NewzIntel.com

Category: Environment

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace: Government’s RMA overhaul a hostile takeover of nature

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace is hitting out at the Government’s plan to scrap and rewrite the Resource Management Act (RMA), calling it a hostile takeover of nature.
    “The government’s proposed reforms are based on the dangerous idea that if you own a piece of land, you should be able to do what you like with it – even if that means polluting rivers, cutting down forests, or pumping nitrates into drinking water,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop.
    “This isn’t reform – it’s environmental vandalism.”
    In its announcement, the Government has signalled that it plans to premise the country’s legal environmental protection framework on private property rights.
    “Treating nature as private property ignores the reality that rivers, forests, and wildlife don’t stop at the boundary line. As we’ve seen in Canterbury, the nitrate pollution from intensive dairy farms doesn’t stay on the farm. It can travel underground and contaminate people’s drinking water many kilometres away,” says Toop.
    “Alongside the Fast Track Approvals Act and the Treaty Principles Bill, this is part of the Luxon Government’s war on nature designed to tear apart environmental protections so that corporations can exploit and pollute the environment with no guardrails.”
    “This Government can’t even manage getting lunches to school kids – we certainly can’t trust them to rewrite the rules on something as complex and critical as environmental protection.”
    Greenpeace is calling for the Government to halt the RMA reforms and instead strengthen laws that protect nature and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – Resource Management reform set to streamline desperately needed thermal generation – ERA

    Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

    Energy Resources Aotearoa welcomes the prospect of new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act, reducing unnecessary red tape and streamlining decision-making about where development can and should be enabled while protecting the environment.
    Chief Executive John Carnegie says replacing the Resource Management Act with a Planning Act and Natural Environment Act will streamline consenting and provide confidence to investors looking to invest in our natural resources and build the thermal generation desperately needed to ensure a secure, resilient and affordable energy system.
    “It is widely acknowledged that under the current settings, the Resource Management Act is serving neither those who wish to utilise our abundant natural resources nor those who wish to protect them.”
    We’re pleased to see the government working from the basis that the clear allocation of property rights is a fundamental tenet of a well-functioning economy. This is critical to unlocking the investment we need to thrive and grow.
    It is crucial that the new proposed frameworks minimise blurred edges with other legislative frameworks, such as the Crown Minerals Act and the Climate Change Response Act.”
    Carnegie says it is great to see steps taken to improve decision-making by focusing on evidence-based outcomes.
    “New Zealand can’t afford to keep being a nation that says no – and as we’ve consistently said, we need a fuel and technology agnostic resource management system that enables access to develop our natural resources.”
    Carnegie says Energy Resources Aotearoa will input into policy detail to ensure all fuel and technology types are considered before the two new Acts are introduced into the House by the end of this year.
    “We look forward to working collaboratively with the Government to ensure the new settings reflect the urgent need to encourage the development of natural gas and its use by our exporters and power sector that we so badly need to keep the lights on.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform

    Source: Green Party

    The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform.

    “We have seen this Government bulldoze over biodiversity, freshwater and environmental protections for the sole purpose of profit and now they expect us to believe them when they say they are committed to protecting our natural world,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Environment, Lan Pham. 

    “Together, we can build a future that works for everyone, within the limits of our fragile planet. To do so we need an effective planning and resource management system that provides the tools we need to plan our way to a better future.

    “We know what ‘continuing to protect the environment’ means to this Government. It means removing freshwater protections, bulldozing over our biodiversity, mining on conservation land and fast-tracking the already rapid deterioration of our natural world. 

    “The Greens would love to see the Government cut through the political posturing and actually create a system that protects the environment and prioritises the public good ahead of the private gain they are constantly pandering to. 

    “We plan on holding the Government to account to ensure these RMA reforms do not become the latest smash and grab against the environment,” says Lan Pham.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Measures to Curb Air Pollution in Tourism Industry

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 4:03PM by PIB Delhi

    As informed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Air pollution in Delhi is a collective result of multiple factors including high level of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR, arising from various sectors viz. Vehicular Pollution, Industrial Pollution, Dust from Construction & Demolition Project activities, Road and Open Areas Dust, Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste burning, Fires in Landfills, air pollution from dispersed sources, etc.

    During post-monsoon and winter months, lower temperature, lower mixing heights, inversion conditions and stagnant winds lead to trapping of the pollutants resulting in high pollution in the region. This is further aggravated due to the emissions from episodic events like firecrackers and stubble burning in NCR States.

    Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand. It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and colour.

    The web-based system is designed to provide AQI on real time basis. It is an automated system that captures data from continuous monitoring stations without human intervention, and displays AQI based on running average values. For manual monitoring stations, an AQI calculator is developed wherein data can be fed manually to get AQI value.

    The AQI values ranges from 0 to 500. There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe which are mentioned below:

    AQI Categories

    AQI value

    Good

    0–50

    Satisfactory

    51-100

    Moderate

    101-200

    Poor

    201-300

    Very Poor

    301-400

    Severe

    >400

    Various initiatives have been taken for control of pollution from different sources (transport, C&D activities, industries etc.) in Delhi-NCR, which has resulted in overall improvement in air quality. However, effectiveness of each of these actions can’t be evaluated in absolute terms as meteorological parameters like wind speed and mixing height which are variable factors also play crucial role in governing overall air quality.  Various measures taken by the Government to reduce Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR from different sources, are enclosed as Annexure-I.

    Due to the concerted efforts made by all stakeholders, gradual improvement has been observed in Delhi air quality. The number of days of Good-Moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) categories has increased to more than 200 for consecutive two years i.e. 2023 and 2024 in comparison of 110 days in 2016. Further, 2024 has recorded maximum number of days (209) in Good-Moderate AQI categories since 2016, except for COVID year 2020. The details of AQI of Delhi from 2016-2024 are enclosed as Annexure-II.

    This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

    ANNEXURE-I

    Steps taken by the Government for abatement of Air Pollution in Delhi NCR:

    1. National Clean Air Programme:
    • National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 130 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States by engaging all stakeholders.
    • There are total 06 Non-attainment cites (NACs) in Delhi NCR, out of which 03 cities – Delhi, Alwar and Noida are funded under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and 03 cities- Ghaziabad, Meerut and Faridabad are funded under Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC).
    • City Action Plans for improvement in air quality have been rolled out for implementation in all the 06 identified cities in Delhi NCR.
    1. Regulatory Actions in Delhi-NCR:
    • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was formulated for Delhi-NCR to tackle the issue of sudden rise in air pollution levels. The revised GRAP was published by CAQM in December 2024 and further directions were issued for its implementation. Actions listed for different AQI levels under GRAP are invoked from time to time by a sub-committee constituted by CAQM.
    • For air pollution abatement and control in Delhi / NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas has devised a comprehensive policy for air pollution abatement in NCR in July 2022, stipulating sector-specific action points quantifying targets along with timelines and implementation plan by various agencies in NCR States. The policy framework details sector-wise interventions, quantified targets and timelines for various sectors contributing to air pollution.
    • Directions prescribing measures for control of pollution from various sources such as implementation of RECD system/ dual fuel kits in DG sets, use of cleaner fuels in industries, shift to EV/ CNG/ BS VI diesel fuel in transport sector, implementation of dust control measures at C&D sites etc., have been issued by CAQM. Further, policy to curb air pollution in NCR has also been formulated.
    1. Measures for control of emissions from Stubble Burning in Delhi-NCR:
    • Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in 2018 launched scheme for providing subsidy for purchase of crop residue management machinery and establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for in-situ management of paddy straw. During the period from 2018-19 to 2024-25 (as on 28.02.2025), Rs. 3698.45 crores have been released by MoA&FW (Punjab – Rs. 1756.45 crores, Haryana – Rs. 1081.71 crores, Uttar Pradesh – Rs. 763.67 crores, NCT of Delhi – Rs. 6.05 Crores, ICAR- Rs. 83.35 crores & others Rs. 7.22 Crores). The states have distributed more than 3.00 lakhs machines to the individual farmers and to more than 40000 CHCs in these 4 States, which also include more than 4500 Balers & Rakes which are used for collection of straw in the form of bales for further ex-situ utilization. MoA&FW in 2023 revised guidelines under the scheme to support establishment of crop residue/paddy straw supply chain, by providing financial assistance on the capital cost of machinery and equipment.
    • An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Special Secretary, MoA&FW for convergence of scheme of Schemes/Initiatives supporting Ex-situ management of paddy straw.
    • CAQM has provided a Framework to the states concerned for control / elimination of crop residue burning and directed these to draw up detailed state-specific action plans based on the major contours of the framework. Directions have also been issued by CAQM to State Governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to strictly and effectively implement revised action plan to eliminate and control stubble burning.
    • CAQM has issued directions permitting use of PNG or biomass as industrial fuel in NCR except Delhi where only PNG is permitted as industrial fuel. CAQM has also issued directions for co-firing of 5-10% biomass with coal in thermal power plants located within 300 kms of Delhi, and, in captive power plants of industrial units located in NCR.
    • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has framed Guidelines for grant of one-time financial support under Environment Protection Charge funds for establishment of pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy straw. So far, 15 plants have been sanctioned with utilization capacity of 2.7 lakh tonnes of paddy straw per annum.
    • During stubble burning season of 2023 (10.11.23 onwards), 33 scientists of CPCB were deployed as flying squads for assisting CAQM in NCR and adjoining areas for intensifying monitoring and enforcement actions towards prevention of paddy stubble burning incidents in 22 districts of Punjab and 11 districts of Haryana. The flying squads coordinated with state govt/nodal officers/officers from respective districts and sent their daily report to CAQM.
    • CPCB has deployed 26 teams (in 16 districts of Punjab and 10 districts of Haryana) for the period 01st October – 30th November, 2024 to intensify monitoring and enforcement actions regarding stubble burning. These teams are coordinating with concerned authorities/ officers deployed at the district level by the State Govt. and reporting to CAQM.
    • MoA&FW had deputed 31 Central Teams, which have conducted Quality Survey work w.e.f. 1-15th September, 2024 in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and the Teams had visited 275 manufacturers and conducted quality audit of 910 agricultural machines. Further, 10 Central Teams have conducted survey on utilization of machines in States of Punjab and Haryana during 15th October – 31st October 2024. A Team comprising members from DA&FW, CAQM and ICAR and other stakeholders had visited to the State of Punjab to witness the activities of paddy straw management on 14th November, 2024.
    1. Measures for control of vehicular emissions:
    • Directions issued by CAQM to Government of NCT of Delhi and State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for migration of public transport services, especially buses in NCR to cleaner modes. All state govt. bus services between Delhi and any city/town in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to be operated only through EV /CNG/BS-VI diesel w.e.f. 01.11.2023.
    • Installation of VRS system at 3256 petrol pumps in Delhi-NCR in compliance with orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court and Hon’ble NGT.
    1. Measures for control of industrial emission:
    • Installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) in red category air polluting industries in Delhi-NCR
    • Industrial units in Delhi have shifted to PNG/cleaner fuels and, operational units in NCR have shifted to PNG/Biomass.
    • Directions issued for conversion of brick kilns to zig-zag technology in Delhi and NCR. Brick kilns not converted to zig-zag technology are not permitted to operate in Delhi-NCR.
    • In order to control DG set emissions, CPCB also provides funds for retrofitment/ upgradation of DG sets in Govt. hospitals in Delhi-NCR and guidelines have been issued in this regard.
    • Ban on use of pet coke and furnace oil as fuel in NCR States since October 24, 2017.
    • An approved fuel list is in force in Delhi-NCR w.e.f. 01.01.2023. Industries operating on only PNG or biomass are permitted in NCR, except for specific requirement of other fuels by specific industries owing to technical, technological and process requirements. The industries not operating on approved fuels are not allowed to operate in Delhi-NCR.
    • Stringent PM emission norms for biomass based boilers have been prescribed for compliance in NCR.
    1. Construction & Demolition (C&D) Waste:
    • Directions issued to DPCC and NCR SPCBs to enforce installation of anti-smog guns and other dust control measures at C&D sites.
    • Directions issued for setting up of a “Dust Control and Management Cell” by road owning/ maintaining/ construction agencies for monitoring and effective implementation of dust control measures in the NCR.  
    • Online monitoring mechanism (through web portal) introduced for monitoring compliance of dust mitigation measures for construction sites.
    1. Close Monitoring & Ground level implementation in Delhi-NCR:
    • 40 teams have been deputed by CPCB since December 2021, to assist CAQM, for conducting incognito inspections of air polluting industries, C&D sites, DG sets in Delhi-NCR to check implementation status of pollution control measures and compliance of other provisions of the Air (P&CP) Act,1981.

    Annexure-II

    Comparative Status of AQI- Delhi from 01 January to 31 December, 2016-2024

    Category

    Year

    2016

    2017

    2018

    2019

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2016

    2017

    2018

    2019

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    No. of days

    354

    365

    365

    365

    366

    365

    365

    365

    366

    Good (0–50)

    0

    2

    0

    2

    5

    1

    3

    1

    0

    110

    152

    159

    182

    227

    197

    163

    206

     209

    Satisfactory (51–100)

    24

    45

    53

    59

    95

    72

    65

    60

    66

    Moderate (101–200)

    86

    105

    106

    121

    127

    124

    95

    145

    143

    Poor (201–300)

    120

    115

    114

    103

    75

    80

    130

    77

    70

    244

    213

    206

    183

    139

    168

    202

    159

    157

    Very Poor (301–400)

    99

    89

    72

    56

    49

    64

    66

    67

    70

    Severe (>401)

    25

    9

    20

    24

    15

    24

    6

    15

    17

    *******

    (Release ID: 2114403) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters and Senate Committee Ranking Members Demand Immediate Review by Agency Inspectors General of Trump Administration’s Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led 16 Senate Committee Ranking Members in a letter to the Inspectors General of 23 federal agencies, pressing for details on the impact of President Trump’s sweeping and unprecedented dismissal of tens of thousands of federal employees. The senators asked the Inspectors General to review the Trump Administration’s actions, citing potential violations of federal laws and procedures, which the senators warn could harm Americans’ access to vital government services and increase waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

    “The decision to terminate thousands of employees across multiple federal agencies will impose undue hardship on millions of Americans who rely on their services,” wrote the senators. “The loss of experienced agency staff may risk causing serious disruptions to nearly 73 million Americans who rely on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer retiree and disability benefits and 9.1 million veterans who depend on the Department of Veteran Affairs (V.A.), many of which rely on the V.A. for life saving medical treatments and care.”  

    Highlighting the devastating consequences of these mass firings, the senators underscored the Trump Administration’s layoffs have already disrupted critical operations at agencies that millions of Americans depend on for survival. 

    “Among the 2,400 employees fired from the V.A. since Mr. Trump’s inauguration are workers who purchase medical supplies, schedule appointments and arrange rides for patients to see their doctors,” wrote the senators, citing a NY Times report. “Additionally, taxpayers seeking in-person assistance as they navigate the 2025 filing season may find the support centers they previously relied on completely relocated or shuttered. That risk is a direct consequence of the Administration’s mass dismissals and decision to terminate over 100 IRS offices with Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) – which provide free, in-person assistance for those seeking it.”

    The senators are requesting that IGs examine whether these dismissals violated agency policies and assess the damage to agency missions, public safety, and national security, calling for an initial review to be completed within 60 days, with findings made available to the public to ensure transparency and accountability.  

    In addition to Peters, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators and Ranking Members Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Special Committee on Aging, Patty Murray (D-WA), Committee on Appropriations, Jack Reed (D-RI), Committee on Armed Services, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Committee on Environment and Public Works, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Committee on Finance, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Committee on Foreign Relations, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Committee on the Judiciary, Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Committee on the Budget and Ed Markey (D-MA), Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    The full text of the letter can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo to consider Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LegCo to consider Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill 
         The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (March 26) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Courts (Remote Hearing) Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
     
         Meanwhile, the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2025, the Buildings Energy Efficiency (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (Amendment) Bill 2025, the Supplementary Medical Professions (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Merchant Shipping (Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships) Bill will be introduced into the Council for the First Reading and the Second Reading. The Second Reading debate on the Bills will be adjourned.
     
         On Government motion, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development will move a proposed resolution under the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance to resolve that the maximum percentage prescribed for section 13(2) of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation Ordinance is 95 per cent. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
     
         On Members’ motions, Mr Dennis Leung will move a motion on accelerating the development of a smart government to better assist the public in integrating into the life in the Greater Bay Area. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Mr Chan Siu-hung and Mr Steven Ho will move separate amendments to Mr Leung’s motion.
     
         Mr Tommy Cheung will move a motion on reviewing the effectiveness of the small class teaching mode in primary and secondary schools. The motion is set out in Appendix 3. Mr Chu Kwok-keung will move an amendment to Mr Cheung’s motion.
     
         Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
     
         The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Announces Seven Appointments to Various Boards

    Source: US State of Missouri

    MARCH 24, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced seven appointments to various boards.

    Mason Bell, of Williamsville, was appointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Dr. Bell currently serves as the chief financial officer and veterinarian at Bell Veterinary Services, LLC DBA Hillcrest Animal Hospital. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Beef Cattle Practitioners, American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the Society for Theriogenology. Dr. Bell earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine.

    Mark Ellebracht, of Excelsior Springs, was appointed to the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.

    Mr. Ellebracht is a principal partner at The Injury Council, a personal injury law firm in Clayton, Missouri. Ellebracht formerly served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023 for District 17 and later worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Clay County. He also served as a squad leader for the United States Army. Mr. Ellebracht earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from William Jewell College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia.

    Marcy Hammerle, of Troy, was appointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Dr. Hammerle is an associate veterinarian at Elm Point Animal Hospital. She previously served as board chair and president of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association and is an active member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation, Therapeutic Horsemanship Board, and the Greater St. Louis Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Hammerle earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine.

    Jeremy Manley, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Board of Mediation.

    Mr. Manley is the president and business representative of Teamsters Local 245. From 2017 to 2019, Manley served as a Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education (DRIVE) representative for International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington, D.C. Prior to working with Teamsters, Manley worked as a delivery driver for the United Parcel Service.

    Michael Pfander, of Clever, was reappointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Dr. Pfander is a small animal veterinarian at Cottage Veterinary Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He has served on the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board since 2012. Outside of veterinary medicine, Dr. Pfander also worked as an adjunct professor at Drury University from 1996 to 2012. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, Southwest Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association. Dr. Pfander earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

    Christopher Rohlfing, of Fayette, was reappointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.

    Mr. Rohlfing is the owner and operator of Production Agriculture. He has been a public member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board since 2014. Prior to starting his own business, Rohlfing worked as the member services manager at Boone Electric Cooperative before retiring after 33 years. He’s also worked as an independent crop insurance agent since 1983. Mr. Rohlfing is as a member of the Deans Strategic Advisory Committee for the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Veterinary Medicine and is the president of the Howard County Farm Bureau. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Master of Business Administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri.

    Rodney Schad, of Versailles, was appointed to the State Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority.

    Mr. Schad is the owner and operator of Schad Farm where he raises cattle, corn, soybeans, and wheat. He formerly represented the 115th District in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2012 and later as the Morgan County Commissioner from 2012 to 2020. Schad is an active member of the First Christian Church of Versailles and the Missouri Farm Bureau. He also serves as a board member for several organizations, including Quality Industries, Show Me Christian Youth Home, Highland Mutual Insurance Company, and the Missouri Public Defender Commission.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen law professor elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh Professor Abbe Brown is among the new Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) recognised as outstanding individuals whose contributions are shaping society in Scotland and beyond.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Professor Abbe BrownProfessor Abbe Brown is among the new Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) recognised as outstanding individuals whose contributions are shaping society in Scotland and beyond.
    The Professor of Intellectual Property Law at the University of Aberdeen is among the 2025 cohort celebrating leading minds from across science, the arts, business, public life, and academia.
    Others include cartoonist and artist Kate Charlesworth whose vast library of work includes commissions from national newspapers, theatres, wildlife trusts, Greenpeace, New Scientist, Aardman Animations, and Spitting Image.
    Pioneer of space technology, Professor Asad Madni, has also been elected as an Honorary Fellow alongside David Field, Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Professor Patricia Findlay who is professor of work and employment relations at the University of Strathclyde.
    The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy was established in 1783 for ‘the advancement of learning and useful knowledge’. Its 1800-strong fellowship providesindependent expert advice to policymakers and inspire the next generation of innovative thinkers.
    Professor Brown’s research explores the levels of intersection between intellectual property and other legal fields and the possible impact on key societal challenges including health, digital technology, disability, climate change and ocean governance. She maintains strong links with the legal profession and with policy making in Scotland.
    She said: “I am honoured to become a Fellow of the Royal Society Edinburgh. I look forward to contributing to its ongoing impact in addressing key societal challenges, in Scotland and more widely.”
    President of the RSE, Professor Sir John Ball PRSE, said: “It is my sincere pleasure to welcome each of our new Fellows – from the worlds of academia, public service, business, and the arts – to Scotland’s National Academy.
    “They represent excellence in their fields and will reinforce our ability to tackle the challenges that Scotland, and indeed the wider world, faces now and in the future.
    “Across a range of disciplines, they have each shown an unshakeable commitment to their research, work or craft, and it is exactly this superlative level of accomplishment that makes them belong as Fellows of the RSE.
    “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of our new Fellows, and I hope they will avail themselves of all that our great National Academy has to offer them.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why wild swimming is better for your mental wellbeing than open-air pools

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lewis Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter

    jax10289/Shutterstock

    On Perranporth beach in Cornwall, UK, a local outdoor swimming group called the Perranporth Bluetits is out in force. This group are determined to make the most of another chilly day as they plunge into the Atlantic for a dip. They emerge smiling. Their camaraderie and collective sense of achievement is clear to see.

    Invigorating experiences like these have motivated community groups and the voluntary sector to begin to design “blue care” programmes connecting people with the water, and sometimes even more formalised prescriptions of “bluespace” activities from doctors or health professionals.

    I, admittedly, stay drier than the Perranporth Bluetits. But my interest in open water swimming and its health benefits has motivated me and a team of researchers to look into these experiences. Previous research shows that open-water swimming and similar activities can be therapeutic.

    But might certain swimming activities be particularly beneficial for mental wellbeing? With an international team of environmental psychologists, I have carried out the biggest survey of open-water swimmers to date, looking at data from across the globe. Our recent study, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, outlines the mental wellbeing benefits of wild swimming, and suggests that satisfying psychological needs might underlie this.

    Perranporth beach, Cornwall, UK.
    Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

    As part of the EU-funded BlueHealth project, we surveyed around 20,000 adults in 19 countries across Europe, the US, Hong Kong, Australia and Canada about their interactions with blue spaces (outdoor aquatic environments) and their health and wellbeing. One thousand two hundred of these people reported swimming on their most recent visit to a blue space – some in open-air pools, others in more natural bodies of water such as lakes, rivers and the sea.

    Any kind of outdoor swimming was associated with a wellbeing boost. However, wild swimming seemed to deliver significant benefits. Our study suggests that the key to this effect lies in experiencing feelings of autonomy and competence – freedom and mastery over the swimmer’s environment – two factors that are strongly linked to wellbeing.

    Surprisingly though, social connection did not play as big a role in these mental wellbeing effects as we had expected, despite the proliferation of community swimming groups like the Perranporth Bluetits. At least in this international sample, personal achievement seemed to be more influential than community bonding.

    There was another surprising nuance too. More skilled swimmers, drawn to adventurous and riskier locations, sometimes reported higher anxiety levels. This suggests that while wild swimming can be deeply rewarding, it may also push people into situations that challenge their comfort zones. As other research has noted, such challenging situations can be part of the appeal.

    The findings extend previous research on open-water swimming by showing wellbeing benefits across an international sample of adults, the mechanisms by which these benefits come about and the magnitude of difference between natural waters and man-made outdoor pools. So, should we all be jumping in and prescribing such experiences for a mental health lift?

    The research does not quite support that yet. We need to be realistic about some of the other challenges our oceans face in providing such experiences. Alongside ever-present risks such as drowning, polluted waters pose infection risks, something that any swimmer has to carefully negotiate to embrace their hobby.

    Nonetheless, our results support investigations into prescribing nature to improve certain health conditions. This is something that the UK government is prepared to spend millions on. Osteoarthritis, muscle pain, inflammation, stress, immune function and sleep quality are just some of the other touted benefits of cold-water immersion.

    Perhaps the main takeaway though is in how wild swimming delivers its mental wellbeing benefits – essentially through enhanced feelings of freedom. Perhaps, in a world of growing external pressures, this is the reason wild swimming is becoming so popular.

    Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.

    This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

    Lewis Elliott received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 666773.

    – ref. Why wild swimming is better for your mental wellbeing than open-air pools – https://theconversation.com/why-wild-swimming-is-better-for-your-mental-wellbeing-than-open-air-pools-251971

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal emissions plan will cost Albertans

    For years, the federal government has been targeting net zero by 2050 and putting in place an aggressive approach to reduce emissions as outlined in its Emissions Reduction Plan. This scheme, which included the carbon tax, emissions cap, electricity regulations and other initiatives, has drawn strong criticism from provinces, industry, business groups and Canadians.

    A report by the Conference Board of Canada, commissioned by Alberta’s government, sheds new light on the negative impacts of the federal government’s punitive environmental approach. By 2050, Alberta’s GDP will shrink by 11 per cent, employment will decline by four per cent and the average person will have $3,300 less in disposable income – while Canada still misses its emissions target.

    Alberta’s government is calling on the next federal government to permanently abandon the carbon tax, emissions cap and the entire flawed federal approach. Instead, the federal government should focus on reducing emissions without hurting the economy or making life harder for Albertan and Canadian families.

    “These findings should send a message to whoever ends up being the next federal government. Our province remains firmly committed to protecting the environment and creating a future for our children, but that can’t be achieved by trampling on Canadians’ livelihoods. Ottawa has offered nothing but penalties and vague rhetoric. Instead of meaningful incentives to reduce emissions, we get carbon taxes, a production cap, and layers and layers of costly regulations, all burdening families and workers who are already stretched thin.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    The Conference Board of Canada assessed how Alberta businesses and consumers will react to the federal policies based on the costs and effectiveness of the technologies necessary to meet the federal targets.

    It found that Alberta will be disproportionately impacted by the current federal plan, experiencing a deep recession in 2030 and subsequently slower economic growth going forward. According to the report, compared to the 2050 baseline scenario, Alberta’s GDP, jobs, revenue and incomes will significantly decline because of federal emissions policies:

    • GDP: Projected to be 11 per cent lower
    • Employment: Projected to be 4.1 per cent lower
    • Government revenues: Projected to be 9.3 per cent lower
    • Real (price adjusted) incomes: Down $3,300 (or 7.3 per cent) per person

    Nationally, real GDP in Canada is estimated to fall 3.8 per cent in 2050. Canadian oil and gas production in 2050 would be 37 per cent lower, mostly due to the proposed federal oil and gas production cap.

    On March 12, the independent Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) – following on reports from S&P Global, Deloitte Canada and the Conference Board of Canada – released a scathing report outlining the negative impacts of the proposed federal oil and gas emissions cap. According to the report, the PBO estimates that the federal government’s cap alone will in fact slash oil and gas production by almost 5 per cent, all while these required production cuts reduce nominal GDP by $20.5 billion in 2032.

    The PBO report also suggests this policy will reduce economy-wide employment in Canada by 40,300 jobs and full-time equivalents by 54,400 in 2032.

    Alberta’s government continues to call for the next federal government to focus on policies that grow the economy, while working with provinces and respecting the Canadian constitution.

    Quick facts:

    • The Conference Board of Canada scenarios assume oil and gas production grow to 9.7 million barrels of oil equivalent in 2050 with peak oil production of 9.9 million barrels per day in 2042, reflecting continued global oil demand.
    • Canada’s employment is estimated to be 2.6 per cent lower, consumer prices 2.5 per cent higher, and real GDP 3.8 per cent lower in 2050 under the federal plan (compared to the baseline scenario).
    • According to the report, Canada’s electricity sector would need to reduce emissions by 376 per cent below baseline in 2050, through significant investment in carbon capture and storage, to meet the federal net-zero commitment.
    • The Conference Board of Canada’s realistic scenario assumes carbon capture and storage (CCS) will be deployed at a slower rate than is generally assumed by the federal government.
    • Canada’s Emission Reduction Plan, released in March 2022, is a roadmap and its policies include the carbon tax, Clean Electricity Regulation, Clean Fuel Regulation, federal oil and gas emissions cap, methane reduction targets, zero emission vehicle mandates, and various other subsidy programs.
    • The Conference Board of Canada’s report on assessing the impact of the federal Emissions Reduction Plan was completed prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and does not include the impacts of potential U.S. tariffs.
      • U.S. tariffs have further illustrated the importance of market access to Canada’s energy security.

    Related information

    • Assessing the Socio-Economic Impacts of Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ecological perspective in spatial planning focus of OSCE-supported workshop in Podgorica

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Ecological perspective in spatial planning focus of OSCE-supported workshop in Podgorica

    On 20 and 21 March, the parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, together with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a workshop on the ecological perspective in spatial planning and eco-urbanism.
    The workshop gathered staff from parliamentary committees on tourism, agriculture, ecology and spatial planning; economy, finance and budget; gender equality; anti-corruption, as well as from the parliamentary Research Centre and Commission for Monitoring and Control of the Privatisation Procedure. They discussed legislation regulating eco-urbanism, as well as environmental impacts of planned infrastructure and energy facilities. They considered challenges posed by climate change and examined sustainable urban solutions. Environmental protection, especially in light of the requirements under Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change and obligations of Parliament to fulfil these requirements were central to the discussion.
    Opening the workshop, Dejan Đurović, Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, emphasized that “the main objective of the workshop is to establish a dialogue to enable us as parliamentarians, to address all deficiencies, obstacles and challenges related to environment protection, while improving and adopting new knowledge in eco-urbanism.”
    The Mission’s Democratization Programme Manager, Bernd Burwitz, noted that while Montenegro is defined as an ecological state, many challenges remain. “In today’s world, climate change and environmental concerns are significant political and security challenges, which should be addressed through the development of the Spatial Plan, that covers the entire territory of Montenegro,” said Burwitz.
    The Mission remains committed to strong collaboration with parliamentary committees and support them in understanding documentation related to spatial planning and its ecological perspectives.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Gabelli Funds to Host 11th Annual Waste & Sustainability Symposium Thursday, April 3, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GREENWICH, Conn., March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gabelli Funds, LLC, will host the 11th Annual Waste & Sustainability Symposium on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at the Harvard Club in New York City. This timely conference will feature presentations by senior management of leading companies, with an emphasis on industry dynamics, new technologies, and company fundamentals.

         
    Agenda:    
         
    7:50 AM Opening Remarks Tony Bancroft – Gabelli Funds
    Hanna Howard – Gabelli Funds
         
    8:00 Toppoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TOPP) John Feliciano – CFO
         
    8:30 Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) Brian DelGhiaccio – CFO
    Aaron Evans – IR
         
    9:00 Ranpak Holdings Corp. (NYSE: PACK) Bill Drew – CFO
         
    9:30 Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE: WCN) Joe Box – IR
         
    10:00 Secure Waste Infrastructure Corp. (TSX: SES-T) Allen Gransch – CEO
    Corey Higham – COO
         
    10:30 Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CWST) John Casella – CEO
    Jason Mead – IR
         
    11:00 CECO Environmental Corp. (NASDAQ: CECO) Peter Johansson – CFO
         
    11:30 Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF) Larry Hilsheimer – CFO
    Dan Tetelman – IR
         
    12:00 PM Lunch Break  
         
    12:15 Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM)* Ed Egl – IR
         
    12:45 Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ADUR) Ofer Vicus – CEO
         
    1:15 Perma-Fix Environmental Services (NASDAQ: PESI) Mark Duff – CEO
         
    1:45 Dotz Nano (ASX: DTZ)* Sharon Malka – CEO
         
    2:15 Loop Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: LOOP) Daniel Solomita – CEO
         
    2:45 374Water Inc. (OTCM: SCWO) Chris Gannon – CEO
    Russell Kline – CFO
         
    3:15 BioLargo Inc. (OTCQX: BLGO) Cynthia Phillips – Senior Advisor
         
    3:45 AE Carbon Capital (Private) Victor Yeow – Advisory Chairman

    *Indicates virtual presentation

    The Harvard Club, New York City
    Thursday, April 3, 2025

    Registration link: CLICK HERE

    General Inquiries        
    James Carey        
    Client Relations        
    914-921-8318        
    jcarey@gabelli.com         
             
    Research Team        
    Tony Bancroft, MBA    Hanna Howard   Michael Burgio
    Portfolio Manager    Portfolio Manager   Research Analyst
    914-921-5083   914-921-5015   914-921-7797
    tbancroft@gabelli.com   hhoward@gabelli.com    mburgio@gabelli.com 
             

    Gabelli Funds, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (OTCQX: GAMI)

    Contact: James Carey
      Client Relations
      914-921-8318
       
    For further information please visit www.gabelli.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Time to stop blaming bats and newts for blocking development? A new fund could support nature and ease building delays

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Graham Haughton, Professor, Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Manchester

    Great news for the greater horseshoe bat? ATTILA Barsan/Shutterstock

    For years, nature has been blamed as a blocker of economic growth. After some ministerial bluster about not letting newts and bats get in the way of growth ambitions, the UK government released more details of its plans to get Britain building again.

    The centrepiece of its aspirations to balance both nature and economic growth is a nature restoration fund, to be set up in England through changes to habitat regulations. This should allow developers to stay within their legal obligations towards nature through a payment scheme without delaying their projects.

    The broad concept is that, as an alternative to relocating important species or improving habitats on the site of a proposed development, a developer could pay into the nature restoration fund. This would pay for larger, more strategically located schemes to protect the species in question.

    The fund simplifies and streamlines the regulations while collecting funds to promote more, bigger, better and increasingly joined-up sites for nature.

    Protecting nature is not just about bats and newts. According to trade association the Home Builders Federation (HBF), there are 160,000 homes being delayed by what are known as “nutrient neutrality” measures. These rules were a response to growing public concerns about land and water pollution caused by nutrient loads – pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus – associated with livestock farming and spillages from sewage works.

    Government agency Natural England advised 74 local authorities that they should not allow any more house building in their areas unless this pollution could be mitigated. But this has led to lengthy and expensive project-by-project reviews to identify potential damage.

    How will a fund help?

    The fund will build on some schemes that are already known to work. One such scheme works for the protection of great-crested newts. Another successful scheme is Thames Basin Heaths project, working to protect and enhance heathland sites where rare birds such as nightingales breed. Crucially, this scheme allows new development to go ahead in adjacent areas.

    The fund will be run by Natural England, which aims to draw on these experiences to unblock development at a large scale rather than at single-site level, pooling contributions from developers to pay for mitigation measures when there is a risk to nature.

    If a particular “blocking” issue is identified, experts from Natural England will produce a plan, which must be approved by the environment secretary. A levy on developers will then pay for mitigation measures “in perpetuity” (often 30 years), allowing the development to get under way.



    Read more:
    The government has revealed its plans to get Britain building again. Some of them might just work

    Environmental experts have cautiously welcomed the general principles and approach of the nature restoration fund. But there has also been concern about whether the plan is well enough thought through. There are also questions on how well it will integrate with other schemes.

    A widespread worry is for the future of biodiversity net gain – which includes measures for creating and improving habitat banks using biodiversity units, effectively a form of “nature market”. This approach sets a target of 10% for biodiversity improvement based upon the combined distinctness, condition and significance of affected habitats over the lifetime of the development. But these measures are only just getting started.

    The concern is that providers of sites for these habitat banks – which might be councils, landowners, charities or private businesses, for example – might get cold feet and pull out if they can’t be certain that their plans will be compatible with the nature restoration fund.

    The Thames Basin Heaths scheme has been protecting the breeding grounds of nightingales.
    Erni/Shutterstock

    There is concern, too, about how payments from the nature restoration fund would be calculated. These will need to be locally appropriate and not pit nature restoration and biodiversity net gain against each other if, for example, landowners are forced to choose a particular scheme for their land that they are then committed to for decades. With two parallel systems in play, the relationship between them must be crystal clear, otherwise shared goals could be missed.

    Another question is whether Natural England can be both regulator and financial beneficiary of the new scheme. There have been calls from some of those already involved in nature markets for some form of independent oversight.

    And it will also be vital that the new scheme respects what’s known as the “mitigation hierarchy”. This hierarchy aims to avoid, reduce and then mitigate any impacts on nature on-site in that order. Then developers should consider off-site measures in areas where there could be greater gains for biodiversity.

    But a danger here is that this could disconnect people from nature even further by mitigating ecological loss miles away from the site of the damage. This disconnection is considered to be a critical underlying cause of biodiversity loss.

    There is much to like about the nature restoration fund, but there is a risk that little will be achieved without the government showing genuine ambition and allocating enough money and staff to properly monitor and enforce it over the long term. Only time will tell whether it achieves the government’s goal of speeding up development.

    At the moment, it is not clear how the fund will complement similar schemes and there is a danger of creating a complex patchwork in nature restoration funding. But if it works well, it could provide a richer funding ecosystem for nature recovery – a much-needed boost for England’s nature-depleted landscape.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Time to stop blaming bats and newts for blocking development? A new fund could support nature and ease building delays – https://theconversation.com/time-to-stop-blaming-bats-and-newts-for-blocking-development-a-new-fund-could-support-nature-and-ease-building-delays-252765

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK The Environmental Protection Policies of Defra  – Environmental Audit Committee

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    At a time of heightened speculation regarding the Government’s commitment to nature and the environment, the Environment Secretary, Steve Reed is facing the Environmental Audit Committee.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRjaxwYHEkU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pool and gym solar switch-on

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Heating for swimmers and gym users is now being boosted with solar panels.

    Visitors to Hetton Pool and Wellness Centre are now benefiting from more than 430 roof mounted solar panels that are helping keep energy bills down and lowering the city’s carbon footprint.

    Opened in 2010, the pool, gym and studio facilities at Bernard Park receives between 5,000 and 6,000 visits per week.

    This installation is expected to save around £35,000 in operating costs and 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.

    Work on installing the panels was completed over the winter following planning approvals in autumn last year. After tests, the panels are now generating power during daylight hours to heat the 25 metre pool and help meet the centre’s power needs from lighting to gym equipment.

    Funding for the project came from a national Sport England grant of £226,00 via the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund. The funding was targeted at easing the financial pressures that councils and leisure operators have been facing because of recent rises in energy and general operating costs.

    The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: “This is great news for centre users and residents across our city. Thanks to Sport England for the initial grant and thanks to staff at the City Council and Everyone Active who have seen this project through we are already seeing the benefits.

    “As a council we’ve already installed solar panels in car parks and depots, we have LED lights in buildings, more energy efficient street lighting and we have an ongoing programme of identifying and installing more energy efficiency measures as we invest to save, wherever possible, to help lower our carbon footprint and save on our energy bills.”

    The latest technology for solar panels allows them to operate on overcast days as they capture diffused light. In direct sunlight, panels operate at 100 per cent.

    Cllr Leonard added: “By taking these steps we can make a real difference as we continue to work hard together towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral as a Council by 2030 and as a city by 2040.”

    The City Council was one of 264 local authorities that received funding for investing in panels, LED lights or other energy saving improvements aimed at improving the efficiency of public facilities with swimming pools.

    The council’s leisure service partner is Everyone Active and alongside Hetton, it oversees the Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Silksworth Community Pool Tennis and Wellness Centre and the Raich Carter Centre in Hendon.

    Everyone Active’s Contract Manager Ian Bradgate said: “Reducing the centre’s carbon footprint is the key aim of this project and we are delighted to play our part in that. Everyone Active will continue to work with the council to achieve their Net Zero ambitions, as part of our own Net Zero Strategy.”

    Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director – Place at Sport England added: “Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active.

    “Sport England is proud of the role we play in supporting these facilities. The investment from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund at Hetton Pool and Wellness Centre will help improve energy efficiency and enable the centre to be more environmentally and financially sustainable so it remains available for future generations to enjoy.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE has launched a competitive selection process for the Russian Postdoc Program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The Higher School of Economics invites researchers to take part in Program for attracting Russian postdocsThis year, 106 vacancies are available for candidates at the university’s Moscow campuses, Saint Petersburg, Perm And Nizhny NovgorodApplications will be accepted until May 16.

    The Russian Postdocs Program is aimed at attracting colleagues who have received a candidate of science or PhD degree to HSE. The competition is open to researchers under 39 years of age who have not previously worked or studied in HSE postgraduate studies.

    The program is aimed at retaining personnel in science and strengthening the practice of inter-university exchange. Winners of the competitive selection are employed as HSE research fellows for one year with the possibility of extending for a second year. They work on a research project and are involved in expanding the research agenda of departments. Colleagues can also, if they wish, teach and participate in expert-analytical projects. The postdoc will be provided with a workplace, access to information resources, databases and electronic subscriptions of HSE, as well as participation in scientific and educational events and programs for scientific advancement and career development.

    Each applicant can choose to participate in one or two projects, indicating the priority option. The full list of vacancies is published on the website of the Russian Postdocs Attraction Program. To submit an application, you must fill out form.

    Today, there are more than 50 postdocs from different regions and cities of Russia working at HSE. The program implements the practice of consultations with current participants. Online meetings are held every Wednesday at 12:00 and 17:00 Moscow time. You can ask all your questions by filling out application.

    “The program to attract Russian postdocs has allowed our still young and small laboratory to expand its research capabilities,” says Robert Sandlersky, head of International Laboratory of Landscape Ecology Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technologies HSE University. — The postdoc attracted under the program acquired many new skills in his first year of work that are useful for our research. The knowledge acquired at HSE allowed him to formulate his own research direction in the second year of the program, which is especially valuable for our small team. With the help of our postdoc, we organized and conducted a student expedition to his native region, Buryatia, and implemented the research project “Geoinformation support for recreational activities in Tunkinsky National Park”. Thus, the Russian Postdoc Attraction Program allowed us to expand the geography of our research and involve students in it. I am pleased to plan the next research project, for which we can attract a new active postdoc.”

    “The program for attracting Russian postdocs is a great opportunity to be involved in the activities of the best university in Russia! I am glad that I took a risk and applied for the competitive selection,” shared Anastasia Ustyuzhantseva, postdoc, research fellow Department of Operations Management and Logistics. — A wide range of professional and personal growth trajectories, English courses for any level of training, advanced training in relevant areas, work in world-class research teams — this is only a small part of what participation in the program provides. I began to look at many things in a new way, made useful contacts, and was able to concentrate on truly important professional tasks.”

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 21 March 2025 Departmental update WHO partners with Thailand and Sri Lanka to pilot a new tool to combat and address infodemics

    Source: World Health Organisation

    To help countries strengthen their capacity to respond quickly during crises—including the dissemination of critical information and understanding the factors influencing this—WHO has partnered with the Ministries of Health in Sri Lanka and Thailand to pilot a new global Information Environment Assessments (IEA) tool and training package. Funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the new IEA tool is designed to help countries identify the factors influencing how communities’ access, process, exchange, engage with, understand, and share information.

    To read more please click on the link.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: National monuments have grown and shrunk under US presidents for over a century thanks to one law: The Antiquities Act

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Monica Hubbard, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University

    Over 730,000 people visit Colorado National Monument each year. It was established in 1911 under the Antiquities Act. Gordon Leggett, CC BY-SA

    America’s public lands, from its majestic national parks to its vast national forests, are at the heart of the country’s identity.

    They cover more than a quarter of the nation and large parts of the West. Some are crisscrossed by hiking trails and used by hunters and fishermen. Ranchers graze cattle on others. In many areas, the government earns money through oil, gas, timber and mining leases.

    These federally managed public lands have long enjoyed broad bipartisan support, as have moves to turn them into protected national parks and monuments. Research consistently shows that a majority of Americans want their congressional representatives to protect public access to these lands for recreation. One avenue for protection is the creation of national monuments.

    But the status of national monuments can change.

    Presidents have expanded and contracted national monuments, as the U.S. saw with Bears Ears National Monument in Utah over the course of the past three presidencies. The rules for the use and maintenance of various public lands can also change, and that can affect surrounding communities and their economies.

    The U.S. is likely to see changes to public lands again under the second Trump administration. One of the new administration’s early orders was for the Department of Interior to review all national monuments for potential oil and gas drilling and mining. At least two national monuments that President Joe Biden created in California are among the new administration’s targets.

    The avenue for many of these changes is rooted in one century-old law.

    The power and vagary of the Antiquities Act

    The Antiquities Act of 1906, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt, gave Congress or the president the authority to establish national monuments on federal land as a means of protecting areas for ecological, cultural, historical or scientific purposes.

    From Theodore Roosevelt on, 18 of the 21 presidents have used the Antiquities Act to create, expand or contract national monuments through a presidential proclamation.

    By using the Antiquities Act to create, expand or reduce national monuments, presidents can avoid an environmental impact statement, normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act, which also allows for public input. Supporters argue that forgoing the environmental impact statement helps expedite monument creation and expansion. Critics say bypassing the review means potential impacts of the monument designations can be overlooked.

    The Antiquities Act also offers no clarity on whether a president can reduce the amount of area protected by prior presidents. The act simply states that a president designates “the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.” This has led to the shifting of national monument boundaries based on the priorities of each administration.

    The Citadel Ruins are the remains of Anasazi cliff dwellings at Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.
    Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management via Wikimedia Commons

    An example is Bears Ears, an area of Utah that is considered significant to several tribes but also has uranium, gas and oil resources. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated Bears Ears a national monument. In 2017, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reducing Bears Ears by 80% of its total designated size. The monument’s size and scope shifted a third time when President Joe Biden reestablished Bears Ears to the boundaries designated by Obama.

    In the span of just over five years, the monument was created, reduced, then restored to the original monument designation.

    The uncertainty about the long-term reliability of a designation makes it challenging for federal agencies to manage the land or assure Indigenous communities that the government will protect cultural, historical and ecological heritage.

    Public lands can be economic engines

    National parks and monuments can help fuel local economies.

    A 2017 study by Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit research group, found that Western rural counties with more public land have had greater economic growth, including in jobs and personal income, than those with little public land. National monuments can also benefit neighboring counties by increasing population, income and employment opportunities.

    Even small national monuments provide economic benefits for their surrounding communities. Visitors to Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, N.Y., spent $5.3 million in nearby communities in 2023, according to a National Park Service report.
    National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons

    While many counties adjacent to public lands may be dependent on natural resource extraction, the establishment of a national monument can open up new opportunities by expanding tourism and recreation. For example, four national parks and monuments in southeastern Utah, including Natural Bridges, drew about 2.4 million visitors who spent nearly US$400 million in surrounding communities.

    However, when there is uncertainty over whether public lands will remain protected, communities may be hesitant to invest in that future, not knowing whether it will soon change.

    What Congress and the courts could do

    There are a few ways to increase the certainty around the future of national monuments.

    First, lawsuits could push the courts to determine whether the president has the authority to reduce national monuments. Since the Antiquities Act doesn’t directly address presidential authority to reduce monument size, that’s an open question.

    Advocacy groups sued the government over Trump’s authority to shrink Bears Ears National Monument, but their cases were put on hold after Biden expanded the monument again. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear other cases in 2024 that argued that a president’s authority to declare and expand national monuments should be far more limited under the law.

    Second, Congress could permanently protect designated national monuments through legislation. That would require presidential approval, and the process would likely be slow and cumbersome. Creating White Clouds Wilderness in Idaho, for example, took decades and a public campaign to have it designated a national monument before Congress approved its wilderness designation.

    Third, Congress could take new steps to protect public lands. For example, a bipartisan bill titled Public Lands in Public Hands Act could block privatization of public lands and increase and maintain access for recreation. One of the bill’s lead sponsors is U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana who served as Interior secretary during the first Trump administration. Whether the bill will pass and gain the president’s approval remains to be seen.

    Public lands have widespread support

    The Antiquities Act has led to the creation of 163 terrestrial and marine monuments and subsequently the protection of land and waters that hold cultural, scientific or historic significance.

    These monuments tend to have broad support. During the first Trump administration, there were over 650,000 public comments on Trump’s review of national monument creation. An analysis found that 98% of the comments expressed broad support for both the creation and expansion of national monuments.

    Gold Butte National Monument covers nearly 300,000 acres of remote and rugged desert landscape in southeastern Nevada and is popular with hikers.
    Bureau of Land Management

    Public lands are more than just physical places. They are spaces where our ideals and values around public land unify us as Americans. They are quintessentially American – and in many ways define and shape the American identity.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. National monuments have grown and shrunk under US presidents for over a century thanks to one law: The Antiquities Act – https://theconversation.com/national-monuments-have-grown-and-shrunk-under-us-presidents-for-over-a-century-thanks-to-one-law-the-antiquities-act-252707

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Vital flood defence works on the River Rother due to start

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Vital flood defence works on the River Rother due to start

    The Environment Agency is beginning work to replace the flood gate at the Canklow Regulator on the River Rother in South Yorkshire.

    An image of the gate at Canklow Regulator taken from above.

    The Environment Agency is set to begin essential works to replace the flood gate known as the Canklow Regulator on the River Rother, which runs into the River Don in Rotherham town centre.

    The works form part of a wider project to enhance flood resilience for communities along the River Don between Rotherham and Doncaster.

    Starting in April 2025, the existing flood gate at Canklow will be removed and replaced with a new, more resilient structure.

    This work is expected to take approximately five to six months to complete. Once operational, the new gate will play a crucial role in managing water flows and reducing the long-term risk of flooding for homes and businesses downstream.

    The Environment Agency operates three regulators on the River Rother to help mitigate flood risk:

    • Meadowgate Regulator – located at Rother Valley Country Park
    • Woodhouse Mill Regulator – located at Woodhouse Mill
    • Canklow Regulator – located between Catcliffe and Canklow

    These regulators are used to hold back and store water in flood storage areas on the River Rother during flood events. This ‘slows the flow’ and reduces the risk of flooding to properties downstream on the River Don between Rotherham and Doncaster.

    The works at Canklow are part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving flood defences in South Yorkshire.

    Last year, the Woodhouse Mill Regulator suffered an operational failure and could not be lifted out of the river, resulting in water accumulating in the washland there. However,  measures have now been taken to lift the gate so that water can continually flow at this site.

    This issue will mean that both the Woodhouse Mill and Canklow Regulators will not be operational whilst the gate at Canklow is replaced and may result in a small temporary increase in flood risk to downstream communities.

    Replacing the gate at Canklow over the coming months, aims to ensure that there will be two regulators in operation ahead of next winter.

    Kimberley MacPherson, Environment Agency Operations Manager said:

    We know the devastating impact that flooding can have so the decision to proceed with these works has been carefully considered. We will be taking as many precautions as possible to mitigate any temporary increase in flood risk.  

    The Meadowgate Regulator was successfully replaced in 2024 and is now fully operational. We are aiming to build on that success with the replacement of the Canklow Regulator.

    We remain committed to keeping residents and businesses updated throughout the project.

    With two of the three regulators set to be out of service, the following measures are being implemented to minimise risk:

    • Scheduling the works during the drier months of the year (April to September), when the likelihood of extreme weather events is lower.
    • Operating the newly installed Meadowgate Regulator to help manage water flows.
    • Opening the Canklow flood storage area compartments to maximise available storage capacity.
    • Keeping local communities and stakeholders informed through regular updates and flood warnings.

    Around 6.3 million properties are at risk of flooding in England.  The Environment Agency urges people to go to gov.uk, check if they’re at risk, and make sure they know what to do if it floods. 

    To sign up for free flood warnings, visit: Sign up for flood warnings – GOV.UK

    You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @EnvAgency for real-time updates and flood risk alerts.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Man sentenced for offences in relation to flytipping

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Monday, 24th March 2025

    A man has been sentenced for offences in relation to flytipping in Birmingham.

    Adrian Bivolaru, of Parkhill Road, Smethwick, was charged with: depositing controlled waste; allowing controlled waste to be deposited from his vehicle; and two charges of failing to supply information to a waste enforcement officer.

    He has been sentenced to 13 weeks’ jail, suspended for two years, each for depositing controlled waste and allowing controlled waste to be deposited. These are consecutive sentences. He was fined a total of £200 for failing to supply information.

    Mr Bivolaru dumped plastic bags full of insulation waste in Little Edward Street in Digbeth in March last year from his Mercedes van. When investigated by the city council’s waste enforcement unit he failed to provide information as to how he disposed of his waste.

    Officers searched the dumped waste and found evidence linking it to a business. Enquiries with this business then identified that on 13th March 2024 they paid a waste removals company £160 to remove waste from their premises.  Officers were able to identify the vehicle used to remove the rubbish and checks of the registration plate confirmed that Bivolaru was the insurance policyholder and only named driver on the policy. 

    Checks with the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) team identified that the van had entered an area of the CAZ zone in close proximity to Little Edward Street on six occasions between 13/03/24 and 20/03/24. Bivolaru was issued with notices under S71 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring him to provide details of the driver of the van on the 13/03/24. He was also issued with a notice under S34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring him to provide proof that he had legitimate arrangements for the disposal of his trade waste. He failed to respond to any of these notices.

    In a separate incident in Weoley Castle, a substantial amount of fly-tipping was discovered on 13th June 2023  in Silvington Close. Evidence within the waste identified an individual who paid a waste removal company to take their waste away. Further enquiries then identified their rubbish had been collected by Adrian Bivolaru who at the time was sole Director of a removal services company named Ady Bivolaru Ltd.

    Cllr Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “This was a terrible case of environment vandalism, with piles of commercial waste left strewn across the road. People who do this have no care for the community or people who live and work in the area. As this case demonstrates, we will prosecute when we have evidence so I would urge people to report this sort of behaviour. Well done to the team that investigated and brought the case to court.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Man sentenced for flytipping offences

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Published: Monday, 24th March 2025

    A man has been sentenced for offences in relation to flytipping in Birmingham.

    Adrian Bivolaru, of Parkhill Road, Smethwick, was charged with: depositing controlled waste; allowing controlled waste to be deposited from his vehicle; and two charges of failing to supply information to a waste enforcement officer.

    He has been sentenced to 13 weeks’ jail, suspended for two years, each for depositing controlled waste and allowing controlled waste to be deposited. These are consecutive sentences. He was fined a total of £200 for failing to supply information.

    Mr Bivolaru dumped plastic bags full of insulation waste in Little Edward Street in Digbeth in March last year from his Mercedes van. When investigated by the city council’s waste enforcement unit he failed to provide information as to how he disposed of his waste.

    Officers searched the dumped waste and found evidence linking it to a business. Enquiries with this business then identified that on 13th March 2024 they paid a waste removals company £160 to remove waste from their premises.  Officers were able to identify the vehicle used to remove the rubbish and checks of the registration plate confirmed that Bivolaru was the insurance policyholder and only named driver on the policy. 

    Checks with the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) team identified that the van had entered an area of the CAZ zone in close proximity to Little Edward Street on six occasions between 13/03/24 and 20/03/24. Bivolaru was issued with notices under S71 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring him to provide details of the driver of the van on the 13/03/24. He was also issued with a notice under S34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring him to provide proof that he had legitimate arrangements for the disposal of his trade waste. He failed to respond to any of these notices.

    In a separate incident in Weoley Castle, a substantial amount of fly-tipping was discovered on 13th June 2023  in Silvington Close. Evidence within the waste identified an individual who paid a waste removal company to take their waste away. Further enquiries then identified their rubbish had been collected by Adrian Bivolaru who at the time was sole Director of a removal services company named Ady Bivolaru Ltd.

    Cllr Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “This was a terrible case of environment vandalism, with piles of commercial waste left strewn across the road. People who do this have no care for the community or people who live and work in the area. As this case demonstrates, we will prosecute when we have evidence so I would urge people to report this sort of behaviour. Well done to the team that investigated and brought the case to court.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA to partake in Petersberg Climate Dialogue 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dr Dion George, will this week represent South Africa at the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD), where the country will reinforce its commitment to climate action.

    “The dialogue will provide a strategic opportunity for South Africa to reinforce its commitment to climate action, advocate for equitable solutions that address the unique challenges faced by developing nations, and foster stronger international cooperation,” the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment said on Monday.

    Taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the annual high-level conference, co-hosted by Germany and Brazil in Berlin, Germany, serves as a crucial bridge between successive United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COPs), providing a platform for international dialogue on climate action and cooperation.

    “Established in 2010 by former German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, the dialogue convenes selected nations to pave the way for successful negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

    “The ministerial meeting provides an informal yet strategic space for countries to deliberate on key issues under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including the Global Goal on Adaptation, mitigation ambition, loss and damage from climate impacts, and the provision of international climate finance,” the department said.

    The Minister will use this platform as an opportunity to provide an overview of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group. 

    “I look forward to sharing highlights about our five interrelated key priorities, including climate change and air quality, biodiversity and conservation, and land degradation, desertification and drought,” said George. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister leads G20 environment working group

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, will this week lead the Group of Twenty (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) as part of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20. 

    “It is expected that the outcome of this first virtual G20 ECSWG meeting will provide strategic direction and a common understanding amongst G20 Member States on the key environmental and climate change priorities and deliverables,” the Minister said on Sunday.

    Taking place under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” the Minister is expected to open the meeting on Tuesday, by setting the scene for South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 ECSWG, provide an opportunity to discuss the five priorities and deliverables, and also present the proposed work plan for the G20 ECSWG for 2025.

    The priority focus areas for South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 ECSWG include:

    • Biodiversity and Conservation – Implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Biodiversity Economy;
    • Land Degradation, Desertification and Drought – Land Degradation Neutrality targets;
    • Chemicals and Waste Management – Sustainable Chemicals Management; Circular Economy; Waste Management; Waste to Energy; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation;
    • Climate Change and Air Quality – Just Transition; Loss and Damage; Adaptation, including Climate Resilient Development (CRD); Climate Finance and Air Quality; and
    • Oceans and Coastal Management – Marine Spatial Planning – ocean governance; combatting marine plastic pollution.

    The G20 ECSWG aims to enhance cooperation amongst all G20 members and invitees to address environmental and climate change priorities. 

    The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States, as well as two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union.

    The G20 members represent about two-thirds of the world population, approximately 85% of the global GDP and over 75% of the global trade. 

    This platform is considered as the leading forum for international economic cooperation and plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues.

    South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 commenced on 01 December 2024 and will continue until 30 November 2025. 

    The Presidency will build upon on the achievements of India (2023 Presidency) and Brazil (2024 Presidency), to ensure continuity in advancing the developmental agenda within the G20. 

    “South Africa’s G20 Presidency provides a unique opportunity for the country to champion the aspirations of emerging market economies and lead the developmental agenda of the African Continent within the framework of the G20.”

    A total of three G20 ECSWG meetings and one ECSWG Ministerial meeting will be held in South Africa, with the first virtual meeting scheduled to take place from 25 – 28 March 2025; followed by the second meeting from 14-18 July 2025 at Kruger National Park, and the final meeting in October 2025 at Cape Town.

    The Ministerial meeting will be held back-to-back with the third ECSWG meeting in October 2025.

    The department will also roll out outreach and awareness activities in the buildup to the three G20 ECSWG meetings throughout the country to amplify the messaging on the focus areas for the G20 ECSWG.

    “The department will leverage South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 to market and showcase the Kruger-Kirstenbosch-iSimangaliso Icon Status Strategy (KISS). Some of the meetings and activities will take place at these iconic world-class sites to showcase them on the global stage,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CBE to host inaugural Public Works Infrastructure Summit

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is set to host the Inaugural Public Works Infrastructure Summit.

    Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson is expected to deliver the keynote address at the summit, which will be held on 1 April 2025. 

    The summit — to be hosted under the theme: “Turning South Africa into a construction site: Growing the economy and creating jobs” — will explore strategies for optimising asset life cycles, using public-private partnerships and ensuring equitable infrastructure investments.

    Additionally, discussions will include issues that relate to the infrastructure audit; the promotion of ethical governance; exploring innovative measures for effective asset management, property management, and green social infrastructure, while maximising its commercial value for public good. 

    Addressing Parliament earlier this month, Macpherson committed that the department will formalise its approach to public asset management with the introduction of technical task teams in cities across the country. 

    It is envisaged that the approach will attract private sector investment to revitalise these assets for productive use. 

    In attendance will be CEOs and leaders of the broader built environment and construction industry, financial institutions, insurance companies, developers, asset and property managers, real estate entities, the Minister and his deputy, and MECs to discuss and agree on collaborative efforts to achieve the goal of turning South Africa into a construction site. 

    About the CBE 

    The CBE, an entity of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, is a regulator of the built environment professions practicing and providing regulatory frameworks within the various statutory councils. 

    It played a leadership role and provides strategic direction, and advises the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure on policy matters that impact the built environment sector. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government activities for the week 24 – 28 March 2025

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Monday, March 24, 2025

    On Monday, 24 March, the Deputy President Paul Mashatile will deliver the keynote address at the national World TB Day commemorative event and launch of the National End TB Campaign at Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre, Gamalakhe Township, KwaZulu-Natal.

    On Tuesday, 25 March, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George to lead the Group of Twenty (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group as part of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20. 

    On Wednesday, 26 March, South Africa hosts the second G20 Health Working Group Meeting in KwaZulu-Natal (26-28 March). 

    On Thursday, 27 March, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is offering Basic Sewing Training Programme in Mthatha, Eastern Cape (17-28 March).

    Friday, 28 March, no confirmed events.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mine Water Management by Coal and Lignite PSUs

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 1:03PM by PIB Delhi

    Coal and Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), are implementing various measures to ensure the sustainable utilization of mine water for irrigation use. Excess mine water is gainfully utilized for industrial, and community use, including irrigation and domestic use, thereby reducing the need for groundwater extraction for such purposes. Regular monitoring and quality checks are conducted by accredited laboratories to ensure that the water meets the required standards for irrigation and domestic use. Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge measures are implemented alongside mine water utilization to maintain the groundwater balance. During FY 2024-25 (up to February 2025), Coal and Lignite PSUs have supplied approximately 3963 Lakh Kilo Liters (LKL) of treated mine water for domestic and irrigation use to local communities in and around coal and lignite mining areas in the respective states.

    Investment on infrastructure for mine water treatment has been made by Coal and Lignite PSUs on a regular basis in coal and lignite mining areas. Mine water treatment infrastructure forms an integral part of mining operations as per the statutory provisions mentioned in the Environment Clearance, Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate of the coal and lignite mining projects and includes such as effluent treatment plants for treating industrial discharge, water filter plants to ensure treated mine water meets quality standards, sedimentation tanks for filtration and settling of suspended particles, maintenance and upgradation of existing water treatment infrastructure to enhance efficiency and capacity, etc.

    An MoU has been executed between Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) and Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Limited for supplying treated mine water from Bhanegaon Open Cast Mine to Kapakheda Thermal Power Station. Due to this, water from the Irrigation Department, which was previously catering to the water requirements of the thermal power station is now available for domestic and irrigation purposes.

    This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    ****

    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2114309) Visitor Counter : 126

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EPD convictions in February

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    EPD convictions in February 
         Two of the convictions were under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, six were under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, seven were under the Noise Control Ordinance, nine were under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation, eight were under the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance, 16 were under the Waste Disposal Ordinance.
     
         The heaviest fines in February were $20,000 for an offence assessed against a company that caused another person to import controlled waste without a permit; and another fine of $20,000 assessed against a company that imported controlled waste without a permit.
    Issued at HKT 15:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – CRITICALLY RARE NATIVE PLANT ON KAHOʻOLAWE FINDS SUCCESS IN CULTIVATION

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – CRITICALLY RARE NATIVE PLANT ON KAHOʻOLAWE FINDS SUCCESS IN CULTIVATION

    Posted on Mar 21, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

     

    CRITICALLY RARE NATIVE PLANT ON KAHOʻOLAWE FINDS SUCCESS IN CULTIVATION

    New Website Launches to Increase Awareness, Conservation Efforts

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 20, 2025

      

    HONOLULU – A new website dedicated to a critically endangered native Hawaiian plant from Kahoʻolawe has been launched to tell its incredible story of resilience. Native Hawaiians have tended a relationship with Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa (Kanaloa kahoolawensis) for over a thousand years and now the rest of the world can experience and learn about it online.

    The site dedicated to the plant has been created by the Kapalupalu o Kanaloa Hui, which includes the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC), the Plant Extinction Prevention Program, the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), Hoʻolawa Farms, Lyon Arboretum, and Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. The hui’s vision is to restore Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa across Hawaiʻi to resume its ecological and cultural roles.

    Once widespread until disappearing from pollen records around the 16th century, the species was rediscovered on a rock outcropping on Kahoʻolawe in 1992 by botanists Ken Wood and Steve Perlman of the NTBG. The two wild plants represented a plant genus that was completely unknown to botanists at the time. The living plant’s pollen matched a previously unidentified fossil pollen, unlocking the history of this species.

    The rediscovery of this plant was particularly notable in that it was found on Kahoʻolawe, an island that has faced many ecological challenges after being used for bombing practice by the U.S. Armed Forces. The endurance and resilience of this plant has special significance for Native Hawaiians, as Kahoʻolawe is a kino (sacred form) of Kanaloa, Hawaiian god of the ocean and marine life. These stories and meanings are imbued in the plant’s name, Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa, which translates to “the flexibility and the gentleness of Kanaloa.”

    Following its rediscovery, horticulturalists worked to propagate Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa, but found limited success. The two wild plants died by 2015, and by 2020 only two plants remained in cultivation. Then both plants, the only ones remaining in the world, bloomed simultaneously. One produced seeds, providing a lifeline for the species to continue. Today, through the efforts of the Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa Hui and many hands, the total population of this plant is around 20.

    “This partnership is vital for the survival of Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa because even the best horticulturist in the world will not have success 100% of the time,” said Dr. Mike Opgenorth, Director of NTBG’s Kahanu Garden and Preserve on Maui. “There is great benefit to having multiple perspectives working with such a rare plant. It’s not any one organization, agency or individual—it’s a team effort that shares the responsibility for perpetuating the plant.”

    “What we are doing in plant conservation is working. Over the last 20 years, more plants have been saved in cultivation than ever before,” added DOFAW botanist Dr. Matt Keir. “Together we can grow a brighter tomorrow for Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa,”

    The new Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa website tells the story of this species through botanical and cultural information as well as photos and a downloadable coloring sheet. The site also suggests ways that residents can support the resurgence of Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa and help ensure a future for this resilient member of our ʻohana.

    “The launch of this website marks a significant step forward in our collective effort to restore Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa,” said Michael K. Nāhoʻopiʻi, executive director of the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission. “This plant’s resilience reflects the strength and spirit of Kahoʻolawe itself, and by sharing its story, we hope to inspire greater awareness and action to protect Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa for generations to come.”

    # # #

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    Website: www.kapalupaluokanaloa.org

    HD video – Ka Paluaplu o Kanaloa website clips: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5x8kuw25f3bwe1qvutgor/Ka-Palapalu-o-Kanaloa-Website-clips.mov?rlkey=wybvh50sccbni8ths5iflnp1z&st=d3ui3m8g&dl=0

     

    Photograph – Ka Palupalu o Kanaloa (courtesy NTBG): see attached.

     

     

     

    Media Contacts: 

    Patti Jette

    Communications Specialist

    808-587-0396

    Email: Dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov

    Ryan Aguilar

    Communications Specialist

    808-587-0396

    Email: Dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: A USD$25 billion public-private Ghana climate futures and socio-economic initiative is agreed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Ghana Green Guard USD$25 billion climate futures initiative agreement commits to deliver a series of diversified regenerative solutions to drive a healthier and more sustainable future for all Ghanaians. The agreement is a public-private collaborative partnership between the developer CarbonPura Africa, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) representing the government of Ghana and PSPH (Private Sector Participation in Health). Leveraging carbon financing, and carbon and biodiversity monetisation, the agreement will drive environmental restoration, clean water access, and community-based social programmes in Ghana.

    ACCRA, Republic of Ghana, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarbonPura pioneers Ghana Green Guard, a transformative series of privately funded environmental protection, restoration, and climate-smart projects and initiatives bespoke to the landscape of Ghana. The Ghana Green Guard Agreement harnesses the power of leveraging a climate futures ecosystem combined with flows unlocked from carbon finance to address critical climate and sustainability challenges while advancing Ghana’s environmental restoration and socio-economic development goals.

    Chief Executive Officer of the EPA of Ghana, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse says “the Ghana Green Guard Agreement is a significant milestone in Ghana’s environmental journey and marks the beginning of a new era in public-private stakeholder engagement to implement development practices and leverage international carbon markets to achieve sustainability, protect our water bodies and secure a healthier and more prosperous future for all Ghanaians.”

    • One of the most significant nature-based project methodology solutions globally it will generate over 305 million high-quality, investment-grade carbon credits across 12 million hectares of diverse landscapes with a projected cumulative revenue of $10.4 billion over 25 years.
    • Each project supports Ghana’s socio-economic and community enhancement programmes and initiatives to empower women, children, and the most vulnerable farmers and communities.
    • Aligns international and local partners, government support, NGO and University Collaboration, all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, and Ghana’s net-zero and global climate commitments.
    • Immediate intervention to enhance Ghana’s water security using the most effective and sustainable solutions and technologies that ensure long-term protection and safeguarding for the provision of clean water and the restoration of polluted water sources caused by illegal mining.

    Ghana Green Guard combines the relationship driven socio-economic benefits of a public–private partnership to deliver projects that align seamlessly with President Mahama’s Policies for the Future of Ghana, Ghana’s net-zero and global climate commitments and all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The agreement will utilise restorative and ecosystem vision – not only in project execution but from new relationship driven economic models fuelled by investment grade biodiversity and carbon credit projects.

    Dr. Fred Bedzrah, the Vice President of Operations for CarbonPura Africa, stated that “the Green Guard Ghana Agreement sets a new benchmark for environmental and socio-economic impact and is a bold step forward toward positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable carbon finance by integrating transparent governance, investment grade carbon credit generation, and inclusive community engagement. CarbonPura is proud to deliver a framework that enhances global climate action and ensures tangible benefits for healthier local communities and ecosystems. Ghana demonstrates how high-integrity restorative biodiversity and climate smart projects can drive sustainability and long-term investment confidence.”

    The Ghana Green Guard Project leverages 12 million hectares of risk assessed eligible land across various regions of Ghana, strategically and with scientific rigour, chosen for their ecological, biodiversity and socio-economic potential. The expansive project ensures scalable investment-grade carbon credit generation goals and sustained environmental improvement by carefully integrating targeted activities such as reforestation, regenerative agriculture, illegal mining restoration and coastal environment restoration.

    The Executive Director of PSPH Dr. Francis Adjei adds that “True sustainability is not just about restoring the environment—it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity for the most vulnerable. Through the Ghana Green Guard initiatives, we are ensuring that climate action translates into better healthcare, stronger communities, and a future where no one is left behind.”

    Cath Thrupp, the Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Planet, says that “Ghana is leading the way in terms of showcasing a sustainable future for their country and the world. They are actively originating large-scale decarbonisation and landscape restoration programmes that will support their country to transition to net zero. In working with the global carbon markets to support this transition, Ghana is actively creating new jobs and opportunities for local communities. As a company, Carbon Planet is honoured to work with the Government and people of Ghana to create a sustainable future, with no one left behind”.

    Each project methodology activity is designed to deliver long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits, creating a positive feedback loop where ecological improvements—such as increased biodiversity, improved soil fertility, and enhanced coastal resilience—foster sustainable community development, employment creation, strengthen food security, provide clean water, eliminate species extinction, and drive long-term economic resilience across regions dependent on agricultural and coastal livelihoods.

    Mark Phillips, the Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Capital Corporation, says that “through strategic collaboration with Carbon Planet we lead the Ghana Green Guard project origination and ensure that all credits are investment ready, meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance and financial integrity and achieve long term environmental and social impact. This initiative exemplifies how carbon finance can drive real change, protecting ecosystems, empowering communities, and supporting Ghana’s climate commitments. Through Ghana Green Guard, we demonstrate that carbon markets can be a force for equitable and sustainable development.”

    The Parties to the Ghana Green Guard Agreement

    About the EPA

    The EPA is the leading statutory body for protecting and improving the environment in Ghana and is led by its Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse. Recognising the need for stronger oversight, the Environmental Protection Act 2025 (Act 1124) was enacted. Effective from January 6, 2025, this Act elevated the EPA to an Authority, expanding its mandate to regulate, protect, coordinate, and oversee all matters pertaining to the environment. This new legislation marks a pivotal moment in the EPA’s evolution towards greater environmental stewardship and governance.

    For further information on Ghana EPA, please visit: www.epa.gov.gh/new/
    For media enquiries, please contact: info@epa.gov.gh 

    About CarbonPura
    CarbonPura Africa is the Ghana Green Guard lead developer and is committed to advancing global sustainability through large-scale innovative carbon management and stewardship initiatives that transform environmental goals into impactful realities.

    CarbonPura is dedicated to pioneering projects that meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and propelling the world towards a greener and more prosperous future.

    CarbonPura provides end-to-end expertise in net-zero advisory and bespoke solutions that ensure each project contributes to carbon reduction and enhances ecological and social value. CarbonPura integrates top-tier methodologies with community-based conservation efforts for land, forestry wetland and marine ecosystems protection and restoration with scalable carbon solutions.

    The social capital and ecological model demand the highest degree of team expertise, including ecologists and environmental auditors, trusted partners and strategic alliances, to enhance the capabilities for CarbonPura in carbon-backed funding, project development, and community reinvestment. CarbonPura navigate market complexities with data-driven precision, ensuring each project maximises value and supports global sustainability.

    For more information, visit: www.carbonpura.com/greenguard
    For media enquiries, please contact:
    Melanie Budden
    melanie.budden@therealizationgroup.com

    About Private Sector Participation in Health
    Private Sector Participation in Health (PSPH) is a leading not-for-profit organisation driving transformative healthcare and social development in Ghana’s most vulnerable communities. As a key partner in the Ghana Green Guard Agreement, PSPH integrates healthcare, education, and social empowerment into climate resilience efforts. Through innovative public-private partnerships, PSPH expands access to essential healthcare, empowers women and youth, and fosters alternative livelihoods, creating lasting socio-economic impact. By bridging corporate Ghana with grassroots needs, PSPH ensures that sustainability, health, and development go hand in hand; building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities for generations to come.

    For further information on PSPH, please visit: www.psphghana.com
    For media enquiries, please contact: DrFred@carbonpura.com

    About Carbon Capital Corporation [CCC]
    CCC is an Australian registered company that operates under an Australian Authorised Financial Services License [278530]. CCC is part of the GBC Group and stands out in global carbon markets offering unique and specialised feasibility, origination, procurement, trading and advisory services for both the buy and sell side. With operations across Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Pacific CCC facilitates large scale carbon projects with stackable value methodologies that allow projects to generate multiple environmental and social co-benefits.

    CCC utilises an integrated approach that combines financial structuring, technical expertise, and advanced technology, delivering unmatched value in carbon markets. By optimising carbon and biodiversity credits to meet the high standards demanded by institutional buyers, CCC achieve both financial returns and measured sustainability impact.

    For more information, visit: www.carboncapitalcorporation.com
    For media enquiries, please contact: markphillips@greenbondcorporation.com

    About Carbon Planet
    Carbon Planet is an Australian registered ecological company globally leading project feasibility, origination and technical development, bringing extensive expertise in carbon project execution and innovation. Carbon Planet picture a world where natural capital has value, investments are transparent, landholders can feed their families, and local communities can create new jobs and regenerative industries. This requires creating a world where trees and natural capital are valued.

    For further information on CarbonPlanet, please visit: www.carbonplanet.io/
    For media enquiries, please contact: cath@carbonplanet.io

    Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, CEO of the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency with Dr Fred Bezrah, Vice President of CarbonPura Africa

    Aerial photo in Ghana showing the decimated landscape and River Pra waterway caused by illegal mining (“galamsey”) that is a focus of Ghana Green Guard restorative initiatives.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bde12b4-932a-4a25-a144-dc2edc0cb373

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d0bb5dd6-e886-4d71-89d4-ddb793c08a70

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ad39039-d081-4987-862b-aae74c12cebf

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb7393fb-aab6-4276-aa2b-757084c3764f

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1c55422-8468-4acc-ab59-282b4e076a3b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21dffd0d-14f2-45af-afca-f3659132ba7a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ATCM: Over 1 million Single Justice Procedure cases moved from paper to digital

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    ATCM: Over 1 million Single Justice Procedure cases moved from paper to digital

    The Single Justice Procedure (SJP) was introduced by the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015.

    It allows prosecutors – who decide whether a case should be taken through the procedure – to deal with cases involving adult defendants accused of lesser offences that cannot result in a prison sentence, including: 

    • speeding 

    • driving without insurance 

    • TV license evasion 

    • evading train fares  

    It enables defendants, prosecutors and courts to reach a resolution to minor offences without having to attend court (unless they choose to do so). 

    A single magistrate, advised by a professional lawyer, deals with cases under SJP away from a courtroom. There’s no prosecutor or defendant present and they can deal with the case swiftly without tying up valuable court time.  

    Before 2017, SJP cases relied on paper-based processes and outdated technology meaning: 

    • court staff and magistrates manually handling lots of paper 

    • hours spent manually entering data which also increased the risk of human error 

    • inefficient sharing of information over email causing delays 

    • cost to the taxpayer associated with printing and transporting files from building to building    

    The system needed modernisation to handle summary, non-imprisonable offences more efficiently.  

    Benefits 

    By introducing Automated Track Case Management (ATCM), a digital service created to help process SJP cases on the Common Platform criminal case management system, we’ve transformed the process. This modernised, streamlined service now provides courts, prosecutors, and the public with a more efficient service. 

    Over 1.1 million SJP cases have been completed digitally between April 2017 and 31 December 2024, each benefiting through: 

    • faster justice giving prosecutors more capacity and enabling for defendants to move on more quickly with their lives 

    • quicker information sharing between court, prosecutor and defendant 

    • the ability to interact with cases more accessibly at any time and keep informed of progress 

    • greater flexibility to magistrates and court staff, enabling a more efficient running of the work coming into court 

    • better consistency of service being provided to all stakeholders, with Courts and Tribunals Service Centres dealing with day-to-day enquiries, rather than individual courts 

    • more effective use of physical court capacity providing better value for money to the taxpayer 

    • case lists published online and additional information made available to journalists, to support open justice 

    • significant reduction in the financial cost of printing and transporting paper files 

    Our digital transformation 

    ATCM represents a transformation of the SJP system. The digital platform now manages cases from initial receipt through to the magistrate’s decision, while providing transparent access to case outcomes, referrals, and costs awarded to all stakeholders in the process, as well as journalists. 

    By creating a digital platform under the Reform Programme we’ve enabled: 

    • end-to-end digital case management from beginning of the process to decision, allowing all stakeholders to access the information they need in real time 

    • direct digital case uploading by prosecutors including DVLA, TV Licensing, TfL and local police forces 

    • online plea submissions, where defendants can upload supporting information  

    • real-time tracking of the progress made by a case 

    • automated notification system for case decisions to all stakeholders involved in the process, and also to journalists 

    • journalists can obtain detailed information (prosecution facts and defence mitigation) digitally 

    • digital access for magistrates to enter decisions directly into the system 

    • integrated support from Courts and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) 

    This benefits a range of people involved in the process: 

    • Prosecutors including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, TV Licensing, and police forces can now upload cases directly to the system 

    • Defendants can submit pleas and access supporting information online 

    • Magistrates and legal advisers can access case details, record decisions, generate orders and notices, and update driver records all through one unified platform 

    • Journalists receive more information and do not have to travel to courts in person in order to report on cases 

    Better information sharing 

    The system’s role-based access ensures users only see information relevant to their needs, eliminating the need for paper documentation and reducing manual data entry.  

    Transparency is maintained through online publication of court lists, while journalists can access both upcoming hearing lists and court records, enabling scrutiny and reporting of outcomes to the public. 

    Take up of the digital service has been strong, with the volume of digital cases between April 2019 and March 2023 more than doubling.

    Since April 2022, 80% of people going through the single justice service are satisfied with the service they received.  

    Working together 

    We have consulted and collaborated with a number of justice partners to design, test and implement Automated Track Case Management, the digital system developed to administer Single Justice Procedure cases online: 

    • local police forces on rollout and delivery – police prosecutors are now able to upload direct to the system and self-serve 

    • all criminal justice system partners  

    • non police prosecutors (NPPs) – these are now digital by default and onboarding for NPPs will accelerate in 2025/2026 

    • Courts and Tribunals Service Centres to offer best support and advice with ongoing cases to all stakeholders 

    • magistrates, legal advisers and judiciary as a vital partner to deliver a more streamlined system 

    Getting support 

    The Courts and Tribunals Service Centres (CTSC) provide comprehensive assistance to all users. Key improvements include: 

    • dedicated support for defendants, prosecutors, and journalists 

    • consistent service levels across all interactions 

    • reduced wait times from over an hour to 15 minutes for phone queries 

    • new online self-endorsement system for driving licence details 

    Feedback and insights 

    Andrew Morris, Acting Head of Legal Operations for Wales, reflected:

    “It increases flexibility, is time efficient, more eco-friendly, and saves courtroom space for dealing with more serious offences.” 

    West Yorkshire Police Unit Operations Manager, Debbie Taylor, emphasised the impact:

    “Before ATCM and Common Platform, we did 600 SJP cases a week. In October 2024, it’s now gone up to 650 cases a week – and we are on track to increase to a thousand by June or July 2025.”   

    Future plans 

    We plan to continue to evolve the system including: 

    • completing the digital service rollout to all police forces nationwide engaging new non–police prosecutors including the Environment Agency and transport companies 

    • holding a comprehensive evaluation of the system’s sustainability and effectiveness 

    • improving media access and transparency measures – publishing more data than ever before, as well as inviting journalists to observe SJP sessions 

    • developing enhanced self-service options for users 

    • implementing continuous technological improvements 

    Stay updated 

    Keep up to date with the latest criminal court news and information by subscribing to our e-alerts and newsletters.  

    You can read more about how the Single Justice Procedure works by visiting: Explaining the Single Justice Procedure in the magistrates’ court – Inside HMCTS 

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –