News
Columns
At the flip of a billion coins
Can finance provide what humanity needs? As we approach 1.5ºC average warming, nature collapses, and conflicts escalate, this must be a reasonable question. Or is it naïve as finance is
The die in diet
While we depend on food, water, air, and shelter to survive, only our requirement for food demands that we rely on a complex international trading system for our day-to-day needs.
The gravity of the situation
I grew up in the 70s in a world where there was a sense of expanding progress. The great wars were behind us and even when Thatcher/Reagan pushed dog-eat-dog neoliberalism
Enlightenment goes viral
I am not a believer in conspiracy theories, but for one moment let’s imagine there exists a shadowy secret society bent on world betterment… The Society had been increasingly worried.
Interviews
Oil’s not well
Adam Hanieh is a Professor of Political Economy. His latest book, Crude Capitalism, aims to help us understand the nature of the fossil fuel economy, which he considers essential for
Small ideas
Smaje is a social scientist turned grower in Somerset. When he is not working the fields, he is thinking and writing about what a future food system might look like.
The finish line
Jem Bendell is a self-described “doomster”. He started out as an activist promoting corporate sustainability in the 90s, shifting to academia as a professor of sustainable development recognised by the
The differential equation
David Stainforth is professor of physics with a deep passion for modelling the dimensions of the climate crisis in a form that is useful for decision makers and the wider
Articles
Sustainable AI
Patricia Gestoso asks whether we can balance innovation and environmental responsibility In 2021, van Wynsberghe proposed defining sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) as “a movement to foster change in the entire
Shock and ore
Public trust through shared prosperity is the key to a fast transition to a green economy. But Joan Carling and Phil Bloomer ask: are we, instead, entering an age of
Climate change: a moving story
The displacement of millions of people is the elephant in the climate change negotiating chamber, says Niko Humalisto. He navigates the path the world must take. Planetary warming is destabilising
Power planting
Rohini Kamal outlines the promises and problems for Bangladesh in building solar arrays on its farmland. More than 100 countries met in Dubai during November last year where they pledged
Why didn’t the balloon go up?
When the US military shot down an unmanned Chinese aircraft many thought the worst. Joshua Brown looks at why things might have even grown better. When a Chinese surveillance balloon
Healthy, wealthy and wise
Sarah McKinley beats the drum for Community Wealth Building. As I write, 1,200 farmers and their tractors have occupied the centre of Brussels where I live. Their synchronised horn blasts
Down to business
Martin Parker asks whether business schools might be able to help address carbon capitalism, rather than simply teaching it. On Wednesday 3 June 1970, the Board of Social Studies at
The Bumpy Ride
Roland Kupers argues that fixing the climate crisis will necessarily be turbulent. Our current approach to the climate problem falls well short of what is objectively required, but that does
As real as it gets
Climate change: Bangladesh is where it is at. Rohini Kamal shows the way. Debates on climate change are often dominated by heated commentary from the West on its impending peril
Pensions get the green-lite
Why better pensions help the climate – Bruno Bonizzi explains. In October 2021, two UK-based academics, Dr Neil Davies and Dr Ewan McGaughey, issued proceedings against the directors of the
Nigeria’s Best Laid Plans For The Environment
West Africa’s oil giant is choking its people with pollution because its rules are worth no more than the paper they are written on. Grimot Nane explains. The 2021 United
The ifs and buts of Hydrogen
Hydrogen may be useful, but how green can it really be? asks Roland Kupers. It has been used for centuries: from lifting the balloon that Jacques Charles floated over Paris
Farmers plough their own furrow to change
A brew of chemical fertilisers, sewage and other pollutants is costing lives and money as it splashes over our environment and our dinner plates. Jyoti Banerjee and Arnav Jain offer
Coal, climate and the circle of injustice
First there were slaves, then there were coal-fired machines, then there was climate change wreaking havoc on the descendants of the slaves. Jeremy Williams goes around a vicious circle. Friday
Beyond denial
Sandra White maps a route through denial and towards action on climate change. Despite growing evidence of climate change, only a few years ago I regularly heard people deny that
Event Recordings
The climate crisis cause – interview transcript
The Mint: Well, good morning Graham. And thank you very much for joining us to talk to The Mint magazine today. Graham Parkes: Yes. Good morning, Henry. It’s a pleasure
Commons concern – interview transcript
The Mint: Good afternoon, Erik. And thanks very much for joining The Mint, to talk about your recent book on Elinor Ostrom. Erik Nordman: Thanks a lot, Henry. It’s my
Cop out? – Interview transcript
The Mint: Hello, Michael. Good day. Thank you very much for joining us to talk to The Mint. Michael Jacobs: My pleasure. COP26 and Ratcheting up Climate Change Ambition The