News
Oxford invites nominations for annual green finance prize
The University of Oxford’s Greening Finance Prize, an annual prize established through a generous endowment provided by Insight Investment, has now opened for 2024 nominations. This year, the prize has a new category for Best Fixed Income Paper alongside awards for Outstanding Research and Service.
Oxford says carbon offsets aren’t helping net zero as it updates guidance
The University of Oxford has updated its flagship guidance for entities using carbon offsets, calling for a “major course-correction” to get the market on track, reports IPE. Oxford Sustainable Finance Group researcher Injy Johnstone commented: “the vast majority of current offsetting approaches are not getting us any closer to net zero emissions, and trust in the concept of ‘offsetting’ has been so badly damaged that some organisations are moving away from using the term at all."
'Oxford Offsetting Principles': Report calls for carbon offset market 'course correction'
Business Green reports on the University of Oxford's updated principles for carbon offsetting, which were co-authored by academics at the Oxford Smith School, Environmental Change Institute, and Department of Biology, and published on the Smith School's website.
Oxford report calls for ‘major course-correction’ to carbon offsetting
An interdisciplinary team of Oxford University researchers have today released an update to flagship guidance on credible and net zero aligned carbon offsetting, which has been used by hundreds of organisations since its publication in 2020.
World’s first higher education institution dedicated to tea opens in Kenya
Government of Kenya, LIPTON Teas and Infusions, and the University of Kabianga create the Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy.
How to buy sustainable salmon: an expert guide to navigating the nuance of eco-labels
Dr Laurence Wainright explained how to navigate the pitfalls of eco labels in this article for The Conversation. "We need to fundamentally change our relationship with seafood if we are to preserve this wonderful natural food resource. We don’t have to stop eating salmon but we must make smarter decisions, both at the fish counter and within seafood supply chains," he said.
Shedding light on the finances of solar panels
Dr Sugandha Srivastav and Dr Brian O'Callaghan commented on the finances behind solar panels for this Financial Times feature. “A lot of the time governments will say we’re making panels domestically, but all they’re doing is assembling the parts... Upstream supply chains are really important to be cognisant of,” said Dr. O'Callaghan.
Vegan foods better for the planet even when processed, study confirms
A new study published in Nature Communications finds that eating a diet rich in plant-based alternatives like vegan burgers and oat milk is significantly better for the environment than a diet of meat, fish and dairy.
How the courts are the new front line in climate change battle
Dr Thom Wetzer commented on the rise of climate lawsuits and the risks these post to investors in The National. "The more money that flows in, the more likely the litigation is to be professionally organised and the more likely it will succeed. And the more these cases succeed, the more money comes in … It’s a flywheel,” he said.
28% of Covid-19 spend could harm climate adaptation – new Smith School research
The research finds that only 10% of Covid-19 recovery spending was likely to enhance direct climate adaptation – though this rose to around 27% when potential indirect impacts were accounted for.
Labour scrapping £28bn green pledge could leave UK colder, sicker and poorer
Dr Anupama Sen told The Guardian it was "disappointing" to see the Labour party water down its flagship climate policy when other countries racing to prepare their economies for the green energy transition. "It would be better to stand firm and make the case for this level of investment, which is that it would reduce our emissions and shield against increasingly volatile energy prices to give us genuine energy security," she said.
Work starts on the Net Zero and Policy Regulation Hub
The Net Zero Regulation and Policy Hub aims to meet the enormous ‘implementation gap’ between the net zero targets that governments and companies have set, and the policies and actions needed to deliver them, and is co-led by Dr Thom Wetzer.