Energy and Environment

Tackling climate change requires direct market intervention

By Cameron Roberts Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: May 24, 2017

Cameron Roberts, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Sustainable Consumption Institute at The University of Manchester explains that in order to tackle climate change governments should not be afraid to intervene directly in the market. To avoid the worst consequences of climate change, we need to de-carbonise our economy. Sustainable technologies such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, […]

The UK must improve water management in the face of droughts

By Claire Hoolohan Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment Posted: May 11, 2017

As the threat of drought rises in the UK, Claire Hoolohan Research Associate at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, considers how we might change the way society uses water. The UK is braced for drought, and though weather is part of drought, so is the amount of water used by people going about […]

The road map to renewable energy

By Patricia Thornley Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment Posted: May 8, 2017

Patricia Thornley, Director of The University of Manchester’s SUPERGEN Bioenergy Hub, comments on the UKs desperate need for a road map to renewable energy implementation. In the UK around a third of our energy consumption is used for heating – the next government should mandate energy efficient building design in all new housing developments. Low […]

People Power: Recommendations for policymakers in a new age for nuclear

By Jeremy Rayner Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: May 2, 2017

Following the recent Dalton Nuclear Institute Seminar ‘Small modular nuclear reactors: energy justice for the 21st century?’, Dr Jeremy Rayner, Director at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, here discusses the social dimensions of energy generation – especially in terms of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) – and highlights the importance […]

VIDEO BLOG: Wood stove emissions – how significant are they and how do we minimise them?

By Patricia Thornley Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: March 22, 2017

Following on from her blog about the role of wood stoves and biomass (wood-burning) energy generation, Professor Patricia Thornley discusses in further detail the factors associated with biomass heating and the emissions they produce.

Euratom and leaving the European Union

By Francis Livens, Juan Matthews and Tim Abram Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Energy and Environment Posted: February 20, 2017

The pending withdrawal of the United Kingdom from Euratom (the European nuclear regulator) has caused controversy, as membership is neither related to nor dependent upon membership of the European Union. Here, The University of Manchester’s Professor Juan Matthews, Professor Francis Livens, and Professor Tim Abram explain what this move will mean for the British nuclear […]

Clearing the Air – addressing current concerns about wood stove and biomass emissions

By Patricia Thornley Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: February 8, 2017

Recent weeks have seen increasing concerns about the role of wood stoves and biomass (wood-burning) energy generation in carbon emissions and air pollution, including stories in our national media. Here, Director of The University of Manchester’s SUPERGEN Bioenergy Hub, Professor Patricia Thornley, explains how the story has got ahead of the science and risks presenting […]

We must allow nuclear power to play its part in tackling climate change

By Melissa Denecke Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: November 28, 2016

This month, the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) took place in Marrakech, Morocco. Here, Prof Melissa Denecke reflects on the letter that Women in Nuclear Global wrote on the occasion of COP21 last year and argues that investing in Nuclear Energy is vital to tackling climate change. Decision-makers across the […]

How Manchester – and others – can make the most of natural capital

By Dieter Helm Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted: November 23, 2016

Natural capital is finally being recognised as an essential part of a growing economy, writes Dieter Helm, Chair of the National Capital Committee, which is meeting at The University of Manchester today. After decades of decline the Government is bringing forth a 25 year plan to ensure that the next generation has a better environment […]

Local economic growth – three years on, what works and what’s next?

By Professor Henry Overman Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Inclusive Growth Posted: November 21, 2016

We know that a solid evidence base should be essential for policymaking across all areas. The What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth examines which polices are most effective at increasing local economic growth and supports policymakers to produce more high quality evidence to better guide future decision making and policy effectiveness. Professor Henry Overman, […]