Climate Change ⁽²¹⁾

A story in this morning's Guardian perfectly illustrates the policy incoherence that runs to the heart of the current government. It concerns Britain's National Cycling network, a linked chain of over 16,500 miles of cycleways which are used by half the number of people who…

Today the IPCC came out with its sternest warning yet about the dangers the world faces if global warming isn't held to 1.5degC. The thing is, we already know how Governments can do this. They tax the things they want less of and incentivise the…

Great summary today at the RSA of climate change from Environment Agency head Sir James Bevan. He was concise and chilling on the enormity of the challenge of climate change and the catastrophic consequences of failure to act decisively. Sadly, but predictably, he was less…

Sample 3D Modules Credit: Allegra Boverman The 3D solar towers being developed by MIT illustrate just how much further we have to go in stretching the still new technology of solar power. These experimental towers are up to 20 times as efficient as today's flat roof panels.

Now here's an idea: make it compulsory for all new buildings to be built with enough rooftop solar capacity to make them electricity-neutral throughout the year. At a stroke this would double the rate of growth of rooftop solar. According to Government figures published in January 2014 there…