Desalination could give the Middle East water without damaging marine life -- but it must be managed carefully

Jordan is planning a major desalination plant on the Gulf of Aqaba – but will it damage nearby marine ecosystems?

Raya A. Al-Masri, Researcher in Resources Governance and Sustainability, University of Surrey • conversation
Jan. 18, 2023 ~7 min

Why gas stoves matter to the climate – and the gas industry: Keeping them means homes will use gas for heating too

Energy companies have marketed natural gas as cooks’ favorite for years because homes with gas hookups will also use it for space and water heating.

Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University • conversation
Jan. 18, 2023 ~9 min


Lobsters versus right whales: The latest chapter in a long quest to make fishing more sustainable

To fish the oceans sustainably, nations must reduce bycatch, or accidental catches. But fishermen often resist changing gear or techniques that kill nontargeted species.

Blake Earle, Assistant Professor of History, Texas A&M University • conversation
Jan. 12, 2023 ~10 min

Deforestation: proposed EU import ban may fail to protect tropical rainforests and farmers – here's how it should work

The EU have introduced a new regulation on the import of products linked to deforestation – but will this reduce deforestation globally?

Joss Lyons-White, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Cambridge • conversation
Jan. 6, 2023 ~9 min

Beyond Section 230: A pair of social media experts describes how to bring transparency and accountability to the industry

A key piece of federal law, Section 230, has been credited with fostering the internet and allowing misinformation and hate speech to flourish. Here’s how it could be reformed.

Jon Pfeiffer, Adjunct Professor of Law, Pepperdine University • conversation
Jan. 4, 2023 ~9 min

What social media regulation could look like: Think of pipelines, not utilities

The US government regulates many industries, but social media companies don’t neatly fit existing regulatory templates. Systems that deliver energy may be the closest analog.

Theodore J. Kury, Director of Energy Studies, University of Florida • conversation
Dec. 15, 2022 ~9 min

Why the UK needs to stop exporting plastic waste

Many countries export their plastic waste abroad – but the mismanagement of this plastic waste is one of the leading causes of plastic pollution in nature.

Steve Fletcher, Professor of Ocean Policy and Economy, University of Portsmouth • conversation
Nov. 25, 2022 ~7 min

Beyond passenger cars and pickups: 5 questions answered about electrifying trucks

As California goes on regulating air pollution, other states often follow – including the Golden State’s ambitious goals for cleaning up emissions from trucking.

Miguel Jaller, Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis • conversation
Nov. 1, 2022 ~11 min


Financing the transition to net-zero – here's how the EU will advise investors where to put their money

The transition to net zero will require huge investments, but how do we make sure investment goes to the right place?

Ian Thomson, Director of the Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham • conversation
Oct. 12, 2022 ~7 min

The UK's water industry is broken – here's how to fix it

Unless action is taken, the UK will be unable to supply its own water needs in the future – we should look to water-scarce regions such as California for inspiration.

Kevin Grecksch, Departmental Lecturer and Course Director MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management, University of Oxford • conversation
Sept. 26, 2022 ~7 min

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