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Whitehaven coal mine approved, York's green home revolution, Zero-emissions electric bus service, and more...

Wed, 14 October 2020

 National News In Brief (October 2020): 

Pawprint | New Carbon Footprint Tool

Wed, 14 October 2020

Pawprint is a new online tool that helps you measure, understand, and reduce your carbon footprint.

The Pawprint web app allows you to:

  1. Calculate your personal carbon score with a science-based calculator (data has been validated by leading carbon expert, Mike Berners-Lee).
     
  2. Understand your own environmental impact more clearly through data visualisation, carbon equivalents, and jargon-free explanations.
     
  3. Set carbon reduction goals that suit your personal lifestyle.
     
  4. Stay motivated to reduce your impact via pawprint's challenges and nudges.

https://bit.ly/3jydPTP

Cambridge University to Divest From Fossil Fuels by 2030

Wed, 14 October 2020

Following a five-year campaign by students, academics and politicians, Cambridge University has finally agreed to divest its £3.5bn endowment fund, one of the largest in Europe, from fossil fuel corporations by 2030.  

This is part of a wider plan to reduce the University's emissions to net-zero by 2038. Also, all future research funding and other donations will be checked thoroughly to ensure compatibility with the university’s net zero target before any funding is accepted.

The Cambridge Zero Carbon Campaign welcomed the announcement as a “historic victory for the divestment movement”.

https://bit.ly/3niFaf6

Credit Photo by Vadim Sherbakov on Unsplash  

Government Pledges Every Home In The UK Will Be Powered By Offshore Wind Farm By 2030

Wed, 14 October 2020

At the virtual Conservative party conference on Tuesday 6th October, the PM pledged that offshore wind farms will generate enough electricity to power every home in the UK within a decade – raising Government’s target for offshore wind power capacity from 30 gigawatts to 40 gigawatts.

He said the UK would “become the world leader in low-cost clean power generation" comparing the UK’s resources in offshore wind to Saudi Arabia’s oil wealth.

The Government also announces a £160m plan to upgrade ports and factories for building turbines to help the country "build back greener".  This investment aims to rapidly create about 2,000 construction jobs and support up to 60,000 jobs by 2030.

These commitments are the first stage of a 10-point plan for a "green industrial revolution" from the government. 
https://bbc.in/3nyAceu

Single-use Plastic Straws, Stirrers and Cotton Buds Banned in England

Wed, 14 October 2020

From 1st October, it is now illegal for Businesses to sell or supply single use plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds. Hospitals, bars and restaurants will still be able to provide plastic straws to people with disabilities or medical conditions. 

It is estimated that people use an estimated 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England each year. Environmental campaigners welcomed the ban, but stress that stronger, more ambitious plans are needed to tackle the plastic pollution problem.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said the government was "building plans" for a deposit return scheme to encourage recycling of single-use drinks containers.

BBC: https://bbc.in/2GiP3sJ
Independent: https://bit.ly/3jzjB7Q