Victoria Seabrook
Sky News
United Kingdom
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Past articles by Victoria:
Hosepipe ban brewing amid 'acute risk of water shortages', warn climate, farming and infrastructure chiefs
With recent dry weather due to persist until at least May, two different government advisory bodies have warned water shortages may be in the pipeline. Carrot and lettuce harvests are at risk, say farmers, while the national infrastructure chief says some areas may face a hosepipe ban. → Read More
Stop subsidising energy companies that burn trees for electricity, climate advisers tell government
Bioenergy is classed as renewable, qualifying it for government subsidies. But the Climate Change Committee warned the cash for burning trees no longer delivers value for money. However, it supported plans to add carbon capture and storage to existing biomass plants. → Read More
'Huge implications' as non-native plants outnumber native species for first time, major study finds
A 20-year field study finds native heather and harebell in decline, while non-native Sitka spruce has spread from plantations to wild peatlands, hindering the soil from locking up planet-heating carbon. → Read More
Energy bills may rise again without government plan to deliver 2035 clean power target, NAO warns
A missing plan to decarbonise Britain's electricity network is costing households, the report warned. The NAO audit prompted calls for government to lift a de facto ban on onshore wind. → Read More
Vegetable shortages could become more common if UK does not act, National Farmers' Union warns
Environment secretary Thérèse Coffey had come under fire for talking about the role of seasonal British produce like turnips as the country faces shortages. Now a senior farming union official says the government must act, even if the UK will always need some imports. → Read More
Food shortages: British leek supplies 'exhausted by April' in latest warning
The leek was one of many crops to fall foul of Britain's climate change-fuelled drought last year, while bad weather abroad has disrupted usual winter imports of items such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. → Read More
Criminal proceedings against Drax over 'harmful' dust exposure dropped following new evidence
There is "no evidence of continuing risk of harm from exposure to wood dust" at the Drax Power Station, says the Health and Safety Executive as it drops its prosecution. → Read More
Eat turnips instead of tomatoes, suggests minister, as she admits food shortages could last a month
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey stressed the food system remains resilient as she sought to allay concerns about a shortage of some fruit and vegetables. → Read More
British tomato shortage could last until end of April, warns UK's largest grower
Tesco and Aldi became the latest supermarkets to place limits on some vegetables customers can buy due to supply shortages → Read More
Danger of tomato, cucumber and other vegetable rationing, NFU president warns
Consumers could see gaps in the shelves for a variety of British vegetables, as they have with eggs, NFU chief Minette Batters told Sky News. But she said rationing could be averted with the help from the government and retailers. → Read More
'Lacklustre': Govt plans to tackle sewage spills on beaches criticised for 'repeating' past mistakes
Water companies have been ordered by the government to clean up their act by reducing sewage overflows. But campaigners warn the government is rehashing old plans that failed to make a difference. → Read More
Germany made 'painful choices' in clearing village to make way for coal mine, climate envoy says
In an interview with Sky News, Germany's climate envoy Jennifer Morgan admitted Germany was "vulnerable" to the energy crisis, saying it had "learned the hard way" to reduce dependence on fossil fuels or on any one country. → Read More
Crack down on fossil fuel lobbyists at COP climate talks, global groups urge the United Nations
Canada's climate ambassador said on Tuesday it is "very important" that COP summits are "an inclusive process, that everybody has a voice". Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, has been increasingly critical of the fossil fuel industry. → Read More
Farmers paid to protect nature in dramatic overhaul of subsidies scheme
The UK ranks among the worst globally for the state of its life-sustaining nature. The new system aims to support food production while protecting habitats and wildlife. The new system has been described as "the one genuine benefit of Brexit". → Read More
Zac Goldsmith hopes COP28 hosts UAE will do 'superb' job despite concerns about oil-production
Foreign Office minister Lord Goldsmith said "something important" could happen at this year's climate change talks, with Canada's climate change ambassador adding the whole world should have a voice. But activists have condemned the UAE's appointing of an oil chief to run COP28. → Read More
Cold snap forces National Grid to put three coal power plants on standby
The UK has broadly phased out coal, the most polluting fossil fuel. But it extended the life of five plants this winter amid energy security fears, as Europe raced to replace Russian gas. → Read More
'Little good news': Govt on track to miss two-thirds of its environment targets
The government must urgently close the gap between its ambition and reality, the environmental watchdog warned. → Read More
Protesters occupy German village Luetzerath earmarked for demolition to make way for coal mine
The fate of Luetzerath embodies Germany's battle to ditch coal to meet its climate commitments and also keep the lights on following Russia's squeeze on gas supplies. The village has already been abandoned by its original inhabitants but environmentalists moved in two years ago. → Read More
Controversial Cumbria coal mine decision by government may be scrutinised in court
The government said the coal mine is compatible with climate commitments, but campaigners argue the coal, which would be used for the steel industry, should be left in the ground to stave off global heating and international condemnation. → Read More
Satellite images show dramatic lack of snow in ski resorts as heat in Europe 'annihilates' records
The impact of extreme heat in winter is very different to that in summer, bringing snow and water shortages and shrivelling glaciers, which impacts freshwater supply. → Read More