-
For a second time, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has passed the buck on its landmark climate disclosure rule, entitled The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors. The rule, finalized just last year, remains in legal limbo, as neither the SEC nor the courts seem eager to decide its fate. On July […]
-
UN report: Five charts explaining the rise of global food insecurity
Hunger has, on average, fallen worldwide after hitting 15-year highs in 2021 and 2022. This is one of the key findings from the latest “State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” (SOFI) report, an annual assessment produced jointly by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development, UN Children’s […]
-
Group plans indoor ultra-rapid EV charging hub in Aberdeen
by
EV charging operator Fastned has submitted a planning application to Aberdeen City Council for what it says will be the UK’s first indoor, ultra-rapid* EV charging hub, featuring 400kW chargers and a drive-through layout inside a converted warehouse. The location of the charging hub inside one of the city’s warehouses demonstrates what seems to be […]
-
WRAP report documents the financial benefits of adopting circular economy practices
by
A new report assessing 200 UK businesses and 1,500 consumers appears to show that the adoption of a growing number of circular economy practices are helping many to improve their financial performance and mitigate against future uncertainties linked to climate change. Produced by global environmental action NGO WRAP and C&C Strategy Consultants the report Are […]
-
Scientists issue urgent call ahead of final plastics treaty talks
by
With the final round of UN negotiations on a global plastics treaty fast approaching, a group of over 60 leading scientists from around the world has issued an urgent call for governments to agree on ambitious, enforceable action to tackle plastic pollution, such as reducing plastic production and prioritising human health. The letters, published today […]
-
The Hidden Carbon Footprint of Global Trade: How China Freight Forwarding is Driving the Green Logistics Revolution
by
Every product shipped from China to global markets carries more than just its manufacturing footprint—it carries the environmental weight of one of the world’s most complex logistics networks. As someone who has spent years in the China freight forwarding industry, I’ve seen both the environmental challenges and the amazing green innovations that are changing how […]
-
A Single Paragraph’s Promise: The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change and the Understated Question of Human Displacement
Within a single month, two groundbreaking advisory opinions on climate change have been issued, fundamentally shaking the field of international environmental and human rights law: the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) Advisory Opinion OC-32/25 on the “Climate Emergency and Human Rights” and the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ’s) Advisory Opinion on “Obligations of States […]
-
What Is Niche Zero — Why It’s a Game-Changer for Sustainable Cafés
by
Quick Answer — What Is Niche Zero? The Niche Zero is a high-end, single-dose coffee grinder built with conical burrs and near-zero grind retention. It delivers ultra-precise, waste-free grinding for both espresso and manual brew methods. Designed in the UK, it’s become a favorite among home baristas and eco-conscious cafés for its sustainability, quality, and […]
-
DeBriefed 25 July 2025: World court delivers climate ‘turning point’; Renewables ‘unstoppable’; Antarctica’s oldest ice examined
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s DeBriefed. An essential guide to the week’s key developments relating to climate change. This week World court’s ‘landmark’ climate opinion POLLUTERS ‘ACCOUNTABLE’: The UN’s highest court has told “wealthy” countries “they must comply with their international commitments to curb pollution or risk having to pay compensation to nations hard hit by climate […]
-
Enhanced Due Diligence: A New Legal Standard for Climate Action in the Inter-American System
Advisory Opinion 32/25 (AO-32/25) of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) marks a turning point in the interpretation of international human rights law in relation to climate change. In AO-32/25, the IACtHR recognizes that the world is facing a genuine climate emergency and affirms that this situation demands an urgent, coordinated, and human rights-based […]
-
UKWIR research explores FOG-based wastewater charging
by
A robust move towards preventative, source-control solutions to prevent pollutants from entering the wastewater system in England and Wales was a key recommendation of the Independent Water Commission (IWC), which unveiled its Final Report on 21 July. This indicates a fundamental shift towards a more holistic and preventative approach to environmental management within the water […]
-
Water’s hour of reckoning? Highlights from the Cunliffe review
by
The Independent Water Commission (IWC) reported its findings on 21 July, the culmination of an eight-month investigation, billed as the largest review of the water sector in England and Wales since privatisation.1 It has had the unhappy task of figuring out how to restore trust in a system that by all accounts is considered broken. […]
-
ICJ: What the world court’s landmark opinion means for climate change
The highest court of the UN has issued a landmark “advisory opinion” stating that nations can be held legally accountable for their greenhouse-gas emissions. Recognising the “urgent and existential threat” facing the world, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that those harmed by human-caused climate change are entitled to “reparations”. Their opinion largely rests […]
-
Robot, know thyself: New vision-based system teaches machines to understand their bodies
by
In an office at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), a soft robotic hand carefully curls its fingers to grasp a small object. The intriguing part isn’t the mechanical design or embedded sensors — in fact, the hand contains none. Instead, the entire system relies on a single camera that watches the robot’s […]
-
Pedestrians now walk faster and linger less, researchers find
by
City life is often described as “fast-paced.” A new study suggests that’s more true that ever. The research, co-authored by MIT scholars, shows that the average walking speed of pedestrians in three northeastern U.S. cities increased 15 percent from 1980 to 2010. The number of people lingering in public spaces declined by 14 percent in […]
-
New machine-learning application to help researchers predict chemical properties
by
One of the shared, fundamental goals of most chemistry researchers is the need to predict a molecule’s properties, such as its boiling or melting point. Once researchers can pinpoint that prediction, they’re able to move forward with their work yielding discoveries that lead to medicines, materials, and more. Historically, however, the traditional methods of unveiling […]
-
The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: An Introduction
“An existential threat” – this is how the International Court of Justice (ICJ) characterized climate change in its long-awaited advisory opinion on the obligations of States with respect to climate change. In the most significant development in international climate law since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the ICJ outlined numerous obligations that could significantly […]
-
China Briefing 24 July 2025: EU-China climate statement; World’s largest megadam; Clean-tech exports
Welcome to Carbon Brief’s China Briefing. China Briefing handpicks and explains the most important climate and energy stories from China over the past fortnight. Subscribe for free here. Key developments New EU-China climate statement CLIMATE STATEMENT: European Council president António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen signed an EU-China agreement on climate with […]
Carbon Neutral Regulation in AI Training