Latest news with #EnvironmentCommittee
Scoop
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The Game Animal Council (Herds Of Special Interest) Amendment Bill
The Environment Committee has called for submissions on the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill. Unless determined otherwise by the New Zealand Conservation Authority, introduced species must be exterminated under the National Parks Act 1980. The bill would amend the Game Animal Council Act to remove this requirement for introduced species that have been designated as herds of special interest. Tell the Environment Committee what you think Make a submission on the bill by 11.59 pm on Thursday, 24 July 2025 For more details about the bill:
Scoop
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Have Your Say On The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme—Forestry Conversion) Amendment Bill
The Environment Committee has called for submissions on the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme—Forestry Conversion) Amendment Bill. Currently, the Emissions Trading Scheme creates an incentive to convert land used for pastoral agriculture to production and permanent forestry. The bill would limit whole-farm conversions to exotic forestry with the aim of protecting productive land for agricultural purposes. Tell the Environment Committee what you think Make a submission on the bill by 9.00am on Monday, 07 July 2025 For more details about the bill:
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatari, Saudi chambers discuss food security, environment investments
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Chamber hosted on Wednesday a joint meeting between its Food Security and Environment Committee and the Environment Committee of the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Saudi Arabia. The meeting, held at the Chamber's headquarters, was chaired by Mohamed bin Ahmed Al-Obaidli, QC Board Member and Chairman of the Food Security & Environment Committee, and Fahd bin Quryan Al-Qahtani, Chairman of the Environment Committee of the Eastern Chamber. The meeting was also attended by members of both committees, along with Hamad Ali Al-Marri, Director of the Committees and Business Councils Affairs Department at the Qatar Chamber. The meeting discussed ways to foster cooperation between the two chambers in environmental aspects and the role of sectoral committees in supporting these efforts. It reviewed the activities of the Environment Committee in addressing sectoral challenges and obstacles and encouraging investors from both countries to collaborate and forge partnerships in relevant sectors, as well askey investment opportunities available in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Speaking at the meeting, Mohamed Al-Obaidli emphasised that there are numerous areas for cooperation between Qatari and Saudi companies in the fields of food security and environment sectors. He noted that both countries offer a host of attractive incentives and facilities to encourage investment in these vital sectors. In turn, Fahad Al-Qahtani welcomed Qatari investors to invest in his country and cooperate with their Saudi counterparts in joint venues that are of good advantage for both economies, noting that there is a plenty of opportunities available for cooperation between the two sides.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Water sector needs ‘root-and-branch' reform, MPs say
The water sector is in need of 'root-and-branch reform', a committee of MPs has said as it called for 'much more regulated management' of bonuses for senior bosses. The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee has said that the industry is 'failing', but that water companies are 'deaf to the crisis' that it is facing. In their report, Priorities For Water Sector Reform released on Monday, the MPs argue that the Government 'should feel able to use its temporary nationalisation powers' when needed. They also said the system should 'ensure that more money gained from investors and through customer bills is directed towards investment in water infrastructure and service delivery' and less towards debt repayment or financial rewards for executives. The system of fines and rewards should also focus on a reduction in pollution incidents, responsible ownership and the need for the sector to have long-term resilience, the MPs said. 'Despite some initial success after privatisation in 1989, root-and-branch reform of the water sector is now needed to improve the sector's culture,' the committee said. As part of their investigation, the MPs found that 'public disquiet has increasingly turned to outrage' at the way water companies and their bosses are benefiting from the sector. 'Over hearings with 10 of the largest water companies and Ofwat, we regularly encountered a culture that is deaf to the crisis thesector is facing,' they said. Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael, a Liberal Democrat MP, said the sector 'must not shy away from bold proposals' and that it has a 'serious culture problem'. He said: 'Water companies' complex and sometimes impenetrable financial structures, with their myriad subsidiaries, holding companies and parent organisations, seem to suggest that their purpose is less to provide a good service to their customers and more to allow them to juggle their finances and their increasingly unsustainable levels of debt. 'Meanwhile, an ineffective regulatory system has failed to protect customers, the environment and the financial stability of the sector. 'It has failed to ensure that companies invest in essential infrastructure and it has not encouraged long-term thinking. 'This has got to stop now. Trust and accountability in the water sector are very low. 'It is not acceptable that it has fallen to commendable citizen scientists to expose issues with local water resources. 'Environmental protection and the delivery of reliable and safe water must be the first priorities of water companies and regulators.' A Defra spokesperson said: 'Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted, and our water system is broken. 'As part of the plan for change, new legislation has banned unfair multimillion-pound bonuses for bosses at six water companies and launched a record 81 criminal investigations. 'This Government has also secured the largest investment into the water sector in history, with £104 bn in private sector investment to clean up rivers, lakes and seas and cut sewage by nearly half by 2030.' A Water UK spokesperson said: 'Everyone agrees that the water system is not working, and we have been calling for fundamental reforms which allow investment to get quickly to where it needs to go. 'In the meantime, companies are focused on investing a record £104 billion over the next five years to secure our water supplies, end sewage entering our rivers and seas and support economic growth.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
15-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
UK Lawmakers Take Swing at Irresponsible Water Company Leaders
UK lawmakers called for more responsible ownership of the country's water sector, after decades during which critical infrastructure was run for the benefit of private equity investors. Privatization of the industry more than 30 years ago has led to more 'irresponsible leadership, with investors looking to maximize profit from what they see as financial assets, in what should be a 'low risk, low reward' industry,' according to the UK Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. It urged the Independent Water Commission — which is due to propose industry reforms later this summer — to consider all ownership models, including not-for-profit enterprises.
