News
Decarbonising the energy system by 2050 could save trillions
The idea that going green will be expensive is ‘just wrong’. Transitioning to a decarbonised energy system by around 2050 is expected to save the world at least $12 trillion compared to continuing our current levels of fossil fuel use, according to a peer-reviewed study by Oxford University researchers, published in the journal Jo
Switching to renewable energy could save trillions
The BBC reports on a new Oxford study that finds switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy could save the world as much as $12tn (£10.2tn) by 2050. The report said it was wrong and pessimistic to claim that moving quickly towards cleaner energy sources was expensive. "Our latest research shows scaling-up key green technologies will continue to drive their costs down, and the faster we go, the more we will save," said Dr Rupert Way, the report's lead author from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.
Rising demand for air conditioners will harm our planet and lock in inequality unless we act now
Keeping cool will be a priority as the world warms, but there needs to be a technological, cultural and economic shift in the way we keep cool, according to new Oxford Smith School research.
Get ready for a global clean energy surge, thanks to the US Inflation Reduction Act
Brian O'Callaghan
The US’s new inflation-busting bill, with $369bn for clean energy, is the largest US investment in climate ever. It is also, according to our research, the largest national climate investment in history anywhere. Let that sink in for a moment.
This funding will certainly speed renewable energy deployment and green job creation in the US. However, the bill’s investments are so large that they are likely to influence global prices too, and impact the energy transition in other countries in real, tangible ways.
Identifying the 10 public policies that cut road transport emissions by up to 26%
Greenhouse gas emissions from transport have been reduced by up to a quarter through targeted public policies – especially when authorities ‘double down’ on restrictions – according to a paper today in Nature Energy from an international team including Moritz Schwarz at the University of Oxford.
How the UK Is Winning the Race against Climate Change
Canadian publication The Walrus explores the UK's climate policies and approach. With comment from Professor Sam Fankhauser, who sat on the UK's Climate Change Committee for its first eight years and now teaches climate policy at Oxford University.
Study reveals environmental impact of 57,000 multi-ingredient processed foods
An estimate of the environmental impact of 57,000 food products in the UK and Ireland provides a first step towards enabling consumers, retailers, and policymakers to make informed decisions on the environmental impacts of food and drink products.
A meat tax is probably inevitable – here’s how it could work
To slash emissions, slow the loss of biodiversity and secure food for a growing world population, there must be a change in the way meat and dairy is made and consumed.
Sweeping climate bill pushes American energy to go green
Brian O’Callaghan, lead researcher at the Smith School's Economic Recovery Project, provided expert commentary on the US Inflation Reduction Act 2022 - a transformative new climate bill. He noted, among other points, that the bill has nothing to fulfill America’s broken promise of billions of dollars in climate aid for poor nations.
The state of UK carbon removal
Even if we are able to cut out all our carbon emissions as fast as possible, we would still need to remove carbon we've already put in the atmosphere to hit global temperature targets. The Carbon Removal Show podcast interviewed Dr Steve Smith, George Hope and others from the Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub to discuss the state of carbon removal in the UK today.
Energy prices: UK must move to renewable power to avoid future crisis
The i newspaper speaks to Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, and references recent research on energy security from the Oxford Smith School. “The choices made now will determine the course of the next 10 years – in terms of energy security, cost and our future environment,” said Professor Sam Fankhauser, Dr Steve Smith and Dr Anupama Sen. “More renewables actually raises security and lowers cost.”