Publication date: May 2004

Summary
The UK nuclear industry, its regulators, government agencies and policy advisory bodies have in recent years attempted to change policies and activities related to nuclear waste management. Many of these have failed in gaining public support. This lack of confidence is, Greenpeace believes, due primarily to the fact that the policies and their implementation are not based on clear environmental principles.

This Greenpeace briefing highlights the major failures in current policy, and addresses possible solutions.

Publication date: February 2005

Summary
Uk Prime Minister Tony Blair has publicly stated that tackling climate change and African poverty are to be his two top priorities during the UK's presidencies of the G8 and the EU. Blair has repeatedly spoken of his climate change commitments while failing to reduce the UK's climate changing CO2 emissions since coming to power in 1997. In the run up to the G8 in July, Blair needs to match his rhetoric with action.

Publication date: 26 April 2005

Summary
Britain's homes are responsible for 28% of our CO2 emissions. The average UK home emits more than a car a year. The government is embarking on a massive new house building programme over the coming years which presents a prime opportunity to reverse this trend. If the government is serious about tackling climate change, it needs to adopt tough new standards to make sure the nation's new homes are part of the solution, not adding to the problem.

Our environmental footprint

Publication date: 30 November 2004

Summary
We accept that we will be judged in part on our own environmental performance. When we moved into our current office in 1991 we ensured that it was energy efficient. We installed a combined heat and power system and solar panels on the roof of the warehouse. We made sure that timber from sustainable sources was used for the windows, rather than toxic PVC windows. We use 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and have several composters in the garden. And as evidence of the impact of flying on the climate has mounted, we have been tightening rules about when and where we fly. First we banned any flights within the UK mainland or to Brussels or Paris. Then we extended this to Amsterdam, where our international headquarters are.

Until now, however, we have not had a formal, consolidated statement of our environmental policies, nor any external validation. In 2003 we decided that we needed this, and have been working with the consultants BRE to draw up a statement, to record our policies and to set targets. These are now available here. The targets will not be changed - unless we decide they are too easy and that we can set more stringent ones. The policies will be kept under constant review, in line with our commitment to continuously reduce negative environmental impacts of our work.

Overall, we are committed to minimising the negative impact on the environment from our direct operations, while maximising the positive impact of our campaigning!

Publication date: May 2004

Summary
Top state aid and competition experts, Paul Lasok QC and Rebecca Haynes, advised Greenpeace that the Government cannot pass its planned Energy Bill without EC approval because it may breach European rules on state aid.

Download the full advice.

Publication date: March 2004

Summary
REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) will completely change the way chemicals are controlled. It will pass through the European Parliament during 2004 and 2005, and should become law in 2006. When it comes into force, chemical companies will, for the first time, have to provide basic health and environmental safety data on the chemicals they produce.