INDEX

CONSULTATIONS

UK NEWS        

INTERNATIONAL NEWS     

PROJECTS        

GENESIS

PUBLICATIONS

EVENTS

 

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

 

CONSULTATIONS

The National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England
Environment Agency Consultation

(Posted 03 December 2010)

The Environment Agency has been working with Defra to develop a strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England. The strategy is required under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and will describe what needs to be done by all involved in flood and coastal risk management to reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, and to manage its consequences. Defra has provided policy input to the developing strategy.

The consultation is an opportunity to help shape the final strategy and to ensure that future roles and responsibilities in flood and coastal erosion risk management are clear. The strategy will set out the framework for future flood and coastal erosion risk management, and its funding.

The Agency is also consulting on draft statutory guidance on co-operation and data sharing and the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the strategy. The guidance will form part of a suite of information to enable the implementation of the national strategy and the SEA aims to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to the environment during the development of the strategy.

For further information, to access the documents and to respond to the consultations visit the Agency website:

(https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/flood/fcerm/strategy)

From this website you can also access two related consultations on flood and coastal erosion that are being led by Defra on:

  • Guidance to local flood authorities on their contribution to Sustainable Development through flood and coastal erosion risk management
  • Funding of flood and coastal erosion risk management.

All the above consultations run from 24 November 2010 to 16 February 2011

 

UK NEWS       

Blueprint for water 2010
10 Steps to Sustainable Water by 2015

(Posted 03 December 2010)

Blueprint for Water is a campaign of Wildlife and Countryside Link. In November 2010 the Blueprint coalition of 14 conservation organisations, representing 6 million members, launched their new vision for water. The Blueprint lists 10 steps to sustainable water by 2015:

  • Waste less water
  • Keep our rivers flowing and wetlands wet
  • Price water fairly
  • Make polluters pay
  • Stop pollutants contaminating our water
  • Keep sewage out of homes and rivers and off beaches
  • Support water-friendly farming
  • Slow, manage and clean drainage from roads and buildings
  • Protect and restore catchments from source to sea
  • Retain water on floodplains and wetlands

For more information visit the LINK website: (http://www.wcl.org.uk/blueprintforwater.asp)

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS     

SOER 2010 - Launch of The European environment – state and outlook 2010

(Updated 03 December 2010)

‘European Environment State and Outlook Report 2010’, SOER 2010, is the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) flagship product which helps fulfil the EEA Regulation to publish a report on the state of, trends in and prospects for the environment every five years. The EEA launched the SOER 2010 on 30 November 2010.  SOER 2010 consists of four key elements:

  1. thematic assessments on key environmental issues (climate change, biodiversity, land use, air pollution, marine environment, consumption, etc.) each accompanied by relevant facts and trends
  2. an assessment of global megatrends relevant for Europe’s environment
  3. country assessments
  4. an integrated synthesis report.

SOER 2010 concludes that a fully integrated approach to transforming Europe to a resource-efficient green economy can not only result in a healthy environment, but also boost prosperity and social cohesion.

For further details on the launch and to access the report and related information visit the EEA website:

(http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer)

 

PROJECTS        

Living Wetlands

CIWEM Living Wetlands Award 2011 Open for Entries

(Posted 03 December 2010)

The CIWEM Award recognises multi-functional projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats.  The Award was co-founded with RSPB in 2002/3. UK projects that are either work-in-progress or complete are eligible. To be eligible for the Award, projects must:

  • Contribute to the delivery of priority UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and habitat targets for wetlands
  • Demonstrate sustainability and delivery of multiple benefits e.g. flood alleviation, wastewater treatment, recreation, eco-tourism, water resource security
  • Ensure no priority BAP species or habitats are harmed by the project

Closing date for applications is 14 January 2011.

For further details visit the CIWEM website:

(http://www.ciwem.org/competition-and-awards/living-wetlands.aspx)

 

Genesis

Groundwater and Dependent Ecosystems: New Scientific and Technological Basis for Assessing Climate Change and Land-use Impacts on Groundwater

(Posted 03 December 2010)

The GENESIS project is funded under the thematic area Environment (including Climate Change) of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013). The Consortium consists of 25 partners from 17 countries. The duration of the project is 60 months, starting on 1 April 2009.

A report ‘Impacts and threats to groundwater ‘ (Deliverable 1.1) has been published recently. It concerns impacts and threats to groundwater based on case studies in the 17 GENESIS areas.

The report and a number of published papers, presentations and other documents related to GENESIS are available for downloading on the project’s website:

(http://www.bioforsk.no/ikbViewer/page/prosjekt/hovedtema?p_dimension_id=16858&p_menu_id=16904&p_sub_id=16859&p_dim2=18915)

 

PUBLICATIONS

The European Water Framework Directive beyond 2010:
let actions speak louder than words

Brils, Jos, et al

RSC Publishing, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 2010

(Posted 03 December 2010)

Abstract: The first generation of WFD River Basin Management Plans is now available. This is a formidable achievement and a great step towards addressing Europe’s deteriorated river systems. However, plans are only words: only the actual implementation of the selected measures will result in achievement of good ecological and chemical status. The WFD Lille 2010 Conference pointed out that a lot of new, but so far unused scientific knowledge is available to improve the effectiveness of selected measures or to inspire the introduction of complementary measures. Furthermore, the complexity in terms of the functioning of the water system, its interaction with the socio-economic system and the uncertain consequences of climate change, urges a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach. This approach should be applied in well-designed, -coordinated and -monitored learning catchments.

The content of the article is free to access at the RSC Publishing website:

(http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2010/EM/C005485M)

 

Climate Change Adaptation: The Pivotal Role of Water

Policy Brief, UN Water 2010

(Posted 03 December 2010)

This policy paper is the product of the joint efforts of members and partners of UN-Water, and is addressed to practitioners and policymakers of water resources management, sectoral decision-makers as well as those who shape policy regarding climate change. The paper aims to draw attention to the critical importance of better water resources management in adapting to climate change and gives reasons why it should be systematically integrated into national plans and international investment portfolios.

For more information and to download the paper visit the UN Water website:

(http://www.unwater.org/documents.html)

 

Latest SCOPE Newsletter published

Issue 76, November 2010

(Posted 03 December 2010)

The SCOPE Newsletter is produced 4 - 6 times yearly by CEEP (Centre Européen d 'Etudes des Polyphosphates), the phosphate industry's research association and seeks to promote the sustainable use of phosphates through recovery and recycling and a better understanding of the role of phosphates in the environment.

This issue includes articles on assessment of groundwater phosphorus levels in the UK, on significance of soluble phosphorus in British rivers and reports on the first full-scale phosphorus recovery and recycling installation in the UK, to be built at the Thames Water’s Slough sewage works.

The SCOPE newsletter is available for download at the CEEP website:

(http://www.ceep-phosphates.org/)

 

EVENTS

WFD common immplementation strategy workshop on WFD Economic Issues:

Taking Stock and Looking Ahead
Presentations and related documents from the conference, 19-20 October 2010, Liege, Belgium

(Posted 03 December 2010)

The workshop was part of the WFD Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) work programme for 2010 –2012. As the first River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) were due to be finalised by December 2009, it was an appropriate time to gather views and information on the experience of implementing the economic aspects of the Directive and at the same time look ahead on what needs to be done in the second implementation cycle. The workshop objectives were:

  • To share information, exchange views in relation to Member States and stakeholder views on experience implementing the economic aspects of Article 9 and cost effectiveness analysis and to get an improved understanding of the common difficulties encountered
  • To identify relevant developments and research
  • To identify needs for future work relating to WFD economics

The presentations and other documents related to the workshop can be accessed from the CIRCA website:

(http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/implementation_conventio&vm=detailed&sb=Title)