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This Subject Spotlight addresses the urgent issue of climate change, focusing on human activities, the shortcomings of current governmental and corporate actions, and the rise of climate litigation. It underscores the need for improved regulations, corporate accountability, and grassroots activism to tackle environmental challenges effectively. It also explores international and regional climate initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement and the EU’s Fit for 55 package, and the difficulties in enforcing these treaties. The discussion covers concepts like "soft law" and various legal approaches to hold governments accountable for climate inaction. The conversation highlights the pressure on corporations to cut carbon emissions, comparing regulatory measures like the EU’s carbon allowances with voluntary ESG policies. It reviews tactics companies use to bypass regulations, greenwashing, and evolving litigation strategies to hold major polluters accountable for environmental damage.

Dr Pia Rebelo City St George's, University of London Law

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with Dr Pia Rebelo from City St George's, University of London

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Watch a sample episode now

This Subject Spotlight addresses the urgent issue of climate change, focusing on human activities, the shortcomings of current governmental and corporate actions, and the rise of climate litigation. It underscores the need for improved regulations, corporate accountability, and grassroots activism to tackle environmental challenges effectively. It also explores international and regional climate initiatives, such as the Paris Agreement and the EU's Fit for 55 package, and the difficulties in enforcing these treaties. The discussion covers concepts like "soft law" and various legal approaches to hold governments accountable for climate inaction. The conversation highlights the pressure on corporations to cut carbon emissions, comparing regulatory measures like the EU's carbon allowances with voluntary ESG policies. It reviews tactics companies use to bypass regulations, greenwashing, and evolving litigation strategies to hold major polluters accountable for environmental damage.

Dr Pia Rebelo City St George's, University of London Law

About the university

City St George's, University of London

Established by royal charter in 1836, City St George's, University of London is the third-oldest university in England. It has around 48,000 distance learning and campus-based students, making it the largest university by number of students in the UK. City St George's, University of London is a federation of 17 independent member institutions of outstanding global reputation, ranging from larger universities such as UCL or King's College London to smaller specialised institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music or the Courtauld Institute of Art. Charles Dickens even termed it the 'People's University'!
City St George's, University of London profile →

Meet the academic

Dr Pia Rebelo

Dr Pia Rebelo is a lecturer in private law and an admitted attorney from South Africa. She obtained her LLB and LLM at the University of Cape Town and completed her PhD at The City Law School. Her research interests are focused on the contractual mechanisms employed to facilitate and incentivise a green shipping transition. She has published work on green finance frameworks, climate clauses, sustainable supply chain finance, climate litigation, arctic shipping, and other private actor initiatives for addressing climate change. She was appointed an Academic Research Fellow of the Middle Temple in 2023 and teaches commercial law subjects at The City Law School, City St George's, University of London.

In every Subject Spotlight you'll find

On-demand interactive video content

Sign up, log in and access a wide range of potentially life-changing Subject Spotlight experiences that will help you make informed decisions about your university future.

Remarkable & relatable academics

Learn from some of the UK's finest and most decorated academics as they give you a genuine, insightful and engaging experience of studying their courses at their universities.

Interactive quizzes and activities

Have a go at fascinating interactive quizzes and activities, then get meaningful and intuitive feedback from the academics to see how you've done.

Content to enhance students' personal statements

Hear direct from the academics what's expected of you in your personal statements, and the things you can do to improve your chances of getting on the course you most desire!

Certificate of completion

You'll receive a certificate of completion to evidence your learning - why not add this to your CV and university applications to show your dedication to your future pathway!

Frequently asked questions

What is a Subject Spotlight?

Subject Spotlights fuse education and entertainment to bring you the new way of researching your university options.

Entirely free and available on-demand, you can choose to engage with the content in the way that best suits you - whether that's in bite-sized chunks or in binge-sessions!

Why should I check out Subject Spotlights?

Get a real, representative impression of what pursuing a subject at university is actually like, so that you can make the right decision for you.

Stand out from the competition by completing a Subject Spotlight to gain the most relevant references and evidence for your personal statement.

Who is this Spotlight for?

This subject spotlight is made for students aged 16 and above, that are considering applying to University, particularly to study the subject in the title, or similar areas.

How should I talk about completing a Subject Spotlight on my personal statement?

Completing a Subject Spotlight shows the university you're applying to that you've taken time outside of school to engage with relevant content.

The easiest way to include it would be to briefly mention one or two things you learned from it and how/why those learnings have furthered your desire to study the subject. We don't want to prescribe an answer because it's your personal statement but this is a good starting point!

© 2025 Springpod. All Rights Reserved.

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University taster in LLB Law from City, University of London. Gain insight into studying LLB Law in this online degree taster

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Construction Management Studies Management Studies Subject Spotlight

In this experience, you’ll discover how sustainable construction is essential for reducing environmental impact and protecting our planet. You’ll examine traditional construction methods and why the industry is moving away from them, instead opting for more sustainable materials and innovative methods of construction. You’ll also learn about career pathways into sustainable construction, such as an HNC, and how these qualifications lead to various roles in construction. You’ll discover how sustainability is measured through tools like EPC ratings and also consider when not building might be the most sustainable option, such as allowing natural processes to take precedence. You’ll explore the waste hierarchy - reduce, reuse, recycle - as a key principle in minimising environmental impact in construction. In episode three, you’ll analyse three case studies demonstrating different approaches to sustainable construction such as the Vertical Forest in Milan and how it integrates greenery into high-rise living, improving air quality, reducing heat islands, and supporting urban biodiversity.

Deborah BunceUniversity College BirminghamBusiness and management studies

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with Deborah Bunce from University College Birmingham

Try this university course before you apply - 100% free!

Watch a sample episode now

In this experience, you'll discover how sustainable construction is essential for reducing environmental impact and protecting our planet. You'll examine traditional construction methods and why the industry is moving away from them, instead opting for more sustainable materials and innovative methods of construction. You'll also learn about career pathways into sustainable construction, such as an HNC, and how these qualifications lead to various roles in construction. You'll discover how sustainability is measured through tools like EPC ratings and also consider when not building might be the most sustainable option, such as allowing natural processes to take precedence. You'll explore the waste hierarchy - reduce, reuse, recycle - as a key principle in minimising environmental impact in construction. In episode three, you'll analyse three case studies demonstrating different approaches to sustainable construction such as the Vertical Forest in Milan and how it integrates greenery into high-rise living, improving air quality, reducing heat islands, and supporting urban biodiversity.

Deborah Bunce University College Birmingham Business and management studies

About the university

University College Birmingham

Based in the heart of the UK's second biggest city, with over 10,000 students from around 90 countries, University College Birmingham is highly respected by employers and industry for providing career-focused education and training. Investing £200 million in its campuses, their degrees are shaped by the needs of industry, while its award-winning support helps students to reach their full potential. University College Birmingham is surrounded by booming businesses, gorgeous green spaces and vibrant nightlife, plus a magnificent mix of cultures right on your doorstep and fantastic connections to the rest of the UK and the world.

Meet the academic

Deborah Bunce

Deborah Bunce is Head of Sustainable Construction at University College Birmingham, responsible for managing courses from Level 1 trade through to Level 7 MSc in Construction Project Management. She has a master's in civil engineering and has been Chartered with the Institution of Civil Engineers since 1991. For over 20 years she has worked in industry for both contractors and consultants specialising in environmental design with notable projects including the reclamation of Pride Park Derby and remediation of the land for Reading football club. She also spent several years working with the EU providing institutional strengthening support to Eastern European countries including Belarus, Poland, Estonia, Czech and Slovak Republics. Prior to this she worked in a design department working on bridges in steel, concrete and glass-reinforced plastics. Since 2010 Deborah has been teaching initially in the maths department but latterly leading Built Environment teams focussed on developing students to join ICE, CIOB, CIAT, RICS and CIBSE. At University College Birmingham she is leading a sustainable construction department in a recently retrofitted former print works. She is passionate about sustainability and the need to adapt existing infrastructure to reduce its carbon footprint and to meet the needs of a world with a changing climate.

In every Subject Spotlight you'll find

On-demand interactive video content

Sign up, log in and access a wide range of potentially life-changing Subject Spotlight experiences that will help you make informed decisions about your university future.

Remarkable & relatable academics

Learn from some of the UK's finest and most decorated academics as they give you a genuine, insightful and engaging experience of studying their courses at their universities.

Interactive quizzes and activities

Have a go at fascinating interactive quizzes and activities, then get meaningful and intuitive feedback from the academics to see how you've done.

Content to enhance students' personal statements

Hear direct from the academics what's expected of you in your personal statements, and the things you can do to improve your chances of getting on the course you most desire!

Certificate of completion

You'll receive a certificate of completion to evidence your learning - why not add this to your CV and university applications to show your dedication to your future pathway!

Frequently asked questions

What is a Subject Spotlight?

Subject Spotlights fuse education and entertainment to bring you the new way of researching your university options.

Entirely free and available on-demand, you can choose to engage with the content in the way that best suits you - whether that's in bite-sized chunks or in binge-sessions!

Why should I check out Subject Spotlights?

Get a real, representative impression of what pursuing a subject at university is actually like, so that you can make the right decision for you.

Stand out from the competition by completing a Subject Spotlight to gain the most relevant references and evidence for your personal statement.

Who is this Spotlight for?

This subject spotlight is made for students aged 16 and above, that are considering applying to University, particularly to study the subject in the title, or similar areas.

How should I talk about completing a Subject Spotlight on my personal statement?

Completing a Subject Spotlight shows the university you're applying to that you've taken time outside of school to engage with relevant content.

The easiest way to include it would be to briefly mention one or two things you learned from it and how/why those learnings have furthered your desire to study the subject. We don't want to prescribe an answer because it's your personal statement but this is a good starting point!

© 2025 Springpod. All Rights Reserved.

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Construction Management University Taster | Springpod

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University taster in Construction Management from University College Birmingham. Gain insight into studying Construction Management in this online degree taster

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Sustainable Design Engineering Subject Spotlight

Think engineering is just about building stuff? Think again. In this Subject Spotlight, Dave Knapton, Associate Head of School at the University of Sunderland, explores how sustainability is changing the game—shaping everything from product design to manufacturing and even the way companies compete. If you're into innovation, problem-solving, or just want to make a difference in the world, this series is for you!

Dave Knapton University of Sunderland Manufacturing engineering

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Sustainable Design Engineering University Taster | Springpod

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University taster in Sustainable Design Engineering from University of Sunderland. Gain insight into studying Sustainable Design Engineering in this online degree taster

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Green Careers Week 2025 - Green Careers Hub

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Engage with our video series

Wondered about what a green job looks like? Browse our video series to watch a range of different roles across a variety of organisations.

There really is a green job for everyone.

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Green Careers Week 2024 - Green Careers Hub

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Green Careers Week is a national campaign to promote green jobs and skills in the UK. Find out how the Green Careers Hub is taking part.

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Explore Green Careers Week

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Green Careers Week: 3 – 8 November 2025 | UCAS

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UCAS provides information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression.