🔍 😌 This is what it looks like to breathe a sigh of relief after giving oral evidence in Parliament! 💚This pm I joined @richardbenwell.bsky.social @wclnews.bsky.social & Livi Elsmore @asthmaandlung.org.uk to give evidence to @commonseac.parliament.uk on the govt's new Environmental Improvement Plan

📉The Office for Environmental Protection has once again found government progress on meeting its environmental goals and commitments is largely off track. The lack of 'green' in its summary assessment is striking. www.theoep.org.uk/news/actions...

🌱 Why are we still digging up our equivalent of rainforests - peat bogs - when alternatives exist? In the latest @green-alliance.org.uk blog, @trewin.bsky.social explains why the government must urgently bring forward a new law to end peat sales in the UK. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2026/01/08/p...

NEW: Lawyers ‘gathering views’ after government throws out all species protection proposals from own scientists www.endsreport.com/article/1944... with comment from @richardbenwell.bsky.social @jasonreeves80.bsky.social @ruthchambers.bsky.social

"History tells us that nature is best protected by law, not promises." Beccy Speight, CEO @rspb.bsky.social, discusses what's at stake with the Planning & Infrastructure Bill now in its final stages ⤵️

📻 In #TheGreenAlliancePodcast I discuss the erosion of environmental rights in the UK with special guests @chrisgpackham.bsky.social and legal experts. ✅ Despite the role the right to protest has played in shaping our society, we cannot take it for granted. green-alliance.org.uk/podcast/in-c...

In today's episode of #TheGreenAlliancePodcast, @ruthchambers.bsky.social talks to @chrisgpackham.bsky.social + environment law experts about the need to protect the right to protest in the UK for both democracy & the environment amid growing strain. Full ep: green-alliance.org.uk/podcast/in-c...

Wales is creating a new environmental watchdog after 7 years of waiting - but will it have the teeth it needs? In our latest blog, @ruthchambers.bsky.social tells the story of a bill racing against time, political uncertainty and the fight to get the details right. 🔁 @iwa-wales.bsky.social

✅ In a world of political uncertainty, democratic checks and balances matter. My thoughts for @iwa-wales.bsky.social on how to future proof green governance in Wales. www.iwa.wales/agenda/2025/...

In our latest blog, senior fellow @ruthchambers.bsky.social looks at the rapidly changing political landscape in Wales and what this means for environmental protection. Read the blog here⤵️

🙏 Thank you minister @emmahardymp.bsky.social & chief scientific adviser @evoswami.bsky.social for an engaging discussion on action on chemicals pollution. 💚 It's an area where environmental principles – prevent, rectify at source, precaution, polluter pays – must be at the heart of policy making.

🌄 The political landscape in Wales is changing rapidly. As parties vie for prominence and power, coalition working seems inevitable, including on the environment. In such uncertain times, legal certainty and the voice of civil society matters. 👀New blog ⬇️ greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/10/28/w...

🚥 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 | Wales stands at a crossroads in both its politics and its environmental ambitions. @joe-wildlife.bsky.social and I discuss the state of politics and nature in Wales and how proposed new environmental laws should be strengthened in this #GreenAlliancePodcast 🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 buff.ly/wrjblXa

⚡Is Labour about to put its historic link with National Parks at risk? I hope not but it seems this is not an academic question. 👀 All eyes will be on the government amendments to the planning and infrastructure bill, expected mid October. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/09/30/i...

📚 There's a lot of critical environmental decisions piling up on ministers' desks. 🚀 None more so than the environmental improvement plan, which has stalled. Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds must get the new plan out the door and drive its implementation at pace. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

My latest @green-alliance.org.uk blog looks at some of the opportunities and challenges facing new Defra Secretary Emma Reynolds. 📝 There's a lot on her 'to do' list so where should she start? Here are five suggestions. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/09/18/n...

🌋 ⚖️ 🌳 Who remembers when thousands of environmental laws nearly disappeared over a cliff?* 📑 In our latest briefing, we tell the story of retained EU laws and look to their future. * Luckily this didn’t happen thanks to civil society and parliamentarians. green-alliance.org.uk/briefing/the...

In our latest blog, @ruthchambers.bsky.social highlights the worrying trend of governments curtailing our ability to protest about their policies or inaction. The government must reset its approach, repeal draconian laws and bring us back into compliance with the Aarhus Convention.

My latest @green-alliance.org.uk blog makes the case for the right to protest on the environment to be restored. It’s not too late to reverse this worrying anti-democratic direction of travel but the government must act now. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/08/14/t...

🌎 Recent rollbacks in Brazil, Ecuador & the US show how fragile environmental governance systems can be. 🍃 In this new @green-alliance.org.uk blog I look at how the UK can strengthen environmental protections to help them withstand changing political winds. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/08/06/t...

📆 Today marks one year since Defra launched a ‘rapid review’ of the Environmental Improvement Plan. 🪟 The Office for Environmental Protection has warned the window to get on track to meet environmental goals will soon slam shut. 👀 Safe to say there’s a lot riding on the new plan.

🙏 @justinmadders.bsky.social for reaffirming that environmental protections will be maintained when the govt uses its powers under the Retained EU Law Act. 📗 This welcome statement is in the govt's latest report to Parliament. ✉️ Read the minister's letter 👇 green-alliance.org.uk/wp-content/u...

🌟 🌟 Delighted to give evidence alongside these two superstars* this morning in @senedd.wales on a new legal environmental framework for Cymru. *Alex Phillips from WWF Cymru and Annie Smith from ‪@rspbcymru.bsky.social‬ who co-chair the @waleslink.bsky.social biodiversity group.

🧩 The Welsh environmental governance bill will complete the legislative jigsaw we’ve been working on across the UK since Brexit. 🎧 For more details check out this webinar with @futuregencymru.bsky.social where @rspbcymru.bsky.social WWF Cymru & I discuss the bill. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g78...

A thundery afternoon at #Elmey nature reserve full of bees and butterflies feasting on teasel nectar, corn bunting (which seems to be doing well here), hares and a sprinting stoat. @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social is this a moss carder? 🐝 🔎

⚡ Big news for Northern Ireland’s environment as an expert review signals the need for major change ⚡ We welcome its calls for stronger environmental governance and enforcement, to better protect and restore the environment. www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/defaul...

Wednesday's spending review revealed the government's plans for the trajectory of the economy, and was largely more forgiving for climate and nature than many expected. So, how did it perform against our asks? 🤔🚦 Read our full evaluation in this new briefing: green-alliance.org.uk/briefing/was...

🔍 It pays to read the small print when ministers exchange letters with select committees. ✉️ In his latest letter to @commonseac.parliament.uk, Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed sets out several important commitments. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

🧵 The latest stocktake from our Legislation and Governance Unit takes a snapshot of UK and EU financial sustainability reporting regulations since Brexit. While both have introduced anti-greenwashing measures, companies operating across borders face slow reform and duplication. 1/5

Today is a red letter day for environmental protection in Wales, as long awaited laws to set up a new watchdog and build the environment into policy making are published. While welcome, the bill must be strengthened. 1/3

📢 There's much to say on Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill but other parts also spell big changes. 🙏 In this excellent blog, Prof Maria Lee explains why Part 1 deserves careful scrutiny, not least because of its democratic downsides. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/05/29/r...

"This is where cross government working really does need to bite." @ruthchambers.bsky.social discusses how to tackle competing departmental priorities with @endsreport.com's @jamesxparsons.bsky.social & @pippaneill.bsky.social on the #ECOchamber podcast. Listen: www.endsreport.com/article/1918...

🌋 As I tell @endsreport.com a major reorganisation of environmental regulators would be really disruptive and would not be a sensible measure at this time. www.endsreport.com/article/1919...

The humble sandeel - an important food source for puffins and a test case of how to resolve UK-EU disagreements on post Brexit environmental protections. greenallianceblog.org.uk/2025/05/27/t...

This highlights the potential pitfalls of the govt's approach to reducing UK consumption of 'forest risk' commodities. The Environment Act's focus on illegal deforestation prompted fears local laws would be weakened. How will UK ministers respond? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

A beautiful start to the day 😎🐎🎡

Earlier this month, the UK's proposals to restrict the fishing of sandeels, introduced to protect puffins, was upheld by international arbitration. In this article for @newstatesman.com, @ruthchambers.bsky.social explains why this matters.

💚Welsh Govt Counsel General @juliejamesms.bsky.social committed today to introducing the new environmental governance bill to @senedd.wales before summer recess. 🙏It’s very welcome and long overdue as it will close the governance gap created by Brexit.

🔎 Sitting in on @commonseac.parliament.uk evidence session with Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed. The opening exchange is on the poor progress to date on meeting environmental goals and targets. Chair @tobyperkinsmp.bsky.social argues there should be a statement to Parliament at key moments.

🥅 🥅 🥅 Another day, another moving goalpost... 🏊 The law* requires all bathing waters in England and Wales to be classified as “sufficient” by 2015. This deadline has of course been missed in many cases. ❓ So what do you think Defra and the Welsh Government are proposing to do? *Regulation 5(1)(a)

⚡ It's been another mega week - with good news for rivers and beavers! 🟢 The government finally gave the green light to beavers returning to the wild. www.gov.uk/government/n...

🔥 Hot off the press! The government has updated its guide on law making to include environmental principles. 🖋️🌳 This matters as new laws must support not ignore environmental goals. 🙏 @lucympowell.bsky.social for her work on this. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67af11...

In today's #GreenAlliancePodcast, @ruthchambers.bsky.social, senior fellow, is joined by Professor Maria Lee and Dame Glenys Stacey, chair of the OEP, to reflect on the state of our post-Brexit environmental systems five years on. ⚖️🌏 🎧 Full ep: green-alliance.org.uk/podcast/five...

🎧 New podcast 🎧 Five years on: why our post-Brexit environmental systems matter. 🙏 Thanks to Professor Maria Lee and Dame Glenys Stacey for joining me to reflect on the state of play on environmental governance. 📻 Please do listen and join the conversation. green-alliance.org.uk/podcast/five...

🌷 🌳 🔍 This weekend I went looking for signs of Spring and wasn't disappointed. 🐈 The hazel catkins are out! These are the male flowers and, if you look closely, you can see a tiny female purple flower peeking out too. The word "catkin" comes from the Dutch word katteken, which means "little cat".

📢 Just out – a statement from government on the rapid review of its environmental improvement plan. 👀 The new plan will be ready later in 2025. It will be a litmus test of how much the whole of government is willing to push forward environmental ambition. www.gov.uk/government/p...

🔥 Hot off the press is our @green-alliance.org.uk assessment of how well the UK’s post-Brexit environmental governance is working. ⚖️ The verdict? A mixed picture. Headlines below. green-alliance.org.uk/publication/...

The aftermath of the Retained EU Law Act is still being felt, eating up vital civil service time. Here's a 75 page piece of legislation to change how former EU laws are referenced (they're now called assimilated law). Must have taken ages to produce this... www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/82...

🐝🐝🐝 Good news! The government has refused emergency authorisation for a bee-killing pesticide, recognising there is “clear and abundant evidence” it is toxic to bees. Well done Defra and Minister @emmahardymp.bsky.social www.gov.uk/government/n...

📗 The Office for Environmental Protection has published its latest assessment of government progress on its environmental targets and commitments. 🧵 A thread on some of the key points from this morning's launch... www.theoep.org.uk/report/gover...