The role of innovation in the UK’s nuclear ‘renaissance’
Advanced nuclear technologies, modular manufacturing methods and new approaches to project finance could usher in a more cost-effective era for the UK’s nuclear industry, writes Esin Serin.
News category: Commentary
Halting deforestation by 2030 – lessons from Indonesia?
Ben Groom, Charles Palmer and Lorenzo Sileci demonstrate that Indonesia’s moratorium on forest concessions delivered cheap but modest reductions in carbon emissions – and call for new policies as well as sources of finance to drive further cuts to emissions from deforestation globally.
Flood resilience requires more than concrete walls
When it comes to bolstering community resilience in flood-prone communities, building public awareness is at least as important as flood defences, argues Sara Mehryar, reporting on recent research by the Grantham Research Institute in Eastern England.
How carbon capture, usage and storage could help ‘level up’ across the UK
The Government should firmly embed CCUS within its Net Zero Strategy, to boost jobs in the UK’s regions and demonstrate its commitment ahead of COP26 to stopping climate change, says Esin Serin.
Flash floods: a grim reminder that adaptation is as important as reducing emissions
Learning lessons from the devastating flooding in Western Europe and China – and raising awareness of the importance of flood risk reduction activities and the long-term consequences of inaction – should be seen as a necessary investment in our future, write Swenja Surminski and Viktor Rözer, as they draw out particular lessons for Germany.
United States starts the process of rejoining the Paris Agreement
Bob Ward summarises the reactions to President Biden’s actions and intentions on climate and the environment.
‘Net-zero’: bad for UK jobs?
A recent think tank report that predicts significant disruption to jobs in the UK from the transition to net-zero emissions uses a potentially misleading method, argues Alex Bowen, whose own analysis shows that, with the right policies, the transition could benefit workers throughout the country.
Why the UK needs a diverse leadership team for COP26
The UK government has announced an all-male COP26 leadership team. A line-up that includes women would not only be more representative, but could also be more effective and trusted, argue the authors of this commentary.
China’s historic announcement on net-zero emissions
Nicholas Stern explains why President Xi’s historic pledge to cut China’s emissions to net-zero by 2060, announced this week, could prove to be a key milestone on the path to a healthier, safer and more prosperous future.
Building climate resilience knowledge from the ground up
Candice Howarth and Matt Lane consider how we can better align knowledge on climate change resilience with the needs of local decision-makers, including by improving the accessibility of the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessments.