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Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · Sep 4

Our first panel is discussing a new settlement for nature and planning. Chair @jessicaelgot.bsky.social is joined by @pollybillington.bsky.social, @rachelblakemp.bsky.social, Natasha Hyde and Ali Plummer.

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Jun 25

Really enjoyed this roundtable. Gov has a huge opportunity to drive forward nature investment at scale.

Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · Jun 24

Great roundtable this morning on the investment case for nature as critical national infrastructure - thank you to Rebuilding Nature for the excellent discussion and @pollybillington.bsky.social for hosting!

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Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · May 14

🚨 Trustee Announcement 🚨

We’re delighted to welcome five new trustees to the board of the Labour Climate and Environment Forum (LCEF)!

At a time when climate ambition has never been more urgent, we’re growing our governance team with an experienced group from across the Labour movement.

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Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · May 1

Great article by @TomHayes in the New Statesman today that cuts through the noise and speaks to what the British people want.

www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/su...

Kemi Badenoch is wrong about net zero

Opposing clean power isn't the vote winner that the Tories - or Reform - think it will be.

www.newstatesman.com

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Mar 31

Government to extend ban on moorland burning - closing loopholes in existing rules

Great news for nature, carbon, & people who’ll be spared from acrid smoke & flooding

Bad news for dukes & billionaires who own grouse moors 🎻

Here's my quote running on PA newswire: 1/

www.gov.uk/government/n...

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Paul McNamee @paulmcnamee.bsky.social · Mar 23

'This is what Labour understand about energy and what some of our opponents don’t. Investing in our own home-grown energy generation grows the money available for everything else that we need'

@annagelderdmp.bsky.social great in @labourlist.bsky.social today.

labourlist.org/2025/03/gb-e...

'GB Energy's first investment demonstrates Labour's climate leadership' - LabourList

The funding announced is just the start in an ambitious programme to set up a new, publicly owned energy company which will play a leading role in delivering our clean power mission.

labourlist.org

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 21

www.gov.uk/government/n....

Nature boost: Government launches first action plan on pesticides in a decade

The UK Pesticides National Action Plan sets out how the Government will work collaboratively with farmers to minimise the impacts of pesticides on people and the environment

www.gov.uk

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 21

Third - a National Action Plan for pesticides has finally been published! This is something that was promised by the previous government but never quite happened.

With it comes a target to reduce the harms from pesticides by 10% by 2030 - setting a clear signal of intent and direction of travel.

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 21

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Defra asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature

Exclusive: Representatives of king, National Trust and others called on to work together to protect environment

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 21

Second - the bringing together of England's largest landowners in England to form a 'National Estate for Nature' across 10% of England's land.

The group will report to the Environment Secretary on the actions being taken to deliver for nature and people - driving forward action.

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 21

First - the government has announced a new 'Western Forest' across the west of England. Huge opportunities for people, nature, health but also for more public-private partnerships on nature to flourish!

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New forest to be created in west of England, with 20m trees planted by 2050

Western Forest will cover 2,500 hectares across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 21

📣Some really exciting news for nature over the last 24 hours.

It's really good to see a more strategic approach to nature's recovery and government partnerships working in action to deliver on the ground.

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Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · Mar 21

Great to see that one of three new national forests is planned for the west of England.

Positive there’s a focus on urban areas too (including Bristol) where trees are going to play a crucial role in supporting climate resilience.

New national forest to see 20m trees planted across West by 2050

The government says the new Western Forest project will help the UK meet its tree-planting targets.

www.bbc.com

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Mar 20

BREAKING: DEFRA asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature.

The new National Estate for Nature is a bold move by Labour, summoning landowners who own a tenth of the country to report on their stewardship.

With comment from me:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Defra asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature

Exclusive: Representatives of king, National Trust and others called on to work together to protect environment

www.theguardian.com

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Paul McNamee @paulmcnamee.bsky.social · Mar 18

Today's announcement by Kemi Badenoch - breaking the long-standing UK consensus on climate - leaves a massive hole in the political centre ground and presents a huge opportunity for Labour to take advantage of. 🧵

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Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · Mar 13

LCEF are delighted to announce the upcoming launch of our new essay collection! 'The Return of Spring' will explore the historical links between the labour movement and environmentalism. 1/2

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Mar 13

Pleased to have contributed an essay to this forthcoming collection by @lcefuk.bsky.social - about Labour, environmentalism, and the development of what @matthewjkelly.bsky.social has termed the 'Nature State':

bsky.app/profile/lcef...

Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · Mar 13

LCEF are delighted to announce the upcoming launch of our new essay collection! 'The Return of Spring' will explore the historical links between the labour movement and environmentalism. 1/2

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 11

There are political challenges of over-reliance on energy imports.

With geopolitical uncertainty as it is, energy independence resonates with the public, the risk with current biomass model is that this undermines it.

Ember @ember-energy.org · Mar 11

Following the collapse of coal, bioenergy is the 3rd largest energy import after oil and gas in the UK.

🌲 Clean Power 2030 will halve gas imports, but large-scale biomass power remains totally reliant on imported wood pellets.

ember-energy.org/lat...

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Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · Mar 10

No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils

Most say they have seen no impact on applications for year 7 places, despite warnings from those against policy

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils

Most say they have seen no impact on applications for year 7 places, despite warnings from those against policy

www.theguardian.com

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Mar 6

Well done @guyshrubsole.bsky.social.

Huge opportunity for @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social and a Labour government to bring more transparency and, ultimately accountability, to land ownership.

Could be game changing.

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Mar 6

Huge win! Government announces plans to open up the Land Registry.

If delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wales.

Read my blog post for more details & how you can write to the Minister to make sure this now happens:

whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h...

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Huge win! Government announces plan to open up Land Registry

This post is by Guy Shrubsole. Today the UK Government has announced plans to open up the Land Registry – which, if delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wale…

whoownsengland.org

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Megan Corton Scott @mcortonscott.bsky.social · Feb 10

On today's big Drax decision by govt - very pleased to see the principles LCEF has been pushing for recognised in this new deal.

✅Profit loopholes closed
✅Drastic reduction of subsidies and supply
✅100% sustainability supply chain standards
✅Windfall tax on excessive profits

Labour Climate and Environment Forum @lcefuk.bsky.social · Feb 10

👇The Government has published its statement on the future of Drax Power Station this morning - read our Deputy Director's (@mcortonscott.bsky.social) thoughts below:

LCEF welcomes Labour’s announcement which has tackled head-on the long-term issues with Drax power station and biomass generation: issues that were kicked down the road by the previous Government for over a decade. This new settlement has a drastic reduction in subsidies, an upping of sustainability standards to 100% in supply chains, and a windfall tax principle that delivers value to British billpayers.

As a result of this new deal, the UK will maintain domestic energy security and deliver value for money whilst driving forward the Clean Power mission to end reliance on volatile global oil and gas markets.

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Polly Billington @pollybillington.bsky.social · Jan 15

It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve been forced to write to Claire Coutinho again.

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Jan 9

Thanks Tom. This article was about opening up that debate to be honest. As you say, there's no easy answer - especially ahead of 2030 - but avoiding confronting the tricky questions has arguably gone on too long.

Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Jan 8

The UK imports millions of tonnes of wood from overseas to burn for electricity each year & has cost billpayers billions to subsidise.

Ahead of a decision on whether to extend subsidies, I write on the political risks of subsidising biomass for Labour.

www.politicshome.com/thehouse/art...

Sticking with Drax could undermine net zero. Labour must be brave

The decision on whether to end Drax's energy subsidies is not an easy one, but the Government must face up to the tough choices that the Tories dod...

www.politicshome.com

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Alex Mackaness @alexmackaness.bsky.social · Dec 11

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Labour must back British farming with leadership, ambition, and commitment. 🌹

By building trust, empowering farmers, and driving a bold vision for resilience and renewal, Labour can ensure farming thrives at the heart of a secure, sustainable UK food system.

@lcefuk.bsky.social