Latest news with #UniversityofWestminster
Fox News
12 hours ago
- Fox News
'Carbon passports' would track travel and even restrict how some people take vacation
As overtourism continues to affect a number of travel and vacation destinations in Europe, many people have been sharing concerns about the impact of flying and some other forms of transportation on the environment. Ross Bennett-Cook, a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, recently said carbon passports will become a reality at some point, according to BelfastLive. Carbon passports would allocate a personal annual carbon allowance for United Kingdom residents. This type of passport would track travelers' carbon footprint. In addition, it would forbid them from exceeding a set limit of credits used for transportation, particularly for international flights. "The negative impacts of tourism on the environment have become so severe that some are suggesting drastic changes to our travel habits are inevitable," Bennett-Cook reportedly said. Fox News Digital reached out to Bennett-Cook for further comment. Carbon passports stem from a similar concept that was discussed by the U.K. Parliament in 2008. The House of Commons debated "personal carbon trading" in an effort to cut down on emissions from certain types of transportation. "Individuals are allocated an allowance of carbon from within an overall national cap on the quantity of carbon emissions produced by individuals within the jurisdiction," according to a report from the Environmental Audit Committee in 2008. "People surrender their credits as they make certain purchases that result in emissions, such as electricity and fuel," the report states. It concluded, "Those who need or want to emit more than their allowance have to buy allowances from those who can emit less than their allowance." In 2024, the U.K. Office for National Statistics found that transportation contributed more to greenhouse gas totals than the electricity sector did.
The National
6 days ago
- The National
In the age of the metro and air taxis, will we still be travelling on buses in Dubai years from now?
Anyone settling into their seat on the metro at Dubai International Airport and contemplating a glide across the city, perhaps as far as the Expo 2020 station tens of kilometres away, might wonder why they would ever travel on a bus again. The humble bus can easily appear to be a product of a bygone era in a progressive city in which multibillion-dirham rail projects and plans for flying taxis are taking shape. As construction continues apace on Dubai Metro's Blue Line, which will complement the existing red and green lines, and as the city looks ahead to the launch of even electric air taxis, could the bus slide further down the transport food chain? If evidence from around the world is anything to go by, the answer is probably to be no, because even when a city invests heavily in top-line rail-based transit – metro and tram lines are often built along what were the busiest few bus routes – buses still play a vital role. Peter White, professor emeritus at the University of Westminster in the UK and a steering group member for a 2018 report, Buses in Urban Developments, says that buses are sometimes easier to access than metro stations with steps and lifts. Serving communities They also tend to be better suited to areas with lower density of population, enabling a more comprehensive public transport network to be provided. 'It may also be important to continue to offer some bus services running parallel to a new urban rail line, to avoid undue interchange for short trips, and to cater for those unable to walk the longer distances to urban rail stations – typically with a substantially wider spacing than bus stops,' says Prof White, who is the author of the textbook Public Transport: Its Planning, Management and Operation. When a metro or tram system is developed, factors such as the reconfiguration of bus networks often lead to a growth in bus ridership. Dr Alexander Wray, a transport researcher at Western University in Canada, has seen the bus system flourish in his hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, since the city's tram system opened in 2019. While there was a fall in the number of buses on the road, Dr Wray says that ridership grew as new bus services to connect to tram stations were inaugurated. Another key factor behind the growth in passenger numbers was, he says, increases in bus frequency. 'From the evidence, we know what people look for is the ability to just walk up to a stop and know that there's a vehicle coming in the next 10 minutes. That breeds confidence in a transit system,' Dr Wray says. While cutting the wait times between buses is seen as the key factor that draws in passengers, making buses more comfortable also helps. 'Generally all the modern buses tend to have Wi-Fi and power points, and there's a bit more effort being put into the quality of bus services to make them more competitive with the car,' says Peter Jones, professor of transport and sustainable development at University College London and a former member of the Dubai Future Council for Transportation. Boosting connectivity Many other cities demonstrate the continued relevance of bus services even when rail-based transit is on offer. In Nottingham in England and Edinburgh in Scotland, Prof White says, the trams serve only a few corridors, whereas the buses provide comprehensive networks. Buses carried 41.6 million passengers in Nottingham in 2023-24, compared to 15.5 million on the tramway, while in Edinburgh the difference was even greater, with 110 million bus trips in 2023 compared to 10.1 million tram journeys. 'Both [Edinburgh and Nottingham bus] operators run very modern fleets, with a strong emphasis on high quality of service and passenger information,' Prof White says. 'Services run largely on a commercial basis – that is, covering costs, including provision of vehicles, from passenger revenue, after allowing for compensation for free concessionary travel, and a grant received by all local bus services.' In suburban North America the technology-driven emergence of bus services that ply flexible rather than fixed routes has been seen. The bus goes to where the passengers are, something that can be particularly helpful for, for example, people with mobility issues or those who do not drive. 'We also see them in some rural areas in North America where it just doesn't make sense to run a fixed route service at all,' Dr Wray says. 'So they operate almost like a shared Uber in that it's like a small 15, 20-passenger bus that's just driving around all day. And you're booking your times and where you need to go. 'The app and the algorithm will match you up with the next available good routing for that vehicle. So it's never following a fixed route: it's meeting demand where it is.' In Dubai, the bus services on offer are continuing to improve just as the number of passengers using them increases: the number of bus journeys made in the emirate last year increased by eight per cent to 188 million. The Roads and Transport Authority previously announced that it was upgrading stations and depots and aiming to achieve 'seamless connectivity' with the Metro and taxis. The fleet itself is enjoying an uplift, with hundreds of low-emission buses on order along with 40 all-electric vehicles. While analysts say that investment in buses often lags behind that of urban rail, Dubai passengers are set to see improvements. So in the UAE, as in many other places, if urban rail – or even electric air taxi – transport grows, the bus will retain a central role in helping everyone to get around.
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Daily Record
Brits could be banned from going on holiday as 'carbon passports' introduced
A new report has suggested that Brits could be banned from going on holiday as 'carbon passports' are introduced in a bid to slow down climate change Carbon passports could be introduced to limit the frequency of foreign holidays for UK residents, as part of efforts to combat climate change. Tourism is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for approximately one-tenth of the greenhouse gas emissions driving the crisis. Ross Bennett-Cook, a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, stated: "The negative impacts of tourism on the environment have become so severe that some are suggesting drastic changes to our travel habits are inevitable. "In a report from 2023 that analysed the future of sustainable travel, tour operator Intrepid Travel proposed that 'carbon passports' will soon become a reality if the tourism industry hopes to survive." Ross explained that the concept of a carbon passport involves assigning each traveller a yearly 'carbon allowance' that they cannot exceed. A similar idea, known as "personal carbon trading", was debated in the House of Commons in 2008. The average annual carbon footprint for a person in the UK is 11.7 tonnes - over five times the figure recommended by the Paris Agreement to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C. The global average is closer to 4 tonnes, and needs to drop to under 2 tonnes by 2050 to stand a chance of slowing climate change. If your 'carbon allowance' was 2 tonnes, then two return flights from London to New York would use up all of it, reports Devon Live. Ross informed The Conversation that a report by Intrepid Travel predicts the implementation of carbon passports by 2040. He further stated: "Between 2013 and 2018, the amount of CO2 emitted by commercial aircrafts worldwide increased by 32%. Improvements in fuel efficiency are slowly reducing per passenger emissions. "But research from 2014 found that whatever the industry's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions, they will be outweighed by the growth in air traffic. For emission reductions to have any meaningful effect, ticket prices would have to rise by 1.4% each year, discouraging some people from flying. However, in reality, ticket prices are falling." Several European countries are starting to implement measures to curb air travel. In Belgium, passengers on short-haul flights and older aircraft are now subject to higher taxes. France has prohibited short-haul domestic flights where the same journey can be completed by train in two-and-a-half hours or less - with similar regulations expected to be introduced in other major European countries in the near future. Ross pointed out: "It's not just air travel that's being criticised. "An investigation by the European Federation for Transport and Environment in 2023 found that cruise ships pump four times as many sulphuric gases (which are proven to cause acid rain and several respiratory conditions) into the atmosphere than all of Europe's 291 million cars combined. Statistics like these have forced European destinations to take action against the cruise industry." Amsterdam has prohibited cruise ships from docking in the city centre, and Venice has banned large cruise ships from entering the city's waters. Ross stated: "Intrepid Travel's report also highlights that not only how we travel, but where we travel will soon be impacted by climate change. "Boiling temperatures will probably diminish the allure of traditional beach destinations, prompting European tourists to search for cooler destinations such as Belgium, Slovenia and Poland for their summer holidays.. Several travel agencies reported seeing noticeable increases in holiday bookings to cooler European destinations like Scandinavia, Ireland and the UK during 2023's peak summer travel months. "Whatever the solution may be, changes to our travel habits look inevitable. Destinations across the globe, from Barcelona to the Italian riveria and even Mount Everest are already calling for limits on tourist numbers as they struggle to cope with crowds and pollution. "Holidaymakers should prepare to change their travel habits now, before this change is forced upon them."
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I'm a neurologist - these are eight simple steps I used to slow my mother's dementia
A leading neuroscientist has revealed the eight daily habits she encourages her elderly mother to follow in a bid to slow the progression of dementia—and says they could change the way we think about the condition. Professor Catherine Loveday, 56, a specialist in memory and ageing at the University of Westminster, turned to her own research when her mother, Scillia, began showing early signs of Alzheimer's. Diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 70, Scillia's symptoms were initially so subtle doctors might not have picked them up for another six or seven years. But her daughter noticed she had started to repeat herself—and, armed with expert knowledge, acted fast. Now 85, Scillia still lives independently and enjoys a good quality of life—something Professor Loveday credits to a set of evidence-based lifestyle interventions designed to support brain health. Speaking to The Times, she said: 'My work has taught me that there are science-backed steps we can all take to improve our brain health. '[This is] not only through more exercise, better diet and improved sleep, but by keeping the stress and anxiety that accompany memory loss under control.' Stress, she explained, raises levels of inflammatory markers in the body—which may in turn accelerate cognitive decline. Professor Loveday is now sharing the routine she developed with her mother in the hope that it will help others feel empowered to act early and do everything they can to protect memory and mental clarity. Then, despite having always been fiercely independent, she got lost on her daily walk––a red-flag warning sign of cognitive decline. Determined to get a clearer picture of what was going on, Prof Loveday had her mum complete a battery of memory tests used by the NHS to test for dementia. This revealed both her strengths, such as short-term memory recall and her weaknesses. Whilst Scilia had no problem recalling a list of words her daughter had just said, when she was asked to recall the same words just half an hour later after reading a story, she performed worse than nearly 100 per cent of people. According to Prof Loveday, this proved that her prefrontal cortex––the area of the brain responsible for problem-solving––was functioning well but the part of the brain that deals with memory was lacking. This is one of the first tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease. This is then followed by problems with thinking and reasoning and language difficulties which worsen over time. But, if anything Prof Loveday was 'relieved' by the results as she knew this meant they could 'do something about it'. She said: 'The measures we took have slowed decline but her Alzheimer's obviously continues to progress. 'Mum now has limited access to her past memories, but the work we did means we know exactly what makes her feel happy and we put that into practice every day. 'Last time I was with her, I asked, 'How do you feel?' and she said, 'Relaxed and at peace,' and I don't think we can ask for more. 'We were able to really make a difference.' Here's exactly what you can do to boost your quality of life and stave off to Prof Loveday. Journal every evening To keep your brain active in old age, Prof Loveday recommends jotting down everything you did today before going to bed. Doing this forces the brain to practice 'spaced repetition'––a learning technique that is known to improve memory by reviewing information at intervals. And it can be 'transformational', Prof Loveday claims. Boost your social battery According to Loveday, maintaining friendships is vital for healthy cognitive function, lowering stress and easing anxiety which in turn reduces inflammation in the body that is known to impact the progression of the disease. Write it down and don't be afraid to rely on technology One of the most fool-proof ways to remember something is writing it down and this isn't something to be ashamed of, Prof Loveday says. She found that getting her mother to write things down that she needed to remember that day on a whiteboard in the kitchen really helped slow down the progression of the disease . And whilst it may seem like a tedious task, Prof Loveday says one of the best things you can do for someone with a degenerative memory condition is teach them how to use Google Maps. 'One of the worse things you can do when lost is panic', she said. But this is also works both ways, so for her own peace of mind as a carer she also turned on the tracking system on her mother's phone so she can easily see where she is if needs be. Curate old memories Typically, Alzheimer's patients will have a good grasp on their early memories so sparking a conversation about the good old days can help preserve identity. Prof Loveday said: 'Nostalgic conversations––about music and scratchy school uniforms––are powerful social connectors. 'I know from my research if you ask people to give their eight favourite songs, often one or two will prompt memories about a specific moment that was transitional or important in terms of who you became.' Get your steps in It is a well-known fact that upping your exercise quota can help stave off Alzheimer's in later life, boosting proteins in the brain that support cognitive function. Even just going for a walk is great says Prof Loveday, because navigating stimulates the part of the brain responsible for memory. Cut down on sugar and have a good bedtime routine Experts have long proposed that diets high in healthy fats and polyphenols––found in things like dark green leafy vegetables––can help support brain health. Conversely, it is well-known that sugar can have an inflammatory effect on the body, causing glucose spikes which have been shown to reduce cognitive function. Prof Loveday suggests eating more vegetables, berries rich in antioxidants and foods high in omega-3s such as oily fish or nuts and seeds. There is also surmounting evidence that too much or too little sleep can raise dementia risk. Plan for the future now Whilst it can be hard talking about future plans in terms of care, Prof Loveday advises getting the conversation out of the way as soon as possible, before the disease progresses further. Get your eyes and ears tested Finally Prof Loveday suggests getting your hearing and vision tested regularly to keep dementia at bay––and at least once every two years for people over 60, in line with NHS guidelines. It is believed that tackling hearing loss early could delay the development of dementia for a number of years, though the exact reasoning is not yet fully understood by experts. But, hearing loss is not an inevitable part of ageing and this simple step could help millions reduce their risk of dementia.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey student wins international architectural award
An architecture student from Guernsey has been selected from worldwide applicants for an Langlois was presented with the EU Mies Van Der Rohe Young Talent Open 2025 award at a ceremony in nominees were considered for the award, which recognises student work from member countries of the Council of Europe, South East Asia and Langlois won the prize for his final student project, Poolside Politics, which involved the restoration of the site of a community swimming pool on the outskirts of Marseille, France. 'Honour to win' Mr Langlois grew up and was educated in Guernsey but now works for a London architectural practice and will take his final exams to become a Chartered Architect next interest in architecture grew from involvement in his parents' island-based architectural said: "It's an honour to win this award, I could never have imagined that my architectural education would be recognised in a moment like this."Mr Langlois attended Liverpool University School of Architecture where he was nominated for the RIBA President's Bronze Award. He achieved a distinction in his Architectural MA at the University of Westminster where he was nominated for the RIBA President's Silver Award and received the RIBA West London Best Student Project Award. Mr Langlois said he proposed a citizen led project for the Marseille site, which included low-cost housing, self-sufficient food cultivation and re-established local industry through the production of historic soap.
