News
3 reasons why Europe can’t stop sweating this week
Dr Mireia Ginesta told Politico that climate change may not have directly caused the "heat dome" over Western Europe this week, but it raises the background temperature on which weather systems operate. "In a cooler climate, this heatwave would have been less intense," she said.
UK business rejects call to set maximum workplace temperature as heatwave deepens
As temperatures in the UK reach dangerous levels, the government and businesses are pushing back at union proposals to set a maximum working temperature. "Because UK heatwaves are usually brief and intermittent, the population rarely has time to acclimatise to it physically," commented Dr Laurence Wainwright.
New Oxford Martin Principles for Responsible Investment
The second edition of the Oxford Martin Principles for Climate-Conscious Investment offers guidance for responsible investment and a framework for evaluating whether corporate transition plans are credible and likely to be delivered.
How hot is too hot to learn?
Heatwaves in the UK are becoming increasingly common. Dr Laurence Wainwright spoke to teaching magazine TES about what that means for learning.
Fossil fuel companies knew products would harm coral reefs since “at least” 1980s
Major fossil fuel companies have been aware since at least the 1980s that their products would destroy coral reefs around the world through ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, and intensified storms, according to new research from the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme.
Criminal fly‑tipping gangs are costing governments millions – AI and drones can help track waste dumpers
Waste crime costs the UK economy an estimated £1 billion a year. Dr Amani Maalouf explores the reasons behind the surge in illegal waste sites, and the technologies that could help tackle them in The Conversation. “Better monitoring must be combined with stronger enforcement, improved coordination between agencies, clearer accountability across supply chains, and meaningful penalties that outweigh the financial incentives of illegal dumping,” she writes.
Dr Steve Smith awarded MBE in King's Birthday Honours
Dr Steve Smith, Arnell Associate Professor of Greenhouse Gas Removal at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Climate Science.
Oxford climate scientist gets MBE in King's Birthday Honours
The Oxford Mail reports on Dr Steve Smith's MBE, awarded in the King's birthday honours. "I am grateful and surprised to find myself in such distinguished company," commented Dr Smith. "While many receive an honour for extraordinary achievements, I feel I have simply been doing my job, and it is a privilege to have such an engaging and fulfilling one. Particular thanks to my brilliant colleagues past and present who have made my work possible."
Extreme Heat Is Already Stifling Economic Growth in India
Dr Radhika Khosla told Bloomberg that India will have the largest population affected by extreme heat. “We know the impacts will be severe, and they are here already,” Khosla says, adding that India needs long-term urban planning focused on cooling and shade.
Revealed: The cities where people are most at risk from extreme heat as El Nino arrives – including several major tourist destinations
The Daily Mail takes an in-depth look at new Oxford Smith School research revealing the cities most impacted by extreme heat. "It isn't just exposure to hot temperatures that matters for risk," explains lead author Nethmi Jayaratne Kariyawasam. "Our study highlights the importance of multi–faceted global heat risk assessments, which reveal the diverse pathways through which urban heat risk emerges."
One Year After Texas’ Deadliest Flood, Scientists Have Life-Saving Suggestions
Dr Mireia Ginesta told the Austin Chronicle that flood-risk planning should consider not just historical records, but climate projections about possible futures.
India's extreme heat takes a toll on workers as experts urge long-term solutions
CNA cites research co-authored by Dr Radhika Khosla in this feature on India's blistering heat waves. The study found that India is likely to be among the countries with the largest populations exposed to extreme heat if climate change continues to worsen in the coming decades.