Pressing the need for humanity to become more “long-termist” in its outlook

Rupert Read, Reader in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia provides his concerns in an article on The Conversation website that our species and our political-economic systems are “dangerously short-termist” as we address the climate crisis. What are your views?   Climate crisis and the dangers of tech-obsessed ‘long-termism’ As a philosopher who thinks … Continue reading Pressing the need for humanity to become more “long-termist” in its outlook

Fuel poverty can directly and indirectly impact people’s mental and physical health

With energy prices skyrocketing, there are major concerns of how they impact on vulnerable segments of society. Apostolos Davillas, Associate Professor in Health Economics at University of East Anglia; Andrew Burlinson, Lecturer in Energy Economics at the University of East Anglia; and Hui-Hsuan Liu, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Comparative Biomedical Science at the Royal … Continue reading Fuel poverty can directly and indirectly impact people’s mental and physical health

What is impact of comedy on our taking climate action?

The apocalyptic parody film about a comet heading for Earth has polarised opinion and triggered a global debate on our failure to act on the climate emergency. Stuart Braun writes on the Deutsche Welle website whether such comedy can lead to action. What are your views?   'Don't Look Up': Can comedy spark climate crisis … Continue reading What is impact of comedy on our taking climate action?

The construction sector is a major GHG emitter, so what can the industry do to cut CO2?

Millions of homes will need to be built for booming city populations in the coming decades. There are major challenges to minimise environmental damage and meet long-term energy and climate objectives. Some argue that tackling the climate crisis and meeting housing demands in cities will require a rethink of how space is used.  Natalie Muller … Continue reading The construction sector is a major GHG emitter, so what can the industry do to cut CO2?

How much does anything we do for the climate actually matter?

Can new year's resolutions to go vegan and fly less help stop climate change — or are individual lifestyle changes a distraction from real solutions? Ajit Niranjan tries to give us some answers in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. What are your views?   Should I feel guilty about my carbon footprint? Turn … Continue reading How much does anything we do for the climate actually matter?

“The UK public want urgent action on climate change, but may not yet be fully aware of the implications for individuals of doing so.”

A recent Ipso Mori survey finds that people have become noticeably more concerned in the past year after a string of extreme weather events. The survey also finds that while people are in favour of drastic measures to help the country become net zero by 2050 in theory – when they realise the cost and … Continue reading “The UK public want urgent action on climate change, but may not yet be fully aware of the implications for individuals of doing so.”

Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star in Bangladesh writes on the paper’s website about the impact plastic has in the country. A World Bank study shows that there is a fundamental threat to the country’s future growth and prosperity  It is a detailed account that all readers should learn from.   Column … Continue reading Using plastic is posing a threat to our healthy living

A green lifestyle is very good for us indeed

Researchers analysed 18 carbon-cutting measures at home and at work in areas such as food, transport and energy and assessed the impact of each on issues such as health, clean air and water quality. Of the 306 categories they looked at, 79 % were positive for wellbeing. Tom Bawden discusses the study in an article … Continue reading A green lifestyle is very good for us indeed

Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has recently published two important reports.   Mobilizing citizens to invest in energy efficiency One example of a way for citizens to contribute to the low-carbon energy transition is by investing in energy efficiency (EE). However, there are still multiple barriers that make the socially optimal level of adoption … Continue reading Important new reports from EC Joint Research Centre

European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport

The European Commission is proposing more sustainable travel, led by efforts to make Europe’s rail system the default mode of transport. Daniel Boffey discusses in an article on The Guardian website. The Commission’s press release on this proposal is available here.   Faster trains and cheaper tickets to boost European rail travel in new strategy … Continue reading European Commission boosts efforts to make rail Europe’s default mode of transport