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The Latest Breaking News from Defra

£500m Thames Water desalination plant has provided just seven days’ water over 15 years

Plant in Beckton has run only five times and has been beset by multiple problems since it was built

The Guardian - UK

Wild bird numbers continue to fall in UK with some species in ‘dramatic freefall’

Species index fell by 4% between 2019 and 2024 – although data shows woodland populations beginning to stabilise

The Guardian - UK

Aerated taps and showerheads to be required in new homes under proposed rules

The Government hopes the measures can help to unblock stalled developments and contribute to water-saving targets.

The Independent UK

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Government may have failed to comply with law over marine target, watchdog says

The Office for Environmental Protection said the marine environment in England and Northern Ireland remains in a highly degraded state.

Evening Standard

Bottom trawling to continue in English protected waters, government rules

Defra says blanket ban on ‘destructive’ fishing practice disproportionate as MPs urge minister to reconsider

The Guardian - UK

Thousands of farmers facing uncertainty over payments to protect nature

Farmers say they ‘feel abandoned’ and have been left in the dark about whether environmental payments will roll over.

Evening Standard

Warning Labour’s rewilding plans could trigger surge in UK wildfires

Labour proposes to ban winter burning from over half of England’s peatland

The Independent UK

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Lower Thames Crossing first scheme with new environmental approach – minister

Other projects could also be made ‘faster’ by a drive to scrap and streamline environmental rules, Steve Reed said.

Evening Standard

Three reasons plastic pollution treaty talks ended in disagreement and deadlock (but not collapse)

The latest round of negotiations for a UN global plastics treaty has ended without a deal. After more than three years of talks, deep divisions remain. Agreement is only marginally closer than before talks began. For many countries, campaigners and observer organisations, the outcome is deeply disappointing.

The Conversation

Thames Water says new Abingdon reservoir could cost bill-payers up to £7.5bn

Price rise to three times original budget is a blow to government’s reservoir expansion plans

The Guardian - UK

Amazon and eBay must report electronics sold in UK under new recycling rules

Foreign companies selling electronics to British shoppers via online platforms like Amazon and eBay will have to start contributing to e-waste costs.

The Independent UK

UK aid cuts will cause untold damage, wildlife charities warn – as they fear for future of key programmes

IN FOCUS: Nick Ferris talks to groups around Britain and Africa about the cost-cutting that is already taking place, and the difficult few years ahead

The Independent UK

‘Outwitted’: have water companies managed to sidestep Labour’s bonus ban?

Concerns loophole in 2025 act allows payouts at firms that repeatedly pollute England’s waterways with sewage

The Guardian - UK

Four areas of England now in drought as heat threatens wildlife and crops

Ministers call for hosepipe bans as East and West Midlands enter drought, joining Yorkshire and north-west

The Guardian - UK

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The Guardian - UK

Step up restoration of ancient woodland before it is lost, Forestry England urged

Campaigners say just 5.8% of irreplaceable habitat at publicly owned sites has been fully restored in 10 years

The Guardian - UK

Environment Agency insider alleges ‘cover-up’ over sewage sludge on farmland

Regulator and government accused of colluding with water industry to dump potentially toxic waste without oversight

The Guardian - UK

‘Like fly-tipping’: ministers ignoring pleas to cut sludge fertiliser use

Exclusive: Defra warned three years ago of farmland contamination by water firms’ sewage-derived product

Evening Standard

Water regulator handed largest ever budget to tackle pollution

The Environment Agency will receive a cash injection of more than £189 million this financial year of 2025/26.

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The Guardian - UK

‘A Trojan horse’: how toxic sewage sludge became a threat to the future of British farming

Sludge used as fertiliser on farmland contains harmful chemicals that scientists suspect are entering food chain

The Conversation

Nature-friendly farming budget swells in UK – but cuts elsewhere make recovery fraught

Nature in the UK appeared to receive a rare funding boost in the June spending review, with the government setting a spending target of up to £2 billion a year for England’s environmental land management (ELM) scheme by 2028-29.

The Independent UK

Campaigners call for action on reusable packaging and cutting food waste

Experts found that adopting reusable packaging for 30% of goods in UK grocery retail could deliver millions in annual savings for producers.

Evening Standard

Pollution fines of more than £100m will go to environmental projects, Defra says

Concerns had been raised the cash from fines on water companies would not be ringfenced for schemes such as river restoration.

The Guardian - UK

Labour cutting farming budget in England by £100m a year, figures shows

Nature and farmers’ groups cautiously welcome spending review as there were fears Treasury wanted bigger cuts

Evening Standard

Reeves protects nature-friendly farming budget amid squeeze on environment spend

Green groups have welcomed the Government’s decision to protect the nature friendly farming budget but concerns remain on an overall Defra squeeze.

The Guardian - UK

MPs ask minister if he will claw back Thames Water executive bonuses

Chair of troubled firm admits 21 senior managers were paid 50% of base salary on 30 April

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