Will de Freitas

England

Environment and Energy Editor at The Conversation UK

Articles

UK funds controversial climate-cooling research

3 weeks ago | tolerance.ca | Will de Freitas

By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition The UK government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency – known as Aria – recently announced it is funding 21 research teams to explore what it terms climate cooling. The money involved (£56 million) isn’t much in the grand scheme of things.
UK funds controversial climate-cooling research

3 weeks ago | theconversation.com | Will de Freitas

The UK government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency – known as Aria – recently announced it is funding 21 research teams to explore what it terms climate cooling. The money involved (£56 million) isn’t much in the grand scheme of things. But experts on both sides of the debate (and this issue divides climate academics more than almost any other) agree it’s likely to be a precursor to more significant investment in future.
How Pope Francis became a climate change influencer

2 months ago | tolerance.ca | Will de Freitas

“The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” These aren’t the words of a radical sociologist or rogue climate scientist. They aren’t the words of a Conversation editor either. Nor are these:“A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged.”These are in fact quotes from Pope Francis, who died last weekend.
How Pope Francis became a climate change influencer

2 months ago | theconversation.com | Will de Freitas

“The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” These aren’t the words of a radical sociologist or rogue climate scientist. They aren’t the words of a Conversation editor either. Nor are these:“A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged.”These are in fact quotes from Pope Francis, who died last weekend.
Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

2 months ago | tolerance.ca | Will de Freitas

By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition Most rivers need some human help to stay clean and healthy and to flow freely. People have to fish out litter, block sewage, look out for invasive species and so on. This is obvious enough. But, as rivers…Read complete article© The Conversation -
Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

2 months ago | theconversation.com | Will de Freitas

Most rivers need some human help to stay clean and healthy and to flow freely. People have to fish out litter, block sewage, look out for invasive species and so on. This is obvious enough. But, as rivers are increasingly being granted legal rights of their own, they’ll need another form of human help: people willing to be their legal representatives, filing lawsuits and speaking in court.
How satellites revolutionised climate change science

Feb 19, 2025 | tolerance.ca | Will de Freitas

By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition Until relatively recently, humans were limited by the horizon. Climate scientists of the early 20th century could gather data from the world around them and perhaps what they were able to see from a hot air balloon or plane. But the really big picture – the global snapshot – remained out of sight.
How satellites revolutionised climate change science

Feb 19, 2025 | theconversation.com | Will de Freitas

Until relatively recently, humans were limited by the horizon. Climate scientists of the early 20th century could gather data from the world around them and perhaps what they were able to see from a hot air balloon or plane. But the really big picture – the global snapshot – remained out of sight. This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter.
Why ‘low carbon’ roses are flown around the world

Feb 12, 2025 | tolerance.ca | Will de Freitas

By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition As you read this, planes full of roses are heading from east Africa and South America to almost every corner of the world. If you buy someone a rose this Valentine’s Day, it may be in the air right now or perhaps in a refrigerated warehouse in the Netherlands. A huge logistical operation ensures those flowers are timed to be perfectly in bloom on the 14th.
Why ‘low carbon’ roses are flown around the world

Feb 12, 2025 | theconversation.com | Will de Freitas

As you read this, planes full of roses are heading from east Africa and South America to almost every corner of the world. If you buy someone a rose this Valentine’s Day, it may be in the air right now or perhaps in a refrigerated warehouse in the Netherlands. A huge logistical operation ensures those flowers are timed to be perfectly in bloom on the 14th. From flower farm to bouquet can take just a few days.