Saturday, May 30, 2020

Good news is in short supply at the moment, so brace yourself for a rare burst of optimism about climate change. World leaders know their countries face one of the most severe recessions in history thanks to the coronavirus restrictions.

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That presents a unique challenge, but also a massive opportunity. Politicians know they are going to need to spend huge amounts of money to kick-start economic activity as the threat of coronavirus finally recedes.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Barriers closed a stretch of Deansgate, Manchester's main thoroughfare, to motor vehicles on Saturday. Elsewhere in the city, new pedestrian walkways and pop-up bike lanes have appeared.

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It is part of a nationwide effort to create more space for social distancing as the country gradually begins to lift the coronavirus restrictions.

Friday, May 15, 2020

London has announced plans to create the largest car-free zones in Europe. It wants to encourage cycling, so that people can commute while also social distancing. Several European cities are taking similar measures.

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​Gil Penalosa of urban reform group 8 80 Cities says lockdown measures during the coronavirus outbreak represent an "opportunity of a lifetime" to make cities more bike-friendly.

Friday, May 08, 2020

People across the UK are finding it impossible to stay safe outside because our cities were not built for social distancing. Pavements are too narrow for people to pass safely at a 2m distance. Public transport is closed or reduced, leading more people to cycle, but there's limited space where they can feel safe. If cyclists are pushed into the gutter or on to shared-use paths, that can bring them uncomfortably close to pedestrians.

Tuesday, May 05, 2020

The UK must avoid lurching from the coronavirus crisis into a deeper climate crisis, the government’s advisers have warned.

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They recommend that ministers ensure funds earmarked for a post-Covid-19 economic recovery go to firms that will reduce carbon emissions.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

One of the few parts of the UK economy to have a good April was solar power.

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The Met Office says it has probably been the sunniest April on record and the solar power industry reported its highest ever production of electricity (9.68GW) in the UK at 12:30 on Monday 20 April.

Friday, April 24, 2020

Tackling climate change must be woven into the solution to the Covid-19 economic crisis, the UK will tell governments next week.

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Environment ministers from 30 countries are meeting in a two-day online conference in a bid to make progress on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Europe is heating faster than the global average as new data indicates that last year was the warmest on record. While globally the year was the second warmest, a series of heatwaves helped push the region to a new high mark.

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Over the past five years, global temperatures were, on average, just over 1°C warmer than at the end of the 19th century.

Monday, April 20, 2020

The UK government’s climate change adviser is urging ministers to reconsider plans for road-building and switch the investment into broadband. The government plans £28bn worth of new roads to relieve congestion.

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But the head of the Climate Change Committee, says it could be cheaper, better for the economy, and climate-friendly to expand fibre optics.

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Many cities around the globe are struggling to reconcile ambitious environmental targets with development pressures, a study has suggested. Scientists in Melbourne recorded a net gain in street tree cover but a net loss in parks and private land.

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The Australian team says measures to protect mature trees are "critical" if the urban forest's cover is to be enhanced in the future.

Sunday, April 05, 2020

More than 250 trades unions and environment groups have signed an open letter opposing plans for bailing out the aviation industry.

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The letter to governments demands that any bailouts lead to better labour conditions and a cut in emissions.

They say aviation should make changes already evident in other sectors amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Thursday, April 02, 2020

The aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis will transform the way we live, work and travel in the UK, the AA says.

It predicts a permanent reduction in the demand for travel because people have learned during the crisis to use home-working technology.

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The implications are profound for commuters and for government finances.

Friday, March 27, 2020

New data confirms the improvement in air quality over Europe, as a byproduct of the coronavirus crisis.

Lockdown policies and the resulting reductions in economic activity have seen emissions take a steep dive.

Friday, March 27, 2020

People in the UK need to shift from cars to public transport to address the challenge of climate change, the government says.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Public transport and active travel will be the natural first choice for our daily activities.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Levels of air pollutants and warming gases over some cities and regions are showing significant drops as the Coronavirus impacts work and travel.

In New York carbon monoxide, mainly from cars, has been reduced by nearly 50% compared with last year and emissions of CO2 have also fallen sharply.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

The UK government has pledged to plant millions a year while other countries have schemes running into billions.

But are these grand ambitions achievable? How much carbon dioxide do trees really pull in from the atmosphere? And what happens to a forest, planted amid a fanfare, over the following decades?

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

The UK cannot go climate neutral much before 2050 unless people stop flying and eating red meat almost completely, a report says. But it warns that the British public do not look ready to take such steps and substantially change their lifestyle.

Thursday, March 05, 2020

We know that climate change harms people but policies to tackle climate change can harm people too. And typically it's the poorest who're most likely to suffer from lost jobs in dirty industries and higher energy bills.

Nearly two thirds of UK homes fail to meet long-term energy efficiency targets, according to data analysed by the BBC. More than 12 million homes fall below the C grade on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) graded from A-G, meaning householders spend more on energy bills and pump tonnes more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Ever wondered if your bank or insurance company is funding the coal industry? Or whether your pension fund is backing oil companies drilling new wells in the Arctic? Investors are facing scrutiny like never before about what they're doing to tackle climate change. And the Bank of England has now launched a push to engage the entire business world.