ENDS Report

Reap What You Sow: Exposing Lancashire's toxic town A new ENDS investigation reveals that the Environment Agency is allowing a chemicals factory to produce products containing a carcinogenic forever chemical. But how did we get here?

The chemical is used as a surfactant at the AGC Chemicals Ltd site in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, which has previously been the subject of an ENDS Report investigation ⬇️

HSE consults on classifying a type of PFAS emitted from Lancashire chemical factory as ‘possible carcinogen’ The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a consultation on classifying a PFAS chemical that is emitted to the environment from the AGC Chemicals factory near Blackpool as a “possible carcino...

The Health and Safety Executive has launched a consultation on classifying a PFAS chemical as a “possible carcinogen” and a “reprotoxic substance” ⚠️

Campaigners file judicial review against EA river Wye pollution plan Campaigners have filed a judicial review claim against an Environment Agency (EA) plan intended to address diffuse water pollution in the river Wye, with the group arguing that the plan fails to take ...

Campaigners @fishlegal.bsky.social have filed a judicial review claim against an Environment Agency plan intended to address diffuse water pollution in the river Wye, with the group arguing that the plan fails to take “decisive action” to tackle pollution in the river ⬇️

Eco Chamber: Green Party gains in Manchester – but did the environment get a look in? 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 ...

Episode 178 is available on all 🎧 major streaming platforms now pod.fo/e/39ca88

Hannah Spencer the new MP for Gorton and Denton surrounded by politicians

This week's ECO Chamber podcast is live ⚡ with special guest @shaunspiers1.bsky.social on green politics, Labour's by-election loss and Reform UK.

"I think we might be living in an age of populism now where people are so fed up with politics and the difficulties of getting change."

Listen now ⬇️

The ‘spirit’ of Liz Truss remains in government’s nature rhetoric, says Labour MP The “spirit” of Liz Truss remains in government through the Planning and Infrastructure Act and the “lazy rhetoric of deregulatory Trussonomics”, a Labour MP has said.

The “spirit” of Liz Truss remains in government through the Planning and Infrastructure Act and the “lazy rhetoric of deregulatory Trussonomics”, Labour MP @chrishinchliff.bsky.social has said ⬇️

Why a new ruling may give legal cover to regulators seeking to abandon flood defence maintenance A recent High Court judgment contains a warning for owners of flood-prone land: regulators have the power, but not the duty, to keep flood barriers in good shape, and the courts may not oppose decisio...

"Regulators have the power, but not the duty, to keep flood barriers in good shape, and the courts may not oppose decisions to stop maintaining them..."

Lawyer Angus Evers unpacks what a recent ruling means for flood-prone areas and those seeking to take on environmental watchdogs in court ⬇️

The minister spoke at the launch of @wclnews.bsky.social's ‘Clean Water Now’ campaign, which has called for a new ‘apex water quality target’ 💡

DEFRA ‘exploring setting new ambitious targets for the water environment’, says minister DEFRA is “exploring setting new ambitious targets for the water environment”, to work with the “wider” targets set out in the revised Environment Improvement Plan (EIP), water minister Emma Hardy has ...

DEFRA is “exploring setting new ambitious targets for the water environment”, to work with the “wider” targets set out in the revised Environment Improvement Plan, water minister Emma Hardy has said ⬇️

Eco Chamber: Dirty Business: The sewage drama that gives water industry the Post Office scandal treatment On this week’s ECO Chamber, special guest Jo Morley – the head of campaigns and advocacy at Surfers Against Sewage – joins podcast host James Agyepong-Parsons and ENDS Report’s senior repor...

Listen 🎧 to the full episode on all major streaming platforms now: pod.fo/e/396f76

This week's ECO Chamber podcast is live ⚡with Jo Morley 🎧 head of campaigns and advocacy at Surfers Against Sewage discussing the big problems with UK sewage pollution and what needs to be done to fix them.

Listen now 🎧 on all major streaming platforms

WATCH ENDS' FILM NOW - SEVERN: The poisoning of Britain's Amazon In ENDS' new film, SEVERN: The poisoning of Britain’s Amazon, Environment Agency whistleblowers, experts and people who live by and work with the river give their testimonies as to how the river has b...

And with 📺 sewage in the spotlight, thanks to Channel 4's factual drama on the sewage scandal - Dirty Business - we are granting free access to our film on sewage pollution for this week only ⬇️

www.endsreport.com/article/1800...

Eco Chamber: Dirty Business: The sewage drama that gives water industry the Post Office scandal treatment On this week’s ECO Chamber, special guest Jo Morley – the head of campaigns and advocacy at Surfers Against Sewage – joins podcast host James Agyepong-Parsons and ENDS Report’s senior repor...

Listen 🎧 to the full episode on all major streaming platforms now: pod.fo/e/396f76

Fish riding a wave of sewage bursting through a television screen

"Everyone is worried about their health and I think as a parent myself, anyone watching this is just going to be horrified to think if that was their child. Is it safe to swim in our seas?"

Listen to Jo Morley 🎧 campaigner at @sascampaigns.bsky.social to discuss Dirty Business and sewage pollution

WATCH ENDS' FILM NOW - SEVERN: The poisoning of Britain's Amazon In ENDS' new film, SEVERN: The poisoning of Britain’s Amazon, Environment Agency whistleblowers, experts and people who live by and work with the river give their testimonies as to how the river has b...

The film can be accessed at the link below.

It features interviews with experts, EA whistleblowers, and those who have been directly impacted. It also features Ashley Smith of @windrushwasp.bsky.social – the detective portrayed in the C4 drama by David Thewlis

www.endsreport.com/article/1800...

Brave whistleblowers have also been key to uncovering the sheer scale of the sewage pollution scandal.

We are granting free access to our 2022 film with @rachelsalvidge.bsky.social on how the river Severn, Britain’s 'Amazon', has been allowed to deteriorate and the dire consequences.

The spotlight is back on sewage pollution following the debut of Channel 4’s new series ‘Dirty Business’ 🎥

This factual drama comes after years of investigative work across the country, the death of 8-year-old Heather Preen bringing home the real world consequences of pollution going unchecked ⬇️

‘It's got to stop’: Mother whose daughter died after swimming in polluted waters calls for end to privatisation The mother of an eight-year-old girl who died after swimming in polluted waters has told ENDS she is calling for water companies to be brought back into public ownership, on the back of a new factual ...

The mother of an eight-year-old girl who died after swimming in polluted waters has told ENDS she is calling for water companies to be brought back into public ownership, on the back of a new factual drama on sewage ⬇️

Net gain in numbers: The breakthroughs – and warning signs – as the embattled policy turns two Having come close to the chopping block, mandatory net gain has survived long enough to mark its second birthday. Where is it really at? James Fair parses what data exists to check the pulse of the po...

Having come close to the chopping block, mandatory net gain has survived long enough to mark its second birthday. Where is it really at? @jamesfairwild.bsky.social reports ⬇️

Eco Chamber: The Sea Empress disaster revisited as Reform UK eyes up nature policies On 15 February 1996, the Sea Empress oil tanker ran aground off the Welsh coastline. It released tens of thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the waterway and left an indelible mark on environment...

Listen 🎧 to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts now: pod.fo/e/391dde

On this week's 🎙️ ECO Chamber podcast, Jamie Bevan from NRW shares his experience of the Sea Empress Disaster of 1996

"I can remember once being on a beach I was up to my knees in oil almost. And I had a sack of dead birds on each shoulder, just looking around at all the devastation around me."

‘Myth peddling’: Reform UK pledges to remove ‘daft’ energy regulations The deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, has been given a new role focusing on energy policy, through which he has pledged to remove “the daft, the dither and the delaying regulations”.

The deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, has been given a new role focusing on energy policy, through which he has pledged to remove “the daft, the dither and the delaying regulations” 🔽

Why we might be set for a ‘Finch’ moment on methane The group behind the landmark Supreme Court ‘Finch’ ruling hopes that its next judicial review could have a similar impact, but this time on the UK's methane policy. David Burrows reports.

The group behind the landmark Supreme Court ‘Finch’ ruling hopes that its next judicial review could have a similar impact, but this time on the UK's methane policy ⚠️

David Burrows reports ⬇️

…And that’s a wrap. The ENDS Power List 2026 is now closed to submissions 🥳

ENDS would like to thank everyone who sent nominations. This year’s crop of entries takes the Power List to new heights 🌟

The process now begins to select the final 100 names and reveal them in late spring. Stay tuned!

WATCH > 30 years ago today > The Sea Empress oil spill disaster On 15 February 1996, the Sea Empress oil tanker ran aground off the Welsh coastline. It released tens of thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the waterway. With video and reporting archive, ENDS look...

To find out more > visit www.endsreport.com/article/1947...

Watch as 30 years ago this week, the BBC's @iolowilliams.bsky.social – then working for the RSPB – gave his views on the Sea Empress running aground off Milford Haven, Wales.

Today ENDS looks back at the 1996 disaster to find out what happened for nature afterwards.

WATCH > 30 years ago today > The Sea Empress oil spill disaster On 15 February 1996, the Sea Empress oil tanker ran aground off the Welsh coastline. It released tens of thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the waterway. With video and reporting archive, ENDS look...

To watch the 🎞️ video and read-up in full > visit ENDS Report> www.endsreport.com/article/1947...

The Sea Empress disaster of 1996 was a turning point in UK environmental policy.

But what happened?

Today, ENDS turns back the clock to revisit the tragedy and find out what lessons have been learned 30 years on.

Link to the full video and archive in comments.

‘Milestone’: Welsh DRS given green light to launch with glass included The Welsh government has been given the green light to launch its deposit return scheme (DRS) in 2027 with glass included, however there will be a four-year transition period during which glass drinks...

The Welsh government has been given the green light to launch its deposit return scheme in 2027 with glass included, however there will be a four-year transition period during which glass drinks containers will carry a zero-pence deposit.

www.endsreport.com/article/1948...

Have you already sent your ENDS Power List nomination? 🏅

Our final deadline is the end of next Monday 16 February – follow this link to nominate the UK environment sector champion(s) you know or work with!

➡️ surveys.haymarket.com/s3/The-ENDS-... ⬅️