Climate Change

COP27: A year on from the Glasgow climate pact, the world is burning more fossil fuels than ever

— Fossil fuels were named as the problem at COP26. We’re no closer to eliminating them a year on.

Climate Change

COP27: Five things to expect from this year’s UN climate summit

— Don’t expect much at this year’s COP27 than new pledges and promises. But if you hope for a Paris-style “Sharm El-Sheikh agreement”, you will be disappointed: countries are not doing what they have promised at previous COPs.

Climate Protests

Just Stop Oil joined thousands demanding a general election and action on the cost of living crisis

— Just Stop Oil joined the People’s Assembly coalition in a protest on Saturday to demand a general election and an immediate response to the climate and cost of living crisis.

Climate Change

Do radical protests turn the public away from a cause?

— Research shows that when dramatic climate change protests happen people want to shoot the messenger, but they do hear the message.

Climate Crisis

Glaciers in the Alps are melting faster than ever – and 2022 was their worst summer yet

— Switzerland’s glaciers have just lost 6% of their ice in a single year. This is not normal.

Climate Change

What Liz Truss’s government means for climate action

— Liz Truss has appointed a loyal cabinet with varied environmental credentials. While the new government represent a threat for UK action on climate change, their ability to inflict damage to climate policy will be restricted.

Climate Change

Influential oil company scenarios for combating climate change don’t actually meet the Paris Agreement goals

— Most oil company scenarios claiming to be compatible with the climate agreement show a strong continuing reliance on natural gas and coal.

Climate Change

Human disruption to Earth’s freshwater cycle has exceeded the safe limit, our research shows.

— Humanity is no longer in the safe zone. ‘Green water’ is essential for healthy soils and a benign climate, but it’s under threat. Immediate action is needed to maintain a resilient and nourishing freshwater cycle.

Decarbonisation

Government doesn’t know whether it will achieve its 2032 Net Zero target.

— Has the government been achieving its ambition for the public sector to be a leader in decarbonising its activities? Difficult to say as measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by public bodies are inconsistent and not streamlined.

Environment

A fracking review suggests the UK has softened the precautionary principle since leaving the EU.

— Despite banning fracking in 2019, the UK government’s decision to soften the fracking moratorium could pave the way for regulatory decisions which prioritise potential financial benefits over the risks to the environment and public health.

Climate Change

Just Stop Oil: Protests will be even more disruptive if they kick off panic buying.

— The current climate protests blocking fuel depots across England and disrupting supplies may lead to demand-led shortages if panic buying ensues.

Analysis

Time for the UK to say goodbye to drive-throughs for the sake of our environment, our health, and our culture.

— Drive-throughs not only increase air pollution and emissions, but also contribute to a car-centred culture that we need to avoid.

Environment

Our meat obsession is destroying the planet – The solution is to change how we see animals.

— Learning from Indigenous cultures to treat animals as more than just food sources could help us combat the climate crisis.

Climate Crisis

Meat-eating is a big climate issue – but isn’t getting the attention it deserves.

— Coal, cars, cash and trees: but what about the cows?

COP26

Either we kill coal or coal will kill us.

— Shauna Aminath, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives, tweeted on Saturday her deep disappointment at the failure of world leaders to come to a proper agreement at COP26.

COP26

Five things you need to know about the Glasgow Climate Pact.

— COP26 saw incremental progress but not the breakthrough moment needed.