The Sustainable Development Agenda, adopted by UN Member States in 2015, set a 2030 deadline for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Now, with under 10 years left to meet it, the world is not on track. Amid the intersecting crises of COVID-19, the climate emergency, and rising economic and political insecurity, progress on gender equality has not only failed to move forward but has begun to reverse. Around the world, a growing backlash against women’s rights is threatening even well-established freedoms and protections.

Nature-Based Solutions refer to a suite of actions or policies that harness the power of nature to address some of our most pressing societal challenges, such as threats to water security, rising risk of disasters, or climate change.

To make the green and just transition a reality, cities urgently need more urban climate finance. Recent research shows a significant gap between the amount of finance cities receive and the amount they need to meet the climate emergency. To address this challenge, cities are finding innovative ways to finance and implement projects with a focus on inclusion, equity, and a green and just recovery. This C40 Cities report provides nine diverse case studies of cities which are leading the way, with the aim of sharing actionable lessons for city officials and other stakeholders about how to access finance. 

In Sint-Niklaas, where they have the largest market square in Belgium (3.19 hectares), they have taken on the challenge to make it more green. After working together with different partners,  the final plan for its blue-green redevelopment is ready. There will be a water feature in front of the town hall, much more greenery, such as a grass square of 1500 square meters and a variety of trees and plants, providing more opportunities for people to relax and children to play. It is in our opinion a nice example of incorporating nature for sustainable urban development in a city centre.

Our Research Director Dr Andrea Armstrong, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, will attend the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference  that take place from Tuesday 30 August to Friday 2 September 2022 at Newcastle University.

US President Joe Biden has signed a $375bn bill that aims to fight climate change.

Formula E, an all-electric racing championship, was founded in 2011 and the first race was in Beijing, China in 2014. It has 12 – 14 venues around the world and has exclusive rights from Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to stage an electric world championship until 2039.

Silent Spring Consultants was today in Newcastle for the kick off of a new project with one of our regular clients.

Analysis by NASA has revealed that global average surface temperatures in 2018 and 2021 were the 6th warmest on record. In 2021, global temperatures were 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.85 degrees Celsius) above the average baseline period which is between 1951-1980. The video produced by NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio is in degrees Celsius.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 provides a global overview of progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, using the latest available data and estimates. It tracks the global and regional progress towards the 17 Goals with in-depth analyses of selected indicators for each Goal.

Toxic air kills more than 8 million people worldwide each year, and is responsible for a range of health problems, including asthma, heart disease, premature births and reduced cognitive performance.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the burden of outdoor air pollution falls disproportionately on people in low and middle-income countries, where 91 percent of premature pollution-related deaths take place, according to the WHO.