Environment Archives - The Glasgow Guardian



China vs the West: the rise of electric vehicles on the geopolitical stage

24th November 2023

As China leads the global stage on green vehicles, the West risks falling behind as a result of tariffs. The Chinese government has invested heavily into research and development of lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles since the turn of the millennium. Huge government subsidies and tax breaks into the development of these technologies, as well ...


Overtourism: what is it and how can we avoid it?

24th November 2023

Too much travel and too many tourists at once are detrimental to the environment—overtourism is something every traveller should avoid. Overtourism: a large increase of tourists to an area as a result of ‘temporary and seasonal tourism peaks’ leading to negative consequences for the area and local residents. But why is this never spoken about ...


Climate migration: it’s here and it’s big

24th November 2023

The climate crisis holds hands with the migration crisis, we must now lend a hand to the Global South. The climate change crisis is something that is being talked about more and more frequently. We all know about it. As it stands, climate change has not affected the Global North as severely as other continents. ...


Glasgow deserved better from COP26

24th November 2023

Two years on from the UN Climate conference being hosted in Glasgow, the environmental and policy challenges facing the city remain pertinent. Two years since COP26. Two years since Prince Charles turned up at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Joe Biden was chauffeur driven past my halls of residence to a VIP-dinner, and John Kerry was ...


Sustainable Unsustainability: The gentrification of consumption

24th November 2023

Mindless consumption is causing a race to the bottom in the sustainable fashion world. The aesthetic of second hand shopping is worsening the environment. In an age dominated by social media and trend cycles, Gen-Z have glamorised second hand shopping. For many, it’s done for reasons of sustainability, with students turning to metal straws, bamboo ...


How do we fix the environment? In conversation with Patrick Harvie

23rd November 2023

Co-leader of the Scottish Green Party, Patrick Harvie speaks with The Glasgow Guardian on environmental policies, regrets in his career and the importance of young people in politics. When I asked Patrick Harvie whether he felt hopeful about the upcoming COP28 summit, starting this month, he said that “might be putting it a little too ...


“Climate change can be solved”: Gordon Brown’s hopeful approach to the environment 

11th October 2023

According to a discussion with Gordon Brown and Michael Spence which took place at the University, the climate emergency is solvable, as long as we work together.  On Friday 29 September, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, along with economist Michael Spence, spoke at the University of Glasgow, to promote their new book: Permacrisis: A Plan ...


#StopRosebank: Scottish oilfield approval exacerbates the global energy crisis

11th October 2023

World Editor Athina Bohner speaks to climate campaigners at a #StopRosebank rally in Edinburgh and reflects on the international dynamics underpinning the environment, economy, and energy security. “Our future feels like it is being stolen from us”, Meg tells me in front of the UK Government building in Edinburgh. Her words echo the frustration and ...


Sustainability tips for students that won’t break the bank

11th October 2023

Sustainability can seem expensive and out-of-reach, especially for young people – here are some easy and cheap swaps to help the planet.  The environment is perhaps more important to us than ever before – according to Young Minds, 87% of young people worry about climate change. While the environment often seems like a hopeless situation, ...


Rising Waters and Failed Leadership: The Tragedy of Derna

11th October 2023

With Storm Daniel taking Derna, Libya in its destructive path, what role do both climate change and post-Gaddafi government incompetence play? 2023, a year that will be remembered for its notorious natural disasters. From earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, to wildfires in Hawaii and North America, and more recently the earthquake in Morocco and flooding ...