Welcome to Friends of the Earth’s North East update!
This month’s bumper issue contains the latest developments on assessing the risks from
fracking, great news on how to get solar panels on your local schools and the best way to
tackle fuel poverty as well as ideas on how to get the best out of infrastructure spending.
So, please read on, click the links and do get in touch if you want more information.
Fracking
In a joint study into the risks of methane contamination of drinking
water, the British Geological Survey and the Environment Agency
have produced online maps showing that nearly half of the potential
shale gas resources in the UK coincide with drinking water aquifers.
Image: Friends of the Earth
The maps show extensive principal aquifers in the North East which
should be a major consideration when the Government decides
whether or not to embark on a 14th licencing oil and gas round.
In further developments on unconventional gas, Alnwick and District
Friends of the Earth hosted a successful public meeting on the
underground coal gasification proposals from Five Quarter off the
North Sea coast between Sunderland and Amble.
Meanwhile, a joint report from Scientists for Global Responsibility
and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health into fracking
concluded that the environmental risks were exacerbated by a weak
regulatory regime and many of the claims put forward to support
development were exaggerated. This follows Friends of the Earth’s
own critique of the regulatory system.
Run on Sun
One for the pub quiz – which North East MP has the most solar
installations in their constituency? Answer (as Friends of the Earth’s
league table shows): Washington and Sunderland West’s Sharon
Hodgson closely followed by Houghton and Sunderland South’s
Bridget Phillipson and North Tyneside’s Mary Glindon.
Image: Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth’s Run on Sun campaign has a simple ambition –
to enable every school that wants to save money on energy and
generate clean energy to benefit from solar panels. So, parents,
governors, teachers, school managers – you can get a free solar pack
for your school via our website.
Energy and Climate Change
Cutting energy demand is vital to addressing climate change but it
also helps to tackle fuel poverty and boosts local economies. Friends
of the Earth’s Energy Efficiency vision shows how a mix of regulation,
subsidy and a decent pay as you save model can deliver the required
cuts in energy demand.
Image: Thinkstock
Government figures on fuel poverty published recently for
2012 show that 12% of households in the North East with an
aggregate fuel poverty gap of £40m.
The Committee on Climate Change, the Government’s
independent advisors, has used its annual progress report to
recommend stronger policies to meet our carbon budgets
affordably
A National Audit Office report has called into question the
value for money offered by the award of Contracts for
Difference for biomass burning at Teesside and Lynemouth.
Forewind’s Annual Review outlines their plans to develop the
Dogger Bank offshore wind farms and the onshore connections
on Teesside.
Congratulations to local residents from County Durham who
have successfully defeated plans for opencast coal mining in
their area.
https://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate_change
Transport
The cycling charity, CTC, has launched a great campaign, Space for
Cycling, calls on local councillors to pledge their support for the
investment in and quality planning of infrastructure to make cycling
easier and safer.
Image: Thinkstock
With the future of HS2 still hanging in the balance, it was interesting
to see George Osborne promoting the concept of HS3 and the
development of the North as an economic powerhouse. But would
HS3 be the most cost-effective way to improve connectivity between
Northern communities?
The Local Government Information Unit has published a useful guide
to the Government’s Road Reforms Programme bringing together
the various strands of policies which constitutes a massive road
building project. Campaign for Better Transport’s Roads to Nowhere
campaign asks serious questions over the economic and
environmental credentials of these plans.
Economics and Resource Use
Image: Friends of the Earth
The Government has announced Growth Deals with each of the
region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships. This will deliver a total of
Local Growth funding of over £379m to the North East. Big questions
still remain on how sustainable this development will be in
addressing carbon reduction, resource efficiency and protecting the
natural environment.
The role of the Treasury came under the spotlight of our Economics
campaigner who showed how HMT’s business plan is putting a block
on investment in the green economy.
https://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/green_economy
Land, food and water
Image:istock
Got ideas on how to encourage people to eat differently, healthier,
more planet friendly? Friends of the Earth have a new competition
running for students and for local campaigners or community groups
where they can win £500 for a winning idea or action – a great
opportunity to reward new thinking or to fund a new local food
initiative. Enter here at http://www.foe.co.uk/page/get-gobby-2014
Friends of the Earth has joined with other organisations in publishing
Square Meal, a clear analysis of the challenges and solutions facing
the UK’s food and farming future.
https://www.foe.co.uk/page/land-food-water
Natural Environment
Friends of the Earth’s Great British Bee Count enables you to help
form a picture of what’s happening to Britain’s bee population.
When you spot a bee, you can upload information onto our website
to help scientists get a better understanding of this critical issue.
Biodiversity offsetting is a key issue affecting the relationship
between development and the natural world. Friends of the Earth
and FERN have published case studies, including Gosforth Park,
highlighting the risks of giving developers a “licence to trash”.
https://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/natural_resources
Image: Friends of the Earth
Social media
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through Friends of the Earth’s social media channels in Yorkshire and the Humber.
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