Editors' blog
Hannah Bullock, 5 Nov 2008
The low winter sun that blinded me from behind the City buildings did look s...
Articles in this issue
Articles in this issue:
Who minds the boss’s footprint?
26 October 2007, Business
Survey highlights scope for greener office culture
We’re gradually getting more green-aware at home – so why not at work too? Good question. But a new study suggests we’re abandoning our environmental concerns at the threshold of the office – and just leaving all that to ‘the company’, the facilities manager or the office manager.
Village hall vision
26 October 2007, Local government, Microgeneration
Parish pioneers use of green energy funding powers
Grassroots energy action at village level has just got a big boost. At Kirkburton, southeast of Huddersfield, the parish council has become the first in the country to take advantage of new powers to spend parishioners’ money on promoting renewable micro-generation and energy efficiency.
Pure and simple?
Hannah Bullock and Roger East 26 October 2007, Freight, International trade, Organics, Overseas development
Soil Association takes complex stand on air freighted organics
Keen not to be seen as promoting organic ‘air miles’, the Soil Association is setting extra conditions for approving produce that’s grown overseas and flown in to the UK.
Energy for Eigg
Hannah Bullock 1 February 2008, Community energy, Energy sources
Renewable energy gives Eigg power 24-hours-a-day for the first time
Having asserted their independence ten years ago by buying the island from an absent landlord, the people of Eigg won energy independence today too – with a combination of wind turbines, solar panels and low-head hydro.
Hungry for change?
Hannah Bullock 30 October 2007, Agriculture & Food
Food and industry to play catch up on the environment
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is gearing up to use “peer pressure” to green the laggards in the UK’s biggest manufacturing sector.
Breakthrough in cool glass
13 November 2007, Innovation, Materials
Green power share portfolio
19 November 2007, Banking, Energy sources
HSBC launches tradeable Climate Index
Fighting global warming can be a profitable business. This was the unmistakable message sent out to banks and investors with the launch of the HSBC Global Climate Change Index.
A win on the wild side
22 November 2007, Marine/coastal, Wetlands
Wallasea Island site reverts from wheat to wetland
A swathe of arable land in south-east Essex, hard won from the sea for farming four centuries ago, is being bought back for the birds.
Fudging the future
Roger East 21 December 2007, Climate change, International policies & agreements
A lot was at stake
The UN climate change conference in Bali came close to complete failure. That would have spelled the death of the Kyoto process, the only known route to global agreement on shared responsibility for carbon cutting.
Mobile phones to count carbon
Nick Hunt 21 December 2007, Carbon offset/neutrality, Telecommunications
New device tracks impact of every mile travelled
Carbon Hero is a new key-ring sized device that uses the signal from your mobile phone to identify which forms of transport you have taken – to help calculate the carbon footprint of every journey you make.
Street cred
Hannah Bullock 21 December 2007, Banking, Eco-products & services
Green reward cards hit the mainstream
It all started last summer with Barclycard launching its Breathe credit card, offering a special low APR on bus and train tickets, alongside discounts on bikes, efficiency products and green electricity.
Doing property properly
Hannah Bullock 21 December 2007, Built environment, Socially responsible investment
Investment fund to boost green offices
A sustainable property investment fund due to hit the market next year is aiming to outdo conventional building portfolios by “future-proofing” its stock
20 years of progress, or….?
Julian Rollins 21 December 2007, International policies & agreements, Natural world & resources
UNEP charts performance since ‘first sustainability report’
Twenty years ago, the Brundtland Commission published Our Common Future – widely seen as the launch of the modern sustainability debate. It called for sweeping, urgent changes to safeguard that future. So have we done what’s required?
Whitehall Watch
Peter Madden 21 December 2007, Carbon reduction, Policy
So much for the rhetoric, Peter Madden wants action
In his wide-ranging speech in November, the prime minister set out a vision of a fourth technological revolution. He made a tokenistic pledge on plastic bags. And he talked tough on climate change.
Into Africa
Michael Buick 5 January 2008, Carbon reduction
Efficient charcoal stoves, boilers that run on sugarcane waste… Climate Care’s Tom Morton tells Michael Buick about the carbon-reducing projects taking shape in Kenya.
Hard Rain
Julian Rollins 5 January 2008, Culture, Magazines & newspapers, Recycling
Setting Bob Dylan’s words to pictures is a powerful combination. Even more so when the book’s printed in the right way. - BEACON PRESS
Screen on the green
Chris Alden 25 January 2008, Culture, Energy conservation & efficiency
Hollywood’s just becoming aware of its Godzilla-sized footprint. Chris Alden checks the rushes for some action.
Going green by stages
Claire Wyatt 5 January 2008, Culture
Claire Wyatt looks for a scene change in the theatre.
Right down to breakfast
Trevor Lawson 5 January 2008, Green Futures partners, Holidays
When hotels train staff to compost, save water and serve sustainable smorgasbords, there’s a top-level strategy at work. - TNSi
Life begins at 30
Glenn Lowcock 5 January 2008, Behaviour change, Cars
Want a sweeter, more sustainable life? Cut the speed limit on all roads to 30mph, argues Glenn Lowcock.
The dirt on soap
Peter Malaise 5 January 2008, Eco-products & services, Green Futures partners
Peter Malaise gets down to fundamentals on the cleaning front. - ECOVER
American Eye
Polly Ghazi 5 January 2008, Americas, Climate change, Energy conservation & efficiency, Politics
Will the White House go green this time? Polly Ghazi watches the Democrats compete for the high ground on climate change. But most of the Republicans sound as though they’re on another planet.
Catch the tide
Jonathon Porritt 5 January 2008, Wave power/tidal
If we’re going to get a fifth of our energy from renewables, something big has to change, says Jonathon Porritt. The tide could do it.
A switch in time
Roger East 5 January 2008, Fossil fuels, Hydro electric, Nuclear power, Solar energy/PV, Wave power/tidal, Wind power
Wanted: a clear and sustainable sense of direction on our electric options. The answers could fix the future of power for decades. Roger East tests the current.
More power, less carbon
Douglas McLeish 5 January 2008, Carbon reduction, Green Futures partners
The days of ‘paying the electricity bill’ are coming to an end, as power companies look to sell their services in a very different way. - NPOWER
Après ski?
Ben Tuxworth 6 January 2008, Holidays, Sport
Skiing has become the quintessential winter break. But where will we turn when the snow runs out, asks Ben Tuxworth.
A breath of fresh air
Julian Rollins 6 January 2008, Carbon reduction, Cars, Congestion
Coming soon, London’s ‘Low Emission Zone’ is set to clean up the capital. - TFL
Here’s one we made earlier
Jo Reeves 6 January 2008, Housing
.jpg)
Could prefabs help solve the UK’s housing shortage – and deliver on the quest for sustainable homes? - SKANSKA
Scholars who count
Geraldine Creaven 20 December 2007, Higher/Further Education
People ask me what sort of person makes a typical Forum Scholar. Well, every September I get new (pleasant) surprises.
Stretching the water cycle
Darren Towers 6 January 2008, Consumption, Green Futures partners, Population, Water
Population growth, climate change, rising domestic water use… when water companies peer into the future they need a wide-angle lens. - THAMES WATER
Ten of the best… sustainable restaurants
Imogen Martineau 6 January 2008, Retail
Looking to do a deal over a meal? Imogen Martineau finds the places with the right credentials.
Holding out for a hero
Roger East 6 January 2008, Benchmarking/Rankings, Corporate responsibility
Where to find leadership in 2008? Roger East reveals the insiders’ views on who stands out on the sustainability scene.
Letters
6 January 2008
"Wake up, public sector! Stop stifling the innovative solution-providers who are here to help you meet your targets."
And another thing...
Martin Wright 6 January 2008, Climate change, Forests
Martin Wright ranks forests over flight guilt, is dazzled by a hundred halogen spots, and relieved that Al Gore is staying clear of the White House.
Forest futures
Ray Hawes 6 January 2008, Forests, Green Futures partners
What exactly do we want from our forests? Beautiful walks and wildlife, or locally produced paper and biomass? The National Trust tries to get the balance right.
Less power, more money
Esther Maughan McLachlan 6 January 2008
US opens energy service route to reward power companies for selling less
Raising profits by reducing sales has become a paradoxical reality for US energy companies, as deals with the regulators in many states ‘decouple’ their bottom lines from their energy production.
‘We’re the problem’ says cement industry
6 January 2008, Carbon reduction
Industry acknowledges scale of challenge, promises progress
Cement is a sector that pollutes on a grand scale, but manages to do so mostly without registering on the public’s radar. Until now. The Cement Sustainability Initiative has taken the unusual step of telling the world that the industry represents a major hurdle on the road to a low-carbon future.
On the rails
6 January 2008, Hydrogen/fuel cells, Mass transit/Public transport
The world’s first diesel hybrid railcar speeds through the mountainous green landscape of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Carbon? Who’s asking?
Esther Maughan McLachlan 6 January 2008, Carbon reduction
More companies disclose their emissions to CDP
If you’re a major corporation and someone asks for the intimate details of your carbon footprint, are you inclined to respond positively? If the request comes from 315 investment companies managing assets of $41 trillion, then it’s probably unwise to refuse.
Turbine-driven telecoms
Roger East 7 January 2008, Carbon offset/neutrality, Wind power
BT builds up its own green power
Showing a lead to business, BT is investing in zero carbon electricity generation – with plans to put a hefty £250 million into its own suite of wind farms. The company plans to have 125 up and running by 2016, providing a quarter of its electricity needs.
The tube is my office
7 January 2008, Re-use/refurbishment, Recycling, Urban
When it dawned on him that tube trains were perfect ready-made workspaces, furniture designer Auro Foxcroft phoned London Underground. “They said they could get me some old carriages,” he says. And thus was born the Village Underground ‘cultural space’ in Shoreditch, where the enterprising Foxcroft is now project director.
Critical report
Roger East 7 January 2008, Climate change impacts
UN scientists settle the argument on climate change
The evidence is “unequivocal”. It’s mostly
our fault, the situation is getting worse, and
the consequences are potentially devastating. There is still a lot we can do to stop climate change getting out of hand, but that means reversing the upward trend in greenhouse gas emissions within a decade or so.
Devon gets the wind up
Sean Frisby 7 January 2008, Wind power
Planning approval boosts ‘greenest county’ bid
After multiple knock-backs and a spot of legal wrangling (including a four-week public enquiry) Devon’s considerable wind resources will soon have something sizeable to bite into.
Opening the pensions book
Julian Rollins 7 January 2008, Corporate responsibility
Friends Provident top of new ethical rating
Britain’s biggest fund management groups vary hugely in the degree to which they keep their customers informed about the environmental and social impacts of their investments. That’s the conclusion of a study by the campaign group FairPensions.
Second life for old chips
David Howells 7 January 2008, Recycling
Big Blue makes breakthrough on recycling semiconductors
IT giant IBM has a new technique for cleaning data off wafer disks, and it’s secure enough that the wafers can be sent back to work – taking some of the pressure off silicon supplies in computing and the fast-growing solar sector.
Made from silicon, about 250,000 wafer disks are produced every day worldwide.
Petit point
Roger East 7 January 2008, Carbon reduction, Cars
New French point-of-sale taxes favour smaller, cleaner cars
France’s new ‘no-nonsense’ Sarkozy regime is rewarding low-carbon virtue in the country’s car showrooms, with a refreshingly direct approach to boosting the sale of lower emission models.
Three wheels good
David Howells 7 January 2008, Cars
This space-age Aptera could take some beating in the green car stakes. And it’s on sale already in California – if not actually on the road quite yet. Even before Christmas, 400 people had put down a $500 deposit for one of these goody-goody bad-boys.
GM puts fuel cell cars to the test
David Howells 7 January 2008, Hydrogen/fuel cells
General Motors is testing the waters of the hydrogen car market by sending over 100 fuel cell versions of its Chevrolet Equinox out for public test drives.
Changing gear in China
Roger East 7 January 2008
When the motoring world chooses China for its international events, it’s a clear sign that this is the market that matters to them most. Encouraging, then, that Shanghai got to host last November’s Challenge Bibendum.
Plug and go
David Howells 7 January 2008, Carbon reduction, Cars, Hydrogen/fuel cells
In a big boost for all-electric cars (and the
new breed of plug-in hybrids), energy company EDF and charge-point manufacturer Elecktromotive are to help local councils install 250 recharging stations.
Car clamps
Hannah Bullock 7 January 2008, Cars, Regulation
Norway edits out the greenwash
The Norwegian advertising watchdog has introduced some of the strictest rules in the world, designed to clamp down on spurious ‘green’ car ads.
Risky business
David Howells 7 January 2008, Business services
Insurers act on climate change
Insurers are responding to the threat of climate change by offering a whole host of incentives for their customers to go green, according to a new report.
Educating meter
7 January 2008, Higher/Further Education
“There are fewer environmental regulations in education than any other sector,” says a fired-up Dan Glass, the driving force behind a new initiative to green higher education.
Flight stimulator
Sean Frisby 7 January 2008, Aviation, Carbon reduction
Carbon consultants take airlines to task over low hanging fruit
A new report on cutting aviation’s unsustainable carbon footprint has some down to earth recommendations.
Editorial
Roger East 10 January 2008
If you are reading this at work, imbued with fresh resolve for meeting the goals and challenges that the new year brings, be warned: this message comes to you from the other side.
Welcome to the future
James Goodman 21 December 2007, Visions & futures
Anyone travelling across London recently could not help but notice all the billboard adverts from Barclaycard, welcoming you to the future.
From here to Timbuktu
Hannah Bullock and Sean Frisby 18 January 2008, Biofuels, Cars
‘Chocolate-powered’ biotruck completes Saharan expedition
Two Brits reached Timbuktu on Boxing Day after an epic 4,568-mile journey powered almost entirely by waste chocolate.
Registered charity number 1040519