The age of cascading crises: Why the world keeps being surprised

From the Gulf to Ukraine to the Sahel, today’s conflicts are not isolated events but cascading shocks in a hyper-connected world, yet our institutions remain built to react to yesterday’s wars.

Which shocks pose the biggest risks to global food systems?

Oxford study develops model to help countries identify vulnerabilities and outline measures to help strengthen resilience against food crises.

Strait of Hormuz disruption exposes the UK’s fertiliser vulnerability

When geopolitical shocks hit households, we tend to notice energy prices first. But another shock often follows quickly: fertiliser price spikes that raise farm costs, then food prices.

How the world can avoid millions going hungry when supply chains collapse

Millions more people will face hunger in the coming months if the conflict in the Middle East is not resolved soon, the UN has warned.

A faster, cleaner way to recycle electric vehicle batteries

Electric vehicle batteries are typically recycled by breaking them down with heat or strong chemicals. But new research shows that recycling does not have to begin with destruction.

Global population living with extreme heat to double by 2050 - Oxford study finds

A new University of Oxford study finds that almost half the world’s population (3.79 billion) will be living with extreme heat by 2050 if the world reaches 2.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels – a scenario that climate scientists see as increasingly likely. Most of the impacts will be felt early on as the world passes the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement, the authors warn.

New study estimates NHS England spends 3% of its primary and secondary care budget on the health impacts of temperature

A new University of Oxford-led study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, is the first to link daily temperature data to health-care use and costs across primary and secondary care in England. Analysis of 4.37 million patient records in England has found resources asymmetrically impacted by winter cold and summer heat, with about 64% linked to common cold days while very hot days drive sharp same-day demand surges.

How can we effectively regulate international trade in wild species?

Global food systems driving twin crises of obesity and global heating

A major review in Frontiers in Science warns that unsustainable food systems pose an urgent threat to both human health and the climate.

Reforming the UK food system isn’t just an imperative, it’s an opportunity

Speaking at a first-of-its-kind National Emergency Briefing on climate change, Professor Paul Behrens outlines the urgent need to reform the UK food system – and the diverse benefits this would bring for farmers, the public and nature.

What we told UK leaders about climate and nature at a national emergency briefing

Reflections on COP30 in Belém

Researchers from across the University of Oxford were at COP30 in Belém, taking part in side events, presenting new research, and working with partners to support the negotiations and inform the wider political process. They included the Directors of two of our major programmes, Nathalie Seddon from our Agile initiative and Thomas Hale from the Oxford Martin Programme on Climate Policy.

Climate policy models are missing the human cost, says new Lancet review

A Lancet Planetary Health Review, co-authored by Professor Paul Behrens from our Future of Food programme, finds that widely used climate policy models overlook major impacts on people’s lives. The result is that prevention can be undervalued.