When permission was granted by the Welsh Government in 2005, the local community in Merthyr Tydfil, who had fought the proposal fiercely, were promised that mining would end after 15 years, on 6th September 2022 and that restoration of the land would be complete a few years later. Yet it’s reported that coal mining hasn’t stopped, ruining the long-awaited peace for the local community who can see and hear the coal mine from their homes. And now the mining company has applied to expand the coal mine by 9 months, and has said it will apply for a further 3 years of coal mining, (and who knows what beyond that...?). This will not only fuel climate change by nearly 6 million tonnes of CO2 and 16,000 tonnes of methane, but inflict further explosive blasting, noise and dust pollution on nearby residents. On top of this, the long-awaited restoration of the land, will be pushed back by years, with concerns that it will never happen. *********************** Pam mae hyn yn bwysig? Pan roddwyd caniatâd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2005, cafodd y gymuned leol ym Merthyr Tudful, a oedd wedi brwydro’n ffyrnig yn erbyn y cynnig, addewid y byddai mwyngloddio’n dod i ben ar ôl 15 mlynedd, ar 6ed Medi 2022 ac y byddai’r gwaith o adfer y tir wedi’i gwblhau ychydig flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach. Ond adroddir nad yw mwyngloddio glo wedi dod i ben, gan ddifetha’r heddwch hir-ddisgwyliedig i’r gymuned leol sy’n gallu gweld a chlywed y pwll glo o’u cartrefi. Ac yn awr mae'r cwmni mwyngloddio wedi gwneud cais i ehangu'r pwll glo am 9 mis, ac wedi dweud y bydd yn ceisio am 3 blynedd arall o gloddio am lo, (a phwy a ŵyr beth y tu hwnt i hynny...?). Bydd hyn nid yn unig yn hybu newid yn yr hinsawdd gan bron i 6 miliwn tunnell o CO2 a 16,000 tunnell o fethan, ond hefyd yn achosi dioddefaint i’r trigolion cyfagos trwy’r ffrwydradau pellach, llygredd sŵn a llwch. Ar ben hyn, bydd y gwaith adfer hir-ddisgwyliedig ar y tir yn cael ei wthio yn ôl gan flynyddoedd, gyda phryderon na fydd byth yn digwydd.

None of these actions would require significant investment, in fact these are very simple and cost effective steps for the University to undertake. They would however deliver a big return in value. The University's now defunct Sustainability Strategy states: "Even in this urban setting we can make a real difference in terms of biodiversity. And this can also reap benefits – improved health and wellbeing, education, volunteering opportunities, a reduction in flooding and an enhanced image can all be realised through a thriving natural environment". A positive change for wildlife will make the campus a beautiful and inspiring place to work and study. Doing more for nature on campus would be a win-win scenario for wildlife, staff and students. We call on the Vice Chancellor, Simone Buitendijk, and the University of Leeds to take action now. The world is in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. 70 of our British bird species are red listed. Numbers of pollinators and other flying invertebrates are crashing. The University of Leeds' own research has documented this and raised the alarm. Yet despite having a biodiversity plan, the main University campus remains a hostile environment for wildlife. The University's token efforts to support biodiversity are well meaning but effectively amount to little more than institutional green washing. Here are 4 concrete examples of the University's failure to take biodiversity seriously: Wild Peregrine Falcons have been present since 2015 and have nested successfully several times on the Parkinson Tower. Yet anti-pigeon netting was only partially removed when a social media storm about Falcons trapped under the netting forced the University to take action. The Peregrine Falcon is a Schedule 1 species, meaning it has the highest degree of protection in law. 3 dead Peregrine Falcons were found under the nets. A remaining piece of netting has not been removed despite promises made in June. An Ecology student studying at the University of Leeds found possible Pyramidal Orchids growing on a small area of grass on campus. He notified Estates and the Sustainability Department. Despite this, the Orchids were strimmed. In Spring 2021 the University gardeners were seen cutting down all the bushes and scrub in St George's Fields on campus. The University's Biodiversity Action Plan congratulates itself (100% score) for "planting of native tree and shrub species" and "improve the biodiversity value of hedgerows on campus" yet existing scrub has regularly been removed - even in the nesting season. The Roger Stevens pond was "rewilded" in a fantastic effort to turn this concrete pond into a place for wildlife. But a member of the Estates team has been regularly adding non-native fish - a guaranteed way of removing natural invertebrates and destroying the wildlife. The dragonflies touted in a message from the University on social media, are rarely present. The University Biodiversity Action Plan reveals a score of 0% for "Protect areas important to local or campus biodiversity". In a single statement this reveals that the University is almost completely failing in its commitment to nature. The Sustainability Department have an array of green initiatives but without serious support from the rest of the University, their well intentioned efforts amount to little more than institutional green washing. It is unacceptable for the University to use these token steps for wildlife as a box ticking exercise to avoid taking genuine action.

Our country would be both discourteous and give the impression of a downgrading of our commitment to action on this, the greatest challenge ever to confront the human race, if he is hindered from participation. In contrast, a strong groundswell of support for the King's attendance would send a message to the Conference and to our leaders here in the UK.

Britain must play its part in saving the planet from a climate catastrophe - and must be seen to do so on the world stage.

We need this sporting/recreation land for our young people and future generations

Ministers are planning to ban solar farms from most of England’s farmland. The new Environment secretary wants to stop panels being built on large amounts of farmers fields. Currently solar panels are allowed to be built on farmland that are rated a 3b level - where the land is designated as middling to low quality. Right now most solar farms are built or planned for this type of land, so if these plans go ahead it would block most new developments of this green energy source. At a time when we're facing energy crisis, and even the threat of energy blackouts this winter, it's unbelievable that the Government is considering plans that would make it harder for us to expand our energy supply. The Government must rethink this ban on solar.

If we can get a few million supporting this petition it would encourage the decision maker and the team around him in the Palace to make a case for the Government to reconsider their ban on him going to COP27. We want the UK to be fully engaged in working for net zero by 2050

To future proof the planet to sustain the lives of future generations, and literally not leave our descendants with a scorched earth. What use is financial security when we have destroyed the earth's resources.

The Government has introduced a long-term plan which is supposed to stop the aviation industry damaging our environment. In reality, it does the opposite. The strategy allows airports to keep expanding - helping frequent flyers to fly even more and increasing noise pollution in our local communities. Not to mention the damage more flights will do to our precious planet. This isn’t about stopping families going on well-deserved holidays. There is plenty of capacity for that at our existing airports! It’s about preventing unnecessary airport expansion for the benefit of the tiny number of frequent flyers responsible for most of our environment-damaging flights. Even the Government’s own environmental experts think the plan is bad - they’ve said there can be no airport expansion if we’re to hit our crucial environmental targets! In fact, the Government has just been ordered by the courts to rewrite it’s big climate plan because it wasn’t clear or ambitious enough. The ‘Jet Zero’ strategy is part of that plan and is just as shambolic - for example, relying on unproven tech like carbon capture and hydrogen planes. It needs to be rewritten to include things like frequent flyer levies to reduce demand. That’s why we are calling on the Government to rewrite its Jet Zero Strategy - and stop all airport expansion now. Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) and Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN)

Penrith residents have suffered the odour nuisance the Penrith 'pong' far too long. We want it to end. We want to be able to open our windows, breathe fresh air, lead normal (odourless free) lives !

The negative health consequences of high air pollution are well documented and the current draft plan will not address this significant problem. The interventions needed to achieve this in our city are clear. Our goals should be in line with WHO guidelines and that of London boroughs of 10 ug/m (NO2). The rolling out of an extended ULEZ (Ultra-Low Emissions zone), the bus only ULEZ, Zero Emission Zones and a Smoke Control Area all need to be implemented immediately. We need solutions that encourage less through traffic, while encouraging pedestrian and cycle access alongside long-term plans for a zero emissions transport network. We need clear interim targets for every year of the action plan to ensure that we do not continue to fail at the implementation of this ambitious but necessary plan. Pollution levels in our city have been illegally high for too many years. There are many interventions available to B&H to tackle air pollution but the current draft is vague on these actions and omits many significant opportunities. The failure to create a robust and enforceable plan risks the continuation of the associated health harm, suffering and death that the large body of scientific evidence shows is already occurring in the city.

The local councillors for Llantarnam ward have decided they want to destroy a vital grassland habitat without consulting constituents first. The old Llantarnam school rugby fields have been left to rewild for many years now. There is no access issues with the field already having a path around the perimeter and this destruction can’t be justified by any safety issues. The area is currently supporting an abundance of wildlife from insects to small mammals/birds and is providing a perfect hunting ground for Owls that are struggling in other areas of Wales due to a lack of grassland that has been left to rewild like this. The area is also now home to many wildflower species that are supporting local pollinators. The fact it has been left to rewild for so long also means that saplings including Oak trees have started to grow here. It would be a travesty to destroy this vital and unique habitat. The Llantarnam ward already has an abundance of open green fields and sports fields for people to use but what it doesn’t have is another large habitat like this that has been left alone to rewild. Destroying this habitat would go against Torfaen councils own self declared Nature Emergency. The benefits of the rewilding the area also don’t just stop at the benefits for nature. Access to nature has proven benefits for peoples mental and physical well-being and many residents have already told me that this areas destruction would impact them greatly. This site needs to designated as Local Nature Reserve (LNR) by the council for its amazing biodiversity. This area is vital and unique habitat that has benefits both for nature and for people. Destroying an area that has been left to rewild for this long would go against the councils own self declared nature emergency.