[News] Cutting carbon and protecting pollinators: News from the College

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From a new plea to stop irreversible climate change, to new citizen-science resources focusing on protecting pollinators, here is some quick-read news from across the College. 

Governments are being urged to stop irreversible climate change by ensuring carbon reductions of 50% by 2030 by a new coalition of emissions research institutions and cryosphere (snow and ice) experts.

The international 50:30 group includes scientists from the Grantham Institute – Climate Change & the Environment and a few governments on track for the essential reductions.

Although most countries pledged carbon neutrality by 2050, and declared a “planetary emergency”, a report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change showed virtually none are taking meaningful steps to achieve this. 

Impacts of higher temperature and CO2 levels will trigger global cryosphere changes irreversible on human timescales, including: sea-level rise; severe polar ocean acidification lasting 50,000 years; loss of glaciers for many centuries; and carbon emissions from melting permafrost lasting up to two centuries. 

Imperial’s Enterprise Lab have launched their search for the next generation of women entrepreneurs, as part of WE Innovate, the College’s flagship programme for startups led by women. 

The ten finalists in this year’s competition include a bio-tampon for cancer detection, a device for reading multiple lines of braille and a remote foot-care device to prevent diabetic foot ulcers.  

In June, the ten finalists will be whittled down to five, who will then battle it out at the competition’s grand final on Friday 25 June for their chance to win a share of the £30,000 prize fund.  

Find out more about this year’s projects in the WE Innovate virtual pitchbook.