Electric Cool / Geographical

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For the October issue of Geographical magazine I investigated the proclaimed environmental and climate mitigating benefits of the electric racing series Formula E. 

The article includes interviews and comment from Paul Day from Aquafuel Research, Stephen Skippon from the Transport Research Laboratory and Julia Palle the sport’s Senior Sustainability Consultant .

The electric revolution that Formula E are showcasing will ameliorate inner city air pollution. In tackling climate change, however, I discovered the series have pinned their hopes for now on unabated, albeit-greener consumption. Instead, I argue that deep cuts in carbon emissions will require a deeper societal shift-of-gear towards more sustainable consumer as well as industry behaviour.

Click here to read it full page. 

Feature - Formula E (1)

 

Into the Wild, Chile / the Guardian

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On January 11th 2011, I set off on a bicycle ride from the bottom of South America.

On Chilean Independence Day 2018, the The Guardian shared some of the marvellous things I have found so far.

It was a testing job to pick the pit-stops for a one month trip that stretches from the Atacama Desert to the Pacific Ocean. The diversity in between mountains and ocean; culture and cuisine and wildlife and wilderness can send you into a spin when taking it all in on a first trip.

I didn’t want anyone to feel though that they would miss out. And the final suggested route gives you enough time to poke into the curious corners of the country whilst carving out your own largely self-guided experience.

All the transport choices deliberately avoid air travel. Partly it was an attempt to keep visitors’ carbon footprint low once in the country. Also, (and this part didn’t make my final draft) by travelling slowly through the country – sharing a bunk room on a steamer through the fiords, or gliding overnight into the desert on the 180degree reclining bed bus – you meet the people. This is where the real stories begin.

If you do get to travel to Chile, I hope you return with a rucksack full of adventures to last you a lifetime.

I’m still packing mine…

Read at the Guardian here.

The Silent Giants of Pentland Firth / Geographical

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Photo: SIMEC Atlantis

This August 2018 I investigated the burgeoning tidal energy sector for Geographical magazine, and interviewed the man in charge of the Scottish project that is now largest tidal stream array project anywhere in the world.

You can read it here (opens in a separate tab)