No laughing matter but there is a time for everything

Sometimes it takes humour to make us fully appreciate the seriousness of certain issues. Adam Corner, Research Director for the Climate Outreach & Information Network (COIN) and an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Psychology, Cardiff University, writes a valuable article on humour and climate change. As he writes, “while climate change itself is … Continue reading No laughing matter but there is a time for everything →

Educating people how to understand energy saving features in buildings increases the impact

The Green Building Elements website writes an important article on the importance of the behaviour of people in maximising energy savings. Those savings, however, come through good education. People Are the Key to Energy Efficiency Click Green reports that research conducted by Washington State University shows people are key to energy efficiency and that … Continue reading Educating people how to understand energy saving features in buildings increases the impact →

Neuroscience and climate change

Greg Harman writes an interesting article in The Guardian about why many people are not responding to the mounting evidence of the huge impacts of climate change. Your brain on climate change: why the threat produces apathy, not action Voter behavior has long held mysteries for both politicians and psychologists. Why do poor and … Continue reading Neuroscience and climate change →

Trying to kick the carbon habit

Andrew Simms, a well known author and Fellow at the New Economics Foundation, recently wrote an interesting column in The Guardian that we need to kick the carbon habit and shift to benign sources before our life support systems are ruined. Like Daedalus, we should use our judgment to thrive within limits “I would … Continue reading Trying to kick the carbon habit →

Surveying what the British know about saving energy

Kieran Cooke, for the Climate News Network, that is part of the Guardian Environment Network, writes about a new survey on what the British know about saving energy. It is valuable reading for all of you. And how would this compare to other countries? Britons ill-informed on energy saving, survey finds Housing in the … Continue reading Surveying what the British know about saving energy →

Coming to grips with how we feel about climate change

This article was written by George Marshall on the eve of the climate summit this week. He assesses how we internalise climate change and one of his points is particularly important: “So if we are to really mobilise action on climate change it is vital that we recognise that it exists in two forms: the … Continue reading Coming to grips with how we feel about climate change →

Many in the American religious community supporting Obama’s environment programme

It is always fascinating to who is an environmentalist and who is a “denier.” While this is true globally, it is particularly true in the US where many conservatives are opposed to any effort to address climate change. Theodore Schleifer writes in the New York Times about a group of conservative faith leaders who have … Continue reading Many in the American religious community supporting Obama’s environment programme →

Saving energy not a consumer priority in Armenia

After Armenia became independent I worked there on an emergency programme to revamp the entire energy system, including making energy efficiency a priority. We worked with up to four hours of electricity a day in unheated offices and horrendous conditions. The number of people dying from cold was staggering. It was discouraging to read this … Continue reading Saving energy not a consumer priority in Armenia →

Trying to change attitudes towards fracking

Damian Carrington has an excellent blog in the Guardian about what won’t work to convince the British of the need and benefits of fracking. It is definitely going to take a lot of convincing. Fracking: shock and awe will not win the battle of Britain Removing the ability of people to block shale exploration under … Continue reading Trying to change attitudes towards fracking →

A disconnect between climate change and economic havoc

Using the US report on climate change as a starting point, Don Pittis provides three good reasons on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s website about why businesses are seemingly ignoring the problem. Climate change: 3 reasons businesses aren't seeking solutions Climate change causing economic havoc, according to new U.S. Congressional report It seems a strange disconnect. … Continue reading A disconnect between climate change and economic havoc →