Precision agriculture, producing more with less?
There are ways of growing more with less, and precision agriculture is an important contributor to this. We need to focus more on these “easy” wins, but we also need to do so in a way that respects the financial reality faced by many farmers.
Electric trucks - the future of freight?
While it might appear from recent news stories that the debate about what will power the trucks/HGV’s of the future is ongoing, in reality it's actually pretty much already decided. Short of any surprises in the next couple of years, it's going to be electricity.
The good stuff in wastewater - part 1
In a world of increasingly scarce resources, wastewater can provide us with heat (for our buildings) plus raw materials for fertiliser and for energy. It now makes sense to better use the good stuff in our waste water - that we are currently just wasting.
If only markets were long term, our sustainability problems would be fixed?
What if financial markets were not focused on short term gain? What if markets are actually long term focused, but that they believe that the pace of the sustainability transitions will be so slow that the business as usual scenario is still financially optimal.
Battery storage - the next transition boom industry?
Battery storage has an increasingly important role to play as we build out an electricity grid dominated by renewables. But, current revenues from filling the generation gaps left by variable renewables are actually small, with the main income stream being from the smaller grid stability market.
All that glitters is not gold
Gold Mining: as well as being the largest global artisanal mining activity, also faces a number of sustainability challenges. One is where it comes from, and another is how it's processed.
Is gas flaring a solvable problem?
Gas flaring is part of the wider methane emissions challenge. It gets a lot of attention, in part because its highly visible. How easy is it to fix ? Part solutions seem easy, and financially viable, full solutions look tough.
The cyber threat to our key infrastructure
Smart grids are making our electricity systems more responsive and reliable, better able to handle the addition of more renewable generation, and they are contributing to reducing costs. But they also bring cyber risks.
Reducing electricity demand and still staying cool
For many in the world, staying cool in the heat of summer is as important as staying warm in the winter is to those of us who live in the the northern latitudes. And yet it often gets a lot less attention in the electricity security and supply debate.
Timber in buildings is good, but not always
The use of timber as a structural element in buildings, replacing steel or concrete, is on the rise. And, in many cases this is a good thing. Timber can be a cost effective, lower carbon and more sustainable solution. But we can sometimes carry this narrative too far
More climate change law is coming
In a world of climate & biodiversity "sticks and carrots", the law is a clear stick. But, we argue that the law is not just about action by governments and regulators. Climate and biodiversity litigation by private citizens and pressure groups is on the rise.
Artisanal mining - seeking solutions
The increasing focus on supply chains for the critical minerals used in green technologies has also brought the topic of artisanal mining to the fore. It remains a controversial and not well understood topic.