Politics And Economics

Few people in policy work have nice things to say about the Treasury, especially if you produce reports challenging economic growth. So Sarkozy's recent move on GDP is welcome

The Scottish government estimates spending on core services will lead to the release of 11.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide

The West has an image of China as a coal-burning monstrosity standing in the way of a clean future. But the truth is very different

There seems to be chemical cures for every possible human condition - from obesity to shyness. What we really need are more healing hands, argues Molly Scott Cato

New Prime Minister's plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions face strong opposition from Japanese industrial sector

German leader's party plans to keep nuclear power stations open beyond 2020

Attacks from scientists may be putting off further research into GM crops

Lord Adair Turner - head of the FSA and the Climate Change Committe - has ruffled feathers by suggesting a tax on currency trading. Here's why

While we accept the threat of climate change the majority of us are still opposed to compulsory changes such as carbon pricing, new survey shows

Another negotiating week on the road to Copenhagen has come and gone. We try and tell you as much as we can in plain English about where the talks currently stand, now that there are just 100 days left to go to Copenhagen. Our focus here is on the overall 'shared vision' element of the agreement

The idea of a 'leisure economy' has been predicted for decades, but never realised. Despite this, research shows that our working habits continue to put a strain on the planet's resources. Could tackling climate change be as simple as working less?

You can't trust banks; can you trust insurers? Dan Box looks at the rise and rise of 'catastrophe bonds' - the new financial product with a very big downside

Campaign groups call for a suspension on lending to palm oil plantation developers after critical internal audit

A handful of brave, convinced mothers fought their local council to make it pay for polluting their environment and causing their children birth defects. But has anyone learned anything from this landmark ruling?

Sustainability in danger of becoming jargon, says newly appointed green watchdog chief

Will Day is still to prove his credentials to environmentalists as he replaces the high-profile Jonathon Porritt as the head of the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). In one of his first media interviews, he gives the Ecologist his position on GM technology, nuclear power and the jargon of sustainability

It's one of the most encouraging reports of the year, and the mainstream media totally ignored it. Think what you like about town hall politics: there's power in them there councils

Official admits government cut off water supply to force Bushmen out of the Central Kalahri Game Reserve

Molly gets her knuckles rapped for not including standard economic models in her university teaching, and wonders if the profession is disappearing up its own regression formula...

They emptied the public purse to fund their continuing largesse. Now it's time for the banks to pay us back. At phenomenally good rates...

Proposed emissions cuts by many industrialised countries fall short of levels called for by NGOs and climate scientists

Influx of high-fat and high-sugar foods into Central America has increased obesity levels

The 300-350 Show takes the argument against large-scale carbon offsetting under the CDM to the European Commissioner in charge; and hears from a co-author of the most accessible report yet on the case against carbon offsetting under the CDM.

In 1962, Rachel Carson's famous exposé of the environmental impacts of the pesticide DDT rocked the chemical industry. Today, Carson's European legacy - the REACH legislation - ought to safeguard public health. But will it?