Save nature, save money: A commercial case. Scientists have once again made the commercial case for conserving wilderness. They have demonstrated that in its pristine state—mangrove swamps, wetlands, savannahs, forests, etc.—nature left alone is of more value to humankind than as exploited real estate. “People go on getting richer, and the planet pays a mounting price. “ The […]
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Employees returning to the office might find fewer desks and more room to chat over coffee, as companies offer more space for interaction. Lockdowns that have taken hold since March last year have forced millions of people to work from home — a shift that has been embraced by many companies as a possible long-term […]
Read More… from Fewer desks, more coffee: Possible changes in offices after COVID-19
After a decade filled with disappointments from the fossil fuel industry, Vietnamese planners successfully tested the dynamism of renewable energy in Vietnam’s fast-growing market, as they began work on the country’s power development plan for 2021–2030 (PDP8). Read the Vietnamese translated report here. Many conventional coal and gas-power projects failed to progress during the development […]
Read More… from Renewables should be focus of Vietnam’s Draft PDP8, not coal and gas
Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase. Emissions are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic levels following a temporary decline caused by the lockdown and economic slowdown. The world is set to see its warmest five years on record. United in Science 2020 The world is set to […]
Greta Thunberg calls for urgent action to address the climate and ecological crisis. The proposals being discussed and presented at the moment are “very far from being enough”. Below is an excerpt of her speech. Photo courtesy of World Economic Forum My name is Greta Thunberg and I’m not here to make deals. You see, […]
Read More… from Davos Agenda 2021: Greta Thunberg’s message to world leaders
The need to transform the relationship between cities and nature has become ever more urgent. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, with an estimated 1.5 million additional people per week expected to migrate to cities until 2030. While cities make up to 80% of global GDP, they are also responsible for 75% of carbon dioxide emissions and are […]
Scientists have looked at conditions in nine of the world’s 200 nations. They found that if the world keeps its promises in the Paris Agreement, of containing global heating to “well below 2 degrees Celsius (°C) by 2100″, millions of lives could be saved. The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change says in the journal Lancet […]
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Twenty-five years ago, the advent of Green building created a brand new market. Today, this industry is worth a trillion dollars worldwide. The stipulations about energy and water efficiency as well as waste and greenhouse gas reduction that underpin every building certification have been widely accepted as best practice across the globe. Health and well-being […]
Read More… from The built environment: Its role in improving health and well-being
With the dramatic changes swept in by COVID-19, rigid school and office hours have given way to a more flexible system of working, hence putting less pressure on transport systems and energy grids. This was heard at a net-zero cities panel organised by the World Economic Forum. Image from C40 Cities “If you can actually […]
Imagine a world with no wastes, no pollution; where animals and plants on land and in the oceans prosper from the existence of humans as much as we do from the biology and geophysics of the Earth. Is this impossible? Or must life on Earth be a zero-sum game between humanity and other species? A […]
Read More… from The circular economy could save life on Earth – starting with our cities
Why is it so important to decarbonise cities? Cities represent humanity’s greatest achievements—and greatest challenges. From inequality to air pollution, poorly designed cities are feeling the strain as 68 per cent of humanity is predicted to live in urban areas by 2050. The cities in which more than half of us live account for nearly […]
Read More… from Decarbonising cities: How to harmonise buildings, mobility and infrastructure
The energy sector, still dominated by fossil fuels, is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. We know we need to switch to sustainable energy. Yet, despite progress, we are not on track to meet our climate goals and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7: universal access to clean, affordable and reliable energy. Much more needs to be done. 1) […]
Read More… from Five reasons to be optimistic about clean energy in 2021
