The overarching project of my life has been making myself safe. But what is the point if everyone else is drowning and burning and starving? I am descended from people who factor a flat tyre into a drive to the airport. I own a personal, portable water filter, just in case. I am someone who
The year 2020 continued to make history as a terrible time as America received its first-ever warning of firenadoes. “The Reno office of the National Weather Service warned Northern California of a fiery tornado Saturday afternoon that had sprung up near a large, fast-moving wildfire in the Sierra. That’s right: A firenado,” the Sacramento Bee
Falling renewables costs and speedy deployment mean that Britain should aim for the technology to meet two thirds of electricity needs by 2030. This is according to the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) latest report, which found this could be delivered at the same overall cost as meeting half of total demand by 2030 with renewables,
After enduring a difficult few months for power supply and demand, questions about the UK’s ability to meet ambitious 2050 net-zero targets have been raised. We learn about future challenges, the Flexibility in Great Britain project and how a “flexible” energy system might be the answer. With the removal company booked and boxes almost
A data audit by Friends of the Earth based on pre-lockdown information has revealed 1,360 sites across England that have breached the annual Air Quality Objective for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels. Areas in West Dorset, Sheffield and Brighton have all been highlighted as some of the worst locations for NO2 levels in England. Friends
Heat pumps are confirmed to be included in the government’s £2 billion Green Homes Grant as it urges tradespeople to register for MCS accreditation. The Green Homes Grant was announced in Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Summer Statement, with an aim of the government funding up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements of over
Why bother swapping my annual holiday flights for a train if the wealthy and famous fly around in private jets? Why use my car less often if there are millions of others who chug on regardless? What, in other words, is the point in taking individual actions to benefit the environment when they make
French colossal fossil Total sent a shockwave through the Alberta oilpatch Wednesday with the announcement that it is writing off C$9.3 billion in assets in the tar sands/oil sands, including $7.3 billion in the Fort Hills mine, which opened just 2½ years ago, and the Surmont thermal oilsands project. Total is also cancelling its
Tonik is launching an EV charging bundle that separates the cost of charging and standard home energy in what it is lauding as a UK first. Smart data from the EV charger is used to separate the two, with Tonik claiming the bundle offers the UK’s lowest priced overnight - midnight to 7am -
Renewable generation hit a new record in 2019, generating 37.1% of the UK's electricity throughout the year. This was up from 33.1% in 2018, and reflected a 6.5% increase in renewable generation capacity, which rose to 47.2GW according to new figures released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) today. Over