Category Archives: Current Affairs

Pesticides urgently need reform – the UK’s overdue action plan must make these drastic changes

February 6, 2024 by Mike Andrews

This oil seed rape field is just one of many sprayed with pesticide chemicals. Juice Flair/Shutterstock Dave Goulson, University of Sussex Nature is in crisis, with a human-caused global mass extinction event well underway. There is widespread recognition that the … Continue reading →

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Oil firms forced to consider full climate effects of new drilling, following landmark Norwegian court ruling

February 5, 2024 by Mike Andrews

Daria Shapovalova, University of Aberdeen Norway’s district court in Oslo recently made a decision on fossil fuels that deserves the attention of every person concerned about climate change. This ruling, which compels energy firms to account for the industry’s entire … Continue reading →

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How simple changes can open up Britain’s green spaces so everyone can benefit from them

February 2, 2024 by Mike Andrews

The Catbells route in the Lake District is just one of many accessible Miles Without Stiles trails. Janine Coates, Loughborough University and Anthony Maher, Leeds Beckett University A typical British countryside walk may conjure up images of vast green fields, … Continue reading →

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AI is supposed to make us more efficient – but it could mean we waste more energy

February 1, 2024 by Mike Andrews

khunkornStudio / shutterstock Felippa Amanta, University of Oxford The European Union is negotiating an Artificial Intelligence Act, the world’s first comprehensive law that aims to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) based on the risk it poses to individuals, society and the … Continue reading →

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Veganuary’s impact has been huge – here are the stats to prove it

January 30, 2024 by Mike Andrews

Is the Veganuary campaign really driving changes in British eating habits? Chris Bryant, University of Bath Since launching in 2014, Veganuary has boasted increasing sign-ups year on year. But what’s the evidence that the campaign that encourages people to adopt … Continue reading →

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Why billionaires should take the lead and declare their own emissions cutting targets

January 22, 2024 by Mike Andrews

Samedan airport near Davos is dedicated to private jets. Thierry Weber / shutterstock Steve Westlake, Cardiff University The annual glitzy gathering of world leaders and billionaire CEOs in Davos, Switzerland, allows us to marvel once again at the environment-wrecking effects … Continue reading →

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Can technology clean up our air? An atmospheric scientist got a glimpse of the future

January 17, 2024 by Mike Andrews

Alastair Lewis, University of York Every few years I visit CES (formerly the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, a goliath event that is equal parts shameless spin and publicity, trade show and business conference. I’m an atmospheric scientist, and … Continue reading →

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‘Gold’ hydrogen: natural deposits are turning up all over the world – but how useful is it in our move away from fossil fuels?

January 15, 2024 by Mike Andrews

Cheap and plentiful supplies of naturally occurring hydrogen could be right beneath our feet. Kichigin/Shutterstock David Waltham, Royal Holloway University of London Hydrogen will play a role in weaning us off fossil fuels. It can be used to power trains, … Continue reading →

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Extreme UK flood levels are happening much more often than they used to, analysis shows

January 11, 2024 by Mike Andrews

Louise Slater, University of Oxford and Jamie Hannaford, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Heavy rain across southern Britain meant that most rivers in England swelled at the beginning of 2024, prompting widespread flooding. The River Trent was among the … Continue reading →

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Green fuels in shipping face major challenges for 2050 net zero target

January 9, 2024 by Mike Andrews

GreenOak/Shutterstock Gokcay Balci, University of Bradford and Ebru Surucu-Balci, University of Bradford Ships carry around 90% of traded goods and emit about 3% of global CO₂. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for regulating shipping, recently set … Continue reading →

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