Editors' blog
Anna Simpson, 9 Mar 2010
In last week’s episode of ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’, two women vied for a rare opportunit...
Brazil's corporates lead on sustainability reporting
March 15th
Brazilian businesses are keen to leave their history of boom and bust behind, discover Andrew Downie and Martin Wright.
Effective land reform remains a challenge for Brazil
March 16th
The Movement of Landless Workers takes land reform into their own hands - but at what price for the forests?
Co-operative weaves gold from arid land
March 12th
A small farmers' co-operative makes millions weaving carpets from a native agave.
Social project makes sugar mean sweet
March 11th
The sugar cane industry defines socio-economic conditions in Aracoiaba. It hasn't always made life sweet for local workers, but things are looking up.
Exclusive interview with the man behind Curitiba's master plan
March 10th
Jaime Lerner tells Green Futures how to redesign a city, what Brazil’s major metropolises have yet to learn, and why urban acupuncture is the way forward.
Downloading the sun in Suruacá
March 8th
Internet access is improving education and healthcare in remote parts of Brazil, thanks to solar PV.
From water container to cutlery
George Wigmore March 16 2010, Eco-products & services, Innovation, Recycling
Designer Oscar Diaz has found something beautiful in the banal by transforming recycled plastic bottles into elegant cutlery.
Floating cities a vision of the future
Katie Shaw March 12 2010, Housing, Innovation, Planning
Two architectural companies are responding to the problem of rising sea levels, by fashioning cities that float.
Hydro brings independence to remote farmers
Martin Wright and Roger East March 5 2010, Americas, Community energy, Hydro electric
In the deep south of Brazil, small-scale hydro plants are bringing robust, reliable supplies of power to farming communities.
Clean transport calls for sustainable sugar
Anna Simpson March 3 2010, Americas, Biofuels, Farming/Horticulture
There isn’t a traditional cane cutter or a burning field in sight as Anna Simpson explores the shift to a sustainable sugar cane industry in Brazil.
Major embargos mean new hope for 'protected' forests
Anna Simpson March 3 2010, Americas, Farming/Horticulture, Forests
In Brazil, a rare combination of supermarkets, banks and determined government action is giving teeth to forest protection laws.
Will Brazil's oil bonanza drown out renewables?
Tom Phillips March 2 2010, Americas, Fossil fuels
In 2007, Brazil struck gold with the discovery of vast oil reserves. Two years on, Tom Philips explores the impact on the country's much vaunted 'renewables revolution'.
Rainforest revival: has Brazil turned the tide on deforestation?
Andrew Downie and Martin Wright February 26 2010, Americas, Forests
After years of seemingly unstoppable destruction, Brazil appears to be winning some ground on the Amazon frontier. Is this just a recession-induced calm before the storm, asks Martin Wright – or the start of a rainforest revival?
Why Levi’s blue jeans are turning green
Anna Simpson February 24 2010, Fashion, Materials, People
Michael Kobori, Vice President of Social and Environmental Sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co., tells Anna Simpson why the iconic brand is convinced sustainability is the future of fashion.
Rio 2016: a catalyst for social change
Lottie Butler February 23 2010, Americas, Sport
With Rio to host the 2016 Olympic Games, sport is acting as a powerful catalyst for social and economic change across Brazil.
Can Brazil lead on climate commitments?
Jonathon Porritt February 22 2010, Americas, Biofuels, Forests
If Brazil can both exploit, and protect, its vast resources, it could be a powerhouse of the 21st century. Conor Foley and Jonathon Porritt sift the possibilities.
No decentralisation without dosh, says Jonathon Porritt
Jonathon Porritt February 18 2010, Local food, Local government
Decentralisation: idealistic, but without sufficient funding, unrealistic? Jonathon Porritt makes the case for local resources.
US invests in transformative technologies
Roger East February 17 2010, Biotechnology, Budget/Taxation, Green government
Federal stimulus seeks out the green energies of tomorrow, boosting carbon capture and geothermal technologies.
Fighting fuel poverty? Call the doctor
Garry Campbell February 15 2010, Carbon reduction, Eco-products & services, Housing
With rising fuel costs, more UK households are struggling to pay their energy bills. Garry Campbell thinks that home visits from 'Green Doctors' could be the answer.
Five essential criteria for leadership on climate change
February 11 2010, Business services, Corporate responsibility, Visions & futures
Iain Watt challenges businesses to embrace all the opportunities that the transition to a low-carbon economy offers.
The showrooms of the future
Peter Madden February 10 2010, Cars, Commuting, Eco-products & services
In 20 years’ time, our city streets will no longer be dominated by the motor car as vehicles of all shapes and sizes will zoom silently around, says Peter Madden.
Fife Council makes the right buys
February 9 2010, Awards & grants, Carbon reduction, Procurement
Fife Council has won the Government Opportunities Sustainability Award for a procurement tool that takes into account the carbon and financial costs of a product's full life cycle.
Exclusive interview with Andy Wales, SABMiller
Anna Simpson February 8 2010, Corporate responsibility, Higher/Further Education, People
Business offers one of the most dynamic, focused and practical solutions. Andy Wales, Global Head of Sustainable Development for SAB Miller, talks about his experience as one of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders.
Shrink the economy to stabilise the climate, says Andrew Simms
Andrew Simms February 5 2010, Consumption, Finance, People, Socially responsible investment
Slavish devotion to growth is charting a course for catastrophe. Andrew Simms, policy director of nef, looks at the potential for radical ecomonic transformation.
Chic cistern recycles water
Lottie Butler February 5 2010, Eco-products & services, Innovation, Waste & recycling, Water
Chic, stylish and good for the planet: the elegant, self-contained design of Roca's new all-in-one washbasin and toilet can cut household water use by up to 25%. The 'Washbasin and Watercloset', known as 'W+W', filters water directly from the basin and uses it to fill the toilet cistern.
Consistency key to cosy homes, says EST
Anna Simpson February 3 2010, Awards & grants, Eco-products & services, Energy conservation & efficiency, Housing
Mixed messages on energy efficiency are costing UK households dear. Clear consistent advice is called for.
Roof tiles to cool the planet
Lorna Howarth February 2 2010, Construction, Materials
Colour-changing roof tile works with the weather as techno-fix solution for colling the planet.
Close competition for clean city cars
April Streeter February 1 2010, Cars, Innovation
A lauded British race car designer and a UK-based car company are touting their design for a sustainable urban car which could revolutionise motor manufacturing.
Green skyscrapers reach new heights
George Wigmore January 29 2010, Architecture, Regeneration, Solar energy/PV, Wind power
Big, green and gorgeous: design for efficient, self-sufficient skyscrapers reaches new heights.
Biogas: from bad smells to big bucks
Roger East and Tricia Holly Davis January 29 2010, Biofuels, Sustainable accounting
After years in the wilderness, biogas is set to play a major role in powering the future.
Second life for EV batteries
Roger East January 28 2010, Cars, Innovation, Re-use/refurbishment
The economics of electric vehicles (EV) has been strengthened by a battery re-use deal, as Nissan sells their lithium-ion batteries to Japanese trading company Sumitomo.
Ordinary business has to wake up, says John Griffin, CEO Addison Lee
Anna Simpson January 25 2010, Business, Cars, Commuting, Energy conservation & efficiency, People
"You have to get ordinary, dosh-driven business to make the change", says John Griffin, CEO of Addison Lee taxi firm in conversation with Anna Simpson.
Could radical work spaces mean the end of the office?
Hannah Bullock January 22 2010, Eco-products & services, Employment, People, Places/demonstration centres
From London to Brussels to Mumbai, people are paying for a place in a new kind of space. Jonathan Robinson, founder of the Hub, tells Hannah Bullock why.
Intelligent lighting for darker skies
Lorna Howarth January 21 2010, Energy conservation & efficiency, Nanotechnology, Pollution, Urban
Prototype street lighting technology which will both improve the quality of night skies in urban areas, and cut electricity use, is raising high hopes among light pollution campaigners.
Tesco ‘to go zero carbon’
Nick Chan January 21 2010, Carbon offset/neutrality, Retail
Tesco, the world’s third largest retailer, has committed to plans to be ‘zero carbon’ by 2050.
The perils of predicting the future
Martin Wright and Trish Lorenz January 21 2010, Culture, Lifestyles, Nuclear power, Visions & futures
“Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.” Danish physicist Niels Bohr’s words are a wise warning to the reckless forecaster. Trish Lorenz and Martin Wright uncover some instructive howlers.
Sweden pushes for carbon food labels
Nick Chan January 19 2010, Agriculture & Food, Consumption, Retail, Standards
Calorie-counting could soon give way to carbon-counting, if Swedish trends catch on globally. Sweden’s National Food Administration has issued dietary guidelines that consider both the nutritional benefit of particular foods, and their environmental impact.
Futurists: shaping business for tomorrow
James Goodman January 18 2010, Inspiration, Visions & futures
How we think about the future will dramatically affect our chances of living in a sustainable world, says James Goodman. Which is why futurists are starting to reshape the ways in which leading companies and organisations think and act today.
Weak signals: how to track a changing horizon
Anna Simpson and Hugh Knowles January 15 2010, Behaviour change, Innovation, Inspiration, Visions & futures
What's a weak signal? And what do we do with it? Hugh Knowles tunes into the signals of the future that are indeed already with us - but have yet to be recognised as such, let alone adopted by mainstream society.
New turbine design to take wind off the radar
Roger East January 14 2010, Energy sources, Innovation, Wind power
The UK could add a further 5GW of wind power capacity if a new project succeeds in resolving one of the main objections to wind power: that turbines clutter up the radar.
Up to £347 billion in untapped rural potential, says CRC
April Streeter and Roger East January 13 2010, Green Futures partners, Socially responsible investment
A new, holistic model of investment could help rural areas reap the fruits of a green economic revival, says the Commission for Rural Communities.
Welsh medieval castle gets the solar power treatment
Fiona King January 12 2010, Built environment, Heritage, Solar energy/PV
Built for the medieval wars of King Edward I, one 14th century castle in north Wales is preparing for a different kind of battle – the fight against climate change.
Waste vegetable fat to surface the roads
Rebecca Schischa January 11 2010, Innovation, Re-use/refurbishment, Transport & travel
Chip fat could be recycled to surface roads, following successful live trials in Bedfordshire.
Revolutionary new wind turbines spark a surge in renewable energy
Duncan Graham-Rowe January 11 2010, Urban, Wind power
A wave of new turbine designs is brightening the prospects for small- and medium-scale wind power. After years of scepticism over rooftop turbines which cost far more than they will ever repay, there’s the prospect that some of the major obstacles to effective wind power could finally be overcome.
Green gas on the grid
Tricia Holly Davis January 8 2010, Biofuels, Green Futures partners, Procurement, Waste to energy
As excitement over anaerobic digestion's potential gains pace, Ecotricity, one of the UK's renewable electricity pioneers, is going into the gas game.
Can aviation go green?
Roger East January 7 2010, Aviation, Carbon offset/neutrality
With the spotlight hovering over airline emissions, Roger East explores the possibilities of zero-emission aviation.
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