Eco Chamber

On this week’s podcast, Martin Baxter, the deputy chief executive of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) discusses the risks and rewards of AI adoption within the environmental profession.

On Tuesday, ISEP published a new advice note on the responsible use and application of AI by sustainability and environmental professionals.
Baxter believes the negative impacts of AI adoptions needs to be better understood by the profession.

His warning comes at a time when top AI safety researchers are warning of potential human annihilation within a decade, and the heads of AI companies are pleading for greater regulation from lawmakers.

The team also discusses comments made to ENDS by the Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, on the aspects of biodiversity net gain policy he thinks are increasing social inequality.

PLUS
A welcomed rhetoric from the new nature minister.
DEFRA’s plans to tighten limits on PFOS.
And a new assessment on the money England needs to reach its nature targets.

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The Labour Party promised a major water reset when it was elected, and Andy Burnham’s government shows no sign of reversing that direction.

New powers have been granted to regulators like the Environment Agency under the Water Special Measures Act, a major review of the sector was carried out by Sir John Cunliffe to ascertain how a more joined-up approach to regulation could be achieved, and a new Clean Water Bill was announced in the King's Speech earlier this year.

On top of that, the prime minister himself has signalled that the renationalisation of the water sector isn’t off the table.

For this ECO Chamber podcast bonus episode, the ENDS Report team travelled to Henley-on-Thames on 4 September to find out what’s at stake for the water sector.

Backstage, the team spoke with policy-makers, watchdog leaders and environmentalists, including:

Natalie Prosser, the chief executive of the Office for Environment Protection about the funding pressures her organisation is facing.

Helen Wakeham, the Environment Agency’s director for water on her organisation’s priorities.

And Yuan Yang, an economist and Labour MP for Earley and Woodley, on the risks and rewards of her government renationalising the water sector.

The podcast also includes extracts from an expert panel hosted by ENDS’ senior journalist Shosha Adie with Wakeham, the chief executive of the Wildlife and Countryside Link, Richard Benwell, and Ofwat’s senior director of communications and engagement, Mark Wiltsher.

The panel discussed the pros and cons of a slated new super regulator, the sector at large, the challenges ahead for policymakers, and more.

The Eco Chamber is brought to you by the journalists at ENDS Report.

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On this week’s podcast, ENDS Report editor Jamie Carpenter discusses his key takehomes from Reform UK’s second annual conference in Birmingham.

The party’s leadership has been keen to emphasise drastic reductions in the size of the civil service – a 13% cut or 68,500 full-time equivalent roles – should it form the next government.

Reform UK politicians like Robert Jenrick have also called for the complete defunding of regulators like Natural England within the first 100 days of taking over government.

Other nature policies would also be weakened and amended under recent Reform proposals, including the Habitats Regulatons and biodiversity net gain.

But hostile nature policies could be “a real electoral Achilles heel” for Reform UK, according to new polling from More in Common. Andrew Fowler, the pollster’s engagement and research associate, speaks to the Eco Chamber this week about why 80% of Reform voters' support of nature is at odds with its leadership.

PLUS

Natural England chiefs champion growth alongside the regulator’s nature remit.
The policy agenda set for parliament this Autumn.
And Scotland’s plans for an all-in-one environmental watchdog.

The Eco Chamber is brought to you by the journalists at ENDS Report.

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Successive governments have tried to undermine the Habitat Regulations as red tape that needs to be cut.

Most recently, critics have pointed to attacks on the regulations made under the previous Starmer administration, including the Planning and Infrastructure Act and legislation set to be brought forward following the Fingleton Review.

Those who want to water down the legislation point to data on falling species abundance, arguing the regulations aren’t working anyway.

But in a new report published by The Wildlife Trusts, Matt Browne, head of public affairs, joins podcast host James Agyepong-Parsons to discuss why the charity is arguing for the regulations to be kept safe and what needs to happen next to do that.

ENDS Report senior journalist Shosha Adie also discusses the Conservative Party’s latest attacks on net zero and their attempts to repeal the Climate Change Act 2008.

PLUS
Dame Angela Eagle’s pushback against Reform UK’s climate denial.

The Kidlington “super waste dump” in Oxfordshire that has been cleared.

And the Government’s new air pollution alert system.

The ECO Chamber is brought to you by the journalists of ENDS Report.

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On 20 July, Andy Burnham became prime minister alongside his newly appointed secretaries of state, including Dame Angela Eagle who took the reins at DEFRA.

In the days that followed, new DEFRA ministers were announced, but it’s taken until now for their briefs to be confirmed.

In this week’s episode, ENDS Report editor Jamie Carpenter explains what the department’s minister will need to contend with as they get across their portfolios.

The team also speaks with Sam Riggs, an environmental barrister at 25 Bedford Row, about the government’s latest crackdown on waste crime, fly-tipping and the boosted powers for the Environment Agency.

Riggs believes the new fiscal powers granted to the EA will have little impact on the ground. Speaking with podcast host James Agyepong-Parsons, Riggs explains what needs to be done if DEFRA actually wants to ‘crackdown’ on waste crime.

PLUS
The montagu’s harrier chicks hatched in a secret location of England.
Campaigners take the government to court over Special Administration Regime arrangements with water companies
And the new ‘call in’ planning powers mooted for mayors

The ECO Chamber is brought to you by the journalists of ENDS Report.

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