News
Opinion - Academic freedom in ESG research is under threat
Financial institutions and data providers should not be able to prevent important studies from being published, writes Dr Ben Caldecott in the FT. Dr Caldecott is the founding director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group and Lombard Odier Associate Professor of Sustainable Finance at the University of Oxford.
Environmental and business experts at the University of Oxford comment on Labour’s announcement to delay green investment plans
Anupama Sen, Head of Policy at the Oxford Smith School, commented on the UK Labour party's decision to delay their green investment plans. "Policymakers shouldn’t be hesitant about or delay investing in technologies that speed up the transition to clean energy. Renewable energy technologies are inherently capital intensive, and require significant amounts of upfront capital investment, but have very low running costs once they are up and running," she said.
Singapore's love affair with air conditioning shows a Catch 22 of climate change
Singapore's reliance on air conditioning has an enormous cost. It has trapped a nation already hot – and getting hotter – in what experts describe as a “dangerous, vicious cycle,” writes CNN. With comment from Dr Radhika Khosla, Principal Investigator of the Oxford Martin School Programme on the Future of Cooling.
Navigating uncharted depths: The project that aims to unveil the hidden wonders of the Ocean
The launch of Ocean Census, the world’s largest survey of life beneath the waves, recently made headlines around the world. David Shukman, a member of the Smith School Advisory Board, explains why the project is so urgent.
How can climate finance help shape loss and damage projects; Zambia’s innovative development fund
The end of COP27 negotiations brought an unexpected event; an unprecedented decision to provide loss and damage funding to those most affected by climate change.
Global heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’
Billions of people across the world will be exposed to dangerously hot temperatures and extreme weather if the planet heats by 2.7C, a new study has found. Dr Laurence Wainwright commented: "Humans have got used to living in particular areas at certain temperatures. When things change, serious problems arise, whether in terms of physical health, mental health, crime and social unrest."
BBC Newsnight
Dr Radhika Khosla was interviewed about the impact of rising temperatures across the world. "Air conditioning demand is expected to rise three fold up to 2050.... The implications of that for the environment are of course very damaging," she said.
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.