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100 months: Why we must act now on climate change, and where to begin 01/01/08
Time is fast running out to stop irreversible climate change, a group of global warming experts warns today. We have only 100 months to avoid disaster. nef's policy director, Andrew Simms, explains why we must act now - and where to begin.
UK needs ‘Green New Deal’ to tackle ‘triple crunch’ of credit, oil price and climate crises 21/07/08
75 years since President Roosevelt launched a New Deal to rescue the US from financial crisis, a new group of experts in finance, energy and the environment have come together to propose a Green New Deal for the UK
How 'co-production' can help re-build our communities 16/07/08
nef's co-production manifesto shows how public services can play a part in rebuilding and reinvigorating the core economy (the networks and relationships that make society work) so that its potential can be realised.
Ending poverty in a carbon constrained world: rapid transition and new development directions
Against the backdrop of compelling evidence on climate change, the UN devoted a Special Event to how to address the growing risks posed by climate change to human development. nef policy director, Andrew Simms opened the event
2012 Olympics will break 'legacy' promise unless rules are changed quickly 21/04/08
A new nef report, Fool’s Gold, shows that unless cast-iron guarantees are built into plans for the 2012 Olympics, the Games will fail to leave the promised positive local legacy for the poorest residents of East London.
Green ideas for the Chancellor's red box 11/03/08
As Alistair Darling puts the finishing touches to his Budget statement, writing for the BBC's Green Room, nef policy director, Andrew Simms says that the UK's chancellor should be thinking in terms of an envrionmental war economy.
nef briefing outlines unintended consequences of efficiency drive
Public sector efficiency savings targets set by Sir Peter Gershon in 2004 are set to be not only met, but exceeded next month, but nef analysis shows the unintended consequence of the government's drive is the erosion of local public services
New book shows how we can turn climate change into a chance for a better life 24/01/08
We tend to see climate change as an overwhelmingly daunting threat requiring impossible sacrifices. But it's time to rethink say a range of notable experts brought together by nef and the OU- who share a conviction that living well need not cost the earth
The Carbon cost of Christmas and how to beat it 15/12/07
New calculations from nef reveal how our obsession with high-tech energy guzzling gadgets threatens to derail attempts to cut emissions and erode our well-being
Global warming will push Asia into reverse as UK leadership fades says new report 19/11/07
The biggest study yet from unique coalition of major UK poverty and environment groups reveals scale of climate impacts on international work - immediate action needed before Asia goes 'Up in Smoke'??
Competition enquiry hijacked in interests of supermarkets it was set up to investigate 31/10/07
Key outcomes from the Commission's provisional findings are a travesty. Instead of acting to preserve an open market the Commission is suggesting moves that will increase the collective dominance of a handful of supermarkets over UK plc
‘China-dependence' going up for life in UK, as World as a whole goes into 'ecological debt' 06/10/07
From today, Saturday 6 October, the world as a whole goes into 'ecological debt' driven by over-consumption, as we turn China into our 'environmental laundry' with devastating consequences for the planet.
UK 21st in European league of carbon efficiency and well-being 16/07/07
New Europe-wide research using an innovative measure of carbon efficiency and real economic progress reveals that Europe is less efficient now at delivering human well-being than it was 40 years ago. The European Happy Planet Index, reveals for the first
NHS must act to tackle climate change 22/06/07
New reseach says that the NHS, as one of the world’s biggest and most resource-hungry public sector institutions, must brace itself for the health impacts of global warming and act urgently to reduce its significant carbon emissions
Britain starts eating the planet on Sunday 15 April 15/04/07
Research from nef reveals that on Sunday 15 April this year, the UK goes into 'ecological debt', as the nation in effect stops relying on our its natural resources to support itself and starts to ‘live off’ the rest of the world.
Competition Commission risks failing statutory duty in supermarket inquiry, says nef 12/04/07
Obliged by law to defend the interests of both present and future consumers from the adverse effects of market failure, nef fears that the Commission’s approach is based on inadequate evidence and a failure to protect the interests of all consumer groups
The invasive species that are ruining the retail ecosystem 29/03/07
Unchecked by effective regulation, chain stores such as Tesco resemble nature's hungry breeds, suffocating diversity, says Andrew Simms, nef's policy director
Lack of bank transparency hampering fight against financial exclusion in the UK 16/12/06
A new nef report says that UK banks could be doing much more to help some of the poorest people in the UK, simply by being clear and open about where they do business.
Last post looms for urban post offices says new research 4/12/06
As the government is expected to make its announcement on the future of the rural post office network, a new report from nef, released on Monday 4 December 2006, provides new evidence of the vital social and economic role of urban sub post offices
Dangerous climate change is hitting Africa hard say top aid and environment groups 29/10/06
Climate change is already having serious impacts on peoples’ lives across Africa, and is set to get much worse unless urgent action is taken according to a new report from a coalition of UK development and environment agencies.
'Windfall tax' call as oil company profits announced 23/10/06
research reveals UK Treasury missing opportunity to use ‘never-to-be-repeated’ fossil fuel income to invest in clean energy transition, and calls for the UK to follow the broad example set by Norway, which established what is in-effect an 'Oil Legacy Fund
9 October: the day humanity starts eating the planet 09/10/06
new calculations released today show that from now until the end of the year we will be living beyond our global environmental means. Rising consumption of natural resources is pushing the world into ever earlier ecological debt, or ‘overshoot’.
Poor countries overpaying billions as result of irresponsible lending says new research 18/09/06
new research from nef says that the time has come to look again at foreign debts forced wrongly on developing countries – so-called ‘odious debt’ – and shift the spotlight onto the ‘odious lenders’ – the bankers who made large loans to illegal regimes.
Katrina dwarfed by regional climate impact say top aid and environment groups 29/08/06
A new report from unique coalition of development and environment groups says act now on climate change before Latin America goes ‘Up in Smoke’
UK 108th in new 'Happy Planet Index' 12/07/06
A new global measure of progress, the ‘Happy Planet Index’, reveals for the first time that happiness doesn’t have to cost the Earth. It shows that people can live long, happy lives without using more than their fair share of the Earth’s resources.
Full employment will strip-mine neighbourhoods says new nef research 27/06/06
The government's emphasis on full employment threatens to strip neighbourhoods of the people who make the difference between success and failure of public services - like volunteers, care workers and 'co-producers'.
Debt relief target for world's poorest is massive underestimate. Up to $590 billion needed 14/06/06
And basic health and education needs could be met in just five years if the richest nations honoured existing aid commitments says the research published, as creditors meet to celebrate 50th anniversary of the Paris Club.
Markets create twice as many jobs as supermarkets and food is half the price: 22/05/06
New research shows street markets offer better choice on fresh fruit and vegetables than supermarkets at half the price, and generate substantial benefits for the local economy
Britain starts eating the planet on Sunday 16 April 15/04/06
New research reveals that on Sunday 16 April the UK in effect stops relying on its own natural resources to support itself and starts to ‘live off’ the rest of the world.
download the ecological debt day calendar 15/04/06
nef's ecological debt day calendar shows the days in a typical calendar year when, in effect, a range of countries stop relying on their own natural resources, and starts to live off the rest of the world.
Profit hungry banks abandon poorest to loan sharks says nef 06/03/06
As HSBC revealed the biggest ever profits for a UK-based bank - nef has called for banks to be subject to the same kind of 'Universal Service Obligation' applied to the post office, utilities and telecommunications
MPs back nef's call to halt 'clone town britain' 15.02.06
The findings of the influential All Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group's report, High Street Britain 2015, released today, Wednesday 15 February 2006, have backed nef's (the new economics foundation) call to halt 'clone town Britain'.
world economy giving less to poorest in spite of global poverty campaign says new research 23/01/06
World's poorest see 73 per cent drop in share of benefits from growth in last decade according to new research from nef released as World Economic Forum gathers in Davos. nef's report shows that globalisation is failing the world's poorest
UK energy review: nuclear power costs underestimated and renewables’ potential overlooked
The cost of new nuclear power has been underestimated by almost a factor of three and the potential of small scale renewables critically overlooked according to a new report from nef, released to coincide with the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy.
Iraq to lose up to US $194 billion in oil "rip-off" 22/11/05
Control of Iraq's future oil wealth is being handed to multinational oil companies through long-term contracts that will cost Iraq hundreds of billions of dollars, according to a new report published today
spoiled ballot: new index reveals democracy more unequal than income in Britain 22/09/05
Less than three per cent of British voters have anything like a fair share of power in elections according to nef's new Index of Democratic Power (IDP)
north east sets out to realise public benefit of buying local 01/08/05
A bid to spread the benefits of local procurement across a whole UK region has been launched today in the North East, following the publication of a groundbreaking new guide from nef (the new economics foundation)
africa pays price for G8 climate blind spot say top aid and environment groups 20/06/05
Africa: Up in Smoke, the new report from unique UK aid and environment coalition says act now on climate change or efforts to end poverty in Africa will go Up in Smoke
clone town britain survey: results reveals national identity crisis 06/06/05
42 per cent of UK towns are clone towns, a further 26 per cent are under threat. nef calls for action to turn back the tide
‘ecological debts’ of G8 countries bigger problem than poor country debt says new book 16/05/05
Ecological Debt – the Health of the Planet and the Wealth of Nations, by Andrew Simms, nef's policy director and one of the original Jubilee 2000 debt relief campaigners, calls for a switch of focus to climate threat
nef election manifesto: 20 ways to connect politicians with people and the planet 05/04/2005
What should people demand from politicians they encounter during the general election? nef marks the launch of the campaign with 20 proposals that set out immediate steps an incoming government can take to reconnect economics with people and the planet
tax lost in havens costs $255 billion a year 27/03/05
Wealth held in tax havens is costing governments around the world us$255 billion each year in lost tax revenue says new research
buying local worth 400 per cent more- 07.03.05
Local authorities could increase the amount of money circulating in their area by 400 per cent by examining how they spend their money, and fostering links with local suppliers.
nef reaction to Tesco growth figures: "It's the rise of a suffocating retail 'super clone'" - 18.01.
As Tesco released their latest sales figures, responses to nef's Clone Town Britain survey (to be released in late spring this year), reveal that for community groups resisting Tesco's onslaught up and down the country, it was far from the 'best Christmas
new banking partnership sounds death knell for predatory lenders 16.12.04
As new figures predict record Christmas debt, innovative banking partnership scales up to sound death knell for loan sharks and predatory lenders.
rich leave poor to sink as climate costs set to rise 10.12.2004
The cost of adapting to climate change is set to rise and is being hidden from the general public in rich countries. While poor countries, who will suffer the impacts of climate change first and worst, are being fatally short changed.
4X4s should have tobacco-style warnings says nef- 26.11.04
Writing in the New Statesman, nef’s Policy Director, Andrew Simms, argues that SUVs are as dangerous to health as tobacco and should be made to carry similar warnings.
BIG BUSINESS SIPHONS BENEFITS FROM SUCCESSFUL INNER CITY FIRMS SAYS NEW REPORT 16.11.04
LEADING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS PRICED OUT OF INNER CITY BY THEIR OWN SUCCESS
UP IN SMOKE: GLOBAL WARMING THREATENS WORK OF TOP AID AND ENVIRONMENT CHARITIES SAYS NEW REPORT/ 20.
UNIQUE NEW COALITION LAUNCHED TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES WARNING: ACT NOW ON CLIMATE CHANGE OR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT GAINS WILL GO ‘UP IN SMOKE’
call for government to 'make us happy'| 28.09.04
ALTERNATIVE MANIFESTO CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT TO FOCUS POLICY ON HUMAN WELL-BEING BEFORE ECONOMIC GROWTH
'CLONE TOWN BRITAIN' SURVEY LAUNCHED TO DISCOVER IF NATION IS LOSING ITS IDENTITY| 28/8/2004
DO YOU LIVE IN A ‘CLONE TOWN’? FIND OUT BY DOING THE NATIONAL SURVEY
MENTORING KEY TO BUSINESS SUCCESS IN BRITAIN| 19/7/2004
REPORT FROM INDEX OF BRITAIN'S MOST SUCCESSFUL INNER CITY BUSINESSES SHOWS BENEFITS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL MENTORING SHOULD BE EXPANDED
USING UP REMAINING COAL AND OIL WILL INCREASE GLOBAL POVERTY| 21/06/2004
RENEWABLES CAN MEET ALL HUMAN NEEDS, SAVE MILLIONS AND PREVENT COMING ENERGY SHOCK
top british companies want action to counter kyoto refuseniks| 25/05/2004
CALL FOR ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND LEGAL MEASURES
THE POWER AND POTENTIAL OF WELL-BEING INDICATORS | 27/04/2004
PILOT STUDY SHOWS KIDS UNHAPPY AT SECONDARY SCHOOL, 'SMARTEST' SCHOOLS COULD BE LEAST HAPPY
ethiopia finally granted overdue debt relief| 29/4/2004
After major efforts by international debt campaigners including Jubilee Research at nef, Ethiopia has finally been granted an additional $700 million debt relief
NEW TOOL IN UK PILOT SHOWS FULL RETURN ON INVESTMENT | 23/04/2004
A new nef report shows how a new tool can be used to measure the financial value of social and environmental as well as economic returns.
TAKING THE PAIN OUT OF GOING GREEN | 21/4/2004
Reward and recognition could be a more effective way of changing people's behaviour to green
UK BUDGET: SOCIAL PROGRESS STAGNANT AS GDP SOARS | 16/3/2004
nef's Measure of Domestic Progress (MDP) inspires the nation to look back to 1976
'GHOST TOWN BRITAIN' COSTING NHS £8.4 BILLION A YEAR | 10/3/2004
NHS ignoring its most valuable assets - patients and frontline staff
US BLOCKS DEBT RELIEF FOR POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD | 13/2/2004
Deal brokered for Iraq while Ethiopia left to drown under unsustainable debt
RECORD UK BANKRUPTCIES PREDICTION BORNE OUT | 10/2/2004
Jubilee Research at nef's pre-Christmas prediction of record levels of consumer debt after the Christmas spending binge have unfortunately been proven true
CORE CAMPAIGN BILL ADOPTED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS| 19/1/2004
Action needed now by nef supporters to keep the Bill moving through Parliament
GHOST TOWN BRITAIN CRISIS HIDDEN BY CHRISTMAS GLITZ | 15/12/2003
NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS LOSS OF ESSENTIAL LOCAL SERVICES HAUNTING UK HIGH STREETS, COMMUNITY AND OPEN SPACES FOLLOWING SUIT
GLOBAL WARMING: MAKE THOSE TO BLAME PAY | 06/12/2003
Read Andrew Simms' report on climate sanctions as featured on BBC news and the Today programme
INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURS LEAD FAST GROWTH AND JOB CREATION IN UK'S POOREST POSTCODES | 03/12/2003
The third annual Inner City 100 Index, announced today December 2nd, 2003, highlights a group of 100 of the fastest growing businesses in the UK's most deprived areas that are defying fears of "jobless growth" to create over 1000 jobs a year.
THE POLITICS OF HAPPINESS | 24/11/2003
We are richer, healthier and safer than at any time in human history, yet we are not, by and large, happier.
FAST GROWTH FIRMS LEVERAGE INNER CITY ADVANTAGE - 3.12.2003
STRATEGIC LOCATION AND UNTAPPED MARKET POTENTIAL IN UK'S INNER CITIES PROVING HIGHLY PROFITABLE FOR UK'S LEADING ENTREPRENEURS
BENEFIT SYSTEM MAJOR BARRIER FOR WOMEN STARTING BUSINESS - 6.11.2003
NEW nef REPORT SHOWS ASPIRING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS HELD BACK BY GENDER BIASED BENEFITS
nef ANNOUNCES ARRIVAL OF NEW DIRECTOR - 3.11.2003
The new economics foundation is proud to announce the arrival of new Director, Stewart Wallis.
NEW REPORT HAS ANSWER TO CURRENT HOUSING CRISIS - 30.10.2003
Britain urgently needs a new mutual home ownership model to solve the dire lack of low-cost key worker housing
CALL TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL REFUGEES: CRISIS SET TO GROW - 30.09.2003
‘HOMES-FOR-LIFESTYLES’ SCANDAL CALLS FOR RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF PEOPLE FORCED TO FLEE BY EXTREME ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Environmental refugees should be officially recognised and protected by the international community
GLOBAL “ HOOVER EFFECT” SUCKING WEALTH OUT OF POOR COUNTRIES INTO THE U.S. - 18.09.2003
IN COUNTERBLAST TO IMF REPORT LEADING THINK TANK’S DATA REVEALS GLOBAL DRAIN OF RESOURCES FROM IMPOVERISHED NATIONS
The global economy -as structured by western politicians and bankers - is acting as a giant “hoover”.
RETURN TO SCALE: ALTERNATIVES TO GLOBALISATION - 18.09.2003
Scale matters. A single painkiller can cure a headache, but swallow a whole bottle and it will kill you.
RESTRICTIVE WESTERN STYLE PROPERTY LAWS WORSENING POVERTY - 11/9/2003
Western style property rights are worsening prospects for the millions of poor in the world and defeating development spending, says nef's latest report, Limits to Property.
IMMINENT FIRST WORLD DEBT CRISIS WORSE THAN ‘THIRD WORLD’ - 1/9/2003
ECONOMY REACHING ‘TIPPING POINT’ - MIDDLE CLASS CONSUMERS WILL CARRY THE CAN FOR FINANCIAL COLLAPSE
A new report on the global economy published by nef today, Monday September 1st, predicts that a giant credit bubble, created by globalisation..
ECONOMIC GROWTH A “MIRAGE” OF BUBBLE ECONOMIES - 1/9/2003
NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS REAL ECONOMY HAS CONTRACTED OVER THIRTY YEARS OF GLOBALISATION; PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY HAVE DECLINED
High growth under globalisation is just a sign of a "mirage economy", says a new report published today by nef.
NEW RESEARCH CALLS FOR BANKS TO SHOW AND TELL ON LENDING IN POOR POSTCODES - 25/8/2003
Banks must fully disclose what and where they are lending to improve access to finance in disadvantaged communities
GOVERNMENT CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE ON PHARMACY RULES WILL HASTEN GHOST TOWN BRITAIN - 20/8/2003
A new briefing from nef says that the Government could be about to trigger the slow death of community pharmacies
THE LEGACY OF GLOBALISATION: DEBT AND DEFLATION
On September 1st nef is launching the first in a new series of yearly reports - the REAL world economic outlook - provocatively shadowing the IMF annual
WORLD HUNGER NEEDS A SIMPLE SOLUTION RATHER THAN HI - TECH GM FOOD - 4/8/2003
Read Andrew Simms in the Guardian on the real answers for global food security
CONTROVERSIAL BOOK CONFIRMS LOOMING NO LOGO WORLD - 4/8/2003
The permanent decline of global brands like Coca-Cola and McDonalds – and the rise of local foods and products – is predicted in a controversial new book by nef associate David Boyle
SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR COMMUNITY ENTERPRISES WITHIN SIGHT - 18/7/2003
The baseline report of the £2.5 million Adventure Capital Fund (ACF), ‘Primed for Growth’, was launched at the conference on Patient Capital on 18th July
‘LIFELINE BANKING’ NEEDED TO RESCUE BRITAIN’S 'WORKING POOR ' FROM LOAN SHARKS- 06/07/2003
Britain needs to develop a new “banking lifeline” to keep Britain’s lower income workers from falling prey to predatory lenders
MULTI-CURRENCY FUTURE FOR BRITAIN PREDICTS TOP THINK TANK REPORT - 19/5/2003
As the nation waits for the government’s verdict on the euro’s “five economic tests” a new nef report says Britain’s future is a multiplicity of currencies
DEBT CAMPAIGNERS CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO CAP INTEREST CHARGES - 06/06/2003
Debt on our Doorstep, the national network for fair finance that includes the New Economics Foundation, today called on the Government to cap interest charges to put an end to extortionate len
50% OF BRITONS WANT POWER CURBS ON SUPERMARKETS, 70% WANT TO GO LOCAL - 16/5/2003
New survey launched at localism conference shows Britons in favour of local produce and concerned at the power of supermarkets
Radical Economics - 14/5/2003
How to re-build Iraq, not just Halliburton
POLICY MAKING IS A GAME - 12/5/2003
On Wednesday 9th April, a new method of public involvement came of age. The Human Genetics Commission released its report on the over the counter sale of genetic testing kits. They had tapped into the views of the public, fair
VALUE OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING COULD BE DOUBLED BY GOING LOCAL - 9/4/2003
FOCUS ON SUPPLY CHAIN IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS WILL CREATE MORE JOBS AND REGENERATION
Communities, business and government can increase, even double, the amount of money flowing into
MAKING QUALITY OF LIFE COUNT - 8/4/2003
In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, local sustainability indicators were put on the local government agenda
DTI ISSUES EARLY REJECTION OF OFT PROPOSALS IN LINE WITH nef REPORT - 24/3/2003
nef's new localism campaign found some early support in the recent announcement by Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt, in which she inferred that she would turn down recommendatio
BIG FOOD DROPS CLAIM ON GUYANA'S PUBLIC FUNDS - 24/3/2003
Jubilee Research, working with the Jubilee Debt Campaign, is pleased to announce that the Big Food Group (BFG), has dropped a £12 million claim against Guyana after a concerted campaign mounte
THE BEGINNING OF THE END? - 20/3/2003
Deborah Doane appears in the International Journal of Corporate Sustainability with a comment and analysis on the implications of Littlewoods surprising withdrawal last month from the Ethical Trading Initiative, which has be
BROAD BASED COALITION LAUNCHED TO FIGHT GHOST TOWN BRITAIN - 12/3/2003
Unique range of groups forms new campaign and backs Bill to save local economies and environment
A unique new coalition called ‘Local Works’ is being launched today to fight the emergence of ghost town Britain
EDITORIAL: It's no longer the economy, stupid - 11/3/2003
GHOST TOWN BRITAIN: ONE COMMUNITY PHARMACY A DAY COULD GO UNDER NEW RULES - 5/3/2003
GHOST TOWNS UPDATE WARNS OF LOSS OF ESSENTIAL FRONT LINE HEALTH SERVICES IN CHANGES TO LICENSING RULES
The alarming decline in local shops, pubs and post offices in Britain could soon be echoed in the loss of essential front line health services if a p
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDISING BIG OIL COMPANIES AND FUELLING GLOBAL WARMING - 18/2/2003
BIG OIL COMPANIES CO-OPTING 'INDEPENDENT' UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AT TAXPAYERS’ EXPENSE
Government is subsidising the oil and gas industry’s massive profits to the tune of £40 million per year through the “capture” of some of Britain’s most respected academi
nef named Think Tank of the Year - 1/10/2002
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