Author Archives: Mike Andrews

Oil firms want to drill in four of the UK’s areas of outstanding natural beauty

There’s oil under them thar Lincolnshire Wolds. Gill Kennett Tom Rogers, Nottingham Trent University Think of onshore oil fields and images of oil derricks and “nodding donkeys” may spring to mind, perhaps in Texas or the Middle East. So it … Continue reading

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Three secrets to successful climate litigation

The number of lawsuits related to climate justice is increasing. chayanuphol/Shutterstock Morgiane Noel, Trinity College Dublin Courts around the world are handling an increasing number of climate and environmental cases due to the urgent need to combat worsening warming and … Continue reading

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Wild solitary bees offer a vital pollination service – but their nutritional needs aren’t understood

Solitary bees, including this Nomada goodeniana, often feed on nectar from specific flowers – in this case, white hawthorn. HWall/Shutterstock Ellen Baker, University of Oxford As I walk around the supermarket, I pick up vegetables for tomorrow’s dinner, eggs and … Continue reading

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Hertfordshire Building Control is excited to introduce their latest guide: the U-Values Gold Guide

This is a useful guidance document issued by Hertfordshire Building Control, download here: https://www.hertfordshirebc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HertfordsireBC-New-Gold-Guide-v10.pdf    

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Restored coral reefs can grow as fast as healthy reefs after just four years – new study

Ines Lange, University of Exeter; Tim Lamont, Lancaster University, and Tries Blandine Razak, IPB University The coral reefs of south Sulawesi are some of the most diverse, colourful and vibrant in the world. At least, they used to be, until … Continue reading

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Carbon markets are broken. Here are three ways we can start fixing them

Dudaeva/Shutterstock Stephen Lezak, University of Oxford and Kaya Axelsson, University of Oxford Carbon offsetting – where companies or governments atone for their carbon emissions by buying credits to fund projects that are supposed to remove emissions from the atmosphere – … Continue reading

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ABBE L3 in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Building qualification

I have just completed the ABBE L3 in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Building qualification, this is to add a particular stream to my Retrofit Assessor knowledge base

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Plants are flowering earlier than ever – here’s how they sense the seasons

Paul Ashton, Edge Hill University Hedgerows in mid-February might have traditionally appeared white with snow; this year the white was the work of blackthorn blossoms – a harbinger of spring. Although a welcome sign after a wet and gloomy winter, … Continue reading

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The world’s business and finance sectors can do much more to reverse deforestation – here’s the data to prove it

Rainforest jungle in Borneo, Malaysia, is destroyed to make way for oil palm plantations. Rich Carey/Shutterstock Mary Gagen, Swansea University Big corporations could drive a worldwide shift towards more sustainable supply chains that limit damage caused by deforestation. But progress … Continue reading

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How psychology can help people live more climate-friendly lives – lessons from around the world

Chiara Longoni, Bocconi University and Kimberly Doell, Universität Wien Quick and easy interventions that inspire people to take direct climate action are the holy grail. Behavioural scientists and policymakers are keen to learn which small steps can make the biggest … Continue reading

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