Energy charter treaty makes climate action nearly illegal in 52 countries
Governments must compensate fossil fuel companies for lost future earnings. Enlarge (credit: Monty Rakusen | Getty Images) Five young people whose resolve was hardened by floods and wildfires recently took their governments to.....»»
Report: Global drought threatens food supplies and energy production
In July 2024, global temperatures reached unprecedented levels, breaking historical records with an average of 17.16°C. This extreme heat has led soil water to evaporate, leaving the vegetation and biodiversity more fragile and under stress in many.....»»
Researchers develop Biodiversity Digital Twins to model our planet"s life
Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth. It provides critical resources such as food and energy, and supports ecosystem health. However, climate change, deforestation, and pollution are destroying habitats, altering.....»»
Ukraine Is Decentralizing Energy Production to Protect Itself From Russia
The Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is equipping schools and hospitals with solar panels and energy storage systems to nullify Russian attacks on the country's power plants......»»
These Record-Breaking New Solar Panels Produce 60 Percent More Electricity
Experimental cells that combine silicon with a material called perovskite have broken the efficiency record for converting solar energy—and could eventually supercharge how we get electricity......»»
Climate shocks associated with higher rates of intimate partner violence against women
Countries affected by severe climate change may also have a higher prevalence of violence against women, finds a new study led by UCL researchers......»»
Iron nuggets in the Pinnacles unlock secrets of ancient and future climates
Small iron-rich formations found within Western Australia's Pinnacles, which are part of the world's largest wind-blown limestone belt spanning more than 1,000km, have provided new insights into Earth's ancient climate and changing landscape......»»
How do "double skeptics" affect government policy on climate and vaccination?
Governments and other policymakers around the world wrestle with how to deal with people who are skeptical of official positions and guidelines, such as climate skeptics and antivaxxers......»»
Arctic plant study suggests the rate of climate change threatens to exceed the adaptive capacity of species
A research group at the Finnish Museum of Natural History is investigating the adaptive potential of plant species amid a warming climate. Their recent study investigates the Siberian primrose, a plant species that occurs on the coasts of the Bothnia.....»»
Influence of a black hole"s spin: First evidence of precession in ultraluminous accretion disks
Gas swirls around a black hole due to its intense gravity, forming an accretion disk. These accretion disks, being among the most efficient energy conversion mechanisms in the universe, emit light and plasma jets. When a black hole spins on its axis,.....»»
How climate change is undermining Indigenous knowledge and livelihoods in Central America
Driven by extreme heat and drought, some of the worst wildfires in living memory raged across Mexico and Central America through April and May 2024......»»
Poor countries recycle far more imported plastic than previously thought—but it"s not enough
Countries like Malaysia import many metric tons of plastic waste from Europe each year, paying a few pennies per kilo. This might seem strange, but according to Kai Li, it makes sense......»»
Surprising amount and variety of gamma radiation is produced in large tropical thunderstorms, observations reveal
In the 1990s, NASA satellites built to spot high-energy particles coming from supernovas and other celestial-sized objects discovered a surprise—high energy gamma radiation bursts coming from right here on Earth......»»
Facing backlash, EU moves to delay deforestation rules
The European Commission on Wednesday proposed to delay by a year a ban on imports of products driving deforestation that has faced pushback from countries around the world......»»
Swiss glaciers are receding again after 2 punishing years and despite a good start to 2024
The volume of Switzerland's glaciers shrank again this summer, compounding the negative impact of climate change after a devastating two-year run that depleted the ice by more than 10%, scientific experts reported Tuesday......»»
Smoke from megafires puts orchard trees at risk: Effects last months, reducing nut yields
Long-term smoke exposure from massive wildfires lowers the energy reserves of orchard trees and can cut their nut production by half, researchers at the University of California, Davis, found. The smoke can affect trees for months after a megafire, d.....»»
Fires taking Amazon closer to "point of no return": Expert
A year ago, Carlos Nobre, one of Brazil's top climate scientists, was a rare voice of optimism about the future of the planet......»»
Opinion: Enough, already—why humanity must get on board with the concept of "sufficiency"
Humanity's rapacious consumption is more than Earth and its climate can handle, which is driving an ecological crisis. Australians are the worst offenders per person due to our excessive resource use......»»
Q&A: UN security council needs major changes—permanent seats for African countries is just one
Recently, the US ambassador to the United Nations announced America's support for the creation of two new permanent UN security council seats for African states. Gary Wilson, a scholar of international law and relations—specifically issues related.....»»
Q&A: Extreme weather is disrupting lives in southern Africa—new policies are needed to keep the peace
Over the past decades, heavy and more frequent rainfall and dry spells in southern Africa have caused loss and damage to agriculture, livestock, the energy sector, food security and nutrition......»»
Most climate scientists foresee temperature rise exceeding Paris Agreement targets, study finds
A new survey of climate experts reveals that a majority believe the Earth to be headed for a rise in global temperatures far higher than the 2015 Paris Agreement targets of 1.5 to well-below 2°C......»»