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Policy@Manchester Articles: Energy and Environment
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Could concrete save the planet? It’s not as crazy as it sounds…

James Baker By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow has been hailed as ‘the last best chance’ to commit nations to the actions needed to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this blog, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester – explains how a new concrete product, developed at The University of Manchester, could be the solution to a […]

Freight ship with cargo docked at a port.

Is the shipping sector on a collision course on climate?

Alice Larkin By and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted:

In the run-up to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly criticised the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for not doing enough to cut carbon emissions from the shipping sector. He said the sector’s current commitments were consistent with global warming above 3 degrees, whereas the Paris Agreement sets […]

Decarbonising transport: Inequality, joined-up action, and the risk of technological optimism

By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The Department for Transport (DfT) recently released their long-awaited Decarbonising Transport plan. In this blog, Dr Cristina Temenos and Dr Joe Blakey outline how its technologically-optimistic vision risks locking in high-carbon futures, overlooking transport inequalities, and opportunities for joined-up thinking and the precautionary principle. DfT’s Decarbonising Transport Plan makes some welcome proposals, but it is […]

Close up of plastic bottles

New business models cutting back on single-use plastic: lessons for a zero waste circular economy

Picture of Mariel Vilella By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Growth and Inclusion Posted:

As the host for the COP26 this November, the UK is in the spotlight when it comes to reducing emissions. Plastic production and consumption is an important contributor to climate change, business models that are cutting back on single-use plastic offer important lessons, and inspiration, to drive an agenda that moves towards a circular economy. […]

Close up of bats in a cage

Building a sustainable wildlife trade sector to avoid future pandemics

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Health and Social Care Posted:

Since early reports linked the emergence of COVID-19 to the wild meat trade, the pandemic has thrown the wildlife trade into the global spotlight for its role in spreading zoonotic disease pathogens. This has motivated calls to ban wildlife trade, among other proposals to strengthen regulation and control over the trade in wildlife and their […]

Taking the lead in hydrogen: next steps

By and Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The deployment of new and existing materials will play a critical role in delivering the growth of the hydrogen sector, identified as a cornerstone of the UK Government’s net zero ambitions. In this blog, Professor Phil Withers and Dr Robert Sorrell, from the Henry Royce Institute, lay out the research priorities on the path to […]

building

Advanced nuclear energy for Net Zero: A strategy for action

Francis Livens By Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK has committed to a net zero 2050 target, but what place does nuclear energy have in meeting this ambition? In this blog, Professor Francis Livens from the Dalton Nuclear Institute outlines the recommendations of a new roadmap for the UK’s nuclear sector, including its role in hydrogen production, and what steps are needed […]

Two researchers collecting river bed samples

Microplastic contamination of UK rivers caused by poor wastewater management

Prof Jamie Woodward By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment Posted:

River corridors have provided therapeutic green spaces in our towns and cities during the pandemic. These rivers are being degraded by the widespread practice of ‘spilling’ untreated sewage. This raw sewage – laced with microplastics – has profound impacts on the environment and on public health. In this blog, Professor Jamie Woodward, from the Department […]

Decarbonising heating: flying by the heat of our pants?

By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference – COP26 – is on the horizon, due to kick off in Glasgow on 1 November. It seems that, despite the socio-economic worries brought on by a global pandemic, heightened societal attention to climate change is here to stay. Now, more than ever, climate change is at the forefront […]

One bin to rule them all: the future of plastic waste?

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

Despite the success of environmental campaigners in raising awareness of plastic pollution, much of the plastic waste produced in the UK is not recycled. In part, this is due to the complexity of the multiple recycling schemes in place across the country, causing confusion for both the public and waste management companies in terms of […]

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