Ben Webster

Ben Webster works on investigations for openDemocracy into climate, environment and biodiversity issues. Ben spent 24 years at The Times, 11 of them as environment editor

Minister who owns beef farm approved £5m ad campaign promoting red meat

REVEALED: Public body’s drive to up red meat sales failed to mention health risks, despite privately acknowledging them

By Ben Webster

/ 3 Jun 2024

Minister who owns beef farm approved £5m ad campaign promoting red meat

UK professor condemns own university over collaboration with oil giant

Southampton University slammed after openDemocracy uncovered its involvement in Exxon’s ‘greenwashing’ project

By Ben Webster

/ 30 Apr 2024

UK professor condemns own university over collaboration with oil giant

Government admits it broke law to allow gamebird shooting

Ministers ignored advice about the release of pheasants and partridges after meeting a pro-shooting organisation

By Ben Webster

/ 17 Apr 2024

Government admits it broke law to allow gamebird shooting

Oil giant admits it needs a ‘magic wand’ to keep green pledges

ExxonMobil accused of greenwashing over claims that its ‘carbon capture’ project is reducing emissions

By Ben Webster

/ 30 Mar 2024

Oil giant admits it needs a ‘magic wand’ to keep green pledges

Revealed: COP28 president linked to spyware experts via ‘AI university’

There are fears that guests and journalists could be spied on at the international climate conference in Dubai

By Lucas Amin and Ben Webster

/ 30 Nov 2023

Revealed: COP28 president linked to spyware experts via ‘AI university’

Pro-shooting minister approves gamebird licences despite bird flu warning

Exclusive: Lord Benyon overruled his own experts to allow release of pheasants and partridges in protected sites

By Ben Webster

/ 29 Nov 2023

Pro-shooting minister approves gamebird licences despite bird flu warning

Primeiro voo transatlântico net zero pode não ser tão ecológico assim

Voo da Virgin Atlantic usará apenas 'combustível sustentável de aviação' – tecnologia rotulada como greenwashing

By Ben Webster

/ 27 Nov 2023

Boeing 787 Dreamliner da Virgin Atlantic Airways, fotografado perto do aeroporto de Heathrow

¿Es el primer vuelo transatlántico con cero emisiones netas tan ecológico como dicen?

Un vuelo de Virgin Atlantic utilizará exclusivamente "combustible de aviación sostenible", una tecnología tachada de "maquillaje verde".

By Ben Webster

/ 24 Nov 2023

¿Es el primer vuelo transatlántico con cero emisiones netas tan ecológico como dicen?

‘World’s first net zero transatlantic flight’ might not be so green after all

Virgin Atlantic flight will use entirely ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ – a technology labelled as greenwash

By Ben Webster

/ 22 Nov 2023

‘World’s first net zero transatlantic flight’ might not be so green after all

Cruceros "verdes" que queman gasóleo pese a su compromiso energético

Una investigación de openDemocracy revela que los cruceros "vierten veneno en el aire" al no conectarse a la electricidad baja en carbono en los puertos británicos

By Lucas Amin and Ben Webster

/ 9 Nov 2023