IUSS Select Committee Announces New Inquiry

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee has announced a new inquiry into 'Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy'. The Committee is seeking evidence on, amongst other things:

• whether there should be a Department for Science
• strengths and weaknesses of how Government currently formulates science policy
• whether the views of the science and engineering community are, or should be, central to the formulation of government policy
• engaging the public and increasing public confidence in science and engineering policy
• the role of GO-Science, DIUS and other Government departments, charities, learned societies, Regional Development Agencies, industry and other stakeholders in determining UK science and engineering policy
• how government science and engineering policy should be scrutinised.

The BES is planning to respond to this consultation, by the deadline of Monday 12 January. If you would like to contribute to this response, e-mail Policy@BritishEcologicalSociety.org, by, at the latest, Friday 12 December.

Royal Society Launches New Study on Enhancing Food Crop Production

The Royal Society has launched a new study on 'Biological Approaches to Enhance Food Crop Production'. The study aims to provide a balanced assessment of the challenges to world food-crop production, the different biological approaches that could be used to enhance supplies and their likely consequences and impacts.

The Society is seeking the views of agriculturalists, bioscientists, academics, policy-makers, industrialists and other interested parties to inform the study. Organisations and individuals are invited to contribute to the study by responding to the call for evidence by Monday 06 October 2008. Evidence should be submitted to Sarah Mee at the Royal Society (sarah.mee@royalsociety.org).

The working group leading the study will report on its findings in summer 2009.

Mayor of London Launches New 'Green' Strategy for the Capital

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has today launched a new strategy for the UK's Capital, aimed at better preparing the city and its people for the challenges of climate change. The strategy is claimed as a first for a world city.

Measures outlined in the strategy include measures to 'green' London; including the use and design of green spaces, green roofs and tree-planting to reduce water run-off and flooding, and greater preparedness for extreme weather events expected under climate change, specifically flooding, drought and heatwaves. There are plans to increase public awareness of flood risk in the capital, alongside a promotion, and compulsory introduction, of water metering to reduce water consumption.

Launching the strategy, the Mayor commented: "the range of weather conditions facing London...could seriously threaten our quality of life...and endanger our pre-eminence as one of the world's leading cities". The Mayor's manifesto included an ambitious target to cut London's carbon emissions by 60% by 2025.

Organisations are invited to comment on the first draft of the strategy. As a result of these comments, a second draft will be published for public consultation in 2009.

Access the Mayor's website with official press release and the draft strategy

Defra Launches Wildlife Management Strategy for England

Defra have launched an enquiry to investigate what is the best method of sustainably managing England's wildlife.

Up until recently, the government has had a piecemeal approach to nature conservation, with only certain species and habitats being afforded protection. This philosophy is to be superceded by Defra's recent holistic approach to Nature conservation. Defra has therefore decided to launch a more comprehensive strategy to conserve wildlife in England, and will shortly be consulting on this strategy.

The new approach aims to be more strategic, and will look at how wildlife impacts on people vice versa. One of the key components of the strategy is taking a decision-tree approach, to provide a mechanism for policy review and development. The hope is this approach will create a structured framework so that a consistent approach to wildlife conservation is used across the board, whilst allowing scope for flexibility within the framework.

The consultation document can be found here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wildlife-manage-strategy/consultation.pdf

The closing date for responses is 22nd September 2008.

Carbon Capture and Storage Consultation Launched

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has launched a consultation on the future of Carbon Capture and Storage.

A burgeoning population and consequent increase in demand for energy means that meeting global, national and regional carbon emission reduction targets will become increasingly difficult. In response, the government has proposed to build additional coal-fired power stations to meet the growing demand for energy. However, these proposals have been met with fierce criticism from environmental campaigners and leading scientists such as the President of the Royal Society, as the government's commitment to energy supply is not presently concomitant with appropriate measures to reduce carbon emissions using carbon capture and storage technology.

The consultation document seeks a range of perspectives on various components of the regulation of Carbon Capture and Storage. Specifically, the document will consult on aspects of the proposed EU Directive on the Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide and welcomes views on the principle of ‘carbon capture readiness’ for combustion plants and the regulation of Carbon Dioxide storage.


BES members are invited to take part in the consultation response, and contributions are strongly welcomed from readers of the blog.

Future Priorities for BBSRC-funded Research

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is inviting opinions on the direction BBSRC-funded research should take in the future regarding environmental change, particularly climate change.

Further information, including scientific scope, BBSRC remit, consultation questions, potential priorities and a glossary, can be found in the full consultation document.

The British Ecological Society will be submitting a response to the consultation. If you would like to have your say, please e-mail your comments to the policy team no later than Friday 4 July.

Proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill

The Scottish Parliament has launched a consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill. Key features include a statutory target to reduce Scottish carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, an annual measure of progress against targets and a framework of carbon budgets to act as milestones towards the core target.

The consultation closes on 23 April. It is hoped that a draft Bill can appear before the Scottish Parliament before the end of 2008.

House of Lords Science Committee Launch Inquiry into Systematics and Taxonomy

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has launched a follow-up inquiry focussing on systematic biology research and taxonomy. The call for evidence follows the Committee's 2002 report "What on Earth? The Threat to the Science Underpinning Conservation."

The Committee is seeking detail on progress made since 2002 and how far the recommendations made by the Committee in their original report have been taken up.

Written submissions are required by 4 February 2008.

Scottish Inquiry into Flooding

The Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs and Environment Committee launched an inquiry into the flooding and flood management of Scotland. The Committee wants evidence from those involved in flood management or people who can provide insights into how climate change may affect the future flooding of Scotland. The Committee wants to investigate current flood management in Scotland and how it can be improved in relation to previous flooding experience and future climate change.

Defra Consultation on Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste

Defra have launched the following consultation: Managing radioactive waste safely: a framework for implementing geological disposal.

The Government’s response to the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) on 25 October 2006 committed to consult on how implementation of geological storage of higher activity radioactive waste can be taken forward. The Government seeks views on the technical aspects of developing a storage facility and how to engage most effectively with those communities that might have a potential interest in hosting the facility.

The deadline for responses is Friday, 2 November 2007.

Consultation on EU Soil Framework Directive

A Defra consultation has been launched on the proposed EU Soil Framework Directive and how these proposals will meet the needs of soil protection in the UK and how they could be improved to ensure that the policy measures are proportionate to the risks to soil protection.

Our soils deliver a range of ecosystem services which are vital for human activities such as support for ecosystems and habitats, storage of carbon, stabilisation of contaminants, and filtration of water. Soil is currently being degraded by urban development, inappropriate gricultural and forestry practices, industrial activities, and tourism. The proposed Soil Framework Directive seeks to ensure the protection and sustainable use of soil based on preventing further soil degradation and preserving its functions, and restoring degraded soils.

The consultation closes 19 October 2007.

Future of Ireland's Forests

How can Ireland's forests promote its national heritage? Woodlands of Ireland is conducting a review of the Heritage Council's forestry policy. The review group is requesting input from experts about a wide range of issues relating to forestry, including links to biodiversity, protection of water and soil and research needs. Overall, they want to know what your vision for forestry in Ireland is. Comments are requested by 21 August.

Wildlife Health Strategy

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is holding a consultation on a Wildlife Health Strategy. One of the main drivers for the consultation is that policy responsibility for wildlife diseases is unclear. The strategy examines ways to improve communication, research, surveillance, risk assessment, prevention and control of wildlife diseases. The final consultation question asks, what are the top three wildlife health issues that should be in the implementation plan.

Code for Scientific Advisory Committee

The Office of Science and Innovation have launched a consultation on the updated Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs). The Code promotes good practice in the relationships between Scientific Advisory Committees and Government and was last revised in December 2001. The OSI would like to update the Code to:

• include lay members and co-opt experts on to SACs
• monitor the implementation of the Code and clarify what SACs need to follow the Code
• reflect changes since it was first published in 2001 (e.g. Freedom of Information Act)

The Government has committed to update the Code by the end of 2007. Updating the Code was recommended by the Science and Technology Select Committee in its report on Scientific Advice.

The consultation closes on 16 September 2007. The BES is responding.

DfID Research Strategy

The UK's Department for International Development is consulting on its research strategy. It follows the Department's 2006 White Paper. The consultation asks how DfID can:

• build on their four research themes (agriculture, "killer diseases", governance and climate change)
• improve the way it identifies demand for research from end-users
• promote cross-cutting research that will benefit poor people
• help developing countries to conduct and use research
• make it more likely that research will be used

There is an on-line questionnaire to that will be open until 23 September. The BES is planning to respond to the consultation.

EU consultation on Aquaculture development

The aquaculture industry is growing quickly with pressure from falling catches of wild fish and increasing global demands for seafood. The EU Commission has opened a public consultation to look at the opportunities in aquaculture and potential challenges for the environment and public health. The consultation closes 15 July 2007.

Energy White Paper and Nuclear Consultation

The UK Government published its Energy White Paper today. The White Paper had a number of significant announcements, including a consultation on the Future of Nuclear Power.

European Research Area

The European Commission has published a Green Paper on options to 'deepen and widen' the European Research Area (ERA) so that it better contributes to the Lisbon agenda. ERA looks to create an 'internal market' for research in the EU; European-level co-ordination for research activities; and initiatives implemented and funded at the European-level. A consultation on the Green Paper will open on 1 May and run to 31 August 2007.

GB Strategy for Invasive Non-Native Species

A draft of the GB Invasive Non-native Species Framework Strategy is out for consultation until 23 May 2007. The draft strategy's vision is to protect against the adverse consequences of invasive non-native species by increasing awareness, improving co-ordination amongst a range of parties and a providing framework for action at all levels. It also looks to encourage research to be more effective at informing policy and action. The consultation asks a range of questions, which the BES will be responding to.

Marine Bill White Paper

Defra has published its Marine Bill White Paper. The white paper sets out a raft of proposals covering marine planning, the licensing of marine activities, marine nature conservation, managing marine fisheries and the creation of a new marine management organisation. By bringing together current regulation and agencies under one framework it is hoped that this will produce a more efficient system better able to balance competing demands on the marine environment.

The BES is responding. The deadline for responses is 8 June 2007.