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London's Water...

…its a crucial part of our daily lives – we drink it, wash in it, cook with it – but we give very little thought to where it comes from, how we might supply it in the future, and the danger of too much, or too little of it. Read about the issue, and tell us what you think!
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London’s Water…

Every Little Doesn’t Help – Video

By Gareth Williams On May 22, 2013 · Add Comment
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As mentioned in a previous post, here is a video that summarises some of the fascinating points that David MacKay makes in his book, Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air… Enjoy!
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Every Little Doesn’t Help

On May 17, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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It’s not often that you encounter a simple idea – I should say a simple truth – that forces you to rethink the way you act, or the belief you have that your acts are ‘right’ or ‘good’. It’s actually quite a distressing experience, one which really stops you in your tracks and makes you [...]
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London – a world apart

On May 11, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Two media stories this week bring home the bubble we live in in London. First is the Financial Times’ report on the number of cranes as a proxy for wealth.  We all know that busy cranes indicate investment and belief in the future from those with money.  In the UK there are a [...]
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A MAJOR Issue

On May 7, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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After I wrote recently about the removal of climate change from the national curriculum, a trainee teacher friend of mine sent me something that, I hope, illustrates the point I made about the necessity of teaching children - all children – about climate change from a young age. The poster made by year 8 [...]
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A sustainable world needs loveable myths – where are they?

On May 2, 2013 By David Fell
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For a sustainable economy, we need consumers who actually want it. And, to sell it to them, we’re going to need myths. Want a sustainable future? Look! Relaxed time with friends and family! Healthy and long life, a meaningful job, an opportunity to make a contribution! Choose this, and get this! Advertisers have long since [...]
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The 5 best ways to waste your money at home

On May 1, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Want to throw away your hard-earned money?  Here’s how… 1.  This is so easy – leave computers, televisions and other electrical gadgets plugged in.  There is  no need to turn them on or use them, so no hard labour required.  Just leave them plugged in and go away.  COST: between £50 and £86 pa against [...]
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Juking the Stats Clears Emissions and Our Conscience

On April 26, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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I read quite a lot of excellent success stories about various organisations achieving huge savings in energy, water, waste and so on. When I hear that Sainsbury’s has cut water consumption by 50% or that a brewery is going to be run entirely on solar energy I feel wonderfully upbeat about [...]
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The next financial crisis – pensions and stranded assets

On April 25, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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I know about ‘stranded assets’ – they are the facilities which have been built using borrowed money which will take 20-30 years to repay. Long before the end of that period, the usefulness of the facilities will have reduced. Some hospitals and waste management facilities are in this category. They were built say, 5 to [...]
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Bring back repairing like we used to do!

On April 23, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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We are constantly being asked where we can get things repaired.  Ever tried?  If it is out of warranty, it’s hard.  And also it has become exciting to throw away and buy new.  In our rich city, we do that a lot, even though we really ought not to be able to afford it.  But [...]
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Companies slash their water usage – here’s how

On April 18, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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We are notoriously profligate with water as our series on water shows.  Companies who want to be both efficient and sustainable are trying to reduce how much they use.  Sainsbury’s is claiming that it has cut its water consumption by as much as 50%, which would be mightily impressive on two [...]
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Let Them Learn About Climate Change

On April 17, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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The recent draft of the new national curriculum for children in Key Stages 1-3 (that’s school years 1 to 9) seems to have caused quite a stir. The crux of the matter is the removal from the Geography curriculum of any specific references to ‘climate change,’ arguably meaning that there is no requirement for [...]
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Recycling goes abroad – cuts our emissions?

On April 16, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Recently we reported on citizens’ concerns about sending our recycling overseas for processing.  We picked up complaints that this is a bad thing and moreover, even worse, the stuff we have carefully separated and put in different containers ends up not being recycled at all. More...

Major retailers cut waste to landfill to 10%

On April 12, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Retailers signed up to the Better Retailing Climate agreement, which include Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Homebase, John Lewis, Debenhams and the Early Learning Centre now send just 10% of their waste to landfill. These retailers account for 50% of UK retail by turnover.  It is significant that, during the recession when some have called [...]
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A Right to Know Where My Hard Work Goes

On April 12, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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A couple of days ago my attention was brought to an article, and it got me thinking: Do I know what happens to my recycling after it’s collected? Do I have any idea where it goes or what it’s used for? I have these vague impressions of things called MRFs (Material Recovery Facilities) [...]
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Recycling – we must track where the market takes it

On April 11, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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You can’t buck the market.  It sends our recycled waste to where there is a demand for it and in many cases where the materials came from in the first place.  We do not manufacture the products we use – we import them and so the materials reclaimed go abroad too, back where they came [...]
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Fat Power

On April 8, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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Waste fats, oils and greases are to be used to power a new plant at Beckton, East London. The power will be used primarily for the nearby sewage treatment works, with the remainder being sold into the national grid. This will have the added benefit of reducing the amount of ‘fatbergs’ in London’s sewer system [...]
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UK could face EU legal action over road vehicle tests

On April 6, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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The UK is failing to implement EU single market rules on vehicle roadworthiness.  The UK does not want to bring in exhaust filters to limit nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants.  Consequently the EU may take enforcement action.  Given the known poor quality of our air (See our investigation), this is [...]
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Friday Fact: The Coalitions Colder

On April 5, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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Something a little light hearted on this cold Friday evening – the data blog folk at the Guardian have looked at Met Office monthly data and produced this interesting chart showing each Government’s weather record compared to the period before it. And the data confirms it. It’s colder under the Coalition! Well, we all knew [...]
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We are switching to diesel to save fuel but is it good for our health?

On April 5, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Here is a challenging conundrum.  The AA reports that petrol sales are down and the purchase of diesels is up. We could say that this is a more efficient use of a finite resource and therefore a good thing; and that it reduces pollution of [...]
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Bankers depart banks to work for gaming companies

On April 4, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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This is an extraordinary story.  Well, extraordinary for us folks outside the banking sector – bankers are leaving their bank jobs and moving to work for gaming companies. According to Astbury Marsden, City headhunters, banking skills are transferable to sectors such as spread betting.  One company has recruited 60 ex-banking staff in the past 4 [...]
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All change for London as new taxis take over

On April 4, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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The mix of black cabs on our streets looks likely to continue.  Manganese Bronze the maker of the traditional London Cab went bust but is now owned by the Chinese car maker, Geely.  It may make a come back but will be confronted with more competition for the hearts of the London cabbie: the new [...]
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Bonuses Bigger Than Your Bills

On April 3, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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If you are one of the estimated 2.5 million families living in ‘fuel poverty’ in Britain, then it might make you more than just a little bit annoyed to learn that five of the top people in the company that owns British Gas “earned” bonuses of around £16 million pounds between them last year. I [...]
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Landfill bans cut waste and increase recycling

On April 3, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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In the USA 92% of discarded mobile phones were sent to landfill in 2009, leaving just 8% for recycling. In the UK, where the EU requires increasing levels of electronics to be diverted from landfill and into recycling, 25% of mobiles were recovered. By 2020 recovery rates are expected to be 80%.  This is a [...]
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Thames Water dodges taxes on profits

On April 1, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Thames Water received a £76m tax rebate last year, made operating profits of £650m and wants taxpayer funds for the £4.1bn project to build the “super sewer” under the Thames.  Where do its substantial revenues go? Well …It is a popular company for investors as it has paid out £1.08bn in dividends over the past [...]
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Higher than inflation water price increase – 5.5%

On April 1, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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With inflation at 2.8% – up from 2.7%, due partly to gas and electricity price increases, a further stimulus to inflation comes from a higher than inflation charge for Londoners’ water.  Thames Water increases its prices by 5.5% this year.  A glance at the Thames Water website does not reveal this large increase. [...]
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Shipping industry intensifies lobbying against pollution clean-up

On March 31, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Although the shipping industry carries 90% of world trade and is bigger than the airline industry, it is concerned that its lobbying is less effective.  Measures are being introduced to require it to take better care with materials such as asbestos and other toxic materials when scrapping old shipping, and to clean up ballast water [...]
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Farmers who sell their meat to supermarkets can end up dumping it!

On March 31, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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At Easter supermarkets often sell “better than half price lamb”.  This means retail prices could seem low. But it is the farmers who may suffer. “If there’s a surplus, supermarkets run meat as a loss loser to get people in to the store.” Farmers who sell to non-supermarket customers set the price at the beginning [...]
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Business energy costs are just 3% total costs

On March 28, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Energy costs for a small business are just 3% of total costs which may explain why energy conservation is slow to take off. Yet industry pressure groups focus on increases in cost which they blame on ‘green’ policies.  Often such campaigns compare static high carbon energy against rising non-carbon energy.  New official research helps unpick [...]
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Mayor’s Low Carbon Prize

On March 27, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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The 2013 Mayor’s Low Carbon Prize, in partnership with Siemens is looking for innovative ideas from London’s students to help us slash London’s CO2 emissions 60 per cent by 2025. Siemens Internships could be part of the prize. Mayor’s Low Carbon Prize | www.london.gov.uk.
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Green policies puts our bills up and then down – is it true?

On March 27, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Green policies increase our bills -  just when our incomes are falling.  If we ignored this and carried on using our inefficient power stations and air-polluting fuels we would be £280 pa better off says the Government.  So why are we not doing this?  Is it really justifiable to make up a fancy policy which [...]
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‘Have You Got Water On Your Conscience?’

On March 27, 2013 By LondonRemade
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Have you got water on your conscience? Why should we worry about water? It never stops raining so there must be loads of it, right? If you’re reading this you’re likely the kind of person who already cares but in case you’re not sure exactly what the problem is, here are four good reasons for [...]
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London – A first-rate city with a second-rate country attached

On March 26, 2013 By LondonRemade
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Stephanie Flanders the BBC Economic Editor has produced an analysis – and filmed it too – that London dominates the UK economy. London’s recession didn’t last long. Its economy grew by nearly 12.5% between 2007 and 2011.  London’s position as a world city is so much more powerful and its deleterious effect on the rest [...]
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People Who Cycle or Walk to Work Enjoy Their Commutes the Most

On March 26, 2013 By LondonRemade
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Cyclists and walkers enjoy their journey to work most and motorists least.  This is the conclusion of an American study of commuters. The scores are most affected by the things commuters really hate: traffic congestion (non-existent for bike riders), crowded buses, trains and tubes, worries about safety (this affects cyclists most), and travel times longer [...]
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UK ranks 5th in international low-carbon competitiveness

On March 26, 2013 By LondonRemade
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Low-carbon competitiveness is important for international carbon and energy productivity.  Countries need to keep up in order to benefit.  Nuclear power keeps a country high up – like France.  Or as with China – wind farms and solar panels.  USA suffers from its drift to dirty energy and is 11th in an international table.  Germany [...]
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Government £20m for nuclear R&D

On March 26, 2013 By LondonRemade
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The Government will fund new R&D on nuclear energy with £20m and hope that the private sector will put in another £13m.  The Government funds will be applied via the Technology Strategy Board, part of the UK Innovations Agency.  Overseeing the programme will be the Nuclear Industry Council. Ministers announce £20m for nuclear [...]
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Another energy company wants Government support

On March 22, 2013 By LondonRemade
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The thing about this is ‘How do we know what is the truth of the matter’? Here is a report from an energy company in today’s FT, frightening us that if they do not get what they want they will not guarantee to keep supplying us with sufficient energy – in the next three years.  [...]
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The fossil-addicted Chancellor of the Exchequer

On March 21, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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“Creating a low carbon economy should be done in a way that creates jobs rather than costing them”.  So says the Chancellor of the Exchequer. James’ Blog asseses the Budget 2013 for its value to the green economy: ‘This was dog whistle politics at its most crass. No one can disagree with the sentiment, but [...]
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Budget encourages low fuel consumption cars

On March 21, 2013 By LondonRemade
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Interesting FT analysis on Budget 2013 and its potential impact on the uptake of more economic cars: Budget 2013: Change steers drivers towards cars with low fuel use – FT.com.
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Crisis? What crisis?

On March 20, 2013 By David Fell
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John Vidal in the Guardian today highlights the public health issues that we and Remade’s friends were discussing in our recent air quality debate.
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Mayor bids to boost market for London’s small energy producers

On March 19, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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In a ground-breaking new move to secure London’s future energy supply and boost investment and growth in London’s low carbon economy, the Mayor Boris Johnson is bidding to enable the capital’s small electricity producers to sell power to the market at a better rate. The Mayor, who has a target to produce 25 [...]
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‘Connection is about more than just pipes’

On March 18, 2013 By LondonRemade
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Phil Downing is a researcher and consultant specialising in environmental behaviours, and is director of Icaro Consulting This article follows on from its companion written by David Fell. In it, Mr Fell neatly outlines – over the course of the roughly 60 seconds that it typically takes to open, scan and discard a [...]
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Will We Get the Future We Deserve?

On March 18, 2013 By David Fell
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Sometime in the late 1990s, when ‘social inclusion’ was the buzz phrase of the hour, I found myself attending a ‘community conference’, held in a marquee in the grounds of a local church.  The conference had been organised by community activists to bring ‘professionals’ – that is, regeneration specialists, people from the council, consultants, academics, [...]
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Alarming water usage figures…

On March 14, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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...from 2 Degrees, showing the amount of water that it takes to produce various day-to-day household items, and amount of water you can save by switching from one option to another...
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14 Actions to cut Air Pollution

On March 12, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea has ‘14 Cost Effective Actions to Cut Central London Air Pollution’ in the attached document: Kensington & Chelsea 14 Steps to Cleaner Air
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Why we can’t make good waste decisions

On March 11, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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In the nineteenth century there was no single entity to manage the supply and repair of highways. Highways were a key infrastructure for Britain’s industrial revolution. In cities like London the answer was in creating embryo local authorities to be responsible. Making them part of the democratic fabric of the city was regarded as cutting [...]
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Andy Bond writes about PFI

On March 11, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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I am concerned about problems created by waste PFI.  Many seems to see it as a good thing even though many think they don’t represent value for money – which I entirely agree with. One of the reasons given is that they are not required to deliver our Landfill Directive obligations. So the argument that [...]
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‘How High’s the Water Mama? Five Feet High and Risin”

On March 8, 2013 By Gareth Williams
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In 1959 Johnny Cash sang these words. Back then his cow was knee deep in water, and I don’t think there’s much chance of that happening in London, but the fact that the rails were washed out north of town could turn out to be rather more prescient than even his Mama realised. [...]
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Government fights against clean air rules in Supreme Court

On March 7, 2013 By LondonRemade
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The Government admits that it is breaking air quality laws and claims there is nothing anyone can do to force it to do so.  This is an astonishing attitude for a government in the free world to take.  We take pride in our democracy based on the rule of law.  If our  Government can choose [...]
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‘Urgent action’ needed on playground air quality

On March 1, 2013 By Colin Roberts
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Campaigners want action on air pollution around London schools following suggestions from the Mayor’s office that children should stay away from playgrounds during smog episodes. London Assembly members and campaigners have called for action on air pollution following suggestions from the London Mayor’s environment advisor that children should be kept away from playgrounds during bad [...]
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Energy/Environment – “Eco-schemes: can environmental sustainability be integrated into the market?” : KCL Think Tank Society

On February 25, 2013 By LondonRemade
Energy/Environment – “Eco-schemes: can environmental sustainability be integrated into the market?” : KCL Think Tank Society. See London Remade’s very own David Fell speak at the KCL ThinkTank event. The panel will address the question: “How can environmental sustainability and economic growth and efficiency be reconciled? What sort of incentives or instruments can [...]
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