Research articles

Extreme rainfall events, amplified by climate change, can stress public health, but efforts to assess health impacts have been fragmented so far. A study now analyses the relation between extreme rainfall and mortality from respiratory diseases across urban environments in East Asia.

The poor structural stability of cathode materials is responsible for the rapid capacity loss of sodium-ion batteries during cycling. This work addresses the instability by introducing vacancies into the transition metal layers and realize long-life pouch cells.

The authors manipulate two categories of cathodes for sodium-ion batteries for a rational design that combines high energy density with high power density and long cycling life.

Biological ammonia-to-nitrite conversion (nitritation) in mainstream municipal wastewater is environmentally desirable but hard to stabilize. This study presents an effective loading rate switch strategy that enables stable nitritation in mainstream sewage.

Optimal risk management involves maintaining formal and informal risk instruments, which is difficult under increasing climate risks. A study now investigates the issue and finds that policies cultivating moderate altruism and solidarity can help farmers better manage climate risks.

Although air pollution may play a role in shaping suicide risk, the link has been difficult to estimate so far. This study quantifies the role of air quality improvements in the decline of suicide rates in China over the period 2013–2017, uncovering a causal link between particulate pollution and suicide.

This work shows a delicate titanium suboxide-based anode design for electrolysis of seawater, delivering selective production of active chlorine for on-site disinfection.

Renewable-energy-powered electrolysis of seawater provides a sustainable means of mass production of hydrogen, a critical fuel for tomorrow’s energy mix. Here the layered double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalyst design enables ultrastable seawater splitting at industry-compatible current densities.

Rapid urbanization poses several challenges but can offer opportunities for cities to become more sustainable by, for example, reducing transport demand and its associated emissions. This study shows how this can be achieved and quantifies the co-benefits for climate, energy use, air quality and human health.

Carboxylated cellulose nanofibres are materials with combined sustainability and desirable properties. Here the authors show a synthetic process allowing for scalable and green preparation of such materials.

While the economic effects of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been studied extensively, this study examines how efforts to achieve balance across the SDGs affect subjective well-being within and across countries.

Efforts to protect and conserve the planet’s land and oceans should also guarantee that people can access them equitably. Comparing marine and terrestrial protected areas in the United States, a study shows different access patterns based on income and race.

For battery electrolytes, addressing their safety often leads to compromised electrochemical properties. Here, the electrolyte formulation is not only non-flammable but also supports excellent performance in both K-ion and Li-ion cells.

Government spending for COVID-19 recovery could have enhanced society’s resilience to environmental shocks, but it is unclear whether this was adequately reflected in policies. A study now sheds light on this issue by applying a fiscal policy taxonomy for climate change adaptation and resilience to policies across different countries.

Air pollution is commonly thought to disproportionately affect lower-income communities. In most low- and middle-income countries, however, air pollution is found to be highest in wealthier urban areas.

Cookstove carbon offset projects can contribute to various socio-economic and environmental goals if their implementation is based on accurate emissions reductions estimations. A study assesses different methodologies for cookstove offset projects and quantifies their over-crediting.

Hydropower is expected to expand in the coming decades as an attractive renewable energy source, but one that can have negative environmental impacts in sensitive ecosystems. Enhanced integration of variable renewable energy can offset hydropower expansion in some eco-sensitive river basins, but is mostly insufficient to offset the steep upward pressure on hydropower development that will be exerted by the low-carbon energy transition.

Removal of ultrafine suspended solids from contaminated water in a cost-effective manner remains a global challenge. Here the authors develop an injection-driven filter system that is based on a fully bio-based biodegradable nanofibre hydrogel film to achieve such a goal.

Artificial reefs provide important ecosystem services in marine environments. Accurate knowledge of the area covered by such reefs can help evaluate benefits and risks of such structures. This study describes the physical footprint of artificial reefs deployed in coastal waters of the United States.

Independent impact evaluations of voluntary REDD+ projects to protect forests are needed to provide evidence of their effects. This study evaluates the impacts of a large voluntary REDD+ project in Sierra Leone and finds evidence of slowing deforestation with no socioeconomic harm to local people.