Environment news

Man picking litter on the beach

Exploring how beach litter has changed over the past 50 years using drones and phone apps

Loughborough University researchers will assess how coastal litter from the ocean has changed over the past half-century in a unique project that brings together local heritage, drones, and mobile phone apps.

Photograph of Jonathan Wagner in the lab

Loughborough University awarded funding to support UK green growth and net zero ambitions

Loughborough University is among 14 research institutions to receive funding from the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre to support innovative work to reduce carbon emissions.

Loughborough commits to reverse biodiversity decline through worldwide Nature Positive Universities Alliance

Loughborough University is proud to be a founding member of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance, launched today (Thursday 8 December) at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15).

Recycling technology leader Plastic Energy celebrates opening of new research and development labs at Loughborough University

Plastic Energy, a global leader in chemical recycling technology, has announced the opening of its new research and development labs at Loughborough University.
Photograph of OWLC colleagues (from left) Jonathan Proctor, Matt Bleasdale, Giles Clayton-Jones and Nathan Snowden-Merrills

OWLC joins Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park’s Energy and Low Carbon cluster

The University is delighted to welcome OWLC (Offshore Wind Logistics and Construction) to the Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP). The company, founded in London in 2014, relocated its headquarters to the Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC) earlier this month.
doha's skyline

World Cup 2022: Qatar is accused of ‘sportswashing’ but do the fans really care?

Fifa’s choice of Qatar as host of the 2022 men’s football World Cup has been controversial since day one. Questions continue to be raised about the nation’s attitude to human rights, and its treatment of migrant workers.

A group of school children talking to one of the PhD researchers at the SlowCat exhibition stand

Loughborough’s researchers inspire the next generation of scientists at London Schools’ Climate Kick-Start Event

A Loughborough team of scientists and engineers who are designing and preparing catalysts for a greener future took part in a London-wide schools programme to empower young people to help tackle climate change.

African students share their hopes for COP27

With COP27 taking place in Africa, the conference is shining a spotlight on the impact climate change is having on the continent.
A glass globe showing Africa against a forest back drop

Hydrogen in Africa: New research maps out how clean energy can be generated without creating a dirty business

Global leaders at COP27 are discussing how best to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and maintain global warming below 2°C to avoid catastrophic climate change.

a woman kayaks a river

Global review shows the substantial impacts of sport emissions on climate

Researchers from Loughborough University have led a global review of the climate impact of sport emissions.

A field showing before and after climate change, on the left it is green and luscious, on the right it is dry and cracked.

Infographic: What difference can the COP27 climate change negotiations make?

A new infographic created by a Loughborough University physical geographer explores how negotiations made at the Conference of the Parties (COP) may impact weather and temperatures in the East Midlands.

COP27: Supporting Africa’s complex pathway to clean energy

The road to clean energy in Africa is dependent on whether each country across the continent can solve its own complex and unique set of political, financial, social and geographic circumstances.

Loughborough research into circular economy boosts UK’s commitment to net-zero

Finding funding for greener energy and industry is at the heart of this year’s COP27 summit in Egypt.
A construction site in the bright sunshine

Productivity drops by 76% throughout the workday when temperatures hit 40°C – new study finds

It is predicted that the planet’s average temperature could be between 1.1 to 5.4°C (2 and 9.7°F) warmer in 2100 than it is today. But what impact would this increase in temperature have on the global workforce?
lord's cricket ground

Sports for Nature report can “increase biodiversity and act against nature loss” (VIDEO)

Loughborough researcher Dr Madeleine Orr has said the recently published Sports for Nature report has the potential to “increase biodiversity and act against nature loss”.

Loughborough COP27 written on a yellow and blue background

A climate change expert’s simple guide to COP27

This November, COP27 will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – but what actually is COP and why should we care about it?
a surfer in action

Protecting the Playing Field: A baseline on how sport can act for nature

A new report has carried out the first-ever assessment of how sports that take place on landscapes ranging from water, turf, mountains, and cities can act to protect nature.

Flood damage to a home in Whalley (2015), the floor is muddy and possessions are stacked on tables, etc

Previsico accelerates IoT rollout in the UK following flood mitigation success

Loughborough University spinout Previsico has launched the nationwide roll-out of innovative IoT technology that enables individuals and communities to build resilience against the impacts of flooding. This follows success across the UK, including Whalley in Lancashire, which was devasted by flooding in 2015 and 2020.
Josh Milburn - standing outdoors with trees behind him

Dr Josh Milburn goes head-to-head at the Being Human Festival

Dr Josh Milburn is appearing at the Being Human Festival this November – exploring issues around the food we eat and its production.

Innovative smart meter initiative will enable connection of low-carbon technologies to electricity network

Researchers from Loughborough University are developing innovative ways to use smart meter data to help equip the electricity network with low-carbon technologies.
Front and back cover of the Ghana cookbook

New cookbook aims to accelerate the clean cooking revolution in Ghana

Researchers are hoping that a new cookbook, produced with local community members, will help to show to the people of Ghana the benefits of electric cooking and encourage them to move away from more polluting biomass fuels.
Georgie's fantastic fungi sculpture

Fantastic fungi: Harnessing the magic of mycelium to create striking sculptures

You may or may not enjoy eating mushrooms, but how do you feel about having a vase grown by and made of fungi in your home?
An image of a data centre

Digital decarbonisation: What is it and why does it matter?

Organisations need to urgently tackle digital decarbonisation if the UK is to stand any chance of hitting its 2050 net-zero targets, warn Loughborough University researchers.

How climate change and net zero commitments will impact the future of war

A new project will assess the impact that achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will have on the UK’s armed forces.
Man picking up litter from grass and putting it in bag.

We studied 40,000 pieces of litter to find out where it all comes from – here’s what we discovered

Litter is perhaps the most tangible of all environmental problems. And it’s not just a disrespectful few who are responsible for it.