Asim Ali, IEMA’s Senior Public Affairs Officer, examines these latest developments and their potential impact on the UK’s decarbonisation and sustainability efforts.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Single-Use Vapes to Be Banned from June 2025 A nationwide ban on single-use vapes will take effect on 1 June 2025. Retailers are encouraged to sell off remaining stock. This ban is part of efforts to reduce environmental waste and curb vaping among young people.
Reforms to Environmental Regulation Aim to Support Growth and Nature The UK government is simplifying environmental regulations to support economic growth and nature conservation. A review led by Dan Corry proposed 29 recommendations for streamlining processes, with no large-scale deregulation planned.
Baroness Minette Batters to Lead Review on Farm Profitability Baroness Minette Batters will lead a review on improving farm profitability. The review aims to ensure the financial resilience of farms across different sectors, with input from farmers and relevant stakeholders.
New Climate Adaptation Research Framework Released The Climate Adaptation Research and Innovation Framework (CARIF) identifies research gaps to aid the UK in adapting to climate change. It will guide future funding and collaboration in climate adaptation.
£45 Million Investment in Agricultural Innovation The government has committed £45 million to support innovations in agriculture. Funded projects include robotic fruit pickers and advanced irrigation systems aimed at boosting food production while protecting the environment.
Crackdown on Fly-Tipping Includes Vehicle Seizures and Destruction Councils will have more power to seize and destroy vehicles used in illegal waste dumping. The government is also streamlining procedures to ensure that offenders bear the cost of vehicle seizure.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Government Invests £20 Million to Unlock £100 Million for UK Fusion Sector The government has invested £20 million in Starmaker One, a UK fusion investment fund, to leverage over £100 million into the fusion sector. This marks the first government-public venture partnership in the fusion sector, supporting jobs and clean growth.
Hydrogen Projects Shortlisted to Drive Jobs and Clean Industry 27 hydrogen projects have been selected to support clean energy across UK manufacturing and power sectors. The initiative will back industrial decarbonisation and create thousands of clean energy jobs.
Clean Energy Apprenticeships to Power the UK’s Net Zero Workforce The government and industry are collaborating to train a skilled workforce in clean energy. Regional skills pilots in various locations will create apprenticeships and ensure the workforce can meet net zero targets by 2030.
New Nuclear Leadership to Accelerate Clean Power Plans John Fingleton CBE has been appointed to lead the Nuclear Taskforce. The role will focus on accelerating regulatory reforms and the development of new nuclear power stations, advancing the UK’s clean energy goals.
Reforms to Grid Connections to Unlock Billions in Clean Energy A new approach from Ofgem will prioritise clean energy projects in grid connection processes, unlocking an estimated £40 billion in private investment and speeding up infrastructure delivery.
UK Businesses Backed to Lead in Global Carbon Markets The government is supporting UK firms to participate in global carbon credit markets, positioning the UK as a hub for green finance and unlocking new funding streams for climate action.
Great British Energy to Lead on Ethical Clean Energy Supply Chains An amendment to the Great British Energy Bill will ensure the public energy company sources materials through ethical supply chains, excluding forced labour and supporting responsible investment.
New Smart Appliance Standards to Help Households Cut Bills New regulations will ensure that electric heating appliances and EV charge points have smart features, enabling households to manage energy usage more efficiently and reduce costs.
£300 Million Investment to Boost Offshore Wind Supply Chains The Prime Minister has announced £300 million for Great British Energy to drive investment in offshore wind supply chains, securing jobs and attracting global investment in the renewable energy sector.
Government Invites Clean Energy Developers to ‘Build It in Britain’ The government is encouraging clean energy developers to invest in the UK. Senior ministers have outlined the benefits of building new energy infrastructure in Britain to support clean energy ambitions.
New Carbon Capture Network to Create Jobs and Cut Emissions A major carbon capture and storage network will begin construction, supporting 2,000 jobs and reducing emissions in key industrial regions. The UK-led Global Clean Power Alliance will also work on diversifying clean energy supply chains.
More Choice and Training to Support Greener Homes The government is offering more choices for homeowners upgrading their heating systems, with new products like heat batteries and air-to-air heat pumps. Additionally, 18,000 training places will be created to support green home upgrades.
Government Consults on Planning Policy for New Energy Infrastructure The government is consulting on updates to its National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure, aiming to create a faster, more resilient planning system aligned with net zero and energy security goals. The consultation closes on 29th May.
Select Committees
Energy Security and Net Zero Committee The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee is investigating how to address workforce gaps in green energy sectors, particularly retrofitting and energy infrastructure. It will explore funding options for worker training and reskilling to meet clean energy goals.
They are also seeking input on the draft updates to the National Policy Statements for energy infrastructure. These updates aim to streamline planning processes and reduce delays caused by local objections. The deadline is 12th May.
Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is seeking clarification from the Environment Secretary on how the government plans to balance environmental protections with economic growth, particularly in relation to air quality and biodiversity targets.
Net Zero Plans and Fossil Fuel Lobbying The EAC has written to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband for answers on the government’s net zero strategy and concerns about fossil fuel lobbyists influencing the Seventh Carbon Budget.
APPGs
Environment APPG The Environment APPG will host a briefing with the Climate Change Committee (CCC) on the progress of adapting to climate change. This will follow the release of the CCC’s report on the UK’s adaptation efforts.
Net Zero APPG
The latest session of the Net Zero APPG focused on decarbonising transport. Experts and policymakers discussed the practical and political reforms needed to achieve the government’s goal of reducing transport emissions by 81% by 2035.
