Should We Have Impact Assessments for Disruptive Technologies?
Disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence or ride-sharing apps, are already affecting people in significant ways. There are increasing concerns about data collection, surveillance, behavior management and the shake-up of local economies as automation takes over. The question arises of
What the mighty mangrove tells us about our broken relationship with nature
Mangrove trees lining tropical coasts are undervalued yet mangrove protection should be part of the plan to save the planet and protect biodiversity. Mangroves are trees that grow miraculously on seawater, fringing some of the tropical shores of our planet. They shelter
Buildings and Construction: A sleeping giant for climate action
The benefits of energy-efficient buildings include substantial savings, energy security, job creation, and health. They also have a lower lifetime cost and higher asset values. That's why we need to mobilize innovative financing solutions for zero carbon building projects. In the
Climate Change Hits Vulnerable Communities First and Hardest
Building resilience in fragile regions must be a priority, not an afterthought, in our efforts to reach global goals. Climate change impacts vulnerable communities hardest. We’ve known for a while that conflict and political instability—especially when coupled with extreme weather events
Time to Trade Collective Inertia for Collective Action
Humans are the cause of global warming, we know that. Now we need concrete actions. We need investors to factor climate risks into their analyses and governments to quit subsidizing fossil fuels. In short, we need collective, collaborative action. And
Seven ways new technology will impact the mining sector
There is concern that massive job losses will occur in the mining sector because of automation. Some aspects of the new technologies, though, can act to offset the negative labour impacts with positive social and environmental impacts. Two years ago, I
Zooplankton and Water Quality: Here are the facts
As a result of their central position in lake food webs, zooplankton can strongly affect water quality, algal densities, fish production, and nutrient and contaminant cycling. Whenever I speak to the public as a researcher on water quality, I often hear