In a speech setting out the UK ambitions for Rio+20, in June, Mrs Spelman said the UK will work with Colombia and others to develop and drive forward the proposal for new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs are expected to guide and galvanise international and domestic efforts on major sustainability issues, such as food security, water, and access to sustainable energy.

In a move to give greater prominence to valuing nature, the UK will also be seeking agreement to move away from using GDP as the sole indicator of progress in government accounts. The proposal, known as GDP+, would encourage countries to also measure and account for the value of their natural resources and the social wellbeing of their people.

Speaking at the London Guildhall today to green groups and businesses, Mrs Spelman said:

“Our economic and environmental security relies on ambitious outcomes from Rio+20. Rio+20 has to be a workshop not a talking shop.

“The international community has not made sufficient progress on important world challenges such as food security, access to clean water and sustainable energy. We need urgent action now. Sustainable Development Goals can drive international action on these key issues and build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals. I will be pushing for real progress on new goals to set us on the right path to a greener and more sustainable world.”

“We are committed to achieving growth, but this should not come at the cost of the natural resources we take for granted, or at the cost of wellbeing. We want to see countries acknowledging the true value of nature to our economy, by reflecting its worth in their accounts. The UK is a world leader in this field, and I will be making the case for all nations to match our progress.”

The UK wants to see Rio+20 drive action on SDGs. They will not replace or detract from the current set of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to which the UK remains firmly committed. The UK will work with Colombia and other international partners to take forward SDGs ahead of Rio.

The UK will also be calling for Governments to reach an agreement on GDP+. The UK is already leading the way in this area through initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s work to assess wellbeing, the Natural Capital Committee that has been set up to take stock of our natural resources, and the work of the Office of National Statistics to embed natural capital into UK environmental accounts by 2020. We will be sharing this expertise with other nations at Rio.

Other key ambitions for the UK at Rio+20 include:

• Renewed political commitment to green growth through a high level, political declaration that all nations sign up to, making it clear that long term sustainable growth requires efficient use of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, and eradication of poverty.
• Action in key sectors of agriculture, water and energy; setting out steps to tackle food security, water security and to provide access to sustainable energy.
• Reducing inefficient and environmentally harmful subsidies, including fossil fuel subsidies.
• Improved sustainability practices by business, including through increased, more transparent sustainability reporting.

Defra will continue to work with businesses, NGOs and other civil society groups to ensure the UK demonstrates a strong and united commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable economy.

Mrs Spelman added:

“Ultimately, it is the private sector and civil society who will deliver the green economy. We need everyone to be inspired by Rio+20. UK businesses and civil society are already driving forward the green economy and Rio is a great opportunity to share their success.”

Notes to Editors

The Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development will take place from June 20-22 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The conference marks 20 years from the original Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. More information about the conference can be found here http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/.

Further details on the UK’s aims and ambitions for Rio+20 can be found on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/economy/eu-international/.

In total, 60 flood and coastal risk schemes will begin construction this year. Those given the go ahead today include Warrington in Cheshire, protecting over 1900 households, Salmons Brook in North London, protecting over 1300 households, and Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire, protecting over 300 households.

Richard Benyon, Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, said:

“The new flood defence schemes announced today will bring huge relief to tens of thousands of households.  Our investment will protect these communities from the devastating effects of flooding, and allow residents to live without the fear and worry of their homes being damaged.”

New estimates also show that the Environment Agency is now on track to exceed its target of better protecting 145,000 homes by 2015.

Thanks to the new partnership funding approach, which encourages funding from external sources such as councils and businesses, over £72 million of contributions have been secured to help fund flood and coastal erosion schemes on top of the £2.17 billion Defra is investing in preventing flooding during this spending period to 2015.

Regional Flood and Coastal Committees have worked with local communities to attract flood defence funding from sources such as councils, businesses and private investors.

This Partnership Funding approach was introduced in May 2011 to encourage external contributions so that taxpayers’ money is spread across more schemes.

Richard Benyon continued:

“Small towns like Cockermouth and Morpeth became household names after the devastation and distress caused by flooding in recent years.  Today, residents here and in many towns across the country are reaping the rewards of the partnership funding model brought in to enable more flood defence schemes to go ahead.  We now expect to exceed our goal to protect 145,000 more homes from flooding by 2015.”

Environment Agency Chairman Lord Chris Smith said:

“We will continue to work to reduce the risk of flood and its impacts, and this year we will begin 60 new flood defence schemes, which, when completed, will protect many thousands of homes. We are also committed to increasing the number of people signed up to our free flood warning service to over 1.1 million, and will continue to maintain our existing flood defences.

“With one in six homes in England at risk of flooding, we would encourage people to take their own steps to prepare for flooding, for example by signing up to the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service.”

The Partnership Funding model targets areas of severe flood and coastal erosion risk, and homes in deprived communities.  Of the 145,000 homes that will be better protected by 2015, around half are in areas of significant flood risk and almost 15,000 households are both at significant flood risk and in the most deprived parts of the country. 

Partnership Funding gives local people greater choice about what flood protection is provided in their area.

In Cockermouth, £3.3 million funding from Defra makes up part of the funding to enable a flood scheme to be built in the town, which the local community and local councils have also committed to help fund.

A scheme in Water End, York, which was turned down for funding last year, is going ahead after the Environment Agency worked with York City Council to agree a package of cost reductions and partnership contributions.

As well as the flood schemes that will progress as a result of this year’s funding, the allocation for 2012/13 also covers maintenance of existing defences. The Environment Agency has also committed to increasing the number of households receiving free flood warnings to over 1.1 million.

Notes

The full list of schemes going ahead in 2012/13 is published on the Environment Agency website at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/118129.aspx.

As an example of partnership funding, in South Derbyshire, Nestlé has contributed £1.7 million to a £7 million scheme to protect 1,600 homes and further financial contributions have been made from industry, the community and local landowners.

“The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is today publishing a plan setting out how the Agency will be transformed over the next five years so that it delivers both vastly improved service to its customers and much better value for money for taxpayers. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

“This is an important turning point for the Agency. The 2013 review of RPA which I published in July 2010 provided an independent, evidenced based view of RPA’s then current state as well as its readiness for implementation of the expected reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (‘CAP 2013’). The conclusions offered a stark assessment of the Agency’s capabilities in terms of basic finance functions, customer service, IT, leadership and governance. The negative effects on RPA customers and for taxpayers were as clear as they were unacceptable. I said then that I would not allow that state of affairs to continue and that I would personally drive forward progress by chairing a new Oversight Board.

“Under a new Chief Executive and senior management team improvements are already being seen at RPA. For example, my written statement of 11 January 2012 (col.16 WS) reported that in December 2011 the Agency had made its highest ever proportion of SPS payments in the opening month of the payment window. However, as is made clear in the plan, further work is required in a number of areas (data, controls, IT, organisational structure, systems and people) in order to fully overcome the legacy of the failed implementation of the SPS in 2005. Meanwhile, the challenge of implementing the CAP 2013 reforms, currently under negotiation in Brussels, looms ever closer on the horizon.

“Against that background, the plan comes in two parts. Phase 1, the Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP) involves a series of 45 projects which will run from 2012-2015 and deliver:

• Cleansed data;
• Improved processes and controls;
• Maintained or improved technology;
• Fit for purpose structure and corporate services;
• Better customer service tools;
• Improved people capacity and capability.

“Many of these projects deal with improving underlying processes and data to make RPA’s foundation more solid and the outputs may not be very visible to its customers during the life of the SIP itself. However, these projects will be crucially important in ensuring that the Agency is on a sound footing to deal with the amount of change it faces over the next five years.

“Phase 2, the Future Options Programme (FOP) will take centre stage from 2014-17. The FOP is looking presently at alternative models for delivering some or all of RPA’s business following the CAP scheme changes post-2013. Once the right operating model for the future is established the FOP will assess delivery options, which may include various forms of outsourcing, and then set in train the procurement process; all this activity will take place within the next two years. The objective of the FOP is build on the work of the SIP to provide a much better service to RPA’s customers and much better value for money for the taxpayer.

“Annual RPA business plans will set out in more detail the expected costs and outputs in the year ahead. The business plan for 2012/13 is scheduled to be published in April However, I can confirm now that Defra is investing an addition £21.8 million in the next financial year, with a further £19.1 million provisionally earmarked for the following two financial years. This represents a serious commitment to finally drawing a line under RPA’s unfortunate legacy and putting it in the best possible position to implement the CAP 2013 reforms.

“I will continue to chair the RPA Oversight Board in order to provide the necessary support and challenge to ensure that objective is met.”

Anyone convicted of any crime relating to metal theft would be barred from working legitimately in the scrap business.

Further changes proposed for existing legislation would also mean anyone convicted of transporting stolen metal could be forced out of business by having their carrier registration taken off them.

Environment Minister Lord Taylor said:

“Stolen metal will be too hot to handle.  Mindless criminals who steal from our railways and historic buildings, and the scrap dealers who fuel the market, are causing misery and anger for countless people.  

“We’ll purge the industry of rotten elements by flushing them out of legitimate businesses, or shutting dodgy businesses down altogether.”

The Environment Agency’s Chief Executive Paul Leinster said:  

“Metal theft continues to be a major problem so we welcome the wider range of convictions that will be available to us when deciding whether to issue or remove environmental permits.

“This builds on work we are doing to support the British Transport Police’s crackdown on metal theft and our on-going work to tackle illegal waste sites. Waste crime puts people and the environment at risk and undercuts legitimate businesses who take their environmental responsibilities seriously.”

By toughening up the range of convictions taken into consideration when deciding who is suitable to operate a business that either transports or handles waste, which includes scrap yards, the Environment Agency will be able crack down on anyone convicted of involvement in stealing metal.

Today’s announcement follows the commitment of £5 million to establish a dedicated metal theft taskforce to enhance law enforcement activity in this area, and the Home Secretary’s commitment to ban cash payments for scrap metal, as part of the cross-Whitehall drive to tackle metal theft.

Note to Editors

Convictions relating to pollution, harm to the environment or nuisance to nearby communities have previously been the only areas allowed to be taken into consideration when deciding whether a person or business is a ‘suitable’ person to run a waste facility or act as a waste carrier.

From April 2012, the Environment Agency will also take into consideration convictions linked with metal theft alongside other criteria when scrutinising all new applications for an environmental permit to run a scrap yard in response to the rising incidence of metal theft.  As a result of changes previously made to legislation they expect to handle up to 1,000 new applications for permits by October 2013. The Agency will also assess subsequent convictions of existing permitted sites and may revoke the permit in certain circumstances.

Today’s announcement will lead to  proposals for further changes to legislation, expected by April  2013, which will mean that such convictions would also be used when scrutinising all new applications to register to transport any waste.  Most waste carriers will need to re-register every three years, and under the changes all applications would be scrutinised using the additional tougher criteria. Registered carriers subsequently convicted of a relevant offence may have their registration revoked.

Taking part in her first Rural Roadshow, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has today been in Yorkshire to meet the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network in Harrogate and listen to the priorities, issues and concerns of Yorkshire’s rural communities, businesses and food and farming industries.

The Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network is one of fourteen rural networks set up to identify and feedback local issues and concerns through a hotline to the heart of Government.

Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman said:

“Coming here for my first rural roadshow to find out what issues the community face and visiting a business park to see how superfast broadband can transform a Yorkshire business has been a great experience. Our rural communities across the country have great potential and we want to unlock it. That’s what the Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network will help us do here.”

“We will champion the interests of rural communities within Government and find the best ways to support local businesses and boost the rural economy. That’s why we have invested £165 million to unlock the potential of rural areas, including £20 million to get the remotest areas online.”

Steve Willis, Chair of the Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network said:

“The rural and farming network has given rural communities and businesses in Yorkshire the chance to communicate important rural issues directly to Government. We are pleased to welcome Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman to Yorkshire today and look forward to engaging with Defra on key local issues like rural economic growth and the Rural Development Programme for England.”

Last year, Defra invited rural business and community leaders to come together in groups to help shape rural policy that meets the real needs of local people. The fourteen initial member groups making up the national Rural and Farming Network were announced in January 2012. Today is the first meeting in an ongoing process of engagement between the Network and Defra, the department for rural communities.

The Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network will be a key point of contact to give feedback to Defra on the impact of local emergencies, like flooding, so that the right kind of assistance can be provided to keep businesses running.

The Rural and Farming Network sits alongside a £165 million package of measures to support rural businesses and communities announced in the Rural Economy Growth Review.

The Growth Review confirmed that access to high quality broadband for rural businesses and households is fundamental to stimulating rural economic growth and supporting thriving rural communities. The UK Government has committed £530m to deliver improved rural broadband and North Yorkshire is in the first wave of local authorities awarded funding. Mrs Spelman today visited Oakwood Park Business Centre in Bishop Thornton, to see first hand how superfast broadband can transform the prospects of rural businesses. Whilst there, she attended the launch, by North Yorkshire County Council, of a campaign called ‘Go On North Yorkshire’ designed to raise awareness amongst rural businesses and households of the planned investment and help them prepare for the opportunities superfast broadband will bring to rural areas.

Notes

1. The Government is investing £530 million to ensure the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with 90 per cent of homes and businesses having access to superfast broadband and for everyone in the UK to have access to at least 2Mbps.
2. An important part of the Government’s broadband rollout plans involves stimulating demand for superfast broadband at a local level. In North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire County Council is coordinating this activity through their ‘Go On North Yorkshire’ campaign. Defra, Broadband Delivery UK and Race Online are supporting North Yorkshire in this work.
3. In addition, Defra’s £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund will give rural communities in the 10% hardest to reach places in each county the chance to apply for funding to help them access a superfast broadband connection. The first application round closed on 31 January. Defra will announce plans for a subsequent application round in due course.

Chief Veterinarian Nigel Gibbens said:

“Our animals need extra care during this cold weather.  I know many pet owners are already thinking about what else they need to do. But for those who aren’t – there are some really simple steps they can take to ensure their pets stay healthy and happy during the cold weather.”

Things people can do include:

• Think about housing for your pets.  Where pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, are kept outside in hutches think about bringing them into garages/sheds where it is warmer;
• Horses and ponies that are kept outside should have access to shelter;
• It is important to ensure a good supply of drinking water, and ice should be cleared from it regularly;
• There should be regular provision of food for the animals;
• In an emergency you should contact an animal welfare group.

More information is available at www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/animals/welfare/weather/

Part of a £92 million Defra commitment to clearing up England’s rivers and lakes, the Fund announced today will allow communities and charities to tackle local eyesores and encourage iconic wildlife to thrive by tackling pollution and removing redundant dams, weirs and other man-made structures to create habitats which work for wildlife.

Mr Benyon said:

“Rivers and lakes are a vital, and much-loved, part of the English countryside and I want to ensure they remain that way.

“We’ve all seen examples of rivers choked up with rubbish and weeds and the devastating effects on wildlife and the scenic beauty of these precious places. But we’ve also seen some fantastic successes in reversing these declines, such as the return of otters to all counties in England.

“With only a quarter of our lakes and rivers currently providing a home to a wide range of birds, fish and mammals, there is still much more we can all do. Today’s £28 million Fund will help communities and charities interested in doing just that and I hope it will lead to us soon celebrating the same sort of success for other treasured wildlife, such as water voles, kingfishers and salmon.”

Community groups and charities can apply for a share of the Catchment Restoration Fund to clean up their local rivers by tackling pollution, restoring wildlife habitats and enabling fish to migrate.

The Environment Agency will be responsible for running the fund over the next three years and will ensure that money is given to local groups who can make a real difference.

Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency said:

“This is a great opportunity to create a better water environment.  Cleaner water, flowing in a more natural landscape will be good for business, people and wildlife, and help society adapt to the effects of climate change.

“We encourage businesses, local authorities and community groups to join together with charitable organisations to apply for funding and come up with big ideas for their local waterway.”

Notes:

1. The fund will run initially from 2012/13 to 2014/15 with up to £10 million each year.
2. The lead applicant for funding must be a charity or an organisation with charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes.
3. Closing date for bids is 29th February.  Funding will be awarded by April 30th following assessment by a national panel led by the Environment Agency and representatives from Defra and Natural England, see: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/136182.aspx
4. The Fund will also help to deliver the commitments in the Natural Environment White Paper to restore nature in our rivers and water bodies. The White Paper, The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature, was published in June 2011. For an update on progress on implementation, see: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/

Full statistical release can be found at: Air quality statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2011 – Provisional

In this statistics release comparisons are made between the financial years April 2010 to March 2011 and the rolling year July 2010 to June 2011, to minimise the effects of seasonal fluctuations.

The proportion of household waste sent for recycling, composting or reuse between July 2010 to June 2011 in England was 42.0 per cent, increasing from 41.5 per cent in the financial year April 2010 and March 2011.

 The generation of household waste continued to decrease between the financial year 2010/11 and the rolling year July 2010 to June 2011, with a 0.9 per cent reduction to 23.2 million tonnes. This continues the slowing in a reduction of household waste since 2007/08.

The full release can be found here

This unprecedented funding for a new charity paves the way for the launch of the new Canal & River Trust later this year – a new “national trust for the waterways” that will harness the support of thousands of supporters and volunteers to help look after the canals and rivers in England and Wales for the benefit of future generations.

This is a good deal for the taxpayer, the waterways and for the millions of people that enjoy them. Releasing the nation’s waterways from Government control gives more certainty than ever to their financial future. The Canal & River Trust’s charitable status will mean new opportunities for revenue through donations, charitable grants and legacies, increased borrowing powers, efficiencies and volunteering activity.

Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:

“The Canal & River Trust will be a national trust for the waterways, maintaining and restoring 2,000 miles of heritage sites, wildlife habitats and open spaces so that we can all enjoy them for generations to come.

“Bringing our waterways into the Big Society puts decision-making into the hands of the thousands of people who cherish the waterways near their homes. Our £1 billion investment will get this new charity off to the strongest start possible, and let local communities and volunteers shape the future of our world-famous waterways.”

Tony Hales, the chairman of the Trustees of the Canal & River Trust said:

”We congratulate the minister on this settlement which creates a bedrock on which to build the future prosperity of our precious waterways. In the 20^th century the network was saved from destruction by committed waterway campaigners, volunteers and staff. In the last decade alone British Waterways has made an enormous contribution to securing the network’s future. In the 21^st century they will be held in trust for the nation as a national treasure and a haven for people and wildlife.

“With greater certainty of funding than ever before, we now have the opportunity to attract new investment and new supporters and give a greater role to the millions of people who live alongside and on the waterways.”

In order to help the Canal & River Trust get off to the best possible start, Defra has committed a property endowment worth £460 million and funding of £800 million over the next 15 years to help put the nation’s historic network on a firm footing for the future. In addition the new Trust will give local communities and stakeholders a greater role in caring for their waterways.

Notes

The funding deal has the following components:

• Core grant of £39m per year (index linked to inflation from 2015/16 onwards)
• From 2015/16, an additional grant of 10m per year (reduced gradually over the last five years of the grant agreement, tied to three performance measures):
  - satisfactory condition of principal assets
  - satisfactory condition of towpaths
  - satisfactory flood risk management measures 
• A £25m one-off grant  to be spread across the next few months, and a capped ‘last resort’ Government guarantee in relation to the historic public sector pension liability; 
• The government has already announced that the £460m commercial property endowment used by British Waterways to fund the infrastructure network will be transferred to the CRT for the same purposes.

Subject to satisfactory conclusion of outstanding issues, the Government plans to lay the Transfer Order in Parliament in February. Subject to Parliament’s approval, we hope to see the new charity launched in June. Following scrutiny by Parliament, the new charity will be launched in June.

The inland waterways managed by the Environment Agency will transfer to the new waterways charity from 2015/16, subject to the next spending review and the agreement of the charity’s trustees.

The Scottish Government have decided not to change the status of British Waterways in Scotland and the Scottish canals will therefore remain in public ownership. 

A record 13 million people now visit British Waterways’ canals and rivers – and that is only half of the waterways network.

Over half of the population lives within about 10 minutes of a waterway.