Press and Media
Manchester Friends of the Earth news releases will have contact details for the specific campaign leads.
You are also welcome to contact our Media officer or one of the Group coordinators but please be aware that we are all volunteers and may not be able to respond to you right away:
Media officer:
- Pete Abel: 07951 642858, pete[at]manchesterfoe.org.uk
Group coordinators:
- Ali Abbas: 07786 090520, ali[at]manchestefoe.org.uk
- Catherine Thomson: cat[at]manchesterfoe.org.uk
You can also email coords[at]manchesterfoe.org.uk which goes to both Ali and Catherine.
View our news releases and coverage in the media.
News Releases
Government’s 2020 peat-free target way off track
Friends of the Earth is calling on ministers to act after new figures revealed that the horticultural industry was way off track for meeting a government target of stopping peat use by amateur gardeners by 2020.
Urgent Action needed to Clean Up Greater Manchester’s illegal air pollution
Environmental campaigners and local parents are calling for more urgent and ambitious action to clean up air in Greater Manchester, as a consultation on a future Clean Air Zone is launched today (8 October).
Heathrow Third Runway: Friends of the Earth in Supreme Court to defend historic victory
“The UK must invest in low-carbon, resilient infrastructure and create green jobs in sectors such as clean transport, renewable energy and home insulation.” Jenny Bates, Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth reacts to Cumbrian coal mine application, after council gives approval
The government should ‘call in’ a planning application for a controversial coal mine in Cumbria, Friends of the Earth said today, following a decision by the county council to approve it.
England’s not so green and pleasant land: millions can only access green space size of garden shed
Friends of the Earth identifies the 1,257 neighbourhoods that are most green space deprived in England, with 1 in 5 people struggling to access green space.
Druridge Bay: Planning permission for environmentally unacceptable opencast coal mine rejected – Friends of the Earth reaction
Today’s decision by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick to refuse planning permission for a controversial opencast coal mine at Druridge Bay, has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth.
Planning reforms are bad news for communities and environment
Responding to government plans revealed today to overhaul the planning system, Kate Gordon, senior planner at Friends of the Earth, said: “These planning reforms are bad news for our communities, climate, and local democracy.
Mapped: more than one thousand locations in England still breaching air pollution limits
A data audit* by Friends of the Earth has revealed the 1,360 sites across England that have breached the annual Air Quality Objective for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels, which are set to protect health.
Revealed: unpublished government data shows England has enough land to triple tree cover
Friends of the Earth has analysed unpublished Forestry Commission data and found that there is enough suitable land in England to triple tree cover in England, without impacting on other Priority Habitats such as peat bogs.
“A worrying hole where clarity and understanding should have been”: Friends of the Earth reacts to George Eustice pledge for nature to be at heart of green recovery
Environment group calls for more clarity on plans to protect the environment Friends of the Earth is also calling on the government not to water down planning laws that protect the environment.
Stop the Toxic US Trade Talks: Campaigners take huge open letter to Secretary of State, Liz Truss
Friends of the Earth has raised deep concerns about proceeding with trade negotiations with the US during the current COVID-19 pandemic. This is the worst possible time to try and conclude any kind of deal, particularly with the US.
“CALLOUS, CYNICAL AND POINTLESS” MAG to appeal council’s refusal of Stansted expansion proposals (Stop Stansted Expansion group)
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) Chairman, Peter Sanders, has described yesterday’s announcement from the Manchester Airport Group (MAG) of its intention to appeal against the council’s refusal of its Stansted Airport expansion proposals as “callous, cynical and pointless”.
Chancellor’s ‘green’ recovery speech – Friends of the Earth reaction
Today in his speech the Chancellor announced support intended to drive a 'green' recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, but despite positive steps for home energy efficiency huge gaps remain in this government's plan for building a more sustainable future.
PM economic recovery speech: Friends of the Earth reaction
Responding to the Prime Minister’s economic recovery speech today, Friends of the Earth campaigner Muna Suleiman said:
PM speech: Green and fair recovery essential – Friends of the Earth
The Prime Minister must put the environment at the heart of his economic recovery plans, says Friends of the Earth ahead of a keynote speech by Mr Johnson tomorrow (Tuesday).
English Tree Strategy consultation launched: Friends of the Earth challenges lack of target
Strategy will be used to decide how the £640 million ‘nature for climate fund’ will be spent to deliver on tree planting commitments Friends of the Earth is campaigning to double tree cover as part of the fight against climate and nature breakdown The government …
Global CO2 emissions dropped by 17% amid coronavirus lockdowns – Friends of the Earth reaction
New research published today in the journal Nature Climate Change has shown that daily global carbon emissions fell by 17% in early April 2020 compared to 2019, with full-year 2020 emissions set to decrease by up to 7%, depending on further social distancing.
Heathrow Third Runway: Friends of the Earth to challenge developers’ Supreme Court appeal
“It is especially important now, as we plan for a future after the dreadful Covid-19 pandemic, that the UK invests in low-carbon, resilient infrastructure. A new runway at Heathrow is the opposite of what we need to be building.” Jenny Bates, Friends of the Earth
Climate action ‘central’ to rebuilding economy, say government advisers – Friends of the Earth reaction
Reacting to today’s letter to the Prime Minister from the Committee on Climate Change calling for a “green” package of measures to rebuild the economy, Mike Childs, head of science at Friends of the Earth, said:
Green post-pandemic recovery will deliver more jobs – Friends of the Earth reaction
Reacting to today’s study, which says that investing in green measures to boost economies post-pandemic will create more jobs and better financial returns, Friends of the Earth campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
