Last year, a review into nuclear regulations recommended a “radical reset” to speed up the build out of new nuclear infrastructure, and proved controversial for some of its radical proposals for environmental regulation.

With the government response now out, green groups have expressed relief that the government stepped back from the most extreme reforms, but some lawyers have warned that its proposals will still see a degradation of the environment.

Environmental lawyer Alexa Culver joins the team this week to unpack everything you need to know about what the government has proposed.

PLUS: The regulator chief executive who has announced their retirement; why Chris Packham has hit out at environmental NGOs; and what you need to know about new guidelines giving DEFRA regulators a ‘mandate to prioritise outcomes over process’.

The ECO Chamber is brought to you by journalists at ENDS Report.

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The space race is on but scientists are worried for our ozone. As this new frontier looks to expand with new investors, how should the environment sector respond? Plus, an unprecedented recommendation from the Environment Agency concerning PFAS. Listen to the ECO Chamber to find out more.

Once only the domain of US and Russian governments, the cost of launching things into space has come down, enabling more and more rockets and satellites to enter space.

However, NASA has warned that the growth of space travel could cause damage to the ozone layer. Dr Alice Bunn, the UK Space Agency’s former international director, joins the team this week to discuss the fine line to be treaded.

PLUS: The Marine Management Organisation has hired a new chief after a two-year search; South West Water has pleaded guilty to offences related to the supply of water “unfit for human consumption”; and the UK has legislated a lead shot ban – the first chemicals restriction since Brexit.

The ECO Chamber is brought to you by journalists at ENDS Report.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Green Party’s by-election win in Gorton and Denton could represent a new dawn for environmental policy – or simply be a protest against the political status quo.

That’s according to Shaun Spiers – the former head of the Green Alliance think tank and environmental veteran – who joined podcast host James Agyepong-Parsons and ENDS Report senior reporter, Shosha Adie, on this week’s ECO Chamber podcast.

The team discussed the implications of the Gorton and Denton by-election and what it might mean for the future of environmental policy under the Labour Party… or even Reform UK.

Meanwhile, green NGOs are rallying behind a new campaign to push for stronger measures in the government’s promised Water Reform Bill. But has the sector changed its stance on the public debate about whether or not to re-nationalise water companies?

PLUS: The EA has seized an illegal Wigan waste dump containing 25,000 tonnes of refuse, Thames Water’s pollution of England’s most protected chalk streams, and the beavers earning biodiversity net gain units.

The ECO Chamber is brought to you by journalists at ENDS Report.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.