Stories

Cambridge Zero Director Professor Emily Shuckburgh and other Friends of COP26 have written to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to deliver on the UK Government's pledges at Glasgow, citing a deep concern for his government’s "lackadaisical approach to international climate, nature, and environment issues."

"Lightning McGreen" and the "The Sustainable Hulk" will lead a new fleet of nine electric buses plying routes travelled by students and staff across the University of Cambridge on a Universal bus route scheduled to be put into service later this year by bus operator Whippet.

The growing network of student Green Officers has once again delivered an exceptional Cambridge Green Week - Easter Term 2023 - with an impressive range of 18 events and 5 Green Formal Hall dinners which saw around a thousand students, staff, academics and local residents meet-up, discuss and act for the climate and environment.

The Cambridge Zero - Cambridge Colleges Sustainable Food Initiative and El Erian Institute of Behavioural Economics and Policy are seeking expressions of interest for a four month part time (0.5 FTE) position from June – September 2023 to be based in Cambridge Zero.

Opportunity for early-career postdoctoral students: Cambridge Zero Darwin College David MacKay Research Associates

Are you an early-career postdoctoral student at the University of Cambridge working on a topic related to climate change and interested in the intersection of climate and policy? Consider applying for the 3rd cohort of David MacKay Research Associates!

Students asked to represent Cambridge Zero took part in lighting up the Cambridge University Botanic Garden’s Black Pine – Pinus nigra – for the BBC's Lighting Up the Nation spectacular light sequence during the King’s Coronation Concert celebrations on Sunday.

Cambridge Zero congratulates King Charles III on his Coronation and welcomes the new King Charles III Professorship – launched by Trinity College in recognition of His Majesty’s lifelong interest in the environment.

Cambridge Zero Director Professor Emily Shuckburgh held two assemblies for children from reception to year six at the University of Cambridge Primary School for Earth Day. Nearly 600 students learned how climate change is melting the ice in Antarctica, threatening the lives of penguins and other polar creatures, and causing a rise in sea levels over a timeline that runs from England's King Charles II in the 18th century to today’s monarch Charles III.

Deadly heatwaves fuelled by climate change in 2022 made almost 90 percent of Indians more vulnerable to public health issues, food shortages and increased risks of death, a new study from researchers at the University of Cambridge - led by Cambridge Zero Fellow Dr Ramit Debnath - reported in the PLOS Climate journal.

We are excited to celebrate the winners of our Earth Day Photography and Poetry Competition! A big thanks to our judges, Ewan Campbell, Dr Lisa Mullen and Domininkas Zalys. A special congratulations to our photography winner, Millie May, and our poetry winner, Alessandra Rey, and to all of our runners up.

The Green Officer-led Green Week runs from Tuesday 25 April to Tuesday 2 May. The theme is ACTION and the week will feature a range of inclusive and fun events organised by students.

Cambridge Zero organised a workshop to explore the capability of materials modelling and how it can accelerate experimental explorations. The event highlighted the importance of developing new materials with better functionality in energy consumption, conversion, and storage, which is crucial to achieving net zero targets.

Cambridge Zero held a workshop on March 24, 2023, to discuss the environmental, social, and ethical dimensions of materials for net zero. The workshop was crucial in highlighting the potential impacts of the projected increase in demand for energy-related materials for the transition to net zero.

In celebration of this year’s Earth Day (22 April), Cambridge Zero are running a Photography and Poetry Competition for all students at the University of Cambridge.  

A letter initiated by Cambridge Zero Director Professor Emily Shuckburgh tells the Prime Minister that the latest global report on climate change demonstrates now is the time to channel all our efforts into renewable energy: “Last Monday the IPCC made it clear that immediate action is required to avert a climate catastrophe. Now is the time to be investing in the technologies of the future, not the past.”

The Cambridge Festival 2023 runs from 17 March to 2 April. Cambridge Zero has been hosting a number of events and collaborations, and there are still more to go! Join us for this final week of the festival at a selection of events.

Earthworms, algae farming, tracking waste via GPS and making water-resistant cellulose packaging were some of the innovative ideas discussed at a Cambridge Zero workshop aimed at improving the circular economy and managing waste.

Dr Ramit Debnath, Cambridge Zero Fellow, led an interdisciplinary team of political scientists, engineers, and justice theorists to investigate how online conspiracy theories are having an impact on the funding for research into new climate technologies like solar geoengineering, which could help lessen the effects of climate change. Read more about the study here.

he Centre for Climate Repair is pleased to be offering four internships and five UROPs during the summer of 2023. The UROPs are available to all university students and are administered by the Engineering Department.

The Call for Applications for the Cambridge Zero Public Engagement & Media Fellowships 2023 is now open! These fellowships are designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and support to enable you to engage with the public both on-line and in person when it comes to your research.

This summer, Cambridge Zero and the Centre for Landscape Regeneration are collaborating to offer seven paid project assistant positions to undergraduates and recent graduates. These roles present an opportunity to get involved with these organisations at a critical time for climate and environmental issues globally.

This summer, Cambridge Zero and the Centre for Landscape Regeneration are collaborating to offer seven paid project assistant positions to undergraduates and recent graduates. These roles present an opportunity to get involved with these organisations at a critical time for climate and environmental issues globally.

Steve Davison, Director of Strategy for Cambridge Zero, is also the International Lead for the UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN). In this post, he shares his experiences from co-convening two workshops at COP27 for senior higher education representatives from around the world to discuss how we can better coordinate our work to support climate action.