News
Conservative's plan to scrap net zero target puts UK climate leadership at risk
In the mid-2000s, soon after becoming Conservative leader, David Cameron hugged a husky on a trip to the Arctic, in what was widely described as an attempt to “detoxify” the Tory brand. Eighteen years later, Kemi Badenoch has promised to scrap the law that once made that rebranding credible.
Smith School World Forum 2025
Leo Johnson, Dr Thom Wetzer, Michelle You, Dr Ben Franta and Professor Sam Fankhauser gave their opinions on top sustainability trends in 2025 from the Smith School's annual World Forum.
Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says
The most comprehensive review of evidence on the effectiveness of carbon offsetting to date has concluded the practice is riddled by 'intractable' problems. Co-author Dr Stephen Lezak commented: "We must stop expecting carbon offsetting to work at scale... We have assessed 25 years of evidence and almost everything up until this point has failed.”
Carbon offsets have failed for 25 years, and most should be phased out - research
Academics at the University of Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania have conducted the most comprehensive review of evidence on the effectiveness on carbon offsetting to date and concluded the practice is ineffective and riddled with “intractable” problems.
Oxford Net Zero and Futerra launch new “Spheres of Influence” white paper at Climate Week NYC
At Climate Week NYC, Oxford Net Zero and the sustainability agency Futerra launched a white paper on the Spheres of Influence – a new framework for incentivising corporate climate action.
Oxford DPhil students win Net-Zero Building Design Competition
A team of Oxford DPhil students, including Nethmi Jayaratne Kariyawasam from the Oxford Smith School, jointly won First Prize in the ASHRAE Region XIV Net-Zero Building Design Competition 2025 on Net Zero Data Centres.
Climate change is responsible for 1,683 heat-related deaths in the canton of Zurich
Coverage of Dr Rupert Stuart-Smith's latest research in Berner Zeitung, one of Switzerland's largest daily newspapers. According to the study, almost 1,700 peopled died from heat-related deaths caused by climate change in the Swiss canton of Zurich between 1969 and 2018.
Study finds 1,700 climate change related deaths in a single European city-region
1,700 peopled died from heat-related deaths caused by climate change in one Northern European city-region between 1969 and 2018 according to a new Oxford Smith School study. Those 1,700 deaths account for almost one third of all heat-related deaths in the time period.
Underestimating support for climate action limits political decision making, study says
Politicians and policymakers significantly underestimate the public’s willingness to contribute to solving climate change, according to new research co-authored by Dr Stefania Innocenti. The research featured in the The Guardian’s 89% series, which is uncovering stories on the strength of public support for climate action.
Fashioning a sustainable future: Smith School MSc students drive impactful research with DIRT Charity
Megan and Clara students from our MSc SEE, explore how the research assistant position with DIRT Charity offered a valuable avenue to explore the connection between sustainable fashion and agriculture.
Deal On 'Plastic Crisis' At Risk
Talks on the UN plastics treaty have stalled in Geneva as more than 70 countries rejected the Chair's text. Alexis McGivern, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Oxford Net Zero, spoke to BBC Breakfast about the treaty and the problem of plastics.
Study: Policymakers underestimate public support for climate action
New research from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford suggests politicians are consistently underestimating levels of public support for climate policies. Dr Stefania Innocenti commented: "While more research is needed before we can say for sure why policymakers underestimate the public on climate change by such a high degree, our results suggest the presence of misperceptions."