Nitisha Jain’s Post

🚨 Mark your calendars!! 🚨 NYSDEC - EJ Siting Law Informational Sessions: May 15, 2024 at 2pm (Virtual) May 16, 2024 at 4pm (Virtual) The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking stakeholder input on provisions of Article 70-0118 of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL), specifically those related to disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities, to develop regulations implementing the Environmental Justice (EJ) Siting Law. Implementation of the EJ Siting Law requires rulemaking for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA - Part 617) and the Uniform Procedures Act (UPA - Part 621), and new regulations regarding express terms related to disproportionate burden analysis.    In anticipation of this process, DEC will be hosting two virtual informational stakeholder sessions on Wednesday, May 15th from 2pm- 3pm and Thursday, May 16th from 4pm- 5pm. The goal of these sessions is to provide an overview of the statutory requirements, the rulemaking process, and what DEC is seeking from stakeholders. Links to register for these sessions in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/ePFfRfbz #environmentaljustice #communityengagement #climatejustice #publichealth

The recent passing of the Water Pollution Act Amendment 2024 in 72 hours, in both houses raised concerns about the thoroughness of the process. A 50 year old Act warranted more consultation and strengthening to deter pollution. The changes introduced by the Amendment significantly alter the dynamics between the central and state authorities in addressing water pollution. The Centre can now change the list of industries that need clearance, and the centre can give clearance to an industry to set up in any state. Bye passing the state. In the original role - CPCB was responsible for setting up of norms and standards of pollution and for publishing and disseminating results of pollution status. Role of SPCBs was enforcement of norms and standards through monitoring compliance by industry. Imposing penalties and criminal charges. Now the central govt has apportioned powers to adjudicate compliance. The Amendment shifts adjudication powers to the central government, potentially superseding SPCBs. One of the most concerning aspects is the decriminalization of pollution, replacing imprisonment with fines, capped at Rs 15 lakhs. While acknowledging the challenges within SPCBs, the SPCBs and CPCB needed to be strengthened with more powers, more qualified staff, representation of Universities and Research bodies and more public accountability in terms of transparency and disclosure. Instead the new Amendment has given all powers to the central govt. Can an executive authority take on all the roles, set norms and also decide violations and penalties? https://lnkd.in/gtqVMCMD Depinder Kapur Susmita Sengupta Dr. Sumita Singhal

We need more credible independent institutions with greater transparency and accountability.

Covenant have been part of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Smartway program every year since 2007 - this year our performance earned us High Performer status - a designation only achieved by the top 10% of Smartway participants based on a strong commitment and implementation of emission reduction solutions. #corporatesocialresponsiblity #sustainability #environment

🌿UK Government announces review of #Environment Act targets. 📄The latest annual Environmental Improvement Plan shows the dire state of #nature and the need for accelerated action. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dJ2zhz3q #EnvironmentAct

A "rapid review" of the Government's 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan has been ordered by the Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP. 💬 Vicky Robinson, Head of Sustainability at AIC: "We welcome the speed of this review. However, we must get to a point where there is more stability in government policies to create the confidence and certainty the industry needs to deliver for the food and environment." Here's what you need to know 👇 https://lnkd.in/exas8Vkc #Agribusiness #UKagriculture #AgricultureUK #agrisupply #agrifood #foodsupplychain #foodandagriculture #supplychain #agrisupplychain #foodsecurity #foodsupply #foodproduction #sustainability #sustainableagriculture #foodsystem #environmentalimprovement #environmentalprotection #waterpollution #airpollution #wastereduction

#ICO Strongly Urges Water Companies to be #Transparent ---   Under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), water companies in the UK have a #legal #obligation to #publish information about the environment. Many of the water companies in the UK have not been #compliant and have been the subject of numerous #complaints to the Information Commissioner's Office.    The Information Commissioner's Office has published a #casestudy today, the 16th of December 2024, on Yorkshire water, demonstrating how challenges in publishing #environmental #data can be overcome and the benefits of publishing frequently the requested information.   Earlier this year, the #ICO wrote to 12 water companies, urging them to put #transparency first, but so far only two companies have committed to publishing this information each month. People have a right to information about their surrounding #environment, and the #ICO strongly urges companies to take this into account immediately.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/eq3vMwEa

In 2018 Michael Gove (then Govt Environment Secretary) attacked the water industry over high pay and dividends – action? None In 2023 Therese Coffey (yet another Govt Environment Secretary) referred to ‘planned’ action on water company bosses bonuses – action? None. In 2024 Steve Barclay (yes you’ve guessed it another Govt Environment Secretary) Bosses bonuses ‘set’ to be banned if company has committed serious criminal breaches – action? ‘consultation.’ …in fact over 30 years of fat feline failure and yet… Boardroom remuneration is top of Joe Public’s irritation list and the one most likely to get his/her back up (so to speak), in terms of negative perception of the industry. Which is grossly unfair to the fantastic professionalism and dedication of 56,000 water and environmental professionals who really deliver improvements despite boardroom excesses. This well publicised and deeply annoying and distracting issue is a prime factor in the widely held  perception, fed by politicians, press and media, and other key opinion formers, that storm overflows, ‘dumping,’ and river pollution, droughts, bans, leakage, are entirely down to the fat cat bosses greed and incompetence – and not history, development, and climate. Today that negativity is too deeply entrenched for any meaningful reputation recovery. That is why the procession of Environmental Secretaries (10 in 14 years), and other Westminster hot air, eagerly jump on the bandwagon of political expedience for their share of water company kicking, faced with the current public hostility to all things water. The ‘Plan for Water’ announcement by instant Coffey last year and Government websites are so transparently skewed to bashing the perceived public enemy No 1 (water companies) whilst softly kid gloving agriculture, arguably a more damaging environmental polluter with far bigger and intractable issues that need equal and urgent attention. Long term environmental priority commitment for both sectors is essential if we are serious about sustainable aquatic improvements. In summary fate, short sightedness, and incompetence of the previous decade conjured up a pair of colliding and environmentally damaging double whammies for the water environment sector: (1) Government policy to significantly cut EA funding whilst at the same time supporting and encouraging Ofwat’s policy  of water bill reductions and, (2) Water company boardroom excesses happening, coincidentally, at the same time as an increasing public awareness of river pollution and outdated sewerage infrastructure – further fuelling the wildfire of public anger and key opinion former hostility and leading to the perfect storm. In short: Boardroom pay + Government cuts + water bill reductions + outdated sewerage network + river pollution = lack of public trust for all players   COME ON KIER – NO CHANGE WITHOUT CHANGE ! BE A H2O HERO !

The new UK Government has announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to be completed by the end of this year. This review will look at the ways in which the targets in the Plan can be met. #environmentprotection #sustainablity #biodiversity

EU Member States seek to quietly dismantle EU rules protecting water Member States’ ambassadors to the EU have adopted an agreement giving EU countries the right to pollute rather than protect our water for the next decades, and to weaken existing water protection rules. The deal is a huge disappointment that fails to respond to Europe’s pressing water and biodiversity crises, environmental NGOs warn. The Belgian Presidency of the European Council sealed the deal that includes proposals pushed by the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg to change the Water Framework Directive (WFD) by introducing two new exemptions to the WFD’s environmental objectives. These exceptions allow short-term negative impacts on water bodies and deterioration in water quality following water or sediment relocation. For example, it could greenlight even more pollution incidents such as the Lynetteholm housing development project in Copenhagen’s harbour where 200,000 cubic metres of sludge contaminated with heavy metals and nutrients were dumped in the Køge Bay . This unwarranted step threatens to severely undermine water protections across the EU – and in turn, people’s health and key environmental objectives. It also completely disregards the Commission’s 2019 “fitness check” which found the WFD fit for purpose and highlighted its inadequate implementation by Member States. PFAS pollution allowed for at least another decade - Member States have also agreed to push back the legal deadline for reaching compliance on proposed new pollution standards – including for glyphosate, a group of PFAS (‘Forever Chemicals’) and pharmaceuticals – to 2039, with options to further delay until 2051. For the next ten years, Member States would only be obliged to monitor the presence of new pollutants in water. Additionally, the agreed text weakens the already scarce provisions in the Commission’s proposal to address the effects of chemical mixtures (‘cocktail effects’) and weakens provisions for groundwater protection. The Council’s move does not respond to peoples’ concerns – the recent Eurobarometer survey on Attitudes of Europeans towards the Environment showed that 78% of Europeans want the EU to do more to tackle water pollution.    https://lnkd.in/gm7FfdBp