Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Patricia Thornley Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted:
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.
By Melissa Denecke Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
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 […]
By Simon Chin-Yee and Lauren Gifford Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment Posted:
This week, the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) is taking place in Marrakech, Morocco. In light of the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Simon Chin Yee and Lauren Gifford blog from the conference, reflecting on what the election might mean for global climate change policy. […]
By Francis Livens Filed Under: All posts, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
Today marks the 30-year anniversary of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl. There are important lessons for governments to learn from the nuclear incidents of the past. The implications of their actions have significant and far-reaching consequences, says Francis Livens, as he reflects on his own experiences of the events during spring 1986. I find it […]
By Claire Hoolohan and Maria Sharmina Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Land provides a wide range of goods and services to society. But with multiple demands placed on our land, both now and into the future, Claire Hoolohan and Maria Sharmina ask why are land-use policies failing to make the most of UK land? Land is an invaluable resource that sustains much of the UK economy […]
By Laura Leay Filed Under: All posts Posted:
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that caused nearly 20,000 deaths and triggered a major emergency at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, Japan. In the days that followed, Japanese authorities evacuated around 100,000 people from the area as radiation was released into the atmosphere. But, asks Laura Leay, are policies around radiation […]
By Barry Marsden Filed Under: Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
Demand for power continues to increase, and without enabling sufficient access to it, we run into serious economic, social and health problems, argues Prof Barry Marsden. EDF Energy has recently announced the plant life extension of four of their Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors – in Hartlepool, Heysham and Torness. Extending the operating lifetime of these reactors […]
By Hollie Ashworth Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:
Radioactive waste is a controversial topic. But understanding the difference between historic and new wastes would produce a more informed debate, explains Hollie Ashworth. Whenever there is talk about new-build nuclear power stations, there is also talk about the cost of cleaning-up radioactive waste. People often correctly quote figures for the cost of cleaning-up radioactive […]
By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
Professor Francis Livens continues his search for objectivity in the nuclear debate. As I explained in my previous blog, I recently debated nuclear energy with some opponents. I was concerned about whether their arguments were honest and true, so took time out to investigate them. I have already looked at nuclear waste, here I will […]
By Kevin Anderson Filed Under: All posts Posted:
As the Paris COP21 negotiations continue, Kevin Anderson, who is in France for the conference, gives his views. Paris will witness frenetic discussion centred ostensibly on the long-established 2°C temperature threshold between ‘acceptable’ and ‘dangerous’ climate change. However, as a citizen concerned with the moral framing of climate change, I consider the 2°C increase above the […]