Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment

Explore the full podcast, covering these topics and many more.

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Alongside Graihagh Jackson and Svetlana Chigozie Onye, Daniella discusses the meaningful ways people can support themselves and each other in the face of climate breakdown.

She also explains how concern about our planet, including climate anxiety, can become a motivator for climate action.

Is there a ‘Goldilocks zone’ for climate anxiety?

@drdaniellawatson.bsky.social from @climatecares.bsky.social spoke to the BBC to explore what climate anxiety really means, why it’s rising, but also why climate anxiety is a rational response to the world we live in 🧵

buff.ly/VZq3NqZ

Global biodiversity comes to Manchester: IPBES explained This week biodiversity experts have come to Manchester to set the global agenda for how businesses measure and integrate nature into their decision-making.

Want to know more?

Check out our explainer on #IPBES12 by Dr Caroline Howe, Vice President of the @britishecologicalsociety.org and Associate Professor in Environmental Social Science at Imperial College London: buff.ly/G6kmuX4

Established in 2012, it is not a UN agency, however it is supported by the UN Environment Programme.

Currently 94 countries participate, it has 150 members, and brings together scientists, policy experts, NGOs, indigenous peoples, and the business community.

But, wait. What is IPBES!?

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services provides authoritative, independent scientific assessments on biodiversity and the direct and indirect benefits people enjoy from nature (called ecosystem services).

Its timing also aligns very well with the UK Government’s recent national security assessment on biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, and its economic growth agenda.

The major contribution of this year's Plenary is the 2026 Business and Biodiversity Assessment, which is a first-of-its-kind evaluation of how business activities rely on and impact nature, including how nature-related risks and opportunities can be better understood.

For the first time, #IPBES, or The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, is taking place in the UK.

This week biodiversity experts, academics and policymakers have come to Manchester for one reason: biodiversity.

Specifically, they’ve come to #IPBES12 to set the global agenda for how businesses measure and integrate nature into their plans 🧵

Explore the full study, by @rubenpruetz.bsky.social, Sabine Fuss, Gaurav Ganti and @joerirogelj.bsky.social: buff.ly/7DEQwrR

The paper concludes that limited use and careful siting of CDR can limit its negative biodiversity consequences and may even bring direct benefits to biodiversity – either through avoided warming or direct co-benefits.

The authors argue that climate refugia, areas relatively unaffected by climate change, and biodiversity hotspots are both at risk.

The study also found that non-high income countries have a disproportionately high land allocation for forestation in climate refugia areas.

The study also reveals a similar tension in the opposite direction: under strict enforcement of the internationally agreed Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, more than 50% of land allocated for CDR deployment could become unavailable.

Countries' carbon dioxide removal plans pose substantial threats to biodiversity, new research reveals.

Analysis by the scientists shows that up to 13% of global areas of high biodiversity importance are allocated for land-intensive CDR deployment. 🧵

Afghan women in the UK: amplifying their voice – a photo essay Over four years have passed since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Claudia Janke’s photographic series features seven Afghan women who have found safety in the UK after escaping at great…

Our MSc graduate Aqlima Amiri is one of 7 Afghan women featured in Claudia Janke’s photo series.

Using the Taliban-era Instant Box Camera, they reclaim their voices and show that education & courage can’t be silenced.

#AfghanWomen #RefugeeVoices

Australia’s worst heatwave since black summer made five times more likely by global heating, analysis finds Extreme heat ‘is getting worse and whether we like it or not … there’s ultimately a limit to what we can actually physically cope with,’ scientist says

Human-caused climate change made Australia’s January heatwave 5x more likely, new @wwattribution.bsky.social analysis finds

Heatwaves already cause more deaths than any other natural hazard in Australia

Prof @frediotto.bsky.social warns extreme heat is “changing very fast with global warming” 🌡️🔥

La Niña, Climate change, high exposure and vulnerability combined led to devastating floods in parts of Southern Africa – World Weather Attribution Since late December 2025, severe flooding has affected large parts of Mozambique, Eswatini, northeastern South Africa and Zimbabwe, killing more than 200 people (Al Jazeera, 2026), destroying more…

Explore the full study: buff.ly/0P8j11F

Due to rapid urbanisation, insufficient planning and access to basic services, many houses in informal settlements collapsed due to the rain, leaving many displaced.

The current weak La Niña phase also played a role in the disaster, increasing the likelihood of such extreme precipitation, and its intensity.

While a 10-day rainfall event of this magnitude remains relatively rare - occurring roughly once every 50 years - it would have been even rarer in a preindustrial climate, according to the scientists.

As many as 200 people may have lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands
have been impacted.

The heavy rainfall also destroyed farming areas and forced the closure of Kruger National Park, leaving the iconic South African wildlife reserve with tens of millions of dollars in
damage.

Climate change and La Niña fueled the exceptionally intense downpours that caused catastrophic flooding across Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Eswatini in recent
weeks, the study found.

Climate change and La Niña combine to create ‘perfect storm’ in deadly Southern Africa floods.

New research from @wwattribution.bsky.social shows that the intensity of heavy downpours has increased by 40% since preindustrial times, with some areas receiving over a year’s rain in just days 🧵

Last chance to submit your proposals to be part of the Climate Research Showcase 2026!

Don’t miss out – submissions are open until 4 Feb for posters, exhibits, talks and workshops.

Find out how to take part and register to attend now: buff.ly/wKDudri

VACANCY: Grantham Institute Assistant Professor/Associate Professor

Two positions are available for:

1. Research within the fields of climate change, energy, clean technology & the environment.

2: Research within the themes of the @ic-cep.bsky.social

Deadline: 12 April

Apply: buff.ly/HxR3n16

2 weeks left to be part of the Climate Research Showcase 2026 close!

If you’re researching climate science and solutions at Imperial, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to connect with our world-leading community of climate experts.

Find out how to take part and attend buff.ly/RouCc2n

Explore the full study and summary of key findings by @wwattribution.bsky.social: ow.ly/NqII50Y17KE

In a significant shift from the fossil fuel-heavy response of past heatwaves, solar power met 60% of peak power demand and stabilised the grid amidst record cooling, with rooftop panels contributing two-thirds of that total.

Carbon emissions also made the heatwave hotter, adding 1.6°C to the temperatures recorded.

The impact of climate change outweighed natural cooling signals in the climate, including a weak La Niña.