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 supplement
Articles in this supplement:
Gaddafi goes green
Martin Wright 19 September 2007, Africa, Conservation
Leader’s son heads Libyan sustainability drive
He may have written the (misleadingly titled) Green Book, but Colonel Gaddafi hasn’t exactly made oil-rich Libya a beacon of sustainability. That may be about to change.
A greener dragon's den
Iain Aitch 19 September 2007, Business services, Finance
New network matches environmental entrepreneurs with investors
Matching bright green entrepreneurs with sources of investment capital has always been a challenge. It’s one which the newly launched Environmental Investment Network (EIN) aims to overcome.
Where’s the beef tomato?
19 September 2007, Health, Organics
Research reignites ‘healthy organics’ debate
Is organic food better for you? The argument is an old one, but some newly published research has spiced it up, putting tomatoes in the front line.
Solar sparks cheaper
19 September 2007, Architecture, Solar energy/PV
German company promises ‘whole-house’ photovoltaics
It’s the stuff of dreams, a futuristic house where every external part is put to work as a miniature solar power plant.
Climate change ‘not due to the sun'
Martin Wright 19 September 2007, Climate change
Key argument of sceptics shot down by new study
Global warming is happening despite – not because of – solar
cycles.
That’s the conclusion of an extensive new study published by the Royal Society, the UK’s leading scientific academy.
Hemp on the hub
Hannah Bullock 19 September 2007, Cars, Materials
Plant-based brakes to reduce pollution
Britain’s motorists get through a not-so-cool 80 million sets of brake
pads every year, leaving a dusting of heavy metals which end up in
water run-off from roads, and in our lungs when we take the tube.
Small change, big difference
Hannah Bullock 19 September 2007, Finance, Overseas development, Socially responsible investment
City investors bank on the world’s ‘unbankable’
$108 million was raised in a Morgan Stanley bond – to be turned into microfinance. That’s the truly exceptional thing about the ‘BOLD-2 transaction’. The money, raised in May this year, will be loaned to microfinance institutions in 12 developing countries.
Brave old world
Roger East 19 September 2007, Asia
Dinosaur time in a Saudi dome
Fancy a wander through a prehistoric landscape of mosses and ferns? Want to walk from the Devonian period 400 million years ago, all the way up to the pollinators of the Pliocene and the more familiar flora of today?
Greening the greenbacks
Hannah Bullock and Ruth McCance 19 September 2007, Finance, Socially responsible investment
Banks launch billion dollar initiatives
International mega-bank HSBC is spending $100 million on a scheme to promote “action – not apathy” among its 300,000-strong global workforce.
Light years ahead
19 September 2007, Energy conservation & efficiency, Local government, Recycling
Gateshead is showing other local authorities what to do with redundant lighting
Pulling together on organics
19 September 2007, Marketing
Organic businesses could soon be punching at the same weight as other sectors thanks to a new Organic Trade Group
Alma greener
Martin Wright and Oliver Balch 19 September 2007, Construction, Higher/Further Education
Universities rated, ranked on environmental performance
The most important index for prospective students used to be the cost of beer at the university bar. Now school leavers are being encouraged to consider the environmental footprint of their future alma mater.
Bottles get smashed in pub
19 September 2007, Recycling
Compact crusher boosts glass recycling
Q. What happens to that empty wine bottle after your candlelit dinner in the high street restaurant?
Paper power
19 September 2007, Innovation
Printable lightweight cellulose batteries on the horizon
Batteries have come a long way – and could have a lot further to go. Our lifestyles demand ever more, smaller, lighter portable power – without the pollution penalty of toxic metals.
Coke goes easy on the water
19 September 2007, Agriculture & Food, Corporate responsibility, Water
Companies sign up to save rivers
Stung by accusations of water profligacy – and worse – Coca-Cola has joined other leading brands in pledging to cut consumption and save key aquatic habitats.
Mythbuster
Irma Allen 24 October 2007, Chemicals, Eco-products & services
Mythbuster
The cynic’s guide to……eco-washing powder
Q Doesn’t really work, does it?
A It does now. Even the Good Housekeeping Institute has given its stamp of approval to the stain-removing powers of two leading brands.
Bin wins
19 September 2007, Local government, Recycling, Urban, Waste management
Buttcatchers are capturing the imagination of councils around the UK
Invented to keep cigarette butts and chewing gum off the street, the pod-shaped ‘Smartbin’ has already sold itself to 17 local authorities.
The sun in Spain makes power for the plain
Martin Wright 20 September 2007, Europe, Solar energy/PV
World’s largest solar plant under construction
On the plains of Andalusia, a solar plant is taking shape which will supply electricity to up to 200,000 people.
Designer farming
Ruth McCance 20 September 2007, Agriculture & Food, Farming/Horticulture, Urban
Urban food projects take to the skies and the water
It’s not just a huge floating hydroponic glasshouse, it’s “a metaphor for us and for the future of this planet.”
That’s how New York’s parks commissioner Adrian Benepe sees the vegetable-growing Science Barge moored off Manhattan’s West Side.
Zip through London
Roger East 20 September 2007, Business, Cars
High-tech gloss sharpens appeal of car hire by the hour
Slick, up-market branding is repositioning the old ‘car club’ idea. Congestion charging, the price of parking, and smart technology for charging users and tracking availability, have all helped the likes of Streetcar make its mark in London.
Soft soap saves forests
Martin Wright and Oliver Balch 20 September 2007, Conservation, Eco-products & services, Retail
Body Shop leads switch to sustainable palm oil
Palm oil has been in the dock of late, as concerns intensify about the loss of crucial forest resources to dramatically expanding palm plantations in Southeast Asia – and the climate implications of the clearance work involved.
Premises promises
Hannah Bullock 20 September 2007, Architecture
Low carbon offices raise the bar for refurb and newbuild
Great premises can speak louder for a company’s green credentials than any CSR report. Especially for architects – as witness Sheppard Robson’s £350,000 makeover of its Manchester offices earlier this year.
Pole-to-Pole emissions free
20 September 2007, Climate change, Transport & travel
Sussex pair walk on thin ice
Not content with being the youngest Britons to climb Everest (at age 18) in 2006, two explorers from Sussex set off last April on a man-powered pole-to-pole expedition.
Now you’re talking…Katherine Hamnett
20 September 2007, Behaviour change, Entrepreneurship, Fair Trade, Materials, People, Retail
She famously flashed a T-shirt opposing the purchase of US Pershing missiles while shaking hands with Margaret Thatcher back in the ’80s.
Now the leftfield fashion guru is designing organic clothing collections for the likes of Tesco – in between campaigning on nuclear power, HIV and fair trade…
Urban myths
Trevor Lawson 20 September 2007, Built environment, Planning, Regeneration
“Towns are greener than the countryside.” Says who? - Commission for Rural Communities
The future is disruptive
Rebecca Willis 27 September 2007, Business, Entrepreneurship, Green government, People
The government is committed to reducing carbon, and promoting innovation. So why is it making life so hard for innovative entrepreneurs offering dramatic carbon savings? Rebecca Willis reveals the obstacles – and the opportunities – for the ‘disruptive innovators’.
Dematerial world
Richard Barrington 20 September 2007, Business, Information technology
With a billion computers on the planet already, the future of IT should be about services, not stuff. - Sun Microsystems
Nail it, screw it…
Peter Malaise 20 September 2007, Business, Carbon reduction, Climate change, Retail
To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Peter Malaise thinks we’re in danger of single-track thinking on CO2 – when what we need is a more holistic approach – Ecover
Megacity mix and match
Iain Aitch 20 September 2007, Climate change, International policies & agreements, Transport & travel, Urban
Hot topics – or hot air? Iain Aitch looks for the action when big cities club together on climate change.
How low can you go?
Trevor Lawson 20 September 2007, Business, Construction, Housing, Local government
Can all new houses be zero carbon by 2016? You bet. But we need innovation now. Trevor Lawson meets the enthusiasts for change. - Entec
Whitehall watch
Peter Madden 26 October 2007, Built environment, Climate change, Local government, Planning, Policy
A precautionary note for government planners
Yes, Britain needs more houses. But will government get the planning equations right – or just open the floodgates and let down the locals? Peter Madden says Gordon Brown needs to think this through.
Sexing the climate
Simon Fanshawe 20 September 2007, Behaviour change, Consumption, Women
Are men and women different when it comes to global warming? Simon Fanshawe pays manly tribute to sensitivity – and shopping.
Creative energy
Chris Alden 26 October 2007, Biofuels, Cars, Community energy, Europe, Urban
Renewable power projects really can work. On a serious scale. Here’s the living proof – and a challenge for Britain to match.
ALL CHANGE
21 September 2007
As someone once said, “change is the only thing that will remain constant”. Any conservationist would attest to that.
Electric green energy
Julian Rollins 21 September 2007, Microgeneration, Wind power
It’s time for energy suppliers to put their money where their mouths are, and invest in new wind power, says Dale Vince. - Ecotricity
Where skylarks dare
Terry Slavin 21 September 2007, Community energy, People, Wind power
Up on Adam Twine’s farm, five turbines spell out his commitment– to community-owned renewables. Yes, there’s a cost, in rural charm… but just look at the (human) energy potential.
Planning your next holiday yet?
Stephanie Draper 21 September 2007, Holidays, Transport & travel, Travel plans
The best way to beat the post-holiday blues, I find, is to book the next holiday before the suntan starts to peel. But my dilemma these days is that I am working to a carbon budget.
Feeding the future
21 September 2007, Climate change, Farming/Horticulture, Natural world & resources, Visions & futures
England’s farmers are on the front line of climate change. Four out of five are persuaded that it’s really happening – and, encouragingly, 70% of them can see some potential for business benefits in that change.
The bandwagon to be on
Ben Tuxworth 8 October 2007, Business, Consumption, Marketing, Society & culture
Finally, everyone’s at it. From Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth, to the Simpsons movie homage An Irritating Truth, mass communications are being brought to bear on the ‘Greatest Challenge Facing Humanity’TM.
Future Positive
Joy Green 26 October 2007, Visions & futures
It’s 2022 – and low carbon living is as attractive as it is crucial. So what’s on offer? In an exciting new project, Forum for the Future comes up with iconic adverts – and a thoughtful rationale – for the innovative products and services we’ll all be wanting.
The three Rs of climate change
Terry Slavin 9 October 2007, Schools
As term began, 250 more-than-usually-excited Worcester children surged back through the gates of Redhill School.
Fresh from the summer holidays, these are the first participants in an unprecedented experiment in sustainable learning.
Wired Earth
Chris Alden and Martin Wright 26 October 2007, Climate change, Culture, Inspiration
Everybody’s doing it. From Coldplay to the Kaiser Chiefs, green is the new rock ’n’ roll. But can pop stars really save the world? Chris Alden peers into the biofuelled tour bus.
American Eye
Polly Ghazi 9 October 2007, Americas, Local food
The love affair with local food
Middle class America is in love with local food. It’s the ‘new organic’, says Polly Ghazi – and it’s worth billions to those best placed to meet demand. So who’ll fund the investment in local farms?
And another thing...
Martin Wright 9 October 2007, Culture, Inspiration
Direct action adds edge and urgency to the climate debate – but it’s crying out for a more positive, persuasive message, says Martin Wright
Wild Words
10 October 2007, Carbon offset/neutrality, Carbon sequestration, Climate change impacts
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What’s the price of a cow in Nepal got to do with climate change? A lot, says David Nussbaum. The new chief executive of WWF-UK has carbon credits, water, and China on his mind.
Banking on offshore
Neil Wilks 10 October 2007, Wind power
Birds, radars, landowners, fishermen – just some of the stakeholders in Hydro’s North Sea wind farm.
Enduring energy
Martin Wright 10 October 2007, Energy sources, Microgeneration
From solar power for India’s poor to wood-fired heating for UK schools, the Ashden Awards highlight some of the world’s most innovative energy schemes, reports Martin Wright.
Feeling the heat
Julian Rollins 10 October 2007, Carbon reduction
Caterers are the latest to come under pressure to cut carbon. That means big changes in the kitchen, reports Julian Rollins. - Aga Foodservices Group
Woodlark ascending
11 October 2007, Wildlife
One of England’s most critically endangered birds is making a dramatic comeback
Keeping the peace
26 October 2007, Housing, Planning, Urban
Countryside needs more protection from urban sprawl, show new maps
‘Peace and quiet’ – it’s the most valued feature of the countryside. That’s according to 72% of respondents in a poll carried out by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), compared with just 19% who chose ‘nature’.
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.
Shelter from the storm
12 October 2007, Climate change impacts
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Architects weigh in with innovative dwellings for the dispossessed
What might life be like in an old oil tanker? Scott Wilson consultancy’s ‘Ark’ concept [right] envisions converting these sea monsters into offshore, self-sustaining communities – complete with deck gardens and sports pitches.
New energy for old Edinburgh
David Howells 12 October 2007, Architecture, Energy sources, Heritage
Scottish capital’s redevelopment scheme features ground source heating
Controversial plans for a major redevelopment in part of Edinburgh’s historic old town are set to include one of the UK’s largest ground source heat pumps.Rags to riches
8 October 2007, Materials
Government has designs on sustainable clothing
With the growing popularity of ‘vintage’ clothing, the rise of ‘charity shop chic’ and the spread of clothes-swap ‘swishing’, it’s a shock to discover that used clothing is the fastest growing waste stream in the country.
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.
Passing the buck on CO2
Roger East 26 October 2007, Asia, Climate change, International trade
Emissions ‘made in China’ are down to consumers, say reports
Fully 23% of China’s carbon emissions are attributable to the manufacture of goods for the Western market, according to a study by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
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.
Shop your clone town
29 October 2007, Urban
Shop your clone town
Survey to measure the spread of identikit high streets
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.
Street life revival
2 November 2007, Regeneration, Urban
’DIY streets’ schemes balance traffic with community needs
Britain’s city streets should put pedestrians and cyclists on an equal footing with motor vehicles. So says Sustrans – and it’s not just rhetoric.
Neighbourhood watch on heat
13 November 2007, Energy conservation & efficiency, Fuel poverty, Housing
Birmingham’s eco-scheme champions energy saving
An award-winning Birmingham City Council scheme is tapping into the power of community action to help homeowners cut energy waste in older properties.
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
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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.
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