How have plants adapted over centuries or millennia to survive and recover from human interference? David Moreno-Mateos and his team are analysing tree species in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest to find out, and to help inform and improve future restoration practice.
News
Why ‘de-extinct’ dire wolves are a Trojan horse to hide humanity’s destruction of nature
In a thought-provoking feature for The Conversation, Dr Rich Grenyer, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Biogeography, examines the ethical and ecological concerns surrounding de-extinction, arguing that the allure of reviving species like dire wolves risks diverting attention from the ongoing human-driven destruction of the natural world.
Nature-based solutions can help fight climate change, biodiversity loss
A new report from Oxford's Nature-based Solutions Initiative and collaborators including the Environmental Change Institute has found that nature-based solutions are key to reducing climate change impacts such flooding, soil erosion and loss of food production. The report is the first systematic review of the evidence for using nature-based interventions from around the world and investigates nearly 400 scientific studies.
NEWS
Coronavirus: why aren't death rates rising with case numbers?
Danny Dorling uses government data from England and Wales to explain why coronavirus death rates remain low despite cases rising for two months in his latest article for The Conversation.
IN THE MEDIA
Rai Saad Khan wins prize for his undergraduate dissertation on Performative Statehood
Congratulations to recent graduate Rai Saad Khan (2020, Christ Church) who has been awarded the 2020 undergraduate dissertation prize by the Royal Geographical Society's Development Geographies Research Group for his paper titled, 'Lahore's Performative Statehoods: A study of the form and practices of statehood of the Walled City of Lahore Authority in Pakistan'.
NEWS
Only one in 10 utility firms prioritise renewable electricity
New research finds electric utility companies are undermining the global transition to net zero emissions. Only 10 percent of companies have prioritised renewable capacity and many of those continue to invest in fossil fuels as well. The study, led by Galina Alova, was published today in Nature Energy and covered by the Guardian, BBC, and others.
IN THE MEDIA
5 economists redefining... everything. Oh yes, and they're women.
Forbes investigates five female economists revolutionising their fields by questioning the meaning of everything from value and debt to growth and GDP. The story features Kate Raworth, Senior Research Associate and lecturer at the ECI, and author of 'Doughnut Economics'. Her work challenges traditional measures of growth and GDP, and focuses on sustainable development within planetary boundaries.
IN THE MEDIA
Climate change after COVID-19: Harder to defeat politically, easier to tackle economically
A column in VoxEU draws on a new research paper, 'Five Lessons from COVID-19 for Advancing Climate Change Mitigation' from a team including Franziska Funke, Linus Mattauch and Brian O'Callaghan at the ECI and Smith School. It argues that the current pandemic is an opportunity to understand where the real challenges lie for progression on climate action - in garnering political will and public support.
IN THE MEDIA
Why you should go animal-free: 18 arguments for eating meat debunked
Damian Carrington at the Guardian investigates the compelling environmental and health evidence for a plant-based diet. Featuring research and comment from across the University of Oxford, including from ECI researchers Joseph Poore and Tara Garnett.
IN THE MEDIA
How COVID-19 Has Accelerated Interest In Environmental Issues
BusinessBecause explores how the coronavirus has changed attitudes, outlooks and policy. With comment from Aoife Brophy Haney, on how the crisis has triggered people to re-engage with their local environment in a different way than they did before - and provided a trial run for the business response to the climate crisis.
IN THE MEDIA
MSc student Ellen Kujawa announced as one of nine Science Policy Fellows on the National Academies' 2020 Gulf Research Program
Ellen Kujawa, a current student on the MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management programme, is one of nine recipients to be awarded a 2020 Science Policy Fellowship on the United States' National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Gulf Research Program, which seeks to benefit Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems.
NEWS
Pandemic leaves Amazon more vulnerable than ever
Channel News Asia reports on the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, who have seen their lands ravaged by illegal deforestation, industrial farming, mining, oil exploration and unlawful occupation. Now, the coronavirus pandemic and forest fire season amplify these challenges and pose further threats. With comment from Erika Berenguer, ecosystems researcher at the ECI, on deforestation in the Amazon.
IN THE MEDIA
