As Europe slowly emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, Agata Meysner, Director of Generation Climate Europe, argues that we have a unique opportunity to redesign our economic system to fit within the Earth’s planetary boundaries and that the EU needs to move beyond the growth-oriented fossil fuel economy to create a green and just transition for… Read more »
Category: Environment
The government is failing younger generations on air pollution
Recent statistics have revealed that a quarter of schools in the UK are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. IF senior researcher Melissa Bui explains how the rise in calls for the lowering of legal limits on air pollution are yet to lead to concrete government action.
How is the climate crisis being tackled in UK courts?
The success of the landmark climate lawsuit against fossil fuel company Shell serves as a reminder that companies and governments can be held accountable for their failure to protect the environment. IF senior researcher Melissa Bui outlines a number of ongoing climate lawsuits that are bringing forward similar legal challenges upon the government and key… Read more »
German government ordered to protect future generations
Germany’s highest court has ordered its government to revise its climate change legislation by the end of the year, ruling that current targets do not sufficiently protect the rights of future generations. IF senior researcher, Melissa Bui, explains the importance of framing intergenerational fairness as a rights issue and urges other high courts to follow… Read more »
Earth Day 2021: Time to restore our earth
April 22 is Earth Day and the theme for this year’s event is “Restore Our Earth”. IF senior researcher, Melissa Bui, discusses the need for long-termism in policy-making in order to be able to shift our approach towards restorative strategies rather than mitigation or adaptation.
Carbon emissions are declining despite economic growth in 32 countries
Recent figures released by the Breakout Institute suggest that 32 countries around the world have been able to reduce their emissions whilst achieving economic growth since 2005. IF researcher, Melissa Bui, explains what it means to “absolutely decouple” emissions from economic growth and how the UK is performing in this respect.
New report finds no sign of a Green Brexit
Greener UK, a coalition of environmental organisations in the UK, have recently released their final report which outlines how far the UK has progressed with implementing a “Green Brexit”. The conclusion of their results is clear: not much overall. Why has there been so little progress in environmental policy since 2016? IF researcher, Melissa Bui,… Read more »
How promising is Drax’s proposal to build negative emission technology?
Operating what was once labelled as one of the most polluting power stations in the UK, Drax Group has recently announced a proposal to introduce a technology capable of removing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The technology in question, referred to as Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage, has been the… Read more »
Reducing emissions through carbon pricing: how far have we come?
World leaders have taken some key steps forward regarding climate change over recent months, thus restoring some public confidence in global cooperation. One of the most effective ways in which countries can work together to reduce emissions is through emissions trading. IF researcher Melissa Bui looks at progress made on this front
The intergenerational effects of air pollution
Exposure to higher levels of air pollution among mothers affects the likelihood of their grandchildren going to university 40 years later, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). IF intern Hugh Nicholl looks at the implications of these findings from an intergenerational perspective and asks what the government’s… Read more »