The appointments will run until August 2015 and have been made through fair and open competition, in line with the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The DEC, currently chaired by Professor David Macdonald from the University of Oxford, advises the Secretary of State for Environment on the principles and objectives of the Darwin Initiative grants and makes recommendations on applications for funding.

The eight members that have been appointed are:       

Mr Martin Brasher: Martin recently retired from his post as a Deputy Director within Defra’s Biodiversity Programme, he has over 30 years experience as a Government policy advisor on environmental issues including the major environmental MEAs like CBD, CITES and CMS as well as being directly involved in the Darwin Initiative itself over the last six years.

Dr Mark Collins: Mark is an independent environmental expert with 40 years experience in national and international conservation, protection and management with a career in international environmental organisations, including UNEP and IUCN. A biologist with a PhD in tropical ecology, Mark is an established spokesman and writer on the environment, and was awarded the Royal Geographical Society Busk Medal in 2000 for his contributions to conservation.

Professor Iain Gordon: Iain is the Chief Executive and Director of the James Hutton Institute. He is a research leader in environmental and agricultural research including the management of wildlife to meet the objectives of rural development and environmental restoration and human community involvement in wildlife management. He spent seven years in Australia, leading research programmes on land management to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Matthew Hatchwell: Matthew is the Chief Executive at the Wildlife Conservation Society – Europe. He has over 25 years experience on conservation programmes worldwide including directing the WCS country programme in Madagascar and the WCS office in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. He developed a special focus on addressing climate change issues, the impacts of extractive industry and the balance between conservation and human livelihoods in Central Africa.

Dr Martin Kaonga: Martin has been the Director of Science and Conservation at A Rocha International since November 2010.  He has a PhD in environmental science from Cambridge University, and has worked extensively over the last 29 years on climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation. Martin previously held senior teaching, consulting and management positions in several organisations including the University of Zambia and the Natural Resources Development College, Lusaka.
 
Dr Gary Martin: Gary is the Director of the Global Diversity Foundation (responsible for establishing long-term ‘observatories’ of cultural and natural diversity at selected field sites in Asia, Africa and Latin America). Gary has been involved in conservation and ethno-botanical work for over twenty-five years. In 1999, he was appointed Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Anthropology Department at the University of Kent, where he teaches and supervises students in the Ethnobotany MSc and Ethnobiology MPhil/PhD programs.

Professor EJ Milner-Gulland: EJ is a Professor in Conservation Science at Imperial College, London. She has over 20 years experience with her research focusing on the interface between ecology and human behaviour with particular interests the sustainability of wildlife hunting in Central Asia (saiga antelope) and tropical forest ecosystems.

Dr Shaun Russell: Shaun is the Director of the Wales Environment Research Hub based at Bangor University. He has 31 years as a biodiversity conservation scientist, and has conducted many training and advisory missions around the world, in the fields of biodiversity conservation and protected area management, including tourism development.

The five members that have been re-appointed are:

Ms Joanna Elliott: Joanna is Vice President for Program Design at the African Wildlife Foundation and has been a member of the DEC since September 2009. She has over 30 years experience in economics, conservation and strategic consulting. She has advised governments, multi and bilateral agencies, NGOs and commercial enterprises on conservation issues such as protected area management, environmental economics, environmental impact assessments, institutional development and support of environmental NGOs.

Mr Alistair Gammell: Alistair has been a member of the DEC since September 2009 and is currently the director of the Global Ocean Legacy campaign, responsible for the overall planning and execution of this work in UK Territories, working with other non-governmental organizations and scientists to gain maximum support for marine reserves. Previously Alistair was the international director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) planning major conservation projects in Europe, Africa, Asia and the UK Overseas Territories.

Professor Mary Gibby: Mary is the Director of Science at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and is a leading British botanist. She has been a member of the DEC since September 2009. Mary is widely respected in her field, and she has a wealth of experience and expertise in plant biology, genetic diversity and species conservation.

Professor Brendan Godley: Brendan is a Professor of Conservation Science at the University of Exeter and has been a member of the DEC since September 2009. He is a conservation marine biologist with past research focusing on the study of marine vertebrates (in particular turtles), but also invasive species and the impacts of renewable energy facilities.

Professor Monique Simmonds: Monique has been a member of the DEC since September 2009 and is currently Head of the Sustainable Uses of Plants group at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He also heads up Kew’s Innovation Unit. Research has focused on the economic uses of plants and fungi. She has developed chemical authentication methods for use by companies, NGOs, government bodies and by field workers to check the quality of plant-derived products being sold as medicines, cosmetics and foods.

Members do not receive any direct remuneration for their services, although reasonable travel and subsistence expenses can be reimbursed.

Robert Light has been re-appointed and will take up the post of Deputy Chair from 10 October. Re-appointments have also been confirmed for Emma Howard Boyd, John Varley and Jeremy Walker.

Board members provide non-executive leadership challenge and support to the executive through regular Board meetings, committees and groups. They also undertake individual lead roles on relevant issues and with local operational teams.

Robert Light will receive a remuneration of £16,802 plus an additional allowance of £4,199 per annum for his Deputy Chair responsibilities. Emma Howard Boyd, John Varley and Jeremy Walker will receive £18,202, £21,002 and £25,203 per annum respectively. The new Board members will each receive £16,802 per annum. The difference reflects different time commitments.

All appointments to the Environment Agency Board are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

These appointments have been made by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Welsh Government. They comply with the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, set up under the Environment Act 1995 to take an integrated approach to environmental protection and enhancement in England and Wales. It has major responsibilities in flood management, water resources and quality, climate change, land quality, chemicals, pollution prevention and control, waste, conservation and biodiversity, fisheries conservation, air quality and navigation.

Biographical details of Board members

Karen Burrows

Karen has a legal and commercial professional background and more recently has held several general management roles. She joined BG Group Plc in 1985 and was a Programme Manager for BG Group Plc’s Fit for the Future project from 2007 – 2011. She has many years of management team experience with BG Group Plc from 1985 including Vice President and President of BG Canada, Vice President (South and East Asset) for BG Trinidad and Tobago and Commercial Director for BG Advance. She was a practising lawyer for Linklaters from 1979 – 1985 and Deputy General Counsel for BG Group Plc from 1997 to 1999.

Peter Ainsworth

Peter has been the Big Lottery Fund’s UK Chair since June 2011. He is an Environmental Consultant and a founder member of the Robertsbridge Group. He was previously a Director of Corporate Finance in a major Investment Bank. He has a 25 year record of commitment to public life having served at senior levels both as a Local Councillor and as a Member of Parliament in government and opposition. Peter is currently Chairman of two national charities, Plantlife International, and the Elgar Foundation.

Richard Leafe

Richard has been the Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority since June 2007. In 2010 he was a member of the Lawton Review, “Making Space for Nature”. He has an academic background in Geography and has been a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society since 1991. Richard was the Executive Director of the North West Region for Natural England from June 2006 – June 2007 and English Nature’s General Manager and Regional Director for the East Midlands from 2003 – 2006. He was the Chairman of the Scientific Council of the European Centre for Nature Conservation from 2000 – 2003 and a member of Defra’s Flood and Coastal Defence Research Technical Advisory Group on Policy Issues from 2000 – 2003.

Robert Light

Robert has been a Kirklees Councillor since 1987 and Conservative Group Leader since 2000. He was the Leader of Kirklees Council from 2006 – 9 and was the first Chair of the Leeds City Region. He has also been Chair of the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue service. A leading member of the Local Government Association Robert is Deputy Chair and a member of the Leadership Board, Executive Board and Children & Young Peoples Board. A farmer by profession he runs his own equestrian & farming business.

Emma Howard Boyd

Emma is Sustainable Investment & Governance Director of Jupiter Asset Management Limited. She is also a Senior Associate of the University of Cambridge’s Programme for Sustainability Leadership and a member of the steering committee of the 30% Club, which aims to increase women on UK Corporate boards to 30% through a business-led approach. During 2007, Emma was a member of the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, set up by the UK Government to make detailed proposals specifically on enhancing the UK environmental industries, technologies and markets. Emma was Chair of UKSIF, the sustainable investment and finance association until March 2006, when she retired from the board after eight years’ service and a non-executive director of Triodos Renewables PLC for eight years until June 2012.

Jeremy Walker

Jeremy has been the Chairman of the Forestry Commission’s Yorkshire and Humber Regional Advisory Committee since 2007, and also chairs the North Yorkshire Timber Freight Partnership and the “Slowing the Flow” Partnership Board in North Yorkshire. He chaired the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee from 2005 to 2009. He was Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council from 1999 to 2005 and before that had been Regional Director of the Government Office since1994. His earlier career included being Head of the UK National Community Programme and then led the development of the Employment Training programme nationally, Regional Director of the Department of Employment in Yorkshire and Humberside from 1988 to 1993 and Chairman of the Leeds and Bradford City Action Team. He is a member of the Court of York University.

John Varley

John is the Estates Director of the Clinton Devon Estates, a rural estate with property, farming and forestry businesses in East and North Devon. In 2010 he was a member of the Lawton Review, “Making Space for Nature” and more recently on the judging panel for the Government’s Nature Improvement Area competition and a member of the Government’s Independent Forestry Panel. John is chairman of the Rural Committee of the Estates Business Group and a member of the National Trust’s Rural Enterprise Panel. He has served previously as a Board Member for the Countryside Agency and Commission for Rural Communities.

Defra has launched a consultation on a new set of Sustainable Development Indicators (SDIs) providing an overview of the UK’s progress towards a more sustainable economy, society, and environment.

The indicators will make it easier for people to monitor if the UK is developing in a sustainable way and help Government see where more work needs to be done. Updates will be published annually with a scorecard showing whether progress is in the right direction.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“We want to help our economy, our communities and the environment to grow and flourish in a sustainable way for the benefit of future generations. We have put sustainability at the heart of everything that the Government does, and these new indicators will help us take stock of our progress and give the public the means to chart our success.

“At Rio+20 we successfully argued for the need for countries to look beyond their economic performance as a measure of progress. These indicators along with the measures of wellbeing underline our own commitment to going beyond GDP to measure the health and wealth of the UK.”

Assessments on our use of natural resources, and the skills and knowledge we possess, are amongst the new measurements proposed. Twelve headline measures are supported by 25 supplementary indicators.

The revised Sustainable Development Indicators will be used alongside the national wellbeing measures developed by the Office for National Statistics, and work on valuations of our natural resources, to provide a wide set of measures to view how society is progressing. Taken together, these measures demonstrate the UK’s leading role in championing the need to move beyond GDP as the sole measure of progress, which received international recognition at Rio+20.

Previous SDIs have been widely used outside of Government by academics, NGOs and businesses. This consultation will give these groups the opportunity to give us their views and feedback on the new proposed SDIs.

Notes

The consultation on the new Sustainable Development Indicators can be found on the Defra website here http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/open/

The 12 headline indicators are economic prosperity, long term unemployment, poverty, knowledge and skills, healthy life expectancy, social capital, social mobility in adulthood, housing provision, greenhouse gas emissions, natural resource use, wildlife and biodiversity, and water availability.

The indicators proposed in this consultation document relate predominantly to England. However in some cases where it more sensible to do so a UK measure will be used.

The proposed indicators are not binding on the other countries in the UK, which have their own approaches to Sustainable Development.

The new charity, whose Patron is the Prince of Wales, will give the 10 million people who visit and love the waterways a greater role in making them cleaner and more beautiful than ever.

To mark its launch, the Trust has unveiled its first appeal, 50 projects across the nation that will breathe new life into towpaths and riverbanks. By pledging money or time people can get involved in projects such as creating new habitat for rare water voles, planting linear orchards for people and wildlife, and restoring neglected towpaths.

Actor and comedian, Hugh Dennis, who is supporting the Canal & River Trust’s appeal, comments:

“For me, as a Londoner, the Regent’s Canal provided a small slice of rural tranquillity right in the middle of a chaotic and bustling city, and its towpath a route to work, my running track, or just a place to watch the world go by. The Canal & River Trust needs your help to make your towpaths even more special. Volunteering or making a small donation will make a huge difference to the people and nature along your local waterway.”

The Canal & River Trust takes over from British Waterways and The Waterways Trust in England and Wales and represents a completely new approach to caring for the country’s waterways. The move, part of the Public Bodies Reform programme, is the largest single transfer of a public body into the charitable sector.

The Trust aims to build upon the public passion for the nation’s canals which rescued them from dereliction and decline in the last century, through increased fundraising, volunteering and community involvement.

Defra is helping the new charity get off to a great start by committing to a landmark, 15-year grant funding agreement as the bedrock to help the Trust maintain its waterways. In addition, the Trust is funded through commercial income including money from its waterside property dowry, boat licences and moorings. Every penny donated by the public to the Trust will be spent directly on conserving, restoring, and enhancing the waterways.

Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for the Environment, said:

“This is an exciting period in the history of our canals. By placing our waterways in trust for the nation, we are giving all those who love our rivers and canals an opportunity to get involved in how their local river or canal is run and help to provide a bright future for our historic canals. We have got the new charity off to the best possible start and now it needs the help of all those that use and cherish our waterways.”

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said:

“This Government is determined to deliver public services in different, better ways and that’s just what this new charity will do. The Canal & River Trust will empower the very people who know British canals and waterways the best to get involved in how they are run. This is the Big Society in action – and because it’s also the largest single transfer of a public body into the charitable sector, it’s also a major milestone in our programme to reform quangos.”

Tony Hales, chairman of the Canal & River Trust, comments:

“In the last 50 years our canals and rivers have been transformed from a national disgrace into a national treasure. This in itself has been extraordinary, but it is only the start. The Canal & River Trust opens an exciting new chapter in the waterways’ long history and gives a chance for everyone who cares for them to play a part in their future. By harnessing public goodwill and energy our canals and rivers can breathe much needed new life into our towns, cities and countryside. It’s an amazing opportunity and we can’t wait to get going!”

The Canal & River Trust has already won the support of three major corporate partners. £1m of funding is being pledged to support the Trust’s conservation work thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Google is working with the Trust to encourage people to discover and enjoy the wildlife along their local waterway by literally putting towpaths on the map – Google Maps. And The Co-operative Bank will offer those who enjoy or live on the waterways the option of supporting the conservation work of new Trust through everyday banking products.

For details of the Canal & River Trust, including how to visit, volunteer or donate see www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.

To see a list of the appeal projects and how you can get involved visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/appeals.

The new approach under discussion aims to improve upon the current agreement between the Government and the industry – the Statement of Principles – by ensuring both the availability and affordability of flood insurance for the first time.

As part of discussions, the Government is now considering how the existing cross-subsidy that takes place within the insurance industry can be adjusted to make sure insurance prices remain affordable.  Most insurance companies already raise a small sum from policy holders to cover the cost of insuring homes at high risk of flooding.  The insurance industry has asked the Government to formalise this arrangement, so that all households can continue to get affordable insurance, and to correct a current inbalance in the market whereby some insurers are at an advantage in being able to solely offer products to low risk customers whereas others currently have to offer cover to many high risk properties.  

The Government is adamant that any new approach will not place extra costs on policy holders or the taxpayer, but instead will capture money already within the insurance industry by formalising the voluntary arrangements already in place.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“We want to go further than the Statement of Principles to reach an agreement that ensures both the availability and the affordability of flood insurance for the first time.

“The insurance industry and the Government, working closely together, have made great progress towards this goal.  We are now considering a cross-subsidy mechanism that would ensure high risk households can get affordable insurance without extra costs being placed on policy holders or taxpayers.

“The best and most sustainable way of keeping insurance affordable in the long-term is to help prevent flooding in the first place.  We are spending more than £2.1 billion on flood risk management, and are on course to exceed our goal to better protect 145,000 homes by March 2015.”

The work between the Government and insurance companies is taking place against a backdrop of significant advances in flood risk mapping and forecasting which in turn is giving insurers the ability to predict the level of flood risk to individual properties.  As this knowledge base expands it will bring considerable benefits, not least in terms of helping Government, local authorities, households and businesses plan for and protect themselves against the risk of flooding. 

The Government is also working with local authorities and other partners to look at the extent to which communities, through acting together, can help to manage the costs of flood insurance.

Under the proposals, which have been published for pre-legislative scrutiny, all businesses and public sector bodies in England will be able to switch their water and sewerage suppliers, allowing them to obtain more competitive prices, improve their efficiency and tender for services better suited to meet their individual needs.

Evidence suggests that opening up the water market and allowing businesses to switch supplier could deliver benefits to the economy of £2 billion over 30 years. In Scotland, after similar reforms were introduced, the public sector alone is set to save around £20 million over the next three years.

Secretary of State for Environment, Caroline Spelman said,

“This draft Bill will create a modern customer focused water industry and for the first time all businesses and other organisations will be able to shop around for their water and sewerage suppliers.

“By slashing red tape we will also stimulate a market for new water resources and incentivise more water recycling.

“This will ensure that the water industry continues to provide an affordable and clean water supply which is essential for the nation’s economic growth while at the same time protecting the environment for future generations.”

Businesses, charities and public organisations with multiple sites will also be able to receive just one combined water and sewerage bill for all their offices and buildings across England and Scotland.

Regina Finn, Ofwat Chief Executive Officer said:

“This Bill is good for the customer, the economy and the environment. As well as, for the first time, giving choice to 1.2 million businesses and other organisations, the Bill is expected to benefit the economy by almost £2 billion. The reforms will help the country become better at valuing, managing and using our water. Now is the time for all players to step up to the plate to deliver the vision of the Bill – including the industry, regulators, consumer bodies and Government.”

The draft legislation will remove current regulations which act as a barrier to new entrants wishing to enter into the water and sewerage market. Currently any new entrant needs to negotiate with up to 21 water companies before entering the market. Under these changes there will be no need to do this as Ofwat will set out standard terms and conditions for companies to follow. It will also encourage existing companies to look at offering alternative supplies and services.

The legislation will also make it easier for bulk water trading within the industry, allowing water companies to work more closely to find long term solutions to water security issues.

Increased competition in the wholesale market will give water companies an incentive to come up with cheaper, more sustainable solutions to sourcing water.

The Bill will also make the costs of connecting new developments to the water and sewerage system more transparent. Developers will benefit from the extension of environmental permits to include water abstraction licensing and flood defence consents – reducing the red tape around environmental regulation.

Notes

New arrangements are being put in place to drive forward implementation of the package of reforms of the water sector set out in the Water White Paper and detailed in this draft Bill. A high-level group, including Government, the regulators, market participants and customers will lead this work.

The Government wishes to set an ambitious but achievable goal for establishing a new market for retail water and sewerage services to non domestic customers in England that will work effectively with the market in Scotland. A realistic target date for retail market opening is likely to be April 2017, but this will be confirmed after work through the new high level group to develop a roadmap.

The draft bill is available to view at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/legislation/water/

Responding to the report, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“I’d like to thank Bishop Jones and all the members of the panel for their hard work to produce this report on the future direction of forestry policy.  

“Our forests will stay in public hands. We will not sell the public forest estate.

“We’ll be talking to all those who are passionate about our forests to decide how we will manage our forests for the future.”

Forestry Commission Chair Pam Warhurst said:

“The Panel has worked tirelessly over the last 15 months to take on board a comprehensive range of views, culminating in this landmark report for forestry.”

“Working with Defra colleagues on our response to the report, we need to make sure we do justice to this effort – for the businesses that provide jobs locally, for the wildlife that relies on healthy woodlands, and for the communities that have such strong bonds with the nation’s forests.”

An estimated 2.4 million households have difficulties meeting the costs of their water bills. The move to support struggling families is made possible by new government guidance published today that will pave the way for water companies to introduce the new tariffs, giving them the power to reduce bills for the most vulnerable customers.

Water companies will be asked to select the customers who are most at risk of struggling to pay their bills.

At present, water companies are bound by Ofwat’s licensing conditions leaving them unable to cut bills, fearing that it would contravene the law. The government guidance, which has been developed following a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will free companies to make the cuts for vulnerable customers.

Speaking from the Rio+20 Summit, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“We’re clearing the way for water companies to give some much needed help to the millions of people who struggle to pay their water bills. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, not paying for essential utilities isn’t an option but it can mean making tough choices elsewhere – like sacrificing healthy meals for the family or new school books.

“We’ve already announced tough new measures to see gas and electric bills fall by up to £100 a year. This will see struggling families save more.

“Water companies can now begin to consult their customers on how to ensure the most vulnerable households receive extra support.”

The average water bill in England and Wales is £376 and 11 per cent of households are spending more than five per cent of their disposable income on their bill.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“Many people on low incomes have been struggling to pay their water bills, and these new measures will give them much-needed help.

“Water companies now have the chance to work with their customers to find a solution that works for them – and I hope to see that solution in place as soon as possible.”

Water companies are also expected to support vulnerable customers with advice on how to use water more efficiently, guidance on whether installing a water meter could save them money and referrals to debt and benefits advice.

Further reforms to the water industry will be proposed by the Government later this summer with the publication of a draft Water Bill.

Notes:

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 enables water and sewerage companies in England and Wales to include social tariffs in their charges schemes, reducing charges for households who would otherwise have difficulty in paying their bill in full.

Further information

• Social tariffs – company guidance
• Water industry policies

The UK is the first country to make it compulsory for companies to include emissions data for their entire organisation in their annual reports.
The introduction of the reports, following consultations with leading businesses, will enable investors to see which companies are effectively managing the hidden long-term costs of greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of businesses responding to the consultation support the change and government plans are also backed by leading employer and environmental organisations including the CBI and the Aldersgate Group.

The new regulations will be introduced from April 2013.  They will be reviewed in 2015, before ministers decide whether to extend the approach to all large companies from 2016.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane are causing climate change leading to global temperature increases, sea level rises and dangerous changes to patterns of drought and flooding. More than 30 billion tonnes of CO2 are emitted globally each year by burning fossil fuels and the concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere is now higher than at any time in at least the last 800,000 years. The UK is committed to cutting UK carbon emissions to 50% of 1990 levels by 2025.

Reporting is the first vital step for companies to make reductions in these dangerous emissions. It is estimated it will save four million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2021.

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said:

“Counting your business costs while hiding your greenhouse gas emissions is a false economy.

“British companies need to reduce their harmful emissions for the benefit of the planet, but many back our plans because being energy efficient makes good business sense too. It saves companies money on energy bills, improves their reputation with customers and helps them manage their long-term costs too.

“Climate change is one of the gravest threats we face. The UK is leading the urgent action needed at home and abroad.”

Secretary of State for the Environment, Caroline Spelman said:

“The discussions we’ve had with businesses show that they want to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions, and they want to be open and transparent about it. What they have asked for is a level playing field so that they can be fairly judged against one another, and we have delivered that today.

“Investors are now looking hard at the green credentials of businesses, and the reporting of green house gas emissions will give them vital information as they decide where to invest their money.”

Secretary of State for Department of Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey said:  

“Energy efficiency is a no brainer. It saves money for businesses whilst cutting carbon to help us meet our climate targets. The introduction of mandatory reporting will build on the regulatory framework established by the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme for the largest energy users.”

Andrew Raingold, Executive Director for the Aldersgate Group, said:

“The vast majority of businesses strongly welcome the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting. This is an area where corporate executives have been demanding more regulation from government to provide greater clarity and transparency.

“Our detailed analysis demonstrates that this announcement will lead to huge cost savings for businesses as opportunities to reduce their energy use become more apparent. Over three quarters of UK adults expect that businesses should be required to report their emissions, as demonstrated by a Populus poll that we published last month.

“This statement should pave the way to extend the requirements to all large companies in due course and demonstrates genuine UK leadership at the Rio+20 Earth Summit.”

The decision follows the consideration of extensive evidence and the detailed analysis of consultation responses to gain the views of businesses and individuals, the majority of which opted for a mandatory reporting approach.

Businesses said a compulsory approach would:

• Provide the first step in enabling companies to manage and reduce emissions;
• Mean more transparency from companies;
• Provide a single consistent standard; and
• Provide information to the business that could save them money through reduced energy costs.

Notes

Further information on greenhouse gas reporting can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/economy/business-efficiency/reporting/.

Launched at the original Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, Defra’s Darwin Initiative has helped some of the world’s poorest countries protect their wildlife and helped local communities to improve their environment and their livelihoods.

From this year the projects will also focus on helping some of the world’s poorest communities build their skills and improve their natural environment.

Announcing Round 19 of the Darwin funding during a visit to the Tijuca Forest in Brazil, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“It’s been twenty years since the UK launched the Darwin Initiative in Rio, and there is no better way to celebrate its success than in the place where it first started.

“Since its launch, the Initiative has provided £88 million to 756 projects in over 150 countries. The money and expertise provided by the UK has funded projects across the globe, from helping to protect the endangered pink river dolphins of Brazil to saving the world’s most endangered duck, the Madagascan Pochard.

“So I’m delighted to be able to announce more funding that will allow the Initiative to continue its legacy and save many more vulnerable species and improve the lives of some of the poorest people.”

The Darwin Initiative has funded projects across the globe, including twenty in Brazil, where the money has helped provide vital training so that local communities can work together to reduce Amazonian wildfires.  In Ethiopia the money will help local people and poor communities protect their wild coffee forests.

The funding has also helped newly discovered species such as the Burmese snub-nosed monkey, and provided support for local people in Cambodia so that they help the critically endangered Bengal Florican survive.

Notes

The latest call for applications for Darwin Initiative funding starts today.  For more information go to http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/

The Darwin Expert Committee (Chaired by Professor David Macdonald of Oxford University) consists of experts from government, academia, science and the private sector, and advises Ministers on project proposals, making recommendations on which should receive funding.

The Darwin Initiative aims to help developing countries and UK Overseas Territories meet their objectives under one or more of the three major biodiversity Conventions: The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES); and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), through the funding of collaborative projects which draw on biodiversity expertise in developed countries.

More information about the Darwin Initiative and its previous projects can be found at http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/