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Announcement of Opportunity: Valuing Natural Capital in Low Carbon Energy Pathways - Consortia awards

11 Aug 2014

NERC invites proposals to the new research programme Valuing Natural Capital in Low Carbon Energy Pathways (VNC), which will form a challenge for phase 3 of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC).

The overarching aim of this research programme is to understand the implications for natural capital and the provision of ecosystem services of a range of future energy scenarios, including scenarios that are compatible with the UK's energy policy goals of maintaining energy security, keeping energy affordable and cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050.

Moving onto a new role

This blog was created as part of the original Valuing Nature Network (2011 - 2014)

This will be my last post to the Valuing Nature Network site in my role as VNN communications manager, as I prepare to say goodbye to the Valuing Nature Network, and take up my new role as the Communications and Impact Manager for the ESRC-funded Nexus Network.

It's been great working with you over the past couple of years and I have learnt a huge amount about the research, policy and business interests in valuing nature.

Greenwashing the Common Agricultural Policy

This blog was created as part of the original Valuing Nature Network (2011-2014)

The newly reformed European Common Agricultural Policy includes compulsory greening measures, linked to the direct farm subsidies rather than being voluntary. 

This should have been a good change, further protecting farmed ecosystems across Europe and the important services they provide. Our analysis, published today in Science, explains why it is not. 

Strategic pollinator conservation, English style

This blog was created as part of the original Valuing Nature Network (2011-2014)

The National Pollinators Strategy for England came out yesterday for consultation. In it, the Government outlines what it will do to help pollinators over the next 10 years.

Essentially it boils down to three things that are new:

• Provide targeted Government guidance on how to help pollinators
• Fund research to start filling in some glaring knowledge gaps
• Implement a new pollinator monitoring scheme from 2016.

Government consults on how agriculture money should be spent

This blog was created as part of the original Valuing Nature Network (2011-2014)

No I wasn't awake at 5.45am this morning but if you were, you might have heard BBC Radio 4 farming today discussing the reforms to the EU Common Agriculture Policy.

Sounds a bit techical?  Well if you can cut through the jargon there is an important decision to be made on how the money is spent and how much of it will be used to protect the environment. Something of interest to both farmers and environmentalists!

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