A broad group of eighteen civil society organisations has written to Sajid Javid MP ahead of this week’s Spending Review and Budget saying that the government will need to more than double public investment on climate and nature, from the current £17 billion a year to at least £42 billion.

Moodys ratings agency is warning that Ofwat is tightening the screws further on the water sector following publication by the regulator on 18 July of more draft determinations for the upcoming 2020 -25 AMP7 investment programme.

Moody's ratings agency has downgraded Southern Water’s senior secured debt to Baa2 from Baa1 and placed the Baa2 ratings under review for further downgrade, reflecting the risks associated with the continuing Environment Agency investigation and the price review process.

S&P Global Ratings are warning that the credit quality of UK utilities, including the water companies, is under pressure – they could face tighter financial ratios and potentially lower credit ratings as a result of increased regulatory pressures.

Councils in England could face a funding black hole of over £50 billion over the next six years, with local authorities warning they will have to resort to providing the ‘bare minimum’ if no extra funding is made available.

An upcoming report from the United Nations on the effect of climate change on global investments is expected to warn that global delays in tackling the issue are set to cost the world's biggest companies nearly £1 trillion, according to Sky News.