Blue & Green Daily: Thursday 17 July headlines

Blue & Green Daily finds and summarises the top sustainability stories around the web every morning. We start with our own picks from Blue & Green Tomorrow.

Voting for the next 60 years: Vote for Policies

It’s time investors and businesses ask questions about animal testing

Tidal lagoon renewable energy plants could add £27bn to UK economy

Neil Woodford: full fund disclosure is ‘right thing to do’

Croydon Council announces move to ethical pension funds——————————————————————————————————————————————

17 July

Australia vote to repeal carbon tax

Australia’s Senate has voted to repeal the carbon tax, a levy on the biggest polluters passed by the previous Labor government. Prime minister Tony Abbott, whose Liberal-National coalition beat Labor in an election last year, had made the repeal a central aim of his government. Politicians have been locked in a fierce row about the tax for years. BBC.

Over 60% of breads sold in the UK contain pesticide residues, tests show

Two in every three loaves of bread sold in the UK contain pesticide residues, according to a new analysis of government data by environmental campaigners. Tests on hundreds of loaves also showed that 25% contained residues of more than one pesticide. The official tests are carried out by the government’s expert committee on pesticide residues in food and levels are below the maximum allowed. Guardian.

Sports Direct staff to benefit as founder Mike Ashley gives up his bonus for at least four years

Mike Ashley, the billionaire founder of retail empire Sports Direct, finally accepted defeat today as he shocked the city by taking himself off the company’s bonus scheme. He promised not to try to claim a bonus for at least four years, until the current scheme starts paying out in 2019. His decision follows years of clashes with shareholders as the company made three failed attempts to persuade investors to pay him a huge cash bonus. Independent.

UK calls for cancelling of carbon permits to revive EU emissions trading

Britain said it wants deeper reforms to the EU Emissions Trading System than those proposed by the European Commission and Germany, favouring cancelling a “significant number” of carbon permits over launching a tool to regulate market supply. In a report detailing its vision for the fourth phase of the EU ETS Britain said major changes to the system are needed to help businesses cut greenhouse gas emissions, protect them from foreign competitors and foster low-carbon investment. Guardian.

Cities ‘should generate green energy’, says think tank

Cities should invest in green energy production to compete with the main UK energy suppliers, a centre-left think tank has recommended. Cities and local authorities could reap the benefits of renewable energy subsidies, a report by IPPR has suggested. Regulators are currently probing whether the ‘big six’ UK energy suppliers prevent effective competition in the UK energy market. BBC.

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Interesting picks

Energy groups must motivate millennials – Financial Times

Climate change: Could we engineer greener humans? – BBC

What conditions will bring more investors into the sustainable seafood sector? –  National Geographic

How the web is helping waste-pickers clean up Bangalore’s rubbish – Guardian

Photo: Sanja gjenero via Freeimages