researchers hail printable solar cells breakthrough - BusinessGreen

Food

Chelsea flower show: a guide to edible flowers - Guardian

Finance for farming: scaling up urban vegetable farming - Guardian

Food swapping: the movement taking off in the UK - BBC News

Marine Harvest agrees to limit pesticides and seal killings - Guardian

Finance

Multinational CEOs tell David Cameron to rein in tax avoidance rhetoric - Guardian

Could energy bills “overtake mortgages in the next five years”? - The Carbon Brief

Mervyn King's housing warning is too little, too late - Guardian

BP wants U.S. government to reduce court-ordered oil-spill payouts - Grist

Other Interesting Stories

PG Tips targets tea bag recycling with Recyclebank - Edie

Landowner facing legal action over broad restoration - Telegraph

Amazon deforestation rate up 88% over last year - TreeHugger

Poaching rise could wipe out forest elephants - The Times

In pictures: worst natural disasters of 2012 by numbers displaced - Guardian

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Morning News - Monday 20th May 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 20.05.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

David Cameron's call to tackle tax avoidance - Telegraph

The Prime Minister has written to leaders of Britain's offshore tax havens to push for international action to tackle tax avoidance schemes. Letters were sent to ten crown dependencies and British overseas territories, including Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. Mr Cameron's call comes ahead of the G8 summit next month, where aggressive tax evasion avoidance will be discussed.

Climate risk: UN says business response needs more urgency - BusinessGreen

A new report by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and consultancy giant PwC says that while there is a growing awareness of the threat floods, drought and storms can pose to business operations, companies rarely share expertise on how to cope with extreme weather threats with each other or the public sector. "Globalisation means disaster doesn't stop at the factory gate or the office door, and British businesses can't stick its head in the sand and hope it won't affect them," said Celine Herweijer, a partner in PwC's sustainability and climate change practice.

Britain’s Tory MPs face fracking challenge - Financial Times

Dozens of Conservative MPs in the southeast of England could see shale gas exploitation taking place in their constituencies as the government seeks to accelerate “fracking”. No fewer than 38 out of 62 MPs in the region have land with existing oil and gas drilling licenses – and 35 of them are Conservatives – according to data from DECC. Next month ministers will announce new tax breaks for shale gas, incentives for communities, and an major uplift in estimates of the size of reserves. Critics may wonder why tax breaks and community incentives are actively offered to fracking sites, but opposed for low-carbon energy generation sites.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Tar sands exploitation would mean game over for climate, warns leading scientist - Guardian

UK clean tech missions lined up for Colorado and Brazil - BusinessGreen

Empower Energies completes GM solar projects - Today's Energy Solutions

Saint Lucia waves goodbye to fossil fuels - BusinessGreen

Food

Science promises strawberry fields forever - Guardian

FSA Northern Ireland horsemeat misnaming 'cost 31 jobs' at Freeza - The Grocer

Ethical water brand One launches Juiced and Flavoured ranges - The Grocer

Finance

Tax avoidance: how to change corporate behaviour - Guardian

Green Investment Bank makes £5m biomass commitment - BusinessGreen

Pope Francis calls for ethical financial and economic reform - Irish Times

Bill Oddie takes on HSBC, and we like it - Move Your Money

Morning News - Friday 17th May 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 17.05.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

MPs confront Google over 'devious' attempt to avoid paying UK tax - Independent

The Internet giant on its back foot after shopping giant Amazon admitted it receives more in government grants than it pays in UK corporate tax. Labour MP Margaret Hodge led the committee's questioning.

Energy Bill could pass this summer as Parliament confirms date for Report Stage - E

Parliament has confirmed that The Energy Bill will go through the next stage of progress in the first week of June. Those in the industry will welcome the news as many have criticised its progression and particularly the length of time it took the Government to release the Draft Bill.

Guardian Sustainable Business Awards: who are the winners? - Guardian

Highlighting the great and the good of the business world, the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards are a highlight on the industry calendar. We share our pick of the winners below.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Desertec solar project to be sidelined, says German broadcaster - B&G T.

Some light in clean tech investing, despite the gloom - GreenBiz

DECC ‘doesn’t recognise’ figures in Civitas green subsidies study - B&G T.

Australia's 'unpopular' carbon price isn't to blame for Labor's poor polling - Guardian

Food

Asda regains trust of customers after horsemeat scandal - Guardian

Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant: Our critics are fuelled by 'Elitism' - Huffington Post

Organic Food is $63 Billion Global Industry - Sustainable Business

Finance

MP on Google tax avoidance scheme: 'I think that you do evil' - Guardian

Financial Times advises on how to become a shareholder activist - B&G T.

Financial sustainability: why NGOs are failing to engage investors - Guardian

Pope Francis attacks 'cult of money' in reform call - Guardian

Other Interesting Stories

Letters: How 'fair trade' could tackle sweatshops - Guardian

Comedy video spoofs Facebook's Keystone XL support - TreeHugger

In pictures: Raw power of the Sun - BBC News

Guardian Sustainable Business Awards: Our Picks

David Jones: Guardian Sustainable Business Leader of the Year - Guardian

BAM Nuttall peer-led training unlock wealth of hidden talents - Guardian

Neal's Yard Remedies: raising a swarm of protest against deadly pesticides - G.

M&S: proud to be the biggest – and the greenest - Guardian

National Trust Wales: king of the eco-castle - Guardian

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Morning News - Tuesday 14th May 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 14.05.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Centrica stokes energy fears by revealing EDF nuclear timescale has doubled - T.

In news that surprised no one, Centrica has ratcheted up fears over Britain’s energy security by warning that its rival EDF will take twice as long as originally planned to build the first of a new generation of nuclear power stations.

UK government to oppose 2025 European vehicle emissions target - Guardian

The UK government is to oppose a proposal for a tough new EU-wide target on carbon emissions from vehicles, provoking protests from environmental campaigners. The proposal for a 2025 target, by which emissions per car should not exceed 70g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, was made by Fiona Hall, a Liberal Democrat MEP. The UK coalition continues to forget they promised their voters the Greenest Government ever.

Bankwatch: Bill Oddie evicted from HSBC headquarters after logging protest - I.

Bill Oddie, the naturalist and BBC television presenter, has made a provocative protest film intended to embarrass the global bank HSBC over its links to logging companies blamed for the destruction of the rainforest in Malaysia. The brilliant stunt has attracted national coverage, driving up campaigners call to Move Your Money.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Lightsource liaises with local community over Wells 5.4MW solar farm - SPP.

Scotland awards £6.5m to develop energy sector skills - BusinessGreen

Horse meat burgers are scary but not as much as CO2 emissions - Guardian

Rainforest plays critical role in hydropower generation - BBC News

Food

EU's 'wasteful' fish discards policy nears the end of the line - Guardian

Breed insects to improve human food security: UN report - Guardian

UN urges people to eat insects to fight world hunger - BBC News

Vermont House passes GMO-labeling law - Grist

Finance

Conference calls for diversity in UK financial system - Blue&Green Tomorrow

Finance that turns people’s lives around: social impact bonds - B&G T.

The risks and benefits of green sovereign wealth funds - Project Syndicate

Driving the circular economy: info graphic - Guardian

Other Interesting Stories

Fallon tells business not to worry – he can multi-task - Energy Live News

Can Patagonia and eBay make shopping more sustainable? - Guardian

Canadian oil company threatens the survival of Peru’s ‘Jaguar people’ - Ecologist

Shed of the Year Competition has some inspiring entries - TreeHugger

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Morning News - Thursday 25th April 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 25.04.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Ministers 'not totally committed' on carbon - Independent

The parliamentary advisory group Committee on Climate Change has accused the Government of being only "half-committed" to low-carbon energy generation, warning that the UK is likely to miss emissions reduction targets as a result. In other breaking news, the Pope reveals his Catholicism.

Food for thought: Ben Affleck to ‘Live Below the Line’ with $1.50 daily budget - I.

Actor Ben Affleck is due to take up the #BelowTheLine challenge, and will live on $1.50 (£1) a day for five days next week, as one of thousands of participants around the world taking part, to raise awareness of global poverty.

Drax one step closer to biomass conversion project with £75m loan - Edie

The owner of the UK's largest power station has announced it has agreed a £75m private loan, underpinned by a Government guarantee to fund its biomass conversion project.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Drax secures £75m Treasury loan guarantee to switch from coal to biomass - BG.

Carbon Omissions: how the UK outsourced its carbon footprint – video animation - G

Why is Reuters puzzled by global warming's acceleration? - Guardian

Canadian oil minister Joe Oliver condemns climatologist James Hansen - Guardian

Food

Mining and logging companies 'leaving all of Chile without water' - Guardian

Food security: will a mix of policy, investment and biotech feed the world? - G.

Sainsbury's cuts water consumption by 50% - Edie

Finance

Co-op pulls out of buying Lloyds branches - Move Your Money

Will the public subsidise new nuclear? - The Carbon Brief

Brewin Dolphin looks to Bristol for ethical hub - City Wire

Firm launches research tool for sustainable investment - Blue&Green Tomorrow

Other Interesting Stories

Dhaka: many dead as garment factory building that supplied west collapses - G.

A Gap between your words and the truth - Greenpeace

UK Government fails to take wildlife crime seriously - Ecologist

Attenborough to launch Tweet Of The Day on Radio 4 - BBC News

On The Blog

National Trust commits to renewable energy

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Morning News - Tuesday 23rd April 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 23.04.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Business leaders push for energy efficiency ahead of EU meeting in Dublin - Edie

The business community has calculated that the efficient use of energy over the next 17 years can offset the investment required for energy infrastructure in Europe by €30bn (£25.6m) per year. The meeting is ahead of European Energy and Environment Ministers' summit in Dublin this week to discuss, among other items, the Commission Consultation Paper on post-2020 vision.

Justin Welby calls for introduction of regional banks - Guardian

The archbishop of Canterbury has warned that Britain was stuck in an economic depression and called for major steps to drag the country out of it, including the breakup of a major bank in order to create regional lenders. His proposal has been met with some cheer from ethical financiers. Welby speaks days before key GDP data is expected to show the economy remains stalled.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

No Dash for Gas plans return to West Burton power station for protest - Guardian

Devon set to get 4.8MW solar development - Blue&Green Tomorrow

LED lamps illuminate Philips' first quarter results - BusinessGreen

Facebook launches live data center efficiency dashboard - TreeHugger

Food

Scientists attack government climbdown on marine protection - Guardian

Sainsbury's claims new store in Solihull is Britain's 'greenest' - Edie (Energy)

Weetabix supplies hit by dismal harvest - Guardian

Unearthing the value of soil - Green Futures

Finance

This faith in the markets is misplaced: only governments can save our living planet - Guardian

Bloomberg: Renewables investment set to triple by 2030 - BusinessGreen

Improving energy efficiency is good for investors as well as the planet - Guardian

Responsible investment terms: what is norms-based screening? - B&G T.

Other Interesting Stories

Earth Day 2013: Philippines unveils building made from plastic bottles - Guardian

Indian man who planted a 1,360-acre forest now plans to plant another - TreeHugger

How the burning of fossil fuels was linked to a warming world in 1938 - Guardian

Study: Green spaces boosts wellbeing of urban dwellers - BBC News

Brazil's green flagbearer Marina Silva ready to get back in the race - Guardian

On The Blog

National Trust commits to renewable energy

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Morning News - Monday 22nd April 2013

HJ Fantaskis | 22.04.13

TOP NEWS STORIES

Google Doodle celebrates Earth Day 2013 - Independent

Earth Day 2013 has been given a major boost thanks to Google featuring it as its doodle (it is Google's 13th Earth Day doodle). Earth Day is held every year on 22 April to highlight environmental issues, with events held around the world to show support. More than one billion people across 192 countries now participate in activities every year, with planting trees being one of the most popular ways to show support.

Marine scientists attack government climbdown on marine protection - Guardian

The UK's top marine scientists have denounced government ministers for reneging on plans to protect marine life by banning the most destructive fishing and dredging in the seas around the British Isles. Sealife, including fish, lobsters, oysters and seahorses, has been in rapid decline for years. A two-year, £8m consultation involving thousands of people and the government's own scientific advisers concluded that 127 marine protection zones (MPZs) were needed to halt the decline. But the environment minister, Richard Benyon rejected this advice, proposing instead to establish just 31 MPZs, none of which would be completely protected.

Exclusive: Minister confirms plan to increase support for renewable heat technologies - BusinessGreen

The financial returns for businesses installing renewable heat technologies are likely to increase from next year, after climate minister Greg Barker confirmed an upcoming consultation on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will increase tariffs for some technologies. The news was announced as Barker acknowledged the department had faced a series of technical and resource issues that have resulted in repeated delays to the introduction of the domestic RHI scheme.

OTHER STORIES

Energy

Close coal power plants, says report - Financial Times

Fracking 'unlikely to give UK cheap gas', report says - Independent

Google asks utilities to make it easier for companies to buy renewable energy - TC

Am I paying a lot for 'green' energy? - The Observer

Best energy deals this spring - Telegraph

Food

Watered down? Experts' fury at ministers over plans for protecting British seas - I.

Recyclebank launches new food waste reward scheme - BusinessGreen

UK apple growers set to benefit from EC pesticide rule change - The Grocer

How Monsanto went from selling aspirin to controlling our food supply - TruthOut