Elsevier has published a special issue of Research Trends, dedicated to research into environmental challenges.

The issue was inspired by the the World Forum, hosted by the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, which brought together government policy-makers, industry and the academic community to discuss the effects of the economic climate on global efforts to control CO2 emissions.

The Smith School’s founding principle is that our environmental challenges can only successfully be met through concerted effort by government, industry and science, in this issue, we report on how public opinion, political policy and research interact to raise awareness and seek solutions.

Meanwhile, positive steps are being made. The rate of increase in published research into both climate changeled sea-level rises and CO2 emissions recently outstripped the rate of increase in sea levels and emissions themselves. In fact, research into CO2 emissions is closely related to economic growth, which is itself driven by the very energy that is producing the emissions in the first place. And, more good news: recent research into the potential of oilgae is showing great promise and attracting the interest of governments, including the G8.