Europe wants to help protect oil majors’ good intentions from themselves
by Rashmee
Posted on February 15, 2020
BP, which is practically synonymous with the fossil industry, has pledged be carbon-neutral by 2050 or sooner. Only Spain’s Repsol, a much smaller oil and gas producer, has set so ambitious a 30-year goal. Unsurprisingly, everyone’s wondering how, or even if, BP will make good on its promise. But Europe’s markets regulator is taking steady … Continue reading “Europe wants to help protect oil majors’ good intentions from themselves”
Read MoreHow far the Greens have come. Or how much the climate has changed
by Rashmee
Posted on February 8, 2020
In Austria, the Greens are in chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s coalition government. In Germany, opinion polls suggest the Greens are on course to enter government. If an election were held in Germany today, the party could win 21 to 23 per cent of the vote. That’s more than the Social Democrats (SPD) and second to the … Continue reading “How far the Greens have come. Or how much the climate has changed”
Read MoreWhat we can learn from the world’s greenest cities — and their kitchens
by Rashmee
Posted on February 5, 2020 / The National
This was supposed to be the year that Vancouver became the world’s “greenest city”, to quote the ambitious action plan adopted by its administrative council in 2011. On Monday, western Canada’s coastal, mountain-fringed metropolis acknowledged that it wasn’t quite there yet, when it launched a residents’ dialogue on how to “get real” about achieving its … Continue reading “What we can learn from the world’s greenest cities — and their kitchens”
Read MoreIn Vienna, it’s yesterday once more
by Rashmee
Posted on January 13, 2020
Sebastian Kurz, Austria’s chancellor, is proof that political leopards don’t change their spots even when they swap out a far-right coalition partner for one on the left. In his first interview with the international media since taking office after re-election, Mr Kurz was talking a familiar poisonous line. He described illegal immigrants as a threat … Continue reading “In Vienna, it’s yesterday once more”
Read MoreAll the ways the world made it harder to be a good person in 2019
by Rashmee
Posted on December 27, 2019 / Quartz
By Rashmee Roshan Lall & Jason Karaian There is a moment in season three of the American comedy television series The Good Place in which Michael, the lead protagonist, has an epiphany about the problem with modern life. “Every day,” he says, “the world gets a little more complicated, and being a good person gets a little harder.” … Continue reading “All the ways the world made it harder to be a good person in 2019”
Read MoreGreta Thunberg is right to be deeply disappointed but for the wrong reasons
by Rashmee
Posted on December 16, 2019
Hardly a day goes without news of a climate-related development or some kerfuffle over how to respond to it. In days past, it’s the climate conference in Madrid that has made headlines. Particularly, Greta Thunberg’s slow activism – the Swedish schoolgirl took four weeks to sail the seas and get to Madrid, disdaining air … Continue reading “Greta Thunberg is right to be deeply disappointed but for the wrong reasons”
Read MoreA year in protests. It underlined our interconnectedness
by Rashmee
Posted on December 13, 2019
As the year hastens to an end, journalists like me are trying to discern the defining patterns of 2019. One of these has to be the slew of protests that roiled various countries. Three broad points can be discerned: Some of the protests were in unlikely places Many of them were about the same sorts … Continue reading “A year in protests. It underlined our interconnectedness”
Read MoreGreening is very expensive. That’s the essence of Daimler’s move to cut jobs
by Rashmee
Posted on November 29, 2019
When companies promise to be greener, I often wonder how they’re going to pay for it. Well, now we know. By saving money through cutting jobs . News that Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, will cut thousands of jobs worldwide was filtered through a green lens. In order to pay the enormous costs of investing in … Continue reading “Greening is very expensive. That’s the essence of Daimler’s move to cut jobs”
Read MoreDonna Leon’s ‘Acqua Alta’ paints a pretty good picture of high waters in Venice
by Rashmee
Posted on November 13, 2019
I was at work today when I read about Venice under water, its walkable streets flooded, tables and chairs set out for touristy aperitifs bobbing along alleyways, and the gangways of hotels along the Grand Canal washed away. It’s the “acqua alta” or high waters, but an exceptionally intense one. This one has peaked at … Continue reading “Donna Leon’s ‘Acqua Alta’ paints a pretty good picture of high waters in Venice”
Read MoreCarrots are good - but UN also needs to wield a stick to tackle climate change
by Rashmee
Posted on September 25, 2019 / The National
The United Nations’ special Climate Action Summit notched up a win even before the first speaker took the microphone and Greta Thunberg issued a passionate broadside. On the evening before, the UN announced that Gabon would become the first African country to receive international funding to preserve its forests. The 10-year commitment of $150 million … Continue reading “Carrots are good - but UN also needs to wield a stick to tackle climate change”
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Rashmee has lived and worked in several countries in the past decade, including Afghanistan, India, Haiti, Tunisia, the UAE, US and UK