sustainability

Advanced materials and electricity: the power to help save the world?

By Richard Fields Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: September 11, 2019

In this blog, Dr Richard Fields looks at the need to be creative in developing transformative technologies such as advancements in battery life, in order to stave off an environmental disaster and ultimately safeguard humanity’s survival. • The cost of batteries has fallen faster than even the most optimistic forecasts, which means the future for […]

Science, industry, and government must pull together to solve our plastic addiction

By Mike Shaver Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted: September 5, 2019

Mike Shaver is currently Professor of Polymer Science at the University of Manchester in the School of Materials. In this article Mike explores how we should be viewing the use of plastic and also how we can avoid the potential environmental problems from plastic alternatives. Sustainable alternatives to plastic need thoughtful analysis of the whole […]

Net-zero target by 2050? We can do better than that

By Simon Bullock Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering Posted: May 16, 2019

Simon Bullock is a PhD student at Tyndall Manchester, working on shipping and climate change. In this blog Simon discusses the Net Zero report published this month by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and argues that under the principles the CCC is rightly advocating, this 2050 date is too late. This month the Committee […]

Critical social infrastructure for older people

By Sophie Yarker Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion Posted: May 1, 2019

Sophie Yarker is a Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA), working on the Greater Manchester-based Ambition for Ageing programme. In this blog, she discusses her research into the importance of social infrastructure for older people and the need to think about it in new ways. Face-to-face interactions are the […]

Setting climate targets: when is net zero really net zero?

By Jaise Kuriakose, James Mason and Brendan Moore Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: April 15, 2019

‘Net zero’ and ‘carbon neutral’ have quickly become the go-to phrases for ambitious declarations on climate change action. But what do ‘net zero’, ‘zero carbon’ or ‘carbon neutral’ actually mean in practice? As climate action targets are increasingly announced both locally and nationally, it’s even more important that the assumptions involved are properly understood to […]

Fuel poverty and low-carbon investment: a role for area-based policy?

By Stefan Bouzarovski Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Growth and Inclusion Posted: March 25, 2019

The GMCA plans to launch a five year plan for carbon neutrality in Greater Manchester by 2038 at the Green Summit today. Stefan Bouzarovski, Professor of Human Geography, will be hosting a discussion table at the public sector space within the Green Summit. Here, he blogs about the importance of area-based fuel poverty and energy […]

Worryingly windy weather or a strong tail-wind?

By Laurence Stamford Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables Posted: March 19, 2019

On the 7 March, the long awaited “Offshore Wind Sector Deal” was launched, laying out the UK Government’s vision for the future of offshore wind power to 2030. So far, responses to the deal have been somewhat mixed: it’s been welcomed by various industry players as a sign of the Government’s commitment, but has faced […]

Can Greater Manchester blaze the trail with an inclusive local industrial strategy?

By Ruth Lupton Filed Under: Growth and Inclusion, Urban Posted: March 4, 2019

Greater Manchester (GM) is one of a handful of ‘trailblazer’ areas selected to work with government on a local industrial strategy (LIS), due to be signed off in a few weeks’ time. As deliberations enter their final stages, Ruth Lupton, Head of the Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit (IGAU), looks at how the strategy might shape […]

Local Industrial Strategies can capitalise on gaps in UK climate and resource policies

By Kate Scott Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Digital Futures, Energy and Environment Posted: January 23, 2019

As the UK and many local regions embark on developing and implementing industrial strategies Dr Kate Scott from the School of Environment, Education and Development argues it is crucial to identify how their strengths can support innovation and development for low carbon transitions. This is particularly true in light of the government’s recent announcement that […]

Gilets jaunes, Extinction Rebellion and neoliberal climate policy

By Matthew Paterson Filed Under: Digital Futures, Energy and Environment, Europe Posted: December 20, 2018

#SDG Two protest movements erupted in the UK and France on November 17th, with apparently opposite logics. Here, Matthew Paterson, Professor of International Politics in the School of Social Sciences, argues that both movements are a result of the way carbon pricing is been both regressive socially and woefully inadequate in climate terms. This centre […]