Open Access Government

Early childhood experiences and exposures set the foundation for long-term outcomes across multiple domains of influence.4-6 As has been well-established, child development within these domains emerges through dynamic interactions between the child and the caregiving environment.8, 9 One critical area of development emerging in early childhood is self-regulation.

The European Union's carbon market is maintaining its long-term downward trajectory, with newly released data confirming a continued drop in emissions across key sectors According to the latest figures for 2025, emissions covered under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) fell by 1.3% compared to the previous year. Since its launch in 2005, the EU ETS has been an important part of reducing greenhouse gas output from power generation, industry, and aviation.

New school food standards will ban sugary and processed foods in schools as part of a government crackdown on unhealthy diets School food standards are being significantly updated under new government plans to improve child nutrition and tackle obesity. High-sugar and heavily processed foods will be removed from school menus as part of a wider overhaul designed to ensure healthier meals for pupils across England.

AI and drones are being used to identify climate-resilient wheat varieties that balance high yields with climate stability. Researchers have revealed that "vigorous early growth" and "early maturation", rather than long-lasting green leaves, are the secret to consistent harvests in a warming world Researchers from the University of Barcelona and Agrotecnio have developed a high-tech strategy to identify wheat varieties that can withstand the unpredictable weather caused by climate change.

UNISON warns over 20,000 NHS jobs may go amid a £1.1bn deficit, risking staff burnout and declining patient services More than 20,000 NHS jobs across England are set to be cut by 2028 as health trusts face a combined deficit exceeding £1.1bn, according to UNISON. The union warns that these workforce reductions increase pressure on staff and raise concerns about patient care.

Installing electric vehicle (EV) charging points across England is set to become significantly quicker and more consistent with the new government guidance introduced The changes are designed to remove the issue faced by electric vehicle charge point operators (CPOs) when installing public chargers on highways. The new government guidance moves away from the older licensing system toward a more standardised permit-based approach.

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced €118 million in funding for 30 research projects under its 2025 EIC Pathfinder Challenges call The projects under the EIC Pathfinder Challenges hope to support high-risk, high-reward innovations that could shape the future of technology, healthcare, sustainability, and industry across Europe. Selected from a highly competitive pool of 647 eligible proposals, each project will receive an average of €3.93 million.

This special report discusses the importance of government information services as a key source of knowledge and guidance for new producers, and how these services have transitioned within the landscape and historical context of Alberta's agriculture system, presenting new challenges and opportunities New producers may be specialized or have prior experience in only one or two aspects.

The King's Fund finds English councils are increasing debt and cutting other services to fund higher adult social care spending due to rising fees and demand English councils are facing mounting pressure as the cost of adult social care continues to rise. According to a new report from the King's Fund, many councils are dipping into financial reserves and taking on additional debt to cover increased demand and higher care fees.

Nearly a year after the UK Space Agency introduced its Planetary Protection Technical Framework in May 2025, the UK is beginning to see the benefits, with Earth and the wider Solar System protected from harmful contamination The Planetary Protection Technical Framework was designed to guide space operators and regulators in ensuring that exploration missions do not compromise extraterrestrial environments or introduce unknown risks back to Earth.