News
Europe is seeing “devastating” rise in health harms from extreme weather events, experts warn
Dr Laurence Wainwright comments on the latest European State of the Climate report, which found that instances of extreme heat and other climate events are continuing to rise in Europe. "While most people understand that extreme heat creates problems for physical health, there is far less understanding of the considerable impacts that it presents for mental health—especially for those with an underlying psychiatric condition," he said.
Oxford researchers comment on the plastic waste crisis for Earth Day 2024
The theme of Earth Day 2024 was ‘Planet vs Plastics.’ Amani Maalouf and Jose Espi explain how their research on waste management and sustainable plastic impacts the global plastic crisis.
The man reinventing economics with chaos theory and complexity science
New Scientist interviews Doyne Farmer about his new book, Making Sense of Chaos, which unpicks why standard economic approaches often fail and presents a radical alternative.
Scotland is ditching its flagship 2030 climate goal – why legally binding targets really matter
Sam Fankhauser writes in The Conversation on Scotland’s decision to abandon its 2030 climate ambition. "It has always been clear that legally binding carbon targets on their own are no guarantee for climate action," he writes. "They matter, but the key to climate protection is a genuine commitment to implementation."
Smith School MSc graduate Lucy Lyons listed in Forbes 30 under 30
Lucy Lyons, a graduate of the Oxford Smith School’s MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment, is featured in this year’s coveted Forbes 30 under 30 list, in the technology category.
Financial impact of extreme weather on farms, sustainable pork labelling, upland sheep farming vs conservation.
BBC Farming Today interviewed Dr Harriet Bartlett about research she led into different types of pig farming, which concludes the current pork labelling schemes do not help to identify the best pig farms for the climate, anti-biotic use, environment and animal welfare overall. "Our results really show that instead of [labelling systems] focusing on the production method or farm type, it would be much better to focus on outcomes that people care about, so actual outcomes for animal welfare and the environment," said Dr Bartlett.
Oxford contributes to landmark climate case
For the first time, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that weak government climate policies violate fundamental human rights. Research co-authored by the Sustainable Law Programme was cited in the final judgement in favour of the KlimaSeniorinnen.
Pork labelling schemes ‘not helpful’ in making informed buying choices, say researchers
Farmers don’t have to choose between lowering environmental impact and improving welfare for their pigs, a new study has found: it is possible to do both. But this is not reflected in the current food labelling schemes relied on by consumers, finds new Smith School research.
How to write a corporate climate plan
The UK’s Transition Plan Taskforce issues new disclosure guidance for companies. With comment from Ben Caldecott, Director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group, who co-heads the Taskforce.
Claudia Herbert Colfer on the impact of the Oxford Smith School MSc
2021-22 Oxford Smith School alum Claudia Herbert Colfer was a programme coordinator in the UN Global Compact when she enrolled on the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment’s MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment.
Enforce net zero with global ‘ground rules,’ say Oxford academics
Academics at the University of Oxford have called for rigorous net zero ‘ground rules’ – encompassing laws, regulation and policy – to be implemented and enforced across the world, in an article published in Nature Climate Change today.
Bank Capital Rules Are Holding Back Transition: Study
ESG Investor & Regulation Asia highlight new analysis from INET and Smith School researchers which finds that the models used by banks produce a lower risk rating for high carbon than low carbon sectors - tilting the scales in favour of fossil fuels and holding back a fast, cost-effective energy transition in Europe.