The state of the planet is scary - But that's just the start

clock • 5 min read

Scaring people is only the first step in driving climate action - we have to then show people how to channel their fear, argues David Powell from the New Economics Foundation

Last week marked Earth Overshoot Day. August 2 was 2017's date roughly calculated as when we've started to cause more impact on the ecosystem than it can safely absorb, and used more of its resources than...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Climate change

What the Winter Olympics reveal about the business decisions shaping the future of sport
Climate change

What the Winter Olympics reveal about the business decisions shaping the future of sport

The future of winter sport in a changing climate will be shaped less by what happens on the slopes, and more by the business decisions made around it, writes 17 Sport CEO and founder Neill Duffy

Neill Duffy, 17 Sport
clock 06 February 2026 • 5 min read
Closure of last coal power plant drives UK territorial emissions down to record low
Climate change

Closure of last coal power plant drives UK territorial emissions down to record low

Latest official statistics show UK emissions fell three per cent in 2024 and are now more than 53 per cent below 1990 levels - but challenges remain in decarbonising sectors such as road transport, aviation, and waste

Michael Holder
Michael Holder
clock 05 February 2026 • 5 min read
New service to reimburse farmers for machinery 'non-use' during extreme weather
Climate change

New service to reimburse farmers for machinery 'non-use' during extreme weather

CNH Capital and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions to use satellite data to trigger financial support for farmers when extreme weather prevents them from using leased equipment

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 02 February 2026 • 4 min read