The latest policy brief from the Rural Economy and Land Use programme looks at the pros and cons of Payment for Ecosystem Services. This is a scheme currently winning support in policy circles to harness more money for environmental protection. (Brief can be downloaded below)

Farmers already receive compensation payments for losses incurred by making farmland more wildlife-friendly.  There is further potential for payments for services such as carbon storage in the uplands. 

A growing number of people in the UK do not trust climate scientists to tell the truth about climate change. This is one of many startling findings from a report published today (28th September 2012) by the Living With Environmental Change Partnership.

The report also finds that the UK public's belief in the seriousness of climate change has decreased over the past five years and fewer people are therefore prepared to take action to prevent it.

The lead author of "Climate Science, the Public and the News Media", Emily Shuckburgh, herself a climate scientist, says,

LWEC’s Health Challenge Steering group has published a report identifying the knowledge needed to address human health issues caused by environmental change. The strategy framework sets a five year agenda. It sets out the evidence needs for policy, business and wider society; the priority activities to address these, how these priorities have been identified and what actions will be taken forward by the LWEC partners.

12 promising opportunities for UK businesses that protect and value nature’s services are identified in a report published by the LWEC-accredited Valuing Nature Network.