a note from hussh
We are standing at the intersection of crisis and justice, experiencing both greater connection with the people and planet we live on, and extreme loss and sorrow at what we as mankind have created. It’s in this space that we share the untold stories of tomorrow, that seek to shape and enlighten our world today.
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We need more from our financial institutions in the fight to address the environmental crisis
A report by WWF Switzerland and WWF Denmark has called for immediate action by central banks and financial supervisors to combat the urgent twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity…
The intersection of climate action and social justice: Cultivating a society that prioritises kindness, generosity, and welfare
Life today is complex. We’re seeing a multitude of overlapping crises that require a multifaceted approach to encompass climate justice, social inequity, and a lack of economic progress. The…
The integrity gap: research exposes widespread lack of credibility in net-zero commitments
Countries worldwide have made ambitious pledges to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, but a report by Net Zero Tracker reveals a significant lack of commitment globally. The report…
Is economic growth and sustainability really compatible?
Protect nature or accelerate economic growth? It’s a question that’s becoming increasingly more timely. In order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, it’s now widely accepted that…
A spotlight on Archana Soreng: Amplifying Indigenous voices for a sustainable future
Indigenous Climate Advocate, UN Youth Advisory Member, and Voice of Odisha's Kharia Tribe.Archana Soreng was born into the Kharia tribe of Odisha, India, an Indigenous community with a rich…
The true compensation cost of excessive emissions revealed for historic responsibility
Wealthier countries, including the United States and those in Europe, could find themselves facing an astronomical price tag of $170 trillion as reparations for their disproportionate carbon…
A spotlight on Helena Gualinga: Championing Indigenous rights in the fight against climate change
In the heart of the Ecuadorian rainforest, Helena Gualinga, a proud member of the Kichwa Sarayaku community, carries on her family’s legacy of environmental activism. As a co-founder of…
The remarkable Montreal Protocol may just have delayed an ice-free arctic
When scientists made the groundbreaking discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica in 1985, it prompted a global response in the form of the Montreal Protocol. The United Nations treaty aimed…
Ecuador’s historic debt conversion paves the way for a paradigm shift in conservation financing
In an unprecedented move, Ecuador has converted $1.6 billion of debt into a loan, unlocking millions of dollars for conservation efforts in this ecological haven. Ecuador’s pioneering…
A tale of deception: The emperor’s wearing the same clothes
As a child, I remember being enthralled by the tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” For those not au fait with the story, the fable tells of an emperor, swindled by clever…
The oil company that predicted climate change
An enlightening example of when corporate self-interest trumps global interest. In the late 1970s, scientists and government agencies were beginning to study climate change more seriously.…
When indigenous peoples get caught in the middle of corporate and governmental climate strategies
The world’s Indigenous leaders at an annual UN summit, have warned that the west’s climate strategy is risking the exploitation of Indigenous territories, resources, and people. As…
Honouring the voices of indigenous peoples: Wisdom of the Elders shines a light on native storytelling
Wisdom of the Elders may not be a household name in the UK, but their work is another representation of the incredible efforts being undertaken by many indigenous peoples around the world to…
How the humble banana is helping us re-think our diets and our planet
I’ve been vegan(ish) for a few years now. I have to add the “ish” on as I’ve struggled with years-long addiction to cheese that I just can’t seem to shake. Other…
The long road ahead for fusion energy and its role in a greener future
When I looked at my energy bills this winter, it was clear that for the first time, how (and when) we use electricity was going to become important for many UK households facing a costly end…
“Defenders of the Earth”: How Mitzy Cortés and the Futoros Indígenas are combating climate change
When I was studying at university just less than a decade ago, climate change was pretty low on the social agenda. Things have changed significantly in recent years, however, as the realities…
Brazil’s illegal mining stance in the Amazon gives hope for the future of Indigenous rights
In a decisive move to protect Brazil’s largest Indigenous reserve and its inhabitants, the Brazilian government has launched a campaign to oust tens of thousands of illegal miners…
The race to save our planet: UN’s comprehensive climate change report demands urgent action
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has declared a groundbreaking report on climate change a “survival guide for humanity” and urged all countries to bring forward their net zero…
Tropical forests struggling to recover from deforestation, new research shows
New research published in the journal Nature has found that recovering tropical forests are only able to offset a quarter of carbon emissions generated annually by logging, wildfire and land…
A natural revolution takes root in Scotland’s countryside as rewilding surges
The Scottish countryside is seeing a remarkable transformation in the wake of a burgeoning rewilding movement. In just two years, the Northwoods Rewilding Network has expanded to encompass 55…
Current biodiversity loss could lead to total ecosystem collapse, warns study
According to recent research on the greatest mass extinction in Earth’s history, the gradual degradation of wildlife and biodiversity could quickly escalate into a catastrophic collapse of…
Big money, limited action: Why $6 Billion alone won’t be enough to save our seas
The West is shifting. It’s been slow and arduous (and often, highly frustrating), but inch by inch, we’re beginning to promises, pledges, and policies take shape to tackle issues…
Kung Fu nuns: Breaking barriers and fighting for the environment
In the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, there exists a group of devout women known as the “Kung Fu nuns”. The women belong to an 800-year-old Buddhist sect called Drukpa,…
Landmark treaty agreed upon to establish marine protected areas in high seas
After nearly two decades of negotiations, UN member states have finally reached an agreement to safeguard seas around the world. The historic treaty, announced on Saturday night in New York…
It’s up to us: Why limiting warming to 1.5 degrees is a self-fulfilling prophecy
A new report published on Wednesday by the University of Hamburg suggests that significant social change is required to halt catastrophic climate change, and that society is not changing fast…
When good becomes bad: The real cost of social activism
You will no doubt have seen a number of environmental and activist groups grab the headlines over the past few years, often relating to campaigners finding new and innovative ways to bring…
The buzz about bees
The tiny honey bee, responsible for pollinating one third of the world’s food supply, is teetering on the brink of extinction. This grim reality, if not addressed, could spell the end of…
Indigenous expertise creates new Marine Protected Areas
In recent weeks, Indigenous peoples in North America have scored two major victories that have significant implications for both climate and biodiversity. The first win was the announcement of…
Money talks: How budget constraints are hampering disaster aid
The recent horrific earthquake in Turkey and Syria has once again highlighted the mounting stress on the already overburdened humanitarian aid system. Despite the fact that the earthquake was…
Indigenous communities play key role in maintaining the Amazon’s least deforested areas
A recent study published in Nature Sustainability has shed light on the critical role played by Indigenous territories and protected areas in the preservation of forests in the…
How storytelling can change the world
I believe that storytelling can change the world. As humans, it’s something that remains integral to how we communicate, understand and connect with others and the world around us. Its…
The cost of emissions isn’t equal and others are paying the price
Even within climate circles, we often hear moans at the stress and strains population growth is having on the finite resources our world offers. And I’d agree there’s truth there:…
The psychological game of greenwashing
Greenwashing. It’s all around us, everywhere. And the common practice — where products are marketed as being environmentally friendly or “green,” even if they may not be as…
We’re living in a world more focused on “normalisation” than “conservation”
There has been a proliferation of memes lately that depict a series of huge waves representing various crises. The first wave represents the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by an economic…
Cleaning up the chocolate supply chain
The European Union (EU), the world’s largest cocoa purchaser, has made a commitment to only import cocoa that does not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation. This decision is…
The lucrative scam of carbon credits
Carbon credits have been hailed as a solution to climate change; a way for countries and companies to offset their greenhouse gas emissions, they are purported to fund clean energy projects in…
Why the UN 30×30 agreement is a big deal
Yesterday, approximately 190 countries approved a comprehensive United Nations (UN) agreement to protect 30% of the earth’s land and oceans by 2030 and to take other steps to address the…
The great billionaire giveaway: Good deeds or publicity plays?
Back in Autumn 2022, Patagonia founder and billionaire Yvon Chouinard announced that he would be giving his entire company away in a bid to help fight the climate crisis. The Patagonia Purpose…
Indigenous communities are critical in our fight to protect our lands and seas
As the UN COP15 focuses talks on biodiversity in Montreal, there’s a growing realisation that globally, we’re not as prepared as we need to be in our bid to protect and conserve 30…
A guide to avoiding overconsumption this Christmas
The festive period is upon us, and despite the bitterly cold temperatures that December has so far brought, nearly every city centre has its festive lights on full display and Christmas…
The new era of the climate movement: How to make action happen
I got asked the other day if I thought that the climate movement is beginning to fracture under the weight of its own success. The question was loaded, of course, but I believe its point is…
The not so beautiful game
Whether you’re an avid football fan like me, or you couldn’t care less about the sport and actively try to avoid it (like our social media manager, Callum), you’ll no doubt have been…
Unpopular opinion: The real cost of cheap meat
I think it’s fair to say that a dominant belief of our time is that low prices are good, and high prices are bad. Expensive commodities are bad, inflation is bad — really anything that is…
Good COP, bad COP: The future of climate action looks shaky
COP27 has been heralded as arguably the least transparent process seen so far since the formation of the Collation of Parties. Observers — and even some of the delegates — were reported to…
Brazil is back
At COP27 this year, President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (commonly referred to as Lula) announced to the world that “Brazil is back.” Punctuated by chants of “olé, olé, olé, ola, Lula,…
Black Friday: What’s the best deal for our planet?
For the past two weeks, my poor inbox has been spammed with emails that always contain the same bland subject lines: “Black Friday has landed” or “Get 50% off this Black Friday.” Before even…
COP27: Tears of joy or more frustration?
COP27 has already been hailed by the BBC as a “chaotic summit that teetered on the brink of disaster” which seems inline with the general public’s expectation of what this event was going to…
A shift in the wind: Investment in renewables is on the up
Capital investments in renewables are set to outstrip oil and gas for the first time this year as countries scramble to source secure and affordable energy. For years, capital investments in…
Eating local: The what and where of our eating habits
This weekend, my partner woke up and decided he wanted to go for brunch. Even the maelstrom-esque weather outside couldn’t dissuade him. When eventually I relented and hopped online to book a…
Overfishing and warming seas are putting species at risk
I love fish and chips. There are few culinary delights in the UK that can match a humble battered cod and paper-wrapped soggy chips on a warm, summer afternoon. But this holiday-maker treat is…
COP27: A haven for hypocrisy or an avenue to action?
COP. Three seemingly innocent letters that have somehow spun more controversy in the past few years than the slew of prime ministers revolving one after another through the doors of 10 Downing…
Why climate loss and damage is tricky to quantify — and even harder to hold nations to account
Loss is hard to measure. This is probably the hardest part about the climate conversation on who owes what to whom — and how much. How do you place a value on something special? A wild berry…
No fricking fracking
It’s 1947 and across the pond in the United States, a scientific experiment has begun which has been touted as a game-changer for the oil and gas industry. Its name? Hydraulic fracking. …
Life after climate change — A view from an eternal optimist
Whenever I try and talk with friends and family about the current #climate ‘predicament’ we’re in, I find myself met with one of two reactions. 1. The artful dodger – their…
China’s going green, but is it fast enough?
Over the past few weeks, climate eyes have been fixed firmly on China — the world’s biggest CO2 emitter — as it held its party congress where President Xi Jinping was confirmed as the party…
Black History Month: Can Bristol do better?
As the only true Bristolian amongst our office staff, it naturally fell to me to cover our final piece for our Black History Month series on Bristol’s relationship with its Black citizens. As…
Black History Month: Why social justice is the key to the climate debate
In the late 1980s, Britain had very few governmental positions focused on raising awareness and addressing local environmental issues. Unlike the US at the time, we had no policy discourse or…
A review of ELMS could spell disaster for the British environment
From an environmentalism view point, farmers have had a tough ride in recent years. Beef, dairy, and raising other livestock have all been touted as emission-heavy practices — the…
Black History Month: Showing A Red Card To Racism
With only one month to go until the World Cup and as we reflect on Black History Month, I wanted to highlight some of the historic and present footballing icons who have made history within…
King Charles III: A King not cool with global warming
No matter what you thought about our former reigning monarch, Elizabeth II, no one could deny that she played the role of impartiality extremely well. The mere thought of the Queen expressing…
The impact of a cashless society on the homeless
Despite the fact that there is over £80 billion worth of cash in circulation right now — more than double than a decade ago — consumer spending habits have shifted in recent years from…
From Code Red to Code Crimson: How climate change is affecting our biodiversity at exponential rates
If we were in code red before, we’re now in code crimson. The current climate and nature crisis is not only an environmental issue, but an economic, development, security,…
Black History Month: Action, not words
The theme for Black History Month 2022 is “Time for Change: Action Not Words.” I won’t lie, when starting this blog I was slightly daunted by the question “As a white man, is it my place to…
Rethinking endless growth with Doughnut Economics
It’s 2012, and University of Oxford economics professor Kate Raworth sits at her desk. She’s re-assessing her views on the world humanity aspires to live in to help shape a better paper.…
The significance of Denmark breaking ranks to provide climate funding for developing nations
Just last week, I wrote about the lack of funding from wealthier nations to developing countries for “loss and damage” related to climate change. Vague “promises” have…
We’re entering the next level of the fossil fuel crisis, and we don’t even realise
We’re in a fossil fuel crisis but we can’t solve it with more fossil fuels. BBC News recently proposed some ideas to tackle Britain’s energy bill crisis — from capping…
Tipping points are about to tip
Failure to limit global warming to the targets set by international accords will most likely set off several climate “tipping points,” a team of scientists said on Thursday, with irreversible…
Boreal Forest: From carbon sink to source
If you asked someone 10 years ago how they could help the environment, they’d have said to recycle. I can’t tell you how many poems, drawings and art competitions we had at school…
Wet bulb temperatures are rising
Between March and May this year, India alongside countries including the UK, Portugal, and France, endured repeated heatwaves that exposed more than a billion people to dangerously hot…
A spotlight on Mike Barry: Steering the corporate world towards a greener future
More often than not, when someone mentions the word ‘activist’, the image that springs to mind is of a young person, no doubt holding up a sign and blocking traffic with their fellow Gen Zs in…
Why climate action needs rhetoric to turn into plans, progress and policy
As the world’s leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly this week, the US has said it will be delivering a message many thought was not possible a few years back: to cut…
Stop Bloody Whaling
Unless you’ve been locked in a cupboard for the past few years, you’ve no doubt seen (or at least heard about) the Netflix documentaries Black Fish (2013) and/or Seaspiracy (2021), both of…
A Spotlight on Vandana Shiva: The untold story of a lifelong eco-warrior
Everyday, our news feeds are inundated with stories of the worsening state of our planet. But they also show pockets of hope—from companies directly tackling climate issues, to activists…
How the weather changes our landscapes
Last week and over the weekend, the UK experienced its second heat wave of the year—an occurrence that is becoming all the more frequent in a country ill-prepared for temperatures that stray…
The plight of the mangroves
On an expedition in the Amazon River Delta, researchers found mangroves growing in water with little to no salinity and overlapping with freshwater forested wetlands—a phenomenon…
A Spotlight on Birdgirl: The young naturalist defying stereotypes
Looking fondly back to my early 20s (which, let’s be honest, was a while ago), I can’t say that sitting down and penning memoirs of my early years was even on my mind, let alone at the…
Is fast fashion really as bad as they say?
As summer hits the UK and everyone is preparing to go away on holiday, many of us are no doubt heading to the highstreet (or its digital cousin) to top up our summer wardrobes. But industry…
The emissions no one seems to like talking about
When it comes to climate change, the focus tends to be on carbon dioxide. But hot on its heels is methane (CH₄), the second most important greenhouse gascontributing to the climate…
Greenwashing: The new climate battleground
Greenwash | Pronunciation /ˈɡriːnwɒʃ/ | NOUN | mass noun “Disinformation disseminated by an organisation so as to present an environmentally responsible public image.” In our…
The murky world of green gas
The European Union has an ambitious climate law to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030. That’s a huge cut, and it raises a crucial question: How much, and for how long,…
The rise of renewable tariffs: Are they as green as they seem?
Whatever your stance on energy (particularly given the recent cost of living crisis), renewable energy has increased in popularity in the last 20 years. In fact, renewables are set to…