Experts call for new economic modelling to meet energy transition ambition

The ambition of policymakers navigating the energy transition has surpassed the capacity of economic modelling for the first time, a keynote paper argues.

Oxford Martin scientists launch ambitious roadmap for circular carbon plastics economy

Researchers from an Oxford Martin programme have outlined ambitious targets to help deliver a sustainable and net zero plastic economy, arguing for a rethinking of the technical, economic, and policy paradigms that have entrenched the status-quo - one of rising carbon emissions and uncontrolled pollution.

Urgent call for UK Government to develop a heat resilience strategy

A new Parliamentary report spearheaded by Oxford Martin researchers has urged the UK Government to introduce a national heat resilience strategy to prepare the UK for the widespread impacts of a warming world.

How researchers aimed to meet resource challenges that transcended boundaries

The Oxford Martin Programme on Transboundary Resource Management came to a close not long ago and as such there is an opportunity to reflect on what we mean by this concept and how increasingly relevant it is during these geopolitically volatile times. Two of the programme’s directors explain more.

Oxford Martin Restatement aims to help policymakers on soil carbon

The Oxford Martin School has just published the latest in its series of “Restatements”, which review the scientific evidence underlying areas of current policy concern and controversy. The latest project looks at the capacity for grassland used for grazing livestock to store carbon.

Investors “flying blind” to risk of climate lawsuits

Polluting companies could be liable for trillions in damages from climate lawsuits. But few investors and regulators are taking these risks into account when evaluating companies’ climate-related financial risks, according to new Oxford research published today in Science with the involvement of Oxford Martin fellows.

Turning COP’s promises into progress and the rise of climate regulation

COP28’s outcome is meaningful. For the first time in three decades (since the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was founded, and the year I was born) oil and gas has been included in an agreed text. The final text includes a pile of compromises that may cause issues down the road, but this moment still represents an historic signal about ‘the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era’.

Ancient DNA reveals how a chicken virus evolved to become more deadly

An international team of scientists led by geneticists and disease biologists from the University of Oxford - including biologists on the Oxford Martin programmes on the Future of Food and Pandemic Genomics - and LMU Munich have used ancient DNA to trace the evolution of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV).

End-of-world scare stories have the opposite effect: Dame EJ accentuates the positive

It makes no sense to talk in apocalyptic terms about the environment, Dame EJ Milner-Gulland has told the University of Oxford's website.

Excessive state reliance on carbon dioxide removal is ‘likely inconsistent with international law,’ says Oxford research

In the run-up to COP28, new research from a team at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London warns that states which over-rely on future Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) to meet Paris Agreement targets could fall foul of international law.

Methane, meat and metrics

The Oxford Martin School's Director, Professor Sir Charles Godfray, and Professor of Geosystem Science, Myles Allen discuss the way forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

New research from Agile Initiative finds nature-based solutions are essential for Brazil to meet its 2050 net zero pledge

Without the implementation of nature-based solutions, in particular ending deforestation and restoring native vegetation, Brazil would jeopardise its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pledges including achieving net zero GHG emissions by mid-century, according to research published today from an international team led by the Oxford Martin School's Agile Initiative.