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People who work from home and heat more than one room will prompt significantly higher carbon emissions than those who work in an office, according to new research from the University of Sussex Business School. The researchers are calling on home-workers only to heat the rooms they need, and on governments to help people live in more energy efficient homes. In...

If we want to tackle the myriad runaway consequences of climate change we can no longer accommodate the fundamental mismatch in design of the grid, Abi Beck from RenewableUK Cymru tells ICON readers in this thought piece.     Our National Grid network is undergoing the biggest and most rapid overhaul in generations. In the next seven years, Carl Trowell, President of...

A project to create the world’s first hydrogen-powered crematorium is being supported by a team of researchers from the University of Brighton. This summer, cremator manufacturer DFW Europe will begin testing pioneering hydrogen technology at its base in the Netherlands. If these tests are successful, the technology will be brought over to trial at Worthing Crematorium as early as spring...

In the wake of a recent Supreme Court hearing on the legal case against Surrey County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for oil drilling at Horse Hill, Simon Bishop and John McElroy, both members of the London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA), tell ICON readers how cases like this highlight the need for businesses to prioritise issues relating to...

50 percent of the reduction in on-farm agricultural emissions required for a 1.5°C pathway are cost neutral or ROI-positive today, new research by McKinsey & Company indicates. However, according to the report, major barriers, namely transition financing, investment to reduce costs, behaviour change, and additional incentives such as increased carbon prices are needed to support adoption. "The agricultural transition: Building a...

Figures released today by RenewableUK Cymru to mark Wind Energy Week highlight the rapid expansion of grid capacity needed for Wales to meet its proposed target of 100% of electricity needs from renewable sources by 2035. There is currently 1.98GW of fully commissioned installed wind energy generation capacity in Wales. The majority of this (63%) comes from onshore projects, including...

Sodium-ion batteries are gaining attention as a potential game-changer in the energy storage industry, and Ivy Cheng from TROES gives ICON readers an insight into this emerging technology.     Lithium based batteries currently hold the top spot for demand within the battery industry, with sodium-ion batteries emerging as a new technology within this sector. With sodium being an abundant resource, it adds...

A landmark moment took place at the Eden Project in Cornwall on 19 June as the UK’s first operating deep geothermal heating plant since 1986 was opened and is now generating heat. The process of drilling deep into the granite was finished in 2021, and Eden Geothermal Ltd (EGL) has now completed the heat main and plant and is ready...

ICAT (Initiative for Climate Action Transparency) has launched three new guides targeted at climate change decision-makers leading adaptation policies and projects. According to the authors, decision-makers could effectively assess climate change adaptation project proposals, enhance measurement and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for adaptation activities to encompass local and non-State actors, and assess the impacts of losses and damages by using the...

Consumer anxiety around air pollution is on the rise across the UK, with more people concerned about air quality than ever before. New analysis of online habits has revealed that ‘air pollution’ has never been Googled more, with searching at an all-time high. The study, performed by British air purification company, MedicAir, suggests that UK consumers and business decision-makers are...