Francesco Bassetti, Author at Foresight

50 Years of Earth Day, Climate Action and Science

Half a century in a timeline. 50 years of events, climate policy, actions and data about CO2, temperature, and population. 50 years that have brought

Coronavirus Postpones Climate Summits, But Climate Action Cannot be Delayed

The UNFCCC has confirmed the postponement of both the Bonn Conference and COP26. Although climate summits look unlikely in the near future, climate action cannot

Decrease in Global Inequality is Threatened by Climate Change

Global inequality between countries has been decreasing over the last few decades, particularly due to rapid economic growth in India and China. In contrast, recent

What Science Has to Say About the Coronavirus – Climate Crisis Connection. A Press Review

Understanding how Covid-19 is affecting the climate crisis is of vital importance. There are a variety of narratives emerging across global media channels, with many

Fukushima Aims for a Renewable Energy Future

On March 11, 2011, the Great Tōhoku Earthquake – the most powerful ever recorded in Japan – caused a tsunami that reached up to 10km

A Bright Future for Solar Powered Desalination

With over half the world’s population predicted to live in water-stressed areas by 2025 we must find effective solutions to the incumbent water crisis. Water

Record Heatwave in Antarctica Confirms the Continent’s Warming Trend

Another record broken in Antarctica. Certainly not one to be proud of. Satellite images released by Nasa have made headlines, revealing the extent of glacial

Is greenwashing a sign of real change?

Increasingly, large corporations (with even larger carbon footprints) are putting forward ambitious climate pledges. Yet these commitments often lack clear planning and direction, making it

The Most Engaging Climate Change Papers of 2019

Applying altmetrics to climate change papers reveals that they are amongst the most engaging research articles of 2019. Papers on the climate emergency, rising sea

Science and Research Can Close the Loop, For a Genuinely Circular Economy

The circular economy is all about replacing the current “linear” model of growth and reducing the strain on planet Earth’s limited resources. Currently, the global economy is only 9% circular – just 9% of the 92.8 billion tonnes of minerals, fossil fuels, metals and biomass that enter the economy are re-used annually. However, as policymakers and businesses start embracing the circular model they need science and research to provide fact based knowledge that can dictate policy and direct businesses towards effective strategies and away from pointless “greenwashing”.

Global Risks Report: Environmental Concerns Take Top Spots Just As Business Leaders Lag Behind

The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Report brings together around 800 experts in business, government and civil society to create a summary of what “the world’s most pressing challenges” for the coming year by likelihood and impact will be. Unsurprisingly, climate-related issues featured in all of the top long-term risks. However, the report also revealed how different global actors perceive these risks and, alarmingly, business leaders are lagging behind other respondents. A finding that was emphasized by the Annual CEO Survey that revealed just how far behind business leaders are in their concern for climate risks.

Universal Energy Access: The Future Belongs To Mini-Grids

Providing universal energy access by 2030 is one of the UN defined Sustainable Development Goals. It will require doubling current investments in the energy sector, with a significant focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Fortunately, there is a new protagonist under the spotlight, bringing a more resilient and cost-effective solution to electrification. Forget the “bigger is better” mentality, the future is small, interactive, and decentralized.

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Francesco Bassetti

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