One of the more serious flaws in the Paris Agreement on climate change is that – largely as a sop to the Republican Party Neanderthals in the US Congress – it is entirely voluntary.  Governments have promised that they will cut carbon emissions, but this is not legally binding. In …

By applying circular economy principles to global plastic packaging, we could transform the plastics economy and drastically reduce pollution, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Commenting on the report, Martin Stuchtey from McKinsey Center for Business and Environment explains: “Plastics are the …

On 22 April 2016, the leaders of 130 countries will meet at the United Nations in New York to sign the Paris climate agreement.  But according to Chris Mooney at the Washington Post, these political leaders (not for the first time) have absolutely no idea what they are signing up to: …

New York start-up TransActive Grid enabled the first ever peer-to-peer paid transaction of energy in the USA yesterday.  In doing so, the company aims to usher in a revolution in the way energy markets operate. Traditional energy markets are based around big and expensive national and international infrastructure that favours …

The so-called “peace dividend” following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 was often more spin than reality according to author and former banker Satyajit Das.  Nevertheless, the global economy did benefit: “First, defence spending declined, freeing up resources for other expenditure… Second, scientific and mathematical resources previously employed …

Following the worst first quarter since 2007, Olivia Oran at Reuters reports an anticipated slump in US banking in 2016: “Concerns about economic growth in China, the impact of persistently low oil prices on the energy sector, and near-zero interest rates are weighing on capital markets activity as well as …

In Britain, the EU and USA, we tend to leave our future energy supplies to the “free market”.  It is true that governments provide exploration grants and subsidies to oil and gas producers.  Nevertheless, decisions about where and when to drill are left to the directors of the energy companies. …

If we are to have any chance of keeping global warming below two degrees, we have to wean ourselves of gas.  So at face value the plan to convert Leeds to a hydrogen city looks like a great idea.  However, since hydrogen does not naturally exist anywhere on Earth, whenever …

According to writer and broadcaster David Hepworth, 1971 was the best year for music albums ever: “This is the year of Hunky Dory, Sticky Fingers, Every Picture Tells A Story, Pink Floyd’s Meddle, Elton John’s Madman Across the Water, Who’s Next and Led Zeppelin IV. Those are just the British …

Ofgem economist David Osmon – writing in a personal capacity – argues that one of the solutions to the UK energy crunch is to introduce a system of progressive VAT rates to replace the current five percent flat rate. Osmon suggests  removing VAT altogether for standing charges, keeping the current …