Antarctica is often thought of as an unblemished wilderness – but humans no longer need a physical presence to impair the natural environment. IF Research Intern Anthony J. Piwowarski explores the global consequences of a melting Antarctic ice sheet – and how some states may seek to profit from the climate’s instability.
Category: Climate change
The unexpected impact of COVID-19 on green investment
Green investment has reached record levels this year, in spite of the pandemic. IF researcher Melissa Bui explains why investor-demand for more transparency on climate risks is rising, and how pension schemes may lead the way in fulfilling investors’ requirements
Siberia Burns: the politics of heat
The recent heat wave in Siberia poses a serious threat to Russian infrastructure – and to the planet. IF Research Intern Anthony J. Piwowarski shows how successive Russian governments have pursued a politics of ecological ruin. Even now, the current administration remains ambivalent towards its environmental obligations.
How will future generations remember COVID-19 – if they remember it at all?
Roman Krznaric is a public philosopher who writes about the power of ideas to change society. His new book explores the virtues of long-term thinking – essential for good intergenerational policy. Will the current COVID-19 pandemic be a critical landmark on the three possible paths that lead into the future?
What might a green recovery from COVID-19 look like?
As we move out of lockdown, the question of how the Government will choose to rebuild the economy looms large. IF researcher Melissa Bui explains why many climate experts and campaigners are calling for a green recovery, and she provides three examples of what that might look like
Earth Day 2020 and the lessons of COVID-19
It is Earth Day on 22 April – and the 50th anniversary of the first in 1970. Concerns over climate change may have been temporarily eclipsed by the COVID-19 virus, but – as the writer, young mother and IF supporter Melissa Jane Knight tells us, in this personal take – the COVID-19 crisis cannot obscure… Read more »
Earth Day in strange times
It’s Earth Day this week, and according to CarbonBrief the first three months of 2020 were the second warmest on record. With COVID-19 understandably distracting the world from conversations about environmental degradation and #climatecrisis, Liz Emerson, IF Co-founder, discusses the huge potential for the greening of the economy post-COVID
Powerful voices call for new global initiative on child health
A coalition of powerful voices in the global scientific and research community is arguing that policy-makers need to pay more attention to the health of today’s children around the world, in order to ensure that they are able to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. David Kingman reports
Will 2020 be a “year of climate action”?
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced that 2020 will be a “defining year of climate action”. IF Researcher Melissa Bui outlines some of the changes we should be expecting to take place this year
Dutch people vs climate change
In December 2019, after almost six years of battling between the Dutch state and its citizenry, the Netherlands’ highest court ruled for the plaintiffs (the Urgenda Foundation and 886 citizens), stating that the Dutch government must reduce its emissions in line with its human rights obligations. Cameron Leitch explains the importance of this case in… Read more »