News
Where’s the Justice in Net Zero?
Recent net zero trends - like distant timelines and an over-reliance on numerical targets - are exacerbating climate injustices, according to new research by Smith School and Oxford Net Zero academics. Dr Radhika Khosla told Bloomberg's Lara Williams that "each ton of carbon emitted, or not emitted, has different implications for equity which the mere numerical balancing of emissions and removals fails to take into consideration."
Italian oil firm Eni faces lawsuit alleging early knowledge of climate crisis
The Italian oil major Eni is facing the country’s first climate lawsuit, with environmental groups alleging the company used “lobbying and greenwashing," reports The Guardian. “Like other fossil fuel companies, Eni might ultimately be held accountable in court for this pattern of deception and harm,” said Ben Franta.
Green energy can replace Russian gas in the EU by 2028
And up to 90% of costs can be recovered from fuel savings, finds a new report from the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group.
Want a sustainable board? Why the G in ESG drives everything
Environmental, social and governance criteria have become shorthand for the non-traditional, extra-financial factors considered by businesses as crucial to managing opportunities and risks.
International scholars reflect on the Nature based Solutions to Global Challenges Foundation Course
The online course, delivered by the NbSI in partnership with the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, teaches participants how NbS can be implemented, financed and governed. It was founded in 2022 and has since taught over 85 participants.
University of Oxford appoints the next Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
The University of Oxford has appointed Professor Mette Morsing as the next Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and Professor of Business Sustainability. Professor Morsing will take over from Professor Cameron Hepburn as Director on 1 October 2023.
Oxford University announces the Battcock Professor of Environmental Economics
The Smith School and New College, University of Oxford, are delighted to announce the creation of a new professorship in environmental economics. The post will be held by Cameron Hepburn and is named in recognition of philanthropic support from Mr Humphrey Battcock.
Better economic modelling can unlock a faster and fairer clean energy transition
Peter Barbrook-Johnson, Departmental Research Lecturer in the Economics of Environmental Change, details a new report which demonstrates how better economic modelling can help governments reduce emissions while boosting jobs and growth.
‘Bombshell’ 1989 Shell Memo Features in New Court Filing Alleging Climate Deception
A confidential report written by Shell in 1989 predicted dire consequences as a result of climate change. Ben Franta described the document as a “bombshell” in an April 2 twitter thread summarising the significance of the scenarios it outlined.
Entrepreneurs Flock To Oxford’s Most Popular Program, Which Expands To Meet The Demand
Poets & Quants reports on the expansion of the Smith School's flagship MSc programme. "MSc SEE has come along way from its origins as an idea on a poster at a team away day in 2018," said Dr Laurence Wainwright.
Inside climate activists’ uneasy relationship with ‘net-zero’
Grist explores criticisms of net zero pledges, with comment from Professor Sam Fankhauser. "Global net-zero is nonnegotiable if you’re serious about climate targets," he said. Where things start to skew, however, is when individual countries and businesses adopt net-zero targets for themselves. “That’s where you leave the science and get into the realm of policy and opinion.”
MSc students visit Denmark to understand the Scandinavian approach to sustainable enterprise
Each year, students studying the Smith School’s MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment (MSc SEE) embark on a week-long field trip to Denmark to visit and learn from leading companies in one of the world’s most sustainable countries.