No Edens
A level-headed chronicle of the varied impact of climate on our history.
Environmental History
Putting Up Fences
Access to land was once a common right; we have lost more than just the freedom to roam.
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Brazil’s cars have run on ‘green fuel’ for a century, but this has not come without costs.
Go with the Flow
The influence of the Nile on the lives of those living adjacent to it.
Let There Be Wind Turbines
From James Blyth’s experiments to giant offshore farms, the history of extracting electricity from air has been driven by individual innovation pursued against the headwinds of public scepticism.
On the Road Again
Electric cars seem to offer a solution to the problem of the internal combustion engine. But technological advances have other consequences.
Securing Antarctica by Treaty
The Antarctic Treaty on the governance of the ‘white continent’, signed in 1959, became a trailblazing model for the world. But the future of Antarctica remains contentious.
The Rise of the Flesh-Avoiders
Modern vegetarianism is concerned largely with issues of animal welfare but its roots are to be found in the early-modern desire to promote spirituality by curbing humanity’s excessive appetites.
Through the Fog and Filthy Air
An erudite study of the environmental price paid by the growth of early modern London, which looks to be repeated in present-day Beijing.
The Soil Depletion Crisis
A tragic episode from the 19th century reveals the danger of an environmental quick fix.