Finland Shuts Down Its Last Utility-Scale Coal Plant

The last utility-scale coal plant in Finland has closed. The Salmisaari plant, operated by the Helsinki-owned energy group called Helen, shut down its final coal-powered electricity and heat plant on Tuesday, as the country focuses on more renewable energy sources.

As Reuters reported, Finland passed a law in 2019 that would ban coal after 2029. To respond to that target, the country ramped up its expansion of renewable energies, leading to an even quicker end to regular coal-fired power production than expected.

“Of course, we cannot say that not a single gramme of coal will be burned in Finland anymore, because there are various crisis situation solutions, but this is indeed Finland’s last coal power plant that is in daily production use,” Olli Sirkka, CEO of Helen, told Reuters.

As Power Magazine reported, wind energy capacity alone in Finland increased by more than double since 2020. Now, it contributes nearly one-quarter of the country’s energy, while the closure of the last coal-fired plant means coal-powered energy will make up less than 1% of the energy in Finland. In 2023, coal made up 6.7% of Finland’s total energy supply, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The Salmisaari plant generated 175 megawatts of electricity and 300 megawatts of heat per year. Now, Helen will meet energy demands using wind, nuclear, hydropower and solar energy and will meet heating needs with heat pumps, waste heat, electric boilers, bioenergy and environmental heat sources. 

Finland will reserve some coal for energy security purposes and emergencies, and some companies may continue to use limited amounts of coal to meet peak demand needs until the country’s coal ban takes place in 2029.

According to Helen, the end to coal-fired energy production will reduce the company’s annual carbon emissions by about 50% compared to its 2024 levels, and its emissions are now about 20% of the levels from 1990. By 2030, the company plans for its emissions to be less than 5% of the 1990 level of emissions.

Helsinki’s emissions are expected to decrease by around 30% compared to last year, and Finland’s emissions are expected to decline about 2% compared to 2024.

In addition to reducing emissions, Helen noted that this shift to cleaner energy and heating sources will help reduce customers’ utility bill costs and increase Finland’s self-sufficiency.

“We have been able to improve our competitiveness by investing in the flexibility of the energy system in line with our strategy and shifting our production to clean solutions,” Sirkka said. “This way, we can operate more profitably with lower customer prices. Our success is an excellent indication that, at best, the clean transition, cost efficiency and Finland’s security of supply can go hand in hand.”

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Researchers Find Lead, Plastic Additives and Other Contaminants in Hedgehogs 

In a new study, researchers have found a wide range of pollutants in Western European hedgehogs, including heavy metals, plastic additives and more.

The researchers from Lund University in Sweden were exploring the levels of heavy metals found in hedgehogs in southern Sweden, following previous research that revealed heavy metal pollution in hedgehogs in urban areas around Europe. They also aimed to prove that using already deceased carcasses of road kill, rather than killing wildlife for research, would be a useful way to detect contaminant levels in wildlife and their habitats.

The samples were collected between 2021 and 2022 from already deceased hedgehogs, including roadkill and hedgehogs that did not make it through rehabilitation. The researchers relied on citizen scientists to contact the team when they discovered dead hedgehogs. 

Researchers used samples to test both long-term pollutant exposure, from spine and teeth tissue, and short-term exposure, from liver tissue. The study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, revealed that phthalate diesters and PCBs were the most prevalent pollutants in the hedgehog liver tissues. In total, the team found high levels of lead, phthalates, PCBs, pesticides, brominated flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the hedgehogs.

“What surprised us was that there were so many different environmental pollutants in the animals, such as PCBs and several different phthalates, and that there were very high concentrations of certain heavy metals, especially lead,” Maria Hansson, ecotoxicologist at Lund University who initiated the study, said in a statement.

As explained in the study, while urban green spaces have become havens for wildlife seeking shelter, food and water, human activity and industry can also turn loose pollutants. Hedgehogs primarily eat ground beetles, earthworms and slugs from the soil, which can increase their exposure to contaminants.

“This shows that urban environments, where the majority of people live today, contain a large amount of environmentally problematic substances that are proven to be harmful to health,” Hansson said. “These problematic substances come from building materials, plastics, pesticides, air pollution, waste, traffic, vehicles and even contaminated soil.”

In response, the researchers noted that governments need to implement more policies around urban soil monitoring and that consumers should minimize use of plastics and synthetic materials to reduce risks to hedgehogs and other wildlife.

“Today, we want nature in our cities, so we must also reduce the risk of organisms being exposed to the chemicals in the materials and products we choose to use,” Hansson said.

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New Scorecard Ranks Food Packaging Options by Sustainability

A newly launched guide, called the UP Scorecard, helps consumers and companies identify more sustainable packaging options. 

The scorecard tool ranks food packaging based on six main sustainability factors, including water use required for manufacturing, recoverability, chemicals used in manufacturing, plastic pollution, sourcing and climate impacts.

“With the launch of the UP Scorecard, businesses and consumers now have a powerful tool at their fingertips to help navigate the complex world of food packaging sustainability and safety,” said Plastic Pollution Coalition, which was involved with the scorecard development. “By using the UP Scorecard, you can make informed decisions that reduce your environmental impact while also protecting human health.”

Each of the six factors receives a score out of 100, with 100 being the best possible sustainability score. Then, those factors are aggregated into a final score.

For example, when comparing product choices for cups designed to hold hot liquids, like coffee, that will be sold in the U.S., users can compare steel tumblers, ceramic mugs, PLA-lined paper cups, PE-lined paper cups, insulated PLA-lined paper cups and EPS foam cups. 

In this scenario, a ceramic mug has the highest summary score of the bunch at 66. It earned 100 marks for sourcing, recoverability, and plastic pollution, but scored lower for water use, chemicals of concern, and climate impact. EPS foam cups scored the lowest in this scenario, with a 20 summary score. It earned just one point each for sourcing, recoverability, and plastic pollution, with higher scores in water use and climate impact.

Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard

The tool was first announced in 2021 and has been in beta testing. Its fully launched version has been updated to make it more comprehensive by extending the range of materials and container types included in the scorecard, expanding the list of chemicals of concern based on up-to-date scientific data and introducing product portfolio comparisons for users to compare different products. The chemicals of concern are included based on multiple risk factors, including carcinogenicity, bioaccumulation, reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption, among others.

The new updates also allow users to track their progress in switching to more sustainable packaging options and even check forecasts to see how their switches can influence their “eco footprints.”

Another part of the latest update is a new benchmark, where users can compare their food packaging choices against a fictional model city, called Ecoville. This region serves as a sustainable benchmark that users can look to when trying to make more sustainable packaging choices.

Users can test the tool with a guest profile or save their searches and track progress by creating an account.

UP Scorecard was developed as a collaboration among NGOs, food service companies and technical experts, which were coordinated by the Food Packaging Forum Foundation. This nonprofit coalition is dubbed the Single-Use Material Decelerator, or SUM’D.

The creators will continue to update the UP Scorecard with additional regions, product types, materials and chemicals of concern, along with adjustments based on user feedback.

“As the packaging landscape evolves, the UP Scorecard will continue to evolve with it — providing transparency and a path toward a more sustainable future,” the Plastic Pollution Coalition said.

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New EV Solar Charger Can Supply Enough Power for Short Daily Trips

GoSun, a solar technology company, is accepting deposits for its new EV solar charger. The device mounts onto the roof rack of the car, unfolds over the length of the electric vehicle and plugs into the charging port to turn solar energy into power for the car.

According to GoSun, the 1,100-watt charging device is ideal for providing enough power for daily commutes just with solar power, and it offers peace of mind for those with range anxiety over finding a charging station. The device is also designed to allow people to skip the lines and costs at public chargers when they just need a small power boost.

The charger doesn’t take the place of traditional EV charging infrastructure, but it can provide a boost of up to 20 miles per day. The company recommends keeping the panels clean and in direct sunlight to get the most energy possible, with the average amount provided ranging between 10 to 15 miles daily.

As Car and Driver reported, home charging remains one of the most affordable refueling options for vehicles, with costs coming in even lower than gas-powered cars. This can be especially true for areas that offer lower utility costs during non-peak hours. 

However, for people living in multifamily housing or anyone that makes use of public chargers, charger access may be limited, and costs have been rapidly rising. According to Car and Driver, charging costs at Electrify America chargers has increased 30% and Tesla Supercharger rates have increased 38% to 112% from 2021 to 2024.

“Solar EV battery chargers supply a reputable, affordable, and green solution for electrical vehicle owners, specifically those who reside in apartment or condos or places without committed billing stations,” GoSun said on its website.

The solar charger mounts on any EV or hybrid, so long as it has a luggage or roof rack. The panels weigh 70 pounds, and take about 20 minutes for two people to install. When driving, the device is folded up and sits on the roof rack, and is designed to withstand harsh weather and driving speeds up to 100 miles per hour. When the car is parked and the device is unfolded for charging, the panels are designed to withstand winds up to 30 miles per hour.

GoSun

GoSun is accepting $100 deposits for the device, which will cost $2,999 in total. According to the product website, the solar charger may be eligible for up to 30% of the cost in federal tax credits along with locally available incentives.

GoSun expects deliveries of the chargers to begin sometime in 2025.

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NYC Gas Ban for New Buildings Upheld by Federal Judge

In New York City, a ban on natural gas in new buildings has been upheld in federal court, the first case to go against a previous, similar ban in Berkeley, California that was struck down in court.

New York City first adopted a phaseout of fossil fuels in new buildings in 2021, while the state of New York became the first U.S. state to ban natural gas in some new buildings in 2023. The city legislation sets an emissions target, where combustion in a building cannot emit more than 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy, rather than outright banning natural gas installations in new buildings.

By comparison, the law that was struck down in Berkeley specifically banned gas piping in new construction, a law that was struck down in 2023. That decision was again upheld in early 2024, Grist reported.

“It’s a clear win in that regard, because the 9th Circuit decision has had a really chilling effect on local governments,” Amy Turner, director of the Cities Climate Law Initiative at Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, told Mother Jones. “Now there’s something else to point to, and a good reason for hope for local governments that may have back-burnered their building electrification plans to bring those to the forefront again.”

The New York City ban was challenged by industry groups and unions, who argued that the city’s law was preempted by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), a similar argument used in court against the ban in Berkeley.

However, the court disagreed with the challenge, noting that the EPCA preemption clause was not applicable in this case.

District Judge Ronnie Abrams, for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, wrote, “Further, as discussed, the Law affects the type of fuel that covered products may use in certain settings, not the performance standards applicable to covered products, and thus it neither ‘acts immediately and exclusively upon’ EPCA’s regime of uniform national standards, nor makes ‘the existence of’ such standards ‘essential to [its] operation.’”

The judge also noted that regulations on certain fuels and appliances are important parts of city building and fire codes, and if the argument that the gas ban was preempted by EPCA, that could also mean similar preemptions for other safety codes, which would be an “absurd result.”

The court decisions on Berkeley’s gas ban had slowed or prevented other cities from moving forward with similar legislation. Because the decision came from the 9th Circuit court, gas bans are illegal across the entire 9th Circuit region spanning the western U.S.

New York state’s gas ban is facing similar legal challenges, and Mother Jones reported that trade groups behind the challenge to the New York City gas ban plan to appeal the latest court decision.

However, experts said this decision could better encourage other local legislation against fossil fuels in new buildings to move forward.

Turner told Mother Jones, “Even if the air emissions route is not right for a city for whatever reason, other variations of a building electrification requirement or incentive could pass muster.”

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Chewing Gum Could Release Microplastics Into Saliva, Study Finds

According to a new study currently undergoing peer review, chewing gum could be a source of ingested microplastics. Researchers found that chewing gum could release thousands of microplastic particles into saliva over time, increasing the chance of ingestion.

“Our goal is not to alarm anybody,” Sanjay Mohanty, principal investigator of the study and an engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said in a statement. “Scientists don’t know if microplastics are unsafe to us or not. There are no human trials. But we know we are exposed to plastics in everyday life, and that’s what we wanted to examine here.”

Scientists analyzed five brands of natural and five brands of synthetic chewing gums to determine potential for microplastic shedding. While synthetic chewing gums are made with rubbery, petroleum-based polymers, natural gum varieties rely on plant-based polymers for that chewable texture, with the polymers often coming from tree sap.

“Our initial hypothesis was that the synthetic gums would have a lot more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic,” said Lisa Lowe, a graduate student at UCLA who is presenting the research this week at the American Chemical Society spring meeting.

In one experiment in the study, each gum sample was chewed for 4 minutes, with saliva samples pulled every 30 seconds. After chewing, the person rinsed their mouth with water and that too became a sample. For another experiment, researchers collected saliva samples multiple times throughout a 20-minute timeframe and measured the microplastic amounts in each sample.

While researchers had expected to find more microplastic shedding from synthetic gums, both natural and synthetic products led to similar amounts of microplastics released into saliva, often within just 2 minutes of chewing the gum. Both natural and synthetic gums had the same polymers, most of which were polyolefins. As the American Chemical Society reported, this group of plastics contains plastic types such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

The team found an average of 100 microplastics shed into saliva for each gram of gum. Some pieces of gum released up to 637 microplastics per gram. 

Based on the calculations of a gram of gum weighing between 2 and 6 grams, the researchers determined that a single stick of gum could release up to 3,000 microplastics, and for habitual gum-chewers, this could add up to 10,000 microplastics shed into saliva per year. 

As Reuters reported, humans ingest around 5 grams of microplastics per week, and the new research revealed that chewing gum could contribute to the amount of ingested plastic particles.

To minimize ingestion, the researchers recommended chewing one piece of gum for longer versus swapping in new sticks of gum more frequently, based on their findings that 94% of the collected microplastics were released within 8 minutes of chewing.

But the findings also revealed that people should avoid discarding gum into environments, where additional microplastics could be shed and the polymer-based gum itself could become a piece of pollution.

“The plastic released into saliva is a small fraction of the plastic that’s in the gum,” Mohanty said in a statement. “So, be mindful about the environment and don’t just throw it outside or stick it to a gum wall.”

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California Launches Notification System to Warn Communities Before Farms Apply Pesticides

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has launched a system that will notify communities before certain pesticides are applied to farms.

The system, called SprayDays California, will send out a warning before the application of restricted material pesticides on farms. There will be alerts available 48 hours in advance of applying soil fumigants and 24 hours in advance for other restricted material pesticides.

Restricted material pesticides are those with the strictest use requirements in the state, and growers will need to submit a notice electronically if they plan on using these specific pesticides on their farms. Growers can search the full list of restricted material pesticides on the DPR website.

“Managing pests — such as insects, rodents and weeds — is vital for protecting public health, the environment, the stability of our food supply and maintenance of our infrastructure,” DPR Director Karen Morrison said in a statement. “SprayDays California was developed through extensive public engagement to improve access to information and enhance understanding of California’s strong pesticide regulatory framework. This system is a significant step forward for DPR in fostering awareness and transparency.”

The notification system offers three ways to check for upcoming pesticide applications. Residents can use the SprayDays map anonymously to see areas where spraying is going to happen. The notification system doesn’t provide the exact location of spraying but an area within 1 square mile.

Residents can also input their address on the SprayDays website to find any planned restricted material pesticide use near that address. Or, residents can add their address and email or phone number to receive notifications any time spraying is planned near that address.

Each notification includes information about the pesticides being used and educational resources on pesticide regulations and health and safety information. Every notification will remain on the map for four days after the start date of the application to give growers flexibility to adjust spraying times in case of poor weather or other delays.

As The Fresno Bee reported, California uses more pesticides than any other state in the U.S., including 130 pesticides that do not have use approval in the European Union. As such, organizers have been working for years requesting that officials create a warning system for pesticide use to better protect children, farm workers and communities at large from potential health risks related to some of these restricted pesticides.

“Farmworker communities have demanded a ‘heads up’ in order to take measures to reduce the risk of exposure to our loved ones,” Angel Garcia, co-director of Californians for Pesticide Reform, said in a statement. “We need far better protections from the state, but this is a giant step forward toward transparency about toxic pesticide use.”

Critics still hope for more development within the SprayDays notification system, noting that only showing the spraying within 1 square mile is limiting. This could make it harder to know which direction the spraying is happening, as noted by Irene Gomez, member of the Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety – Ventura County.

“When my community in Nyeland Acres had the pilot notification project, our biggest issue was that you couldn’t find out exactly where the pesticides would be applied – which farm? That’s still a problem with Spray Days. You can only know pesticides are being applied within a square mile, but not whether it’s coming from behind your house, across the street, or even a mile away,” Gomez said.

SprayDays will undergo annual public comments and reviews by the Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and the California Department of Food & Agriculture to continue to improve and update the system.

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Scientists Develop Eco-Friendly Clothing and Dish Detergent Made From Wood Fiber and Corn Protein

To combat some of the more environmentally harmful chemicals in cleaning detergents, scientists have found a way to turn natural materials, including wood fiber and corn protein, into a more eco-friendly detergent.

In a study published in Langmuir, scientists shared their findings on a newly developed detergent that utilizes readily available and renewable materials such as cellulose nanofibers and zein, one of the primary proteins found in corn. These materials were combined into an emulsion that can collectively attract the materials in a stain and trap oils, making it ideal for cleaning.

“Pickering particles can self-assemble to form a rigid barrier film at the oil–water interface, effectively inhibiting droplet aggregation and stabilizing the emulsion,” the authors wrote in the study.

As explained by ScienceDirect, a Pickering emulsion uses solids for stabilizing, rather than using synthetic surfactants. Replacing synthetic surfactants in detergents can help minimize environmental harm, because these chemicals are hard to break down and can be toxic, especially in aquatic environments.

The study authors tested the eco-friendly detergent’s ability to clean ink, chili oil and tomato paste off of cotton fabrics and diningware made of different materials, including glass, ceramic, metal and plastic. For comparison, the team also tested the cleaning power of commercial laundry powder and dish soap on these materials and stains.

In their testing, researchers found that their eco-friendly detergent was only slightly less effective at cleaning cotton compared to the laundry power at equal dilution amounts, but when they used 5% concentration of the detergent compared to 1% of laundry powder, the eco-friendly alternative was more effective.

The team had similar results on cleaning dishes, where both cleaning products worked similarly at the same dilution, but when slightly increasing the concentration of the eco-friendly detergent, it had greater cleaning power than the commercial product.

The findings revealed a potentially viable alternative to detergents that may contain environmentally harmful ingredients. Many cleaning detergents today include alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APEOs), which have been linked to aquatic toxicity and endocrine disruption, and phosphates, the pollution of which can lead to algal blooms in bodies of water.

While alternative detergents have been proposed in previous research, those alternatives have either been found difficult and expensive to produce, challenging to rinse off of fabric and dishes, less effective at cleaning or potentially damaging to fabrics.

In the newly published study, the researchers determined that their detergent did not show signs of damage to the cotton fabric, based on microscopic observations. By using natural, renewable and widely available ingredients, they also expect that this wood fiber- and zein-based detergent could be both effective and affordable to scale in manufacturing.

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UK Schools and Hospitals Receive £180 Million for Solar

Great British Energy, a new government-owned energy company in the UK, will install £180 million (approximately $232 million) worth of solar panels on hundreds of schools and hospital sites in the country.

About £80 million ($103 million) will go toward installing solar panels on about 200 schools, while another £100 million ($129 million) for rooftop solar at nearly 200 sites of the National Health Service (NHS).

Any excess energy generated that is not used by the schools or hospitals could be sold back to the local energy grid. The first solar panels are set to be installed before the end of summer 2025. 

According to Great British Energy, each school could save as much as £25,000 ($32,300) annually in energy costs. Hospitals are set to save even more, with up to £45,000 ($58,140) in savings per year if the solar is paired with battery storage technology.

Over a 30-year period, the initial investment could save the schools and hospitals as much as £400 million ($516 million) in energy costs.

“With this investment we are backing our teachers and delivering for our young people — saving schools thousands on their bills to reinvest in a brilliant education for each and every child,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said in a statement. “The installation of solar will not only benefit schools financially, but will support pupils to develop green skills, promoting careers in renewables and supporting growth in the clean energy workforce.”

This will be the first project by Great British Energy, which was first introduced as a publicly-owned energy company focused on clean energy development in July 2024. As the BBC reported, the program is similar to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which aims to reduce emissions of public sector buildings by 75%, compared to a 2017 baseline, by 2037.

According to Great British Energy, about 20% of schools and less than 10% of hospitals in the country have solar panels. For this first project, less than 1% of schools will receive rooftop solar, BBC reported. But this has still been considered a positive move toward more sustainable and resilient energy sources.

“For many years, schools have been keen to lead the way when it comes to sustainable and greener energy,” Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said in a statement. “Some have already installed solar panels but most find it cost prohibitive. This announcement is therefore welcome and a step in the right direction. In the longer term, this should also help schools manage energy bills, which have been a source of enormous financial pressure in recent years.”

In addition to solar installations, the project will involve a collaboration between the appointed solar contractors and further education colleges to incorporate work placement opportunities, skill bootcamps, workshops and other career and learning opportunities. The project will also include £5 million ($6.5 million) in grant funding for community energy projects.

“By partnering with the public sector as we scale up the company, this will help us make an immediate impact as we work to roll out clean, homegrown energy projects, crowd in investment and create job opportunities across the country,” Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said in a statement. “We will work closely with communities to learn from the scheme so we can scale up energy projects across the country.”

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UK to Cut Pesticide Use on Farms 10% by 2030

The UK government has announced plans to reduce pesticide use on farms 10% by 2030. The target is the first pesticide national action plan (NAP) from the government in a decade and is meant to help reduce harm to pollinators and improve agricultural productivity via more sustainable methods.

The new action plan follows the ban on neonics in the UK, which was upheld earlier this year when a request for the emergency authorization to use a neonicotinoid called Cruiser SB was denied.

“The Government is restoring our natural world as part of our commitment to protect the environment while supporting productivity and economic growth. Environment Minister Emma Hardy said in a statement. “That is why we have banned bee killing pesticides in England and today we’re going further to support farmers and growers to adopt sustainable practices.”    

As outlined by the government, the pesticide NAP aims to reduce environmental harm from pesticides by at least 10% by 2030, rather than an actual volume reduction. The government will implement a Pesticide Load Indicator to measure progress. 

The plan also will emphasize integrated pest management practices to farms, encouraging farmers to use nature-based solutions over pesticides. Farmers are encouraged to practice crop rotating, mechanical and hand weeding, introducing predator to control pests and planting more pest- and disease-resistant crops, among other measures.

Finally, the NAP plans to increase trainings, guidance materials and greater enforcements to meet the target.

“While we had hoped for a higher percentage, the adoption of a target which takes into account both how much of a pesticide is used and how toxic it is a clear signal that reducing pesticide-related harms to the environment is now being taken seriously,” a Pesticide Collaboration spokesperson said, as reported by The Guardian

There are some limitations to the NAP, and critics noted that the action plan does not set goals for pesticide use in urban areas, only farms.

“The new plan’s failure to address the use of pesticides in urban areas is a major flaw,” Paul de Zylva, nature campaigner at Friends of Earth, told The Guardian. “The government must commit to the phasing out of pesticide and herbicide use in urban parks and streets, which is unnecessary and risks the health of people, pets, wildlife, rivers and soils.”

However, as a spokesperson from Pesticide Collaboration noted, “While there are no commitments to phasing out urban pesticide use, we have been assured by the government that this area of work will be progressed separately.”

While the move is a step in the right direction, it isn’t as significant as a similar plan by the European Union to reduce the use of more hazardous pesticides by 50% in the same timeframe as part of a Farm to Fork Strategy in Europe’s Green Deal.

Barnaby Coupe, senior land use manager at The Wildlife Trusts, said, “While not perfect, the inclusion of a new pesticide load indicator and a 10% reduction target mark a step forward in pesticide policy, but this target will need to become more ambitious over time if the UK is to meet its international commitment to half pesticide-related risks by 2030. 

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