This might seem an odd question to ask given that you can go to any supermarket and get a vast choice of foods at very competitive prices. However, when you look at some of the facts about our food system the reality is quite alarming. Obesity and diet-related diseases like diabetes are a major problem in the UK. We have very high rates of obesity, with two-thirds of adults either overweight or obese. One in five children start primary school overweight or obese, and the figu

In the UK there has been a significant decline in biodiversity over the last few decades with England becoming one of the most nature depleted nations in Europe. In February 2024 the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation was introduced to try and address the impact of development on wildlife. The idea is to try to ensure an overall improvement to habitats for wildlife when a new development takes place. Developers are legally required to achieve a minimum 110% BNG.   Ecolo

There are lots of reasons cited for eating less meat ranging from concerns about animal welfare to health issues. Increasingly it's the impact of meat production on climate change that is being highlighted. Meat production uses more energy, water and land than plant based foods and is a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions. According to UN figures about 14% of all emissions come from meat production. However, if you look at the data there are lots of complexities. Th

Robert MacFarlane’s latest book is entitled “Is a River Alive?” and it asks what happens if we take seriously the idea of a river being alive in terms of our perception, law and politics. Many indigenous peoples see the living world as an integrated whole both from a practical and spiritual point of view. They believe in an essence or soul in all things, not just living creatures The modern view of the natural world is that it is something quite separate from us. It is a reso

The pictures of the earth at night give most of us a sense of awe as we see a world with the bright lights of the cities and the expanses of darkness. The light dissipating into space is of course a waste of energy. Modern lighting is more controlled and the amount of light directed upwards has reduced over the past decades. However the volume of artificial light at night (ALAN) is still increasing at about 6% per year. Behind the human story we are conducting a giant experim

The UK has much higher electricity costs both for consumers and businesses than many other industrial countries.  This might seem strange as we keep hearing that renewable energy such as wind and solar is much cheaper than electricity produced by fossil fuels or nuclear power. We also know that the percentage of electricity produced by renewable sources has been growing so logically the price should be dropping. The fundamental answer to this paradox is that we have added ren

The table shows the carbon footprint per kilometre of various types of transport. Domestic flight 246g Electric car 47g Diesel / petrol car 170g National rail 35g Long-haul flight 148g Tram 29g Bus 97g Walking /cycling <15g Note: Figures show grams of carbon dioxide-equivalents per passenger kilometer - source UK Government  Here are some thoughts on this table. Planes versus petrol cars You might be surprised that long-haul flights have a lower footprint per kilometre than a

There is a lot of confusion about the recycling of tetra paks and soft plastic. Materials like glass and aluminium cans are easily recyclable and can be recycled multiple times. There are plenty of other materials where recycling is much more problematic. Tetra paks are the cartons that you buy for milks, juices, soups and sauces. The material looks and feels like a waxy type of cardboard.  If you look at a typical Tetra Pak carton it will say it is 100% recyclable. However,

The term “forever chemicals” was first coined in 2018. This refers to a group of man made chemicals called PFAS which do not break down easily and will persist in the environment for decades.   There are now more than 15,000 variants of these chemicals and they have unique waterproof, durability and heat resistant qualities. Forever chemicals are used for applications such as non-stick pans, grease resistant containers, stain resistant clothing, outdoor clothing, nappies, per

Our energy demand varies at different times of the year (higher in the winter) and throughout the day (higher from 16:00 to 19:00). Some...

Local Authority Council Housing is in a dire situation, but most people are unaware of the seriousness of the problems. You will often...

There is a general view that insects are in serious decline - what’s the evidence for this? Anecdotal data There is plenty of anecdotal evidence about the decline of insects such as the much quoted lack of insects found on car number plates or windscreens. Kent Wildlife Trust has run a citizen science survey of bug splats over a number of years that supports this intuitive feeling. There is also the feedback from anglers and ornithologists who informally monitor the same spot

Water companies have come under huge amounts of scrutiny recently because of the amount of sewage that is being pumped into our rivers...

China accounts for over 30% of greenhouse gas emissions whereas the UK accounts for less than 1%. The UK only accounts for less than 1%...

The proportion of our household waste that goes to recycling grew from 11% in 2001 to 42% in 2022. However, in recent years the level of...

There are a growing number of applications for solar farms and the planned size of these farms is getting larger.   For the stakeholders...

Domestic heating accounts for roughly 14% of UK carbon emissions. Air source heat pumps are often promoted as a potential solution. The...

Flooding is a historic natural phenomenon whereby prolonged heavy rain feeds into rivers and then into lowland waterways which can then become overwhelmed and the water spills out onto the floodplain.   However, flooding is getting worse both in terms of the number and intensity of flood events. Flooding also has a knock on impact on the sewage system which can’t cope with the amount of additional rain water in the system. The primary causes of the increase in flooding are cl

‘15 Minute Cities’ is an urban planning concept originating in Paris and introduced at the COP in 2015 aimed at rethinking urban planning...

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a property on a scale from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). An EPC is required...