Book review of new history of Chernobyl tragedy

The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 has had a long-lasting impact on our energy and environmental policies. Viv Groskop writes a review in The Guardian about a new book that is the first comprehensive history. Groskop explains that without losing any detail or nuance, the author, Harvard professor Serhil Plokhy, “has a knack for making complicated … Continue reading Book review of new history of Chernobyl tragedy →

International investigation into mysterious source of a banned, ozone-depleting chemical now destroying the ozone layer

Scientists are raising a concern that someone is currently making a banned chemical that is destroying the ozone layer. Chris Mooney explains latest developments in an article on The Washington Post website. Someone, somewhere, is making a banned chemical that destroys the ozone layer, scientists suspect Emissions of a banned, ozone-depleting chemical are on the … Continue reading International investigation into mysterious source of a banned, ozone-depleting chemical now destroying the ozone layer →

Understanding why air pollution affects quality of life

Richard E. Peltier, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst explains in an article on The Conversation website in a straightforward manner why air pollution affects all of us and not even necessarily in the most polluted cities of the world. Is air pollution making you sick? 4 questions … Continue reading Understanding why air pollution affects quality of life →

National security and the implications of climate change

While this article is about Australia, it is an important message for all countries. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations at The University of Queensland writes about a new Australian report that notes that climate change has a range of important security implications, both domestically and internationally. Senate report: climate change is a … Continue reading National security and the implications of climate change →

Investors pushing for oil companies to take more action on carbon emissions

This article by Adam Vaughan in The Guardian shows the more activist approach many shareholders are now taking to get oil companies to be more transparent and active in addressing lowering carbon emissions. Shell faces shareholder challenge over climate change approach Royal Dutch Shell faces a shareholder challenge over climate change this week, as … Continue reading Investors pushing for oil companies to take more action on carbon emissions →

Latest update on climate mitigation finance

The SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the recent update on European developments in climate mitigation finance. Climate Mitigation Finance Update: Focus on Europe In the past month, Europe has seen a flurry of activity relating to finance for climate mitigation, including a €300 million investment partnership between … Continue reading Latest update on climate mitigation finance →

Impact of energy efficiency policies on energy consumption

We are always looking for more evidence of the impact of energy efficiency policies and programmes. Kevin Jarzomski and Nicholas Chase write on the American Journal of Transportation Website review scenarios developed in the US Energy Information Administration’s recent Annual Energy Outlook. Would you agree? Changing energy efficiency and fuel economy standards affects energy … Continue reading Impact of energy efficiency policies on energy consumption →

A linguist reviews how oil companies bring out their greener side

We are all aware that businesses try to present their social responsibility activities to show their better side. It is seldom that we have someone analyse how the oil industry in particular uses language in a way to present their greener side. Sylvia Jaworska, Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics at the University of Reading provides … Continue reading A linguist reviews how oil companies bring out their greener side →

Environmental concerns about the loss of urban tree cover in America

When we think of cities, we think of a lot of steel and concrete. We know that cities have trees and other forms of greenery and the important role they play for our health, in reducing GHG emissions and many other benefits. Of concern in the US is the increasing loss of trees, as researchers … Continue reading Environmental concerns about the loss of urban tree cover in America →

When going green doesn’t solve everything in the shipping industry

Paul A. Davies, Visiting Professor in Risk Assessment and Marine Technology, at Liverpool John Moores University, explains in an article on The Conversation website that the use of greener fuels for shipping has many benefits but compared to traditional fuels, greener alternatives have a greater potential to cause major accidents. He concludes that the shipping … Continue reading When going green doesn’t solve everything in the shipping industry →