Will drivers for home energy efficiency harm occupant health?

The UK government has committed to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, with housing accounting for 27% of total current emissions. There are several drivers both to reduce emissions from homes and to reduce fuel poverty, promoting a range of building and behavioural measures in homes. The health benefits of warmer homes in winter have been described, but there has been less consideration of the potential negative impacts of some of these measures. We examine the changes in UK homes, and the possible consequences for health. The main concerns for health surround the potential for poor indoor air quality if ventilation is insufficient and the possible risks of overheating in heatwave conditions. This paper notes a limited evidence base and the need for further research on the health effects of energy-efficient homes, particularly with regard to ventilation

Management options for bird conservation in the face of climate change

This chapter builds on the Australian context to explore how we might deal with the challenges likely to face birds as a result of climate change over the next half-century. It first introduces some general management principles, then detail options for action and finally briefly explores issues surrounding the timing of management responses. A more detailed outline of management options is provided by Franklin et al. (2014). A comprehensive analysis of climate change adaptation and Australian birds is found in Garnett et al. (2013) and Garnett and Franklin (2014). As climate changes, those goals of conservation that are implicitly based on the assumption that climate is static must be set aside. Climate change is one among many threats (stressors) facing species, and the impact of climate change may be hidden by threats that seem more imminent

Is air transport an effective tool for sustainable development?

Several authoritative studies indicate that air transport makes a strong, positive contribution to economic development - a contribution that far outweighs the environmental and social costs of aviation. This article investigates this benign view, analysing the assumptions upon which it is based and arguing that the relationship between air transport and economic benefits may be more complex than is commonly held. In particular, the benefits of air transport services may be highly unevenly distributed, with particular groups benefiting from air transport provision to a far greater extent than others. Hence this article poses the question of whether air transport is an effective tool for sustainable development, or whether it simply reinforces existing patterns of economic interest and political hegemony. Based on analysis of a range of key documents, some criteria are presented that could potentially be used to indicate how air transport may most effectively be used to promote sustainable development. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.