The Smog of War: The Battle for Britain’s Clean Air
The wartime government’s programme of deliberate smoke production was an attempt to protect Britain from the Luftwaffe; for the National Smoke Abatement Society, the decision was a disaster.
Environmental History
What is Environmental History?
The climate crisis is a hot topic, but what does it mean to study the history of our relationship with the natural world?
‘Epic of the Earth’ by Edith Hall review
Epic of the Earth: Reading Homer’s Iliad in the Fight for a Dying World by Edith Hall sees the signs of environmental collapse amid the adventures of Achilles.
Wool Aliens of the British Empire
From imported plant species to water pollution, Britain’s 19th century wool trade transformed the world.
Who to Blame for Early Modern Climate Change?
The changing climate of the Little Ice Age forced radical thinkers to reconsider humanity’s place in the universe.
No Edens
A level-headed chronicle of the varied impact of climate on our 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.