Items Tagged With government, most recent first
Voluntary Power
Independent think-tank Reform Scotland has published a consultation document called Voluntary Power suggesting the role of the third sector in public service provision should be expanded. They claim the results of increased government control over, in particular, health and education have been disappointing and the great unwashed expect services comparable in quality to certain other nations (I think we all know who that means - those sinister types who want to exercise bend-control over our bananas and purloin our sovereignty). Reform Scotland reckon that greater independence, choice, flexibility, interaction and user-empowerment will drive up standards. The not-for-profit voluntary sector in particular is the logical agency of delivery to either provide or influence these outcomes.
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Domestic micro-generation consultation
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on extending permitted development rights for domestic micro-generation, specifically micro-wind turbines and air source heat pumps. The deadline for responses is 30 April 2010.
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Food 2030
In January 2010 the UK Government published its national food strategy, Food 2030, setting out their vision for what the UK's food system should look like in 2030.
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Making your voice heard
The Scottish Parliament actively encourages citizens to engage and has a different petitions systems to the UK parliament, which has been the subject of recent party politicing. A new leaflet entitled Petitioning the Scottish Parliament: making your voice heard has been produced by the Public Petitions Committee.
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Electoral Reform
Good governance is a key aspect of any society pursuing a path with embedded principles of sustainable development. According to the BBC Gordon Brown has plans for electoral reform to better reflect the views of the british people. Unfortunately this is only on the cards if Labour finds itself re-elected, opinion polls put this in doubt.
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Scottish Biomass Heating Scheme
Time is running out - the third and final deadline for the Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme is coming up soon on 12 February 2010. The scheme is Scotland-wide, funded by Scottish Government, Forestry Commission Scotland and the European Regional Development Fund.
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Zero Waste Scotland
On January 22, 2010, the Scottish Government announced a new streamlined approach to delivery of the Zero Waste agenda, set out to tackle waste challenges in Scotland.
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A robust structure for democracy in Scotland?
Independent think tank the Centre for Scottish Public Policy has just published its final report for the second stage of its programme of work into the democratic process in Scotland. It is wide ranging in its scope and at times contentious but it is well worth a read on these dark nights or a long train journey.
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Copenhagen Business Day
Today, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) led a meeting between business leaders and ministers from developed and developing countries at which WBCSD President Bjorn Stigson issued a stark warning to the ministers: "You will not solve climate change without business at the table as an engaged, involved partner - Governments cannot deliver on the targets which are being talked about without business."
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Scottish Parliament CC Debate
The Scottish Parliament are to hold a climate change debate on Thursday 10th December from 2:55pm - 5pm. If you want to follow the debate live from the comfort of your home, office etc, you can log into the live link to the chamber HERE on Thursday.
Extra Protection for the Golden Eagle
The Scottish Government has announced additional protection of one of Scotland's most iconic species, the Golden Eagle. 6 additional Special Protection Areas are being proposed with consultation opening 1 December.
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High noon for Polnoon
The Herald reports that Scotland is set to get its first eco village. The village, Polnoon, will be just outside Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire.
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Save money - it's your business
Defra launched a new campaign on 4 November 2009 at the WRAP annual conference aimed at encouraging business in the UK to save up to £6.4 billion through resource efficiency.
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New guidance on measuring GHG emissions
Defra and DECC have published new guidance on how to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and how to reduce emissions that are identified.
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The price of power distribution
The European Commission is asking questions of the UK Government regarding the price of connecting renewable energy generating capacity to the national grid. It seems they are concerned that the playing field is not flat, not between the UK and other European countries, but within the UK itself.
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Climate Change Poll 2009
Globescan recently undertook their annual sustainability survey's pulse poll on climate change.
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Green Farms
THE Scottish Government is to create three "green farms" in its determination to meet its environmental targets. It is estimated that 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland comes from agriculture and this move is aimed at reducing problems from this sector.
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Scotland's Research Powerhouse
The Scottish Crop Research Institute and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute are to join forces to undertake new research into food, land use and climate change, creating a new research "powerhouse" which will be the first of its kind in Europe.
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Make the parliament work for you
The Scottish Parliament has just published a guide in 'plain english' to help people better understand how things work in Scottish politics.
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The Green Standard
Eight of the UK's leading environmental groups have published Common Cause: The Green Standard Manifesto on Climate Change and the Natural Environment, setting out priorities for action in the next Parliament.
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Delivering Zero Waste Scotland
This conference will be held on 6-7 October at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel, and will look at the challenge of meeting the tough targets set by the Scottish Government in its "zero waste" strategy, including increasing recycling to 70 percent and cutting municipal waste sent to landfill to five percent by 2025. Keynote speakers include Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP, and Malcolm Ward , Chairman of the Environmental Services Association.
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Renewables grid connection consultation
Red tape restricting renewable energy projects from connecting to the national grid is set to be relaxed. Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband has opened a consultation – Improving Grid Access - into new rules that will revamp the way power plants get connected to the UK’s grid.
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Scotland aims to cut car use as £15m greener travel scheme gets underway
A
series of innovative projects aimed at encouraging people in Scotland
to cut their car use in favour of more active and sustainable forms of
transport over the next three years is now underway.Read More About Scotland Aims To Cut Car Use As £15m Greener Travel Scheme Gets Underway...
Scotland's Energy Future
The Scottish Parliament has published Volume 1 of 'Determining and delivering Scotland's energy future', a poltical vision of the path Scotland needs to take to create a sustainable energy sector.
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A road to somewhere
The UK Government has
set out its manifesto for the
Copenhagen
Conference on Climate Change. Gordon Brown has said
there are two targets nations must agree on.
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Climate change bill passed
The Scottish
Government's world-leading legislation to tackle climate
change has been passed by
MSPs in the Parliament.
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Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative
The outcome of the Scottish Government's Sustainable Communities Initiaitive, a new housebuilding programme, was announced on 20 May.
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Climate Change Adaptation
There's a lot of talk about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to a certain extent we've taken this on-board - the extent to which our behaviours have changed is more uncertain. However, even if all emissions were stopped today, our climate would continue to change. We need to adapt in response.
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Budget news for jobs
The UK government announced funding for its Future Jobs Fund in the budget, allocating a £1billion as part of a £3.1billion package for employment measures.
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Cash for affordable housing
On 20th April the Scottish Government announced an additional £25 million to support the construction of local authority homes.
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Planning an April Fool?
On 1st April, the Scottish Government published its Strategic Environmental Assessment of Scottish Planning Policy.
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Are you a Green Champion?
Are you or do you know an inspiring individual that challenges the status quo and advocates more sustainable lifestyles? Then get nominating for Scotland's Green List.
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Climate Change (Scotland) Bill consultation
The Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee of the Scottish Parliament is seeking views on targerts and timetables within the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
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Green jobs plan
An announcement today (2 February 2009) from John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, that at least speaks about sustainable growth in a way you'd recognise as sustainable and has a chance of reducing our carbon output and tackling climate change.
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Planning agreements up for discussion
The Scottish Government is consulting on Planning agreements a poorly used tool to ensure that developments truly benefit the communities where they impact.
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20 ways to save us all
NEF chief executive, Andrew Simms has published 20 ways in which we can sort things out. Getting back to the basics of society, economy and environment.
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Business willing to tackle climate challenge
The CBI warned yesterday that government would not meet its ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions unless it introduced bolder policies including new financial incentives, but said the global economic crisis was no reason for either side to slam the brakes on.
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SEPA publish Climate Change Plan
With the Climate Change Scotland Bill now in parliament, it is important that everyone starts thinking how they will contribute to the ambitious world leading targets set out in the Bill.
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Two steps forward one step back
The Climate Change Bill was finally published in Scotland. Widespread support for the ambition and prinicples exhibited by the Scottish Government. But criticism over the lack of clarity on aviation and the basket of greenhouse gases.
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Scotland could do better - again !
Published on 26 November 2008 the Sustainable Development Commission has sent a 'could do much better message' to the Scottish Government.
Progress made in some areas, moving backwards in others but positively the structures that govern our lives may be moving in a good direction.
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Scotland to host global conference on species management
The management of wildlife species for conservation, conflict resolution and sustainability, will be the subject of a major international conference to be held in Scotland this month (October).
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Sustainable Development Progress - in your pocket 2008
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