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FOUR UK universities reached top scores in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings that compared how higher education institutions across the world have performed in terms of social and environmental impact. The Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based on the local, national and international impact of the University’s education,...

NORTHERN Ireland Water has won the coveted Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development 2020. The awards recognise companies across the UK that display best practice in Sustainable Development and address sustainability issues using innovative approaches. NI Water’s Chief Executive, Sara Venning, commented on the award: “We are absolutely thrilled to achieve this prestigious award, which recognises our wide-ranging sustainable development...

THE SCOTTISH Government is to hold regular meetings of the Strategic Leadership Group on Oil and Gas and Energy Transition to work in partnership with the industry to identify actions to support the sector and its workforce during the coronavirus pandemic. The first of what is hoped to become monthly meetings will take place on 7 May. The Strategic Leadership Group,...

UNICEF and Microsoft Corp have announced the expansion of a global learning platform to help children and youth affected by COVID-19 continue their education at home. The Learning Passport started off as a partnership between UNICEF, Microsoft and the University of Cambridge and its departments Cambridge University Press and Cambridge Assessment, designed to provide education for displaced and refugee children through a...

TO COMMEMORATE the first anniversary of Wales declaring climate emergency, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs outlined plans to fight climate change and head towards net zero post-pandemic. Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, paid tribute to workers combating climate crisis amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a written statement and underlined that the crisis will accelerate...

THE RAPID progression of technology has led to a huge increase in energy usage to process the massive troves of data generated by devices. However, researchers in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin have found a way to make the new generation of smart computers more energy efficient. Traditionally, silicon chips have formed the building...

TURNING a box for your new television into a cat's house has reportedly never been easier as Samsung Electronics has introduced a new eco-friendly packaging across its Lifestyle TV portfolio in efforts to reduce the company's environmental footprint. Samsung’s new ‘eco-packaging’ made from eco-friendly corrugated cardboard will be applied to The Serif, The Frame and The Sero, allowing customers easier...

OFWAT has today published its final decisions on how it will intervene to support customers’ interests in the business retail market through the COVID-19 pandemic. The water regulator has stated its focus is to protect the interests of customers while ensuring they have access to reliable water and associated retail services now and into the future. Following a review of consultation...

IN this series of four features, Nigel Cornwall is taking us on a journey over the 30-year history of GB Electricity Market. Nigel Cornwall is a well-known energy industry commentator and founder of Cornwall Insight. His latest venture is New Anglia Energy, which is a company formed to support local energy markets in Norfolk and Suffolk. Its purpose is to demonstrate learning...

'CAUTIOUS' actions are being taken to begin some of the highest priority work at Sellafield. After ‘ramping down’ operations at the site by pausing reprocessing and construction work on major projects to focus on the key services, the key workers are now beginning some of the most important high hazard and risk reduction work again. Since the Covid-19 pandemic escalated, the...