A new research synthesis suggests using tree ring data from forest inventory plots to estimate carbon sequestration in forests. This approach could provide a direct record of the carbon gained by individual trees and forests, scaling up to estimate forest-wide and continent-wide carbon savings.
A new study highlights the need for a coordinated approach to climate change policies to reduce unintended consequences for African river basins. The research shows that fragmented policies between developed and developing countries can increase vulnerabilities in these regions.
New study reveals tradeoff between water quality and emissions on farms, highlighting potential environmental benefits of conservation practices. Researchers found that split nitrogen applications had no impact on nitrous oxide levels, but cover crops increased emissions by spikes in summer.
A 15-year study in arctic Greenland found that caribou and muskoxen helped mitigate the effects of climate change on rare plants, lichens, and mushrooms. The presence or absence of these large herbivores made a clear difference in species commonness and rarity.
A new analysis predicts climate change will decline suitable regions for coffee arabica, cashews, and avocados in major producing countries. Suitable areas may expand at higher altitudes and latitudes, particularly for cashews and avocados.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2022
A University of Arizona-led team combined tree-ring data with forest inventory measurements to predict future tree growth. The researchers found a 56-91% decline in individual tree growth, leading to less carbon sequestration by Arizona's forests.
Researchers developed a new flexible thermoelectric device that can wrap around pipes and convert wasted heat into electricity. The project is aimed at addressing climate change by increasing private forest owners' involvement in carbon offset projects.
A new study by University of Helsinki researchers shows that boreal forests can mitigate climate change through aerosol formation and growth, influencing cloud properties and regional climate. The study found that aerosol particles produced by the forests alter cloud reflectivity, potentially cooling the climate.
According to a new study, climate change will force 45% of transboundary fish stocks to shift significantly by 2100, raising tensions and potential conflicts over resource management. This shift will disproportionately affect tropical countries and potentially collapse international agreements.
A study highlights the importance of cohesive, cross-sectoral strategies to promote nature-based solutions in Asia. The research emphasizes the need for national and international governance frameworks to effectively implement NbS for climate security, socioeconomic development, and eco-sustainability.
A study found that increasing CO2 levels boost carbon storage in peatlands by reducing photorespiration. However, this effect depends on the intermediate water table level, not when conditions are too wet or dry.
A recent study highlights the need for inclusive forest conservation policies that learn from past mistakes. The researchers argue that top-down approaches can be harmful and accelerate deforestation, instead recommending local social impact assessments and indigenous involvement in policy-making.
Predator species help mitigate against loss of biodiversity and ecosystem destabilization caused by heatwaves. Algal communities in freshwater streams were found to resemble each other more closely when predators were absent, highlighting the importance of conserving top predators.
A new study found that manufacturing facilities that use large amounts of water during periods of drought often streamline their processes to lower toxic emissions into water, lakes, and rivers. On average, these changes resulted in reduced toxic emissions by over 2.5%.
A new study finds that climate change will lead to an increase in kidney stone cases, even with mitigation efforts. Researchers predict a cost of $57-99 million to the US healthcare system over seven decades, with a steeper impact if no action is taken.
A recent study found that large wildfires and severe heat events worsen air pollution across the western United States, affecting 68% of the region's population in one day. The study revealed an increasing trend in days with high levels of both particulate matter and ozone, tied to rising temperatures and wildfires.
A new modelling framework internalizes air pollution's economic impacts on human mortality, considering climate constraints and aerosol feedback. The study finds that optimized air pollution interventions generate considerable health benefits, avoiding 1.62 million premature deaths by mid-century.
A new study confirms that emissions from anthropogenic sources, including agriculture, landfill/waste, and fossil fuel industry, are the driver for the renewed rise of potent greenhouse gas since 2007. Global wetlands play a minor role with less than 20% contribution to atmospheric methane.
A recent study suggests that climate change in some regions is unavoidable even if CO2 levels are reduced. The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) shifts southwards when CO2 decreases, triggering persistent El Niño conditions and regional climate changes.
A recent study found that major US electric utility companies' voluntary climate pledges could lower net emissions by roughly 560 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, an amount equal to one-third of 2018 US power sector emissions. This reduction is on top of existing policies and could play a vital role in climate change mitigation.
A study analyzing major US electric utility pledges suggests that if implemented, these reductions could lower power sector emissions by 30% by 2050. However, about one-seventh of the pledged cuts are redundant and would be required under existing state regulations.
Scientists developed an all-season smart-roof coating that automatically switches between cooling and heating, outperforming commercial cool-roof systems in energy savings. The technology uses vanadium dioxide to regulate its rate of radiative cooling, overcoming the problem of overcooling in winter.
A study found concurrent heatwaves occurring simultaneously in mid- to high-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere were seven times greater in the 2010s, causing more severe societal impacts. The heat events grew hotter and larger, exhausting countries' ability to provide mutual aid during crises.
A new study by Cornell University found that moving professional conferences online reduces the global event industry's carbon footprint by 94%, and shifting to a hybrid model cuts it to 67%. The annual carbon footprint of the industry is comparable to the yearly greenhouse gas emissions of the entire US.
Scientists urge creating strategic forest reserves in the Western US to fight climate change and safeguard biodiversity. The researchers found that permanently protected areas equivalent to wilderness cover an average of 14% of forest area in the states studied.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of California, Berkeley, describe advances in understanding phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Better understanding liquid state physics may help accelerate technology development for the energy sector.
A new study published in Nature Food highlights the importance of methane abatement options in slowing down agriculture's contribution to global warming. The research shows that focusing on short-term effects of methane can lead to greater emission reductions, making low-meat diets a powerful mitigation mechanism.
A new study projects that farmed seafood supply will drop by 16% globally by 2090 if no action is taken to mitigate climate change. The industry is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and some regions could see a decline in mariculture production by up to 90%.
A new study ranks live oaks and American sycamores as champions among 17 "super trees" that can mitigate air pollution and climate change in urban areas. The research provides a three-part framework for selecting suitable trees, identifying high-impact planting sites, and engaging with community leadership to make the project a reality.
A recent study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that climate change has contributed to a four-fold increase in crop pest and disease occurrence in China since the 1970s. The researchers attributed this rise to warmer night temperatures, which can foster an increased chance for pests and diseases.
Research reveals that tree root systems are a significant source of methane emissions in wetland areas, including the Amazon basin. The study suggests that existing models may be underestimating methane emissions by neglecting the role of trees.
A new international study by IIASA reveals that rapid emissions cuts in the next few decades can avoid temperature overshoot, plateauing global temperatures around the time of net-zero emissions. This approach also yields long-term economic benefits, with projected GDP increases of up to 2% in scenarios that avoid overshoot.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change explores the benefits of limiting temperature overshoot in mitigation pathways. The research found that avoiding overshoot leads to reduced climate risks, lower economic losses, and lower mitigation costs, ultimately benefiting both the environment and economy.
A new study suggests that atmospheric conditions in the stratosphere pose a challenge to generating sulfuric acid, a crucial component of a proposed geoengineering strategy to mitigate climate change. Researchers found that solar radiation causes HOSO2 to quickly photolyse, breaking it down into harmful sulfur dioxide, which may reduce...
Researchers from Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) propose a radical approach to accelerate the energy transition. By using fossil power plants at full capacity and building solar infrastructure, they aim to minimize cumulative CO2 emissions and complete the energy transition within five years.
A new study using methane stable isotopes and thousands of emissions scenarios confirms that agricultural emissions are the primary driver of atmospheric methane increases. Human activities account for 60% of global methane emissions, with significant contributions from agriculture, landfills, and oil and gas industries.
Climate change has already altered 20% of the Earth's landscapes, and this trend is set to triple under business-as-usual emissions growth. The research found fundamental shifts in life zones, with boundaries shifting poleward and towards higher elevations, affecting tropical and temperate climates.
A group of Harvard scholars, including David Keith and Joseph Aldy, argue that more thorough social science research is needed into solar geoengineering to understand its potential risks and benefits. They suggest pursuing three research themes: assessing costs and benefits, understanding deployment incentives, and evaluating SG in a p...
A new study suggests that UK plant-based alternative food consumption has nearly doubled over the past decade, with younger generations and women being more likely to adopt this diet. The research found that plant-based milks were the most popular among the UK population, followed by vegan sausages and vegetable burgers.
Researchers have developed a 'time machine' framework that uses artificial intelligence to learn from past environmental changes and predict future biodiversity loss. This framework can help decision-makers prioritize conservation approaches and mitigation interventions, leading to more effective management of ecosystem services.
The University of Kansas team is creating new models to forecast water availability in Kansas, accounting for climate uncertainty. The project will improve tools for the Kansas Water Office to incorporate climate variability into future water supply planning.
A new study reveals that by 2040, between 64 and 100 million households in India, Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia will face cooling challenges, leading to potential discomfort. The study highlights the importance of considering household characteristics beyond income and climate in predicting air-conditioning adoption.
A new study provides a comprehensive set of 16 criteria to assess the success of climate adaptation projects, which can be tailored to individual project goals and context. The criteria cover four categories, including use of information, project management, outputs, and advancing the field of adaptation.
Lignocellulose, a plant-based material, can be used to create light-reactive surfaces for windows or materials that react to certain chemicals. By customizing lignocellulose, researchers can improve light absorption and achieve better operating efficiency in solar cells.
Researchers at Korea Maritime & Ocean University have discovered a novel compound, β-HQ clathrates, that can capture both carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. The discovery provides valuable insights into the kinetics of trapping these greenhouse gases, which could lead to the development of new gas capture technologies.
New research reveals that blue, fin and humpback whales consume an average of three times more food each year than scientists previously estimated. This increased consumption plays a crucial role in maintaining ocean health and productivity by recycling key nutrients.
Researchers found that in dry years, birds funnel into riparian environments due to increased greenness, leading to overcrowding and decreased bird populations. The study highlights the importance of understanding how birds respond to climate change for conservation purposes.
Participants preferred policies that used incentives to encourage eco-friendly choices, particularly when they targeted businesses. In contrast, policies that focused on energy alternatives and used incentives were also supported. The researchers found that policy support was influenced by the type of change targeted, who was targeted,...
A study has identified 20 consistent indicators to support sustainability on U.S. ranches, focusing on ecological, social, and economic aspects. The indicators aim to help ranchers track progress toward sustainability goals and communicate improvements to their operations.
Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed innovative technologies in self-healing sealants, precision deicers and quantum-enabled grid security. These breakthroughs aim to improve construction materials, reduce waste in road maintenance and enhance power grid protection.
A new model suggests that integrating massive offshore wind generation, power storage, electric vehicles, green hydrogen production, and expanded transmission can reduce costs of renewable power integration into the grid. This strategy could make achieving China's carbon neutrality by 2050 feasible without significantly increasing costs.
A new study maps global cropland nitrous oxide emissions and finds that reducing fertilizer application over 20% of the world's croplands could achieve 65% of global mitigation potential. The research identifies hotspots of high emissions in humid subtropical regions, where climate and soil characteristics play a significant role.
The Lancet Countdown report highlights the urgent need for globally coordinated action to mitigate climate change and address health inequities. Countries are under-prepared for the health effects of climate change, with only 49% having a national plan or strategy.
A study found that climate change increased the probability of heavy rainfall by 70% in Brazil's Minas Gerais state, leading to severe flooding, deaths, and massive damage. The extreme event caused over 90,000 people to be temporarily homeless and resulted in significant economic losses.
A new study examines alternative scenarios and their potential impact on climate mitigation targets. The research suggests that retaining low-energy practices in lifestyle and business could reduce climate mitigation challenges, while missing these opportunities would lead to a more difficult energy transition.
A new study found that consuming sustainably sourced wild meat instead of domesticated livestock reduces greenhouse gas emissions and retains precious tropical forest systems. This can lead to significant financial incentives for forest conservation through carbon credit revenues, totaling millions of dollars per year.
Researchers at Kyushu University developed a new, low-cost seismic monitoring system that can detect changes in pore pressure with greater than 99.99% accuracy. The system uses a small seismic source and distributed acoustic sensing technology to monitor subsurface formations over an extensive area at a relatively low cost.
A study found that Amazonian and Afrotropical communities consuming wild meat may spare up to 71 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by replacing beef or poultry with wild meat. This could generate millions of dollars in carbon credit sales, but unsustainable hunting practices must be avoided.
Climate anxiety is growing among children and young people, with over half of child psychiatrists in England seeing distressed patients. Experts call on leaders to provide reliable information on climate mitigation and adaptation, and support individuals connect with nature and join like-minded communities.
A new study projects that marine heatwaves will wipe out hundreds of thousands of tonnes of fish available for catch in a country's waters by the century's end. Researchers warn that extreme temperatures will exacerbate impacts on fisheries and human communities, leading to significant job losses.