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industry & government news

GO VEGAN TO HELP UK HIT GREENHOUSE

GAS TARGETS, SAYS KWARTENG

are challenges in terms of people
changing their lifestyle, but that is
happening already, without government
legislation,” he told Times Radio.
“The number of people who are
vegans, who are reducing their meat
intake, is going up all the time. I think
that there is a lot of societal change
that will actually help us and drive the
progress to 2035, where hopefully we
will hit the 78 per cent reduction target.”
His statement was welcomed by Sam
Calvert of the Vegan Society, who said:
“This is something we have been saying
for decades. One of the most significant
THERE HAS BEEN A BOOM IN ways for anyone to improve their
PEOPLE GOING VEGAN carbon footprint is to go vegan.”
Vegans adopt a plant-based diet
GOING VEGAN CAN HELP to save the against climate change, reports the without meat or animal products such
planet, according to Business Secretary Evening Standard. as dairy. Millions of tonnes of carbon
Kwasi Kwarteng, who says the rising He spoke out on the day US President are produced each year by cattle and
number of people giving up meat and Joe Biden hosted a virtual summit of other animals used in farming.
dairy is helping to “drive the progress” world leaders and challenged them The Vegan Society claims that if
towards the UK’s target of slashing to promise changes that will cut the whole world went vegan it would
emissions by 78 per cent. greenhouse gases dramatically. reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
Kwarteng is the most senior political Mr Kwarteng said the boom in people agriculture by two thirds and lead to
figure yet to endorse veganism as a going vegan was one way Britain healthcare savings and avoid climate
potential major contributor to the battle hoped to hit its target by 2035. “There damages of $1.5 trillion.

MINISTER PLEDGES SAFETY CHANGES AFTER GRENFELL FIRE

Trevelyan told the summit:
“Nothing is more important that
ensuring people are safe in their
homes. We are determined to learn
lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire,
and bring about a fundamental change
in both the regulatory framework
and industry culture, creating a more
accountable system.”
Her statement comes as the Grenfell
Tower inquiry hears from residents
of the tower block, which burst into
GRENFELL TOWER INQUIRY HEARS FROM flames in 2017, killing 72 people.
RESIDENTS OF THE TOWER BLOCK
The Construction Minister also
ANNE-MARIE TREVELYAN, Minister the government’s new Construction said the industry must embrace
of State for Business, Energy and Playbook will require developers to a new approach to planning and
Clean Growth, has promised to push focus on quality and safety rather implementing infrastructure, in
through fundamental changes to than keeping costs down in the future. order to meet the government’s
housing regulations following the She said a new Building Safety Bill new net zero commitments.
Grenfell Tower fire, according to would enshrine new standards into Public procurement would have to
Construction News. law, which would lead to “greater embrace the move towards offsite
Speaking at the NBS’ Construction accountability for those responsible manufacturing and other green
Leaders’ Summit, Trevelyan said for managing building safety risks”. development, she said.

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13/05/2021 15:56
News.indd 2
News.indd 2 13/05/2021 15:56