News
Deploy social tariff for electricity to help struggling households, urges Oxford policy brief
A new policy brief from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford argues that UK electricity bills should be fairer, not just lower.
Final deal at Cop30 stops short of commitment to phase out fossil fuels
As COP30 wound to a close, Dr Injy Johnstone discussed the future of the conference and the impact of the US government's lack of involvement this year. "There’s been a co-ordinated effort to bring in sub-state actors... California’s leadership has been putting forward some groundbreaking [proposals]. They’ve been seen as leaders in that space. People were very excited to see them on the ground,” she said.
Ukraine seeks $44B from Russia for war-related carbon emissions
Semafor reported on the vast carbon cost of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and referenced a new Oxford Net Zero policy brief led by Dr Ievegniia Kopystia and co-authored by Dr Injy Johnstone and Kaya Axelsson.
Illegal waste dump in Oxfordshire field - Dr Amani Maalouf comments
A huge pile of illegally dumped waste has appeared in a field north of Oxford. Dr Amani Maalouf, Senior Researcher and waste management expert, comments on the short and longer environmental impacts, and the broader problem of illegal waste sites.
Building a carbon market under fire: Oxford report lights path forward for Ukraine
Amid Russia’s continued illegal invasion, Ukraine is actively implementing climate policies and striving towards a net zero future.
How a grassy Oxfordshire field became an illegal mountain of waste in months
An illegal waste dump north of Oxford made national headlines this week. Dr Amani Maalouf, an expert in waste management, called the site a "significant environment incident... Once mixed waste interacts with a watercourse, microplastics, packaging residues, and other contaminants can disperse widely and persist in the environment."
Renewable energy is reshaping the global economy – new report
Professor Sam Fankhauser, Interim Director of the Oxford Smith School, discusses the astounding progress of renewable energy - and the productivity boon it could unlock in developing countries - in this article for The Conversation.
Renewables could increase developing countries’ GDP by 10%, report finds
Semafor reports on a new Oxford Smith School report launched at COP30, which finds that renewable energy productivity gains are profound in developing countries.
10% GDP boost to Global South from clean energy transition
A new Oxford Smith School report finds a rapid switch to renewables could double energy-sector productivity in low-to-middle income economies within 25 years. In many countries, this would result in a GDP boost by mid-century of around 10%.
COP30: New declaration aims to make public procurement a force for climate action
Yesterday at COP30 in Belém, the Government of Brazil announced an ambitious plan to drive action on climate change using the power of public procurement.
Climate policy strengthens globally, despite unprecedented contestation in the US and Europe
Granular survey of 37 major countries’ climate-related laws and regulations, compiled by Oxford University researchers and dozens of leading global law firms, gives most detailed view yet of how climate policy is developing at a time of unprecedented political contestation.
Health impacts of climate change may trigger legal accountability
In the FT's Sustainable Views section, Gaia Lisi and Rupert Stuart-Smith explore how medical evidence has proved invaluable in holding public authorities accountable for the impact of unlawful air pollution on people’s health is now exposing the health burdens of climate change.