Robert Hickson • May 25, 2021 •
Several significant statements or declarations have been made recently. Some are signals of change, others are just signalling. The International Energy Agency has long been criticised for misreading renewable energy trends. Last week though, in their report Net Zero by 2050 they made a recommendation: There is no need for investment in new fossil … Read More
Robert Hickson • Apr 07, 2021 •
Here’s a few short interesting developments or discussions I’ve seen recently. Loosely bundled together in a theme of “values.” Irregular labour Is the private sector the best provider and facilitator of “gig work”? That’s challenged in a New Yorker profile of Wingham Rowan, an English social entrepreneur. For many years he has been trying … Read More
Robert Hickson • Mar 17, 2021 •
Regenerative agriculture, where the health and wellbeing of the environment, animals and farmers is prioritised, is gaining cachet. I see that as a necessary but insufficient change to how we manage land and watery environments. In some respects discussions about regenerative agriculture are more backward- than forward-looking. Take, for example, the UK’s Food, Farming and … Read More
Robert Hickson • Feb 23, 2021 •
This post is a mix of a few recent reports on trends, recent discoveries or developments. Topics covered are the future of work, the geopolitical shift from oil to semiconductors, transition to low carbon futures, disappearing Artic sea ice, and AI in health care. Yesterday’s Gone A Canadian report from the Brookfield Institute identifies eight megatrends … Read More
Guest Author • Dec 23, 2020 •
Libby Kennedy In a world of metal straws, keep cups and electric cars, everyone is on the hunt for the most eco-friendly products to help reduce their environmental impact. Many corporate companies have noticed this and are now advertising to this new green-minded demographic. Unfortunately, it is very common to see a discrepancy between the green claims advertised by … Read More
Guest Author • Dec 16, 2020 •
NOTE: This is an excerpt from a digital story – read the full story here. Electra Scott Despite its pretty appearance, the fashion industry has some ugly truths. The fashion industry is a massive contributor to environmental degradation, globally. The production of clothing uses extreme amounts of water and creates … Read More
Guest Author • Nov 26, 2020 •
James Higham, University of Otago and Hazel Tucker, University of Otago Raise your hand if you’ve ever travelled for weeks or months as a backpacker on a limited daily budget. Keep your hand up if you were made welcome in the places you visited on your OE, enjoyed chance encounters and experienced the generosity of strangers. And did those … Read More
Rosemary Rangitauira • Nov 19, 2020 •
Fiona Wiremu (Ngāi Tūhoe | Ngāti Ranginui) is driven to do all she can to enhance the lives of tāngata whenua and that’s evident in the multiple research areas she covers. These include mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) such as te reo Māori, culture and identity, Whai Rawa (Māori Economies), Te Taiao (Natural Environment), Mauri Ora (Human Flourishing and Wellbeing) and … Read More
Guest Author • Nov 17, 2020 •
Hyejune Park and Cosette Marie Joyner Armstrong, Oklahoma State University A massive force is reshaping the fashion industry: secondhand clothing. According to a new report, the U.S. secondhand clothing market is projected to more than triple in value in the next 10 years – from US$28 billion in 2019 to US$80 billion in 2029 – in a U.S. Read More
Guest Author • Sep 30, 2020 •
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nz I’m seeing quite a few “climate-friendly” products at the supermarket. Are consumers willing to pay more for … Read More