As the Cop-26 summit nears, Nick Maughan emphasises the importance of holistic approach to environmentalism. In recent weeks, the threat of climate change has become increasingly impossible to ignore. We have seen devastating floods in Germany and Belgium, wildfires in Greece, France, Italy, and Turkey, and for the very first time, rainfall on the summit of Greenland’s ice cap in a […]
Throughout this week, close to 9 million pupils will return to school, after 18 months of constant disruption caused by the pandemic. What have we learnt? That school is best in person, obviously – but also that the pandemic has also amplified the scale of inequalities across the national educational system. The UK government has just launched its “back […]
From September, more than 40,000 students from British universities will embark on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to study and work overseas, undertaking courses based all over the world, from Mongolia to Zimbabwe. This week, ministers unveiled more details of the UK government’s Erasmus replacement – the Turing Scheme – confirming that Britain’s young people will be able to think […]
Elon Musk’s recent confirmation that Tesla is likely to resume accepting Bitcoin payments represents a strong recognition that mining activities are showing encouraging signs of shifting towards renewable energy. Having expressed concerns over the cryptocurrency’s environmental impact back in May, Musk confirmed in a conversation with Twitter’s Jack Dorsey and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood that […]
The English countryside is not the first place you expect to find a herd of African elephants. However, since 1975, Howletts Wildlife Park, just outside Canterbury in Kent, has been the home to 13 elephants, allowing the British public to get up close to the world’s largest land mammal. Their enclosure is spacious and well kept, with a deep pond. Nonetheless, Kent is not their native home and for all the elephants bar one, they have only known a life of captivity.
The eye of the storm appears to have passed, at least for now. With the vaccination programme making continued progress, allowing Britain to creep out of lockdown, attention now turns to assessing the long-term consequences of the “stay-at-home” order. It is clear the impact of the pandemic has been felt by all. Following an astonishing shutdown of economic activity, the past year has witnessed a dramatic rise in unemployment and a wave of Covid-related bankruptcies. Experts also fear the mental health impact will be profound and far-reaching.
The pandemic has had severe repercussions on the resources available to environmental conservation efforts across the globe, though the problem is particularly acute in Africa. In March, the BBC reported that conservation efforts have been reduced in a quarter of protected areas in Asia but in over half of protected areas in Africa.
We’re all familiar with the story of Bitcoin’s meteoric rise since early January, or at least we think we are. Skyrocketing value spurred by an anti-establishment ethos, speculative excitement and celebrity endorsements – all seemingly vindicated by increased corporate backing. We’re less familiar with other side of the coin however – its environmental cost. The […]
The construction of a new coal mine – as is currently under review in Whitehaven, in Cumbria – sends a very poor message about our environmental priorities. We need to move forward with modern green energy – not travel in reverse Nick Maughan In fact, it’s akin to an announcement that, as a country, Britain […]