Environment & Sustainability

This year August 1st is Earth Overshoot Day, the date when we (all of humanity) have used more from the rest of nature than our planet can renew in the entire year. This date moves about three days earlier each year as our consumption, population and emissions increase. We are currently living as if we had 1.7 Earths, a 70% overshoot.

A guest article by James Cracknell, written in response to Sadiq Khan's call for all London local authorities to divest their pension funds from fossil fuel companies When it comes to environmental problems, shifts in attitude can happen incredibly quickly. Diesel was once heralded by car companies as a 'green' alternative fuel to petrol and drivers for years were conned into buying vehicles that ran on it. Evidence now shows this was a huge mistake – and politicians have been fast to.......

The Mayor of London's consultation about measures to reduce levels of toxic air pollution originating from petrol and diesel vehicles ends on 28th February.  If you, like me, think that the proposals won't provide adequate protection for people living outside the North and South Circular Roads - and will be even more injurious to the health of people living along those roads - you need to respond to the online consultation before that date. The proposals are explained on the following page.......

This article by James Cracknell was originally published on 17 December 2017 on the ENTWO website. Two years ago this month I cycled from London to Paris with a group of climate activists. We were travelling to the United Nations’ COP21 climate talks, raising awareness of the importance of the talks along the way. On the Champs-Élysées we joined with tens of thousands of others – including many who had cycled from around Europe as we did – to demand the strongest.......

The vineyard says that London Sparkling Brut is perfect for Christmas drinking, but will also develop well with ageingForty Hall Vineyard has launched London Sparkling Brut 2015 - the first time a sparkling wine from the organic vineyard in Enfield has been made widely available. The 2014 vintage was declared best organic sparkling wine at the Soil Association's Best of Organic Market awards. London Sparkling Brut is made in the traditional method from the three classic champagne.......

Enfield joins a global push towards a car-free day World Car Free Day takes place on 22 September Enfield schools, students and staff commit to leaving cars at home TfL’s STARS project is also supporting the initiative across London Families across Enfield are being asked to leave their cars at home and find alternative ways of getting into school in celebration of World Car Free Day (22 September). World Car Free Day also coincides with Transport for London’s.......

The charity Thames 21 is recruiting volunteers to work in small teams to use computer modelling to help clean up three tributaries of the River Lea - the Pymmes Brook and Salmons Brook on our side of the Lea and the Ching Brook on the east side. Love the Lea – Community Modelling Communities to shape water quality solutions Thames21 has begun a new initiative which aims to involve local communities in setting out future plans for their rivers. Using community modelling,.......

This article has been republished with permission.  It originally appeared on the Greener Journeys website on 22nd April.  In view of yesterday's announcement, the first sentence presumably no longer holds true. DEFRA is due this month to publish its new Air Quality Plan. Government has already lost two court cases on this issue, so the pressure is on. Concern over air quality is no longer just the preserve of environmental groups and it is widely recognized that we are facing a.......

The Mayor of London has announced that he intends to bring forward the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in Central London by a year.  Subject to further consultation, it will now come into force in April 2019.  Drivers of petrol vehicles that don’t meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 6 standards will have to pay a daily fee of £12.50 for cars, vans and motorbikes and £100 for buses, coaches and HGVs. Initially, the ULEZ.......

Caroline Russell writes about the Clean Air for Enfield meeting that took place at Bowes School on 12th January.