Environment

Notice issued by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

European Union · Council of the European Union · 25 January 2024

Notice issued by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 94/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conditions for granting and using authorisations for the prospection, exploration and production of hydrocarbons

European Union · Council of the European Union · 25 January 2024

Ratifizierung des Hochseevertrags der Vereinten Nationen

Austria · National Council · 24 January 2024

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Petra Bayr, MA MLS, Kolleginnen und Kollegen an den Bundesminister für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten betreffend "Ratifizierung des Hochseevertrags der Vereinten Nationen"

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Ministers' Private Offices

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 24 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.

Question 525 — environnement

France · National Assembly · 23 January 2024

M. Jérôme Guedj attire l'attention de M. le ministre de la transition écologique et de la cohésion des territoires sur la régulation de l'installation des data centers en France. Dans sa circonscription, à Wissous, dans l'Essonne, la société américaine Cyrus One a établi, depuis plusieurs années, un projet de data center pour le compte d'Amazon. D'une superficie totale de 53 000 m2, il devrait disposer, à l'arrivée du projet, d'une puissance d'un peu moins de 100 Mégawatts (MW), soit une consommation électrique correspondant environ à 8 fois celle d'une commune de la taille de Wissous. Le découpage du projet en plusieurs phases de déclaration a permis l'installation du data center , au mépris de l'esprit du code de l'environnement et du plan local d'urbanisme (PLU) en vigueur. En effet, chacune des trois phases présentées se situant en dessous d'une puissance de 50 MW, elles ne sont respectivement soumises qu'au régime de « l'enregistrement » des installations classées pour la protection de l'environnement (ICPE), alors même que le projet total, au vu de sa puissance, devrait être soumis au régime « d'autorisation » des ICPE. Car les prévisions écologiques pour le territoire qui accueille ce data center sont aussi diverses que graves : premièrement, l'ensemble de la chaleur fatale sera, à ce jour, rejetée dans la nature, créant de facto un îlot de chaleur, local et artificiel. Contrairement au data center d'Equinix à Saint-Denis, qui valorise notamment sa chaleur fatale en chauffant une piscine, des commerces et des logements, celui de Wissous ne prévoit, à ce stade, aucune disposition et rejettera donc simplement toute la chaleur dehors, avec toutes les conséquences que cela a pour la biodiversité locale et les habitations à proximité. Par ailleurs, les groupes électrogènes de secours, prévus pour pallier les coupures de courant ou temps d'indisponibilité, prévoient un stockage enterré de 400 mètres cubes de fuel et devraient, à eux seuls, consommer plus d'une centaine de tonnes de fuel par an rien que pour tester leur bon fonctionnement, soit l'équivalent, sur un an, d'environ 1,6 million de km effectués en voiture. Un mouvement local d'opposition au projet s'est structuré à Wissous, mais ce cas, issu de sa circonscription, interroge M. le député sur la régulation de l'installation des data centers au niveau national. À date, l'article 28 de la loi du 15 novembre 2021 visant à réduire l'empreinte environnementale du numérique en France a, théoriquement, introduit une obligation de valorisation de la chaleur fatale : « Le centre de stockage de données numériques valorise la chaleur fatale, notamment à travers un réseau de chaleur ou de froid, ou respecte un indicateur chiffré déterminé par décret sur un horizon pluriannuel en matière d'efficacité dans l'utilisation de la puissance ». À ce jour, la non publication du décret en question vide ce texte de sa force normative, puisqu'un vide juridique est entretenu ici. La législation en vigueur, en absence de décret d'application ambitieux, ne suffit donc pas à forcer les maîtres d'œuvre, des entreprises privées à la recherche de la plus grande rentabilité financière de leur projet, à satisfaire aux exigences écologiques de l'installation de ce type d'infrastructures, comme en atteste le cas de Wissous. Dans ce contexte, il aimerait connaître le délai de publication du décret en question, ainsi que la stratégie du Gouvernement en matière de régulation de l'installation des data centers , dans le but de réellement prendre en compte les exigences écologiques et écosystémiques dans l'aménagement de tels projets.

Government Departments: Environment Protection

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 23 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the Greening Government Commitments Annual Reports for (a) April 2021 to March 2022 and (b) April 2022 to March 2023.

Marine Environment

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 23 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Carbon Emissions

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 23 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets his Department has set to help achieve the Government's commitments on net zero.

Defence Equipment & Support: Environment Protection

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 23 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 48 of the Defence Equipment & Support Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, whether he has established high-level environmental objectives and targets.

515. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a copy of all communication between his Department and An Garda Síochána in relation to events in Roscrea between 11 and 16 January 2024; if his Department requested the assistance of An Garda Síochána to deliver international protection applicants to Racket Hall, Roscrea while the community was involved in protests; who made the decision to bring women and children to the hotel while a protest was ongoing; what efforts were made to engage with the community and those engaging in a protest to relieve tensions prior to the arrival of these applicants to avoid introducing them to a tense environment; the reason a decision was not taken to mediate with the community prior to the arrival of applicants to ease tensions to report on assurances given by him during a meeting of Roscrea community representatives in relation to the number of IP applicants and Ukrainians already being accommodated in Roscrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2601/24]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 23 January 2024

515. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a copy of all communication between his Department and An Garda Síochána in relation to events in Roscrea between 11 and 16 January 2024; if his Department requested the assistance of An Garda Síochána to deliver international protection applicants to Racket Hall, Roscrea while the community was involved in protests; who made the decision to bring women and children to the hotel while a protest was ongoing; what efforts were made to engage with the community and those engaging in a protest to relieve tensions prior to the arrival of these applicants to avoid introducing them to a tense environment; the reason a decision was not taken to mediate with the community prior to the arrival of applicants to ease tensions to report on assurances given by him during a meeting of Roscrea community representatives in relation to the number of IP applicants and Ukrainians already being accommodated in Roscrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2601/24]

365. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policies he is putting in place to decarbonise Ireland’s built environment; whether he supports the objectives of the Building a Zero Carbon Ireland roadmap (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/24]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 23 January 2024

365. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the policies he is putting in place to decarbonise Ireland’s built environment; whether he supports the objectives of the Building a Zero Carbon Ireland roadmap (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/24]

Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation: Environment Protection

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 19 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of green bonds issued by (a) Bruce Power and (b) Ontario Power Generation in Canada.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ICT

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 19 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 1.2 and 1.3 of the Government response to the Fifty-first Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on Tackling Defra’s ageing digital

Financial Services: Environment Protection

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 19 January 2024

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the consultation on the Green Taxonomy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Written Questions

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 19 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to reply to Question 8408 on Offences against Children tabled on 8 January 2024 by the hon. Member for Easington for answer on 11 January 2024.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ICT

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 19 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many digital roles within his Department are vacant.

Environment Agency: Flood Control

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 18 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Environment Agency on increasing the number of flood defence projects.

Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2024

United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024

Federal Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2024

United States · United States Congress · 18 January 2024

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Equality

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 17 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many equalities impact assessments his Department completed in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ICT

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 17 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Fifty-first Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on Tackling Defra’s ageing digital services, HC 737, published on 10 May 2023, what step

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ICT

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 17 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Fifty-first Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on Tackling Defra’s ageing digital services, HC 737, published on 10 May 2023, how much

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: ICT

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 17 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, With reference to the Fifty-first Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on Tackling Defra’s ageing digital services, HC 737, published on 10 May 2023, how much

1618. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if, in line with Action 90 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to formulate guidelines for autism-friendly service design and built environment design within health services, including general practice, physiotherapy, dentistry and mental health services; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57303/23]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 17 January 2024

1618. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if, in line with Action 90 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to formulate guidelines for autism-friendly service design and built environment design within health services, including general practice, physiotherapy, dentistry and mental health services; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57303/23]

1617. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if, in line with Action 89 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to provide funding to health service providers (including general practice and dentistry) to make their services and built environment more autism-friendly; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57302/23]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 17 January 2024

1617. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health if, in line with Action 89 of the Autism Committee’s Final Report, he has plans to provide funding to health service providers (including general practice and dentistry) to make their services and built environment more autism-friendly; and the estimated first- and full-year cost, respectively, of implementing this proposal. [57302/23]

804. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage due to the delays with the proposed eastern and midlands water supply project which was due to go for planning in 2019, if he will call for a review of this project as part of the Government review of major state infrastructure projects as the project is unnecessary and damaging to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1157/24]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 17 January 2024

804. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage due to the delays with the proposed eastern and midlands water supply project which was due to go for planning in 2019, if he will call for a review of this project as part of the Government review of major state infrastructure projects as the project is unnecessary and damaging to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1157/24]

Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2024

Nationwide Permitting Improvement Act This bill revises the permit process for discharging dredged or fill material into waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act. Under the existing act, two types of discharge permits may be issued: general permits or individual permits. General permits may be issued on a state, regional, or nationwide basis for categories of activities involving discharges of dredged or fill material that are similar in nature even though the discharges may be from multiple dischargers. General permits may include activities that cause only minimal adverse environmental effects. Individual permits may be issued for more significant activities. This bill directs the U.S. Corps of Engineers—when determining whether the environmental effects of a category of activities are minimal and whether to issue or revoke general permits—to consider only the effects of the discharges of dredged or fill material from such activities. Next, the bill extends the maximum term for a general permit from a period of 5 years to 10 years. The bill also directs the Corps of Engineers to maintain a nationwide general permit for certain linear infrastructure projects (e.g., oil or gas pipelines) that do not result in the loss of greater than half an acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project . Additionally, the bill exempts the Corps of Engineers from certain consultation and environmental review requirements when reissuing nationwide general permits. Finally, the bill prohibits the Corps of Engineers from finalizing or implementing certain modifications to such permits.

Confidence in Clean Water Permits Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2024

Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2024

Judicial Review Timeline Clarity Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2024

Reducing Permitting Uncertainty Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2024

Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 17 January 2024

A Bill to establish the right to breathe clean air; to require the Secretary of State to achieve and maintain clean air in England; to involve the UK Health Security Agency in setting and reviewing pollutants and their limits; to enhance the powers, duties and functions of various agencies and authorities in relation to air pollution; to establish the Citizens’ Commission for Clean Air with powers to institute or intervene in legal proceedings; to require the Secretary of State and the relevant national authorities to apply environmental principles in carrying out their duties under this Act and the clean air enactments; and for connected purposes.

ROUTES Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2024

Restoring Our Unopened Trails for Enjoyment and Safety Act or the ROUTES Act This bill requires the reopening of certain recreation sites closed due to a natural disaster. In the case of a recreation site that is fully or partially closed due to damage caused by a natural disaster (including certain standing trees that present a visible hazard), the Department of the Interior (with respect to Interior recreational lands) or the Department of Agriculture (with respect to National Forest System lands) must reopen the site not later than two years after the date on which the disaster ends. The bill categorically excludes specified activities from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement where the primary purpose of the activity is, consistent with the applicable management plan, to repair and restore recreation sites damaged by a natural disaster, remove hazard trees for the purpose of public safety or improving access, mitigate and reduce soil erosion impacting a recreation site, restore drainage patterns to support a recreation site, or any combination of these purposes. The bill provides for emergency hazard tree removal. Interior or Agriculture must report to Congress and make the report publicly available.

Financial Services: Environment Protection

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 15 January 2024

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 17 October 2023 to Question 200203 on Financial Services: Environment Protection, when he plans to publish the next stage of the UK Green Taxonomy process.

Parks: Environment Protection

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 15 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his Department's timescales are for (a) publishing the tender documents for the licenses for the Green Flag awards and (b) awarding those licenses.

Nelson W. Cunningham, of the District of Columbia, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Labor, and Environment), with the rank of Ambassador, vice Jayme Ray White.

United States · United States Senate · 11 January 2024

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 January 2024.#Friends of the Irish Environment CLG v Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine and Others.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Common fisheries policy – Conservation of resources – Total allowable catches (TACs) applicable to stocks of cod in the West of Scotland and the Celtic Sea, whiting in the Irish Sea and plaice in the Celtic Sea South – Regulation (EU) 2020/123 – Regulation (EU) 2020/123 – Annex IA – TACs above zero – Expiry of the period of application – Assessment of validity – Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 – Article 2(2), second subparagraph – Objective of achieving a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) exploitation rate at the latest by 2020 for all stocks – Articles 2, 3, 9, 10, 15 and 16 – Socioeconomic and employment objectives – Best available scientific advice – Landing obligation – Mixed fisheries – ‘Choke species’ – Regulation (EU) 2019/472 – Articles 1 to 5, 8 and 10 – Target stocks – By-catches – Remedial measures – Discretion.#Case C-330/22.

European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 11 January 2024

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 11 January 2024.#Societatea Civilă Profesională de Avocaţi AB & CD v Consiliul Judeţean Suceava and Others.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Environment – Aarhus Convention – Article 9(3) to (5) – Access to justice – Law firm partnership – Action seeking to challenge administrative measures – Admissibility – Conditions laid down by national law – No impairment of a right or undermining of a legitimate interest – Not prohibitively expensive judicial proceedings – Allocation of costs – Criteria.#Case C-252/22.

European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 11 January 2024

Order of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 January 2024.#TO v European Environment Agency.#Case T-417/23.

European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 11 January 2024

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 11 January 2024.#Friends of the Irish Environment CLG v Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine and Others.#Request for a preliminary ruling from the High Court (Irlande).#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Common fisheries policy – Conservation of resources – Total allowable catches (TACs) applicable to stocks of cod in the West of Scotland and the Celtic Sea, whiting in the Irish Sea and plaice in the Celtic Sea South – Regulation (EU) 2020/123 – Regulation (EU) 2020/123 – Annex IA – TACs above zero – Expiry of the period of application – Assessment of validity – Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 – Article 2(2), second subparagraph – Objective of achieving a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) exploitation rate at the latest by 2020 for all stocks – Articles 2, 3, 9, 10, 15 and 16 – Socioeconomic and employment objectives – Best available scientific advice – Landing obligation – Mixed fisheries – ‘Choke species’ – Regulation (EU) 2019/472 – Articles 1 to 5, 8 and 10 – Target stocks – By-catches – Remedial measures – Discretion.#Case C-330/22.

European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 11 January 2024

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 11 January 2024.#Societatea Civilă Profesională de Avocaţi AB & CD v Consiliul Judeţean Suceava and Others.#Request for a preliminary ruling from the Curtea de Apel Târgu-Mureş.#Reference for a preliminary ruling – Environment – Aarhus Convention – Article 9(3) to (5) – Access to justice – Law firm partnership – Action seeking to challenge administrative measures – Admissibility – Conditions laid down by national law – No impairment of a right or undermining of a legitimate interest – Not prohibitively expensive judicial proceedings – Allocation of costs – Criteria.#Case C-252/22.

European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 11 January 2024

Environment Protection: Job Creation

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 10 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to encourage the creation of green (a) jobs, (b) investment and (c) skills in (i) Preston, (ii) Lancashire, (iii) the North West and (i

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Feltham and Heston

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 10 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) schemes and (b) grants their Department administers that are open for (i) individuals, (ii) organisations and (iii) other groups in Feltham and Heston constituency to apply fo

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 10 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many purchases with a value of less than £500 were made against his Department’s budget using a Government procurement card (a) in calendar year 2022 and (b) from 1 January to 31 O

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 9 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many government procurement cards were held by people to make purchases against his Department’s budget as of (a) 31 December 2022, (b) 31 March 2023 and (c) 31 December 2023.

Milieuproblematiek Tata Steel

Netherlands · House of Representatives · 9 January 2024

Milieuproblematiek Tata Steel

Ermittlungen gegen Klimaschutzaktivist:innen

Austria · National Council · 8 January 2024

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Julia Elisabeth Herr, Kolleginnen und Kollegen an die Bundesministerin für Justiz betreffend Ermittlungen gegen Klimaschutzaktivist:innen

Wo bleibt das Klimaschutzgesetz?

Austria · National Council · 8 January 2024

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Julia Elisabeth Herr, Kolleginnen und Kollegen an die Bundesministerin für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie betreffend Wo bleibt das Klimaschutzgesetz?

Environment Agency: Flood Control

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 8 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of the Environment Agency to meet demand at times of country-wide flooding.

Environment Agency

United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 8 January 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential merits of (a) providing the Environment Agency (EA) a statutory role