Blog
Spotlight on the latest blogs from across the Institute and also from Policy@Manchester's 'energy and environment' theme.
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What does a ‘metal intensive’ future entail?
Christopher Meadowcroft
6 February 2024
Critical metals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese, are key to the path towards net zero. The UK Government released their Critical Minerals Strategy in early 2023, which sets out to improve the resilience of the critical metal supply chain. In this article from our publication ‘On Resilience’, Dr Sampriti Mahanty and Professor […]
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Accelerating the electric vehicle transition in the UK
Suzanne Booth
22 January 2024
Following the publication of the industrial strategy in 2017, in which Theresa May attempted to envisage a post-Brexit future, electric vehicles (EVs) were identified as an important opportunity for the UK political economy. Yet, despite the almost annual publications that reiterated the need for EVs to become a significant feature of the UK, attempts to […]
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Promoting flood protection: setting a target for 10% improved water retention in towns and cities
Iain White
18 January 2024
Every year flooding affects communities around the UK. The Chartered Institute for Water and Environmental Management recently contended that although there has been expert agreement for many years about reforms, policy change has been slow. In part, this is due to the complex governance system within which flooding occurs. In this article, Professor Graham Haughton […]
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Sparking change: the rush to electrify
Christopher Meadowcroft
16 January 2024
The environmental threats of climate change and extreme weather are forcing us to rethink our energy production and usage. As a society, we know how to produce clean low-carbon electricity and deliver it to customers in a reliable, efficient and economical manner. In this article, from our publication On Resilience, Dr Robin Preece, Dr Eduardo […]
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No room for drought: Steps to improve the UK agricultural sector’s resilience to drought and water security
Christopher Meadowcroft
10 January 2024
In 2022, the UK experienced its fifth driest summer since 1836. Combined with record-breaking temperatures, this led to severe drought conditions across the country, with key agricultural regions as some of the worst affected areas. The drought resulted in widespread reductions in crop yields and harvested areas, as dwindling water supplies in soils, rivers, and […]
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Climate change: navigating a clear route for UK shipping
Alice Larkin
8 January 2024
After a year of devastating climate disasters, nations at COP 28 in Dubai in December signalled the need for the “end of the fossil fuel era”. To meet that ambition, 2024 will need to see a major acceleration in global action to address climate change. Here, Simon Bullock, Alice Larkin, and James Mason from the […]
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Planning ahead: A multi-sector approach to net zero
Mathaios Panteli
13 December 2023
With climate change increasing some resources’ uncertainty – and global development making others scarcer and more interdependent – society requires improved planning and policy frameworks to deliver a secure, equitable and resilient transformation to net zero. In this article from our publication On Resilience, Professor Julien Harou, Dr Eduardo A. Martínez Ceseña and Professor Mathaios Panteli explore how […]
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Freedom energy: minimising geopolitical risks to reach net zero
Christopher Meadowcroft
30 November 2023
Geopolitical dynamics are crucial to our thinking about the future of energy and the pursuit of net zero. In this article from our publication On Resilience, Professor Matthew Paterson explores the complexity of alternatives to fossil fuels, the impact of renewables on our energy security, and how policymakers can reduce exposure to the geopolitical risks of the […]
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Strengthening the UK’s energy resilience and security
Maria Sharmina
13 November 2023
Energy is a key resource enabling the functioning of modern societies. Arguably, the fast-paced technological advances in the past 200 years have been based on plentiful supply of cheap energy. But cheap and plentiful are no more. In this article, from our publication On Resilience, Professor Maria Sharmina and Timothy Capper explore how to strengthen the […]
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Driving change in UK housing construction
Beth Warke
3 November 2023
In this article, Dr Suzanne Peters, Professor Jonatan Pinkse, and Professor Graham Winch reveal the issues that are hindering new housing construction in the UK, and explore how targeted efforts to better support Modern Methods of Construction – particularly “volumetric” modular homes – can help the nation reach both its housing targets and net zero […]
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Anti-Net Zero Populism and the future of British climate policy
Admin
30 August 2023
The post Anti-Net Zero Populism and the future of British climate policy appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Resilient or environmentally friendly? Both are possible when seafood businesses prepare for long-term risks
Admin
21 June 2023
The post Resilient or environmentally friendly? Both are possible when seafood businesses prepare for long-term risks appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Learning the ABC of resilient and convivial land use: The nexus of Agriculture, Biosafety, and Conservation
Admin
31 May 2023
The post Learning the ABC of resilient and convivial land use: The nexus of Agriculture, Biosafety, and Conservation appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Central banking, climate finance, and contemporary crises
SCI Admin
6 March 2023
The post Central banking, climate finance, and contemporary crises appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Should we abandon agriculture altogether?
SCI Admin
5 December 2022
The post Should we abandon agriculture altogether? appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Creative, sensitive and grounded in diverse perspectives: Why we need inclusive climate change education
SCI Admin
9 November 2022
The post Creative, sensitive and grounded in diverse perspectives: Why we need inclusive climate change education appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Water for Peace and Development: SCI PhD student at World Water Forum in Dakar
SCI Admin
20 October 2022
The post Water for Peace and Development: SCI PhD student at World Water Forum in Dakar appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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(Re)making infrastructures in response to sustainability and climate emergencies: Challenges, strategies, and opportunities
SCI Admin
5 October 2022
The post (Re)making infrastructures in response to sustainability and climate emergencies: Challenges, strategies, and opportunities appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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Hidden infrastructures of decarbonisation
SCI Admin
14 September 2022
The post Hidden infrastructures of decarbonisation appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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The other side of the fence: Consumption, activism, and the Owens Park tower occupation
SCI Admin
15 July 2022
The post The other side of the fence: Consumption, activism, and the Owens Park tower occupation appeared first on Sustainable Consumption Institute blog.
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