Scientists and academics including Prof Gesa Weyhenmeyer and Prof Will Steffen argue that we must discuss the threat of societal disruption in order to prepare for it As scientists and scholars from around the world, we call on policymakers to engage with the risk of disruption and even collapse of societies. After five years failing
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has committed to cutting the UK’s emissions by at least 68% by 2030. Speaking last night (4 December), he outlined how the nation's new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target under the Paris Climate Agreement was increasing in recognition of the urgency to go further to tackle climate change. Johnson said that
Beatrice Browning, PhD researcher at the Faraday Institution writes for Air Quality News about the potential value of second-life batteries for energy storage. The transport sector is one of the principal producers of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. This, and the UK government’s pledge to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, has catalysed the
The UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has approved the construction of the biggest battery storage project in the UK, and one of the largest such projects in the world, the company developing the site said on Monday. InterGen, an energy company headquartered in Edinburgh, has received the green light to build
Energy majors have called on the UK government to target a net zero power system as part of the 'Sprint to Glasgow' lead-up to the COP26 climate conference. In an open letter to the Prime Minister, chancellor, COP26 President and minister for Energy and Clean Growth, the group ask that the UK match commitments made
Researchers say Covid-19 hiatus is moment to tackle elite ‘super emitters’ Frequent-flying “‘super emitters” who represent just 1% of the world’s population caused half of aviation’s carbon emissions in 2018, according to a study. Airlines produced a billion tonnes of CO2 and benefited from a $100bn (£75bn) subsidy by not paying for the climate damage
The new 5,000 square-metre facility will spearhead the development of battery technologies for future electrified vehicles Battery firm Britishvolt has announced plans to open a new global headquarters in the West Midlands. The company - an investor in advanced battery technologies - is setting-up a new 5,000 square-metre facility at the MIRA Technology Park campus
The UK’s electricity system has decarbonised twice as fast as any other major economy, according to a new report by Drax Electric Insights. Carbon intensity from the sector has more than halved over the last decade, falling 58% thanks to the rise in renewables on the system. In particular, the amount of coal power on
Companies from business, finance, academic and civil society have called on the UK government to commit to stronger and more consistent carbon pricing. In a declaration signed by 50 companies earlier this week, the Zero Carbon Campaign called for carbon pricing in the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) announcement, encouragement for all jurisdictions to include
Solar PV combined with energy storage represents a “zero-emissions threat” to gas generation in the US, according to a new report from BloombergNEF. While PV and batteries can perform the same services and “offer similar value” to natural gas power plants, dynamics of the competitive threat posed in the US energy market by solar-plus-storage and