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Albatross populations of South Georgia have been declining over the past four decades. Bird mortality in fishing gear and increased environmental variability due to climate change prevent albatrosses from recovering and mean that conservation action is needed.
The collapse of the Maya is a topic of perpetual fascination. Now, a study modelling the development of their civilization finds that collapse was driven by land degradation, rather than precipitation change.
Energy-saving innovations, such as fabrics with cooling effects, contribute to sustainability. This study reports the large-scale extrusion of uniform and continuous nanoporous polyethylene microfibres with cotton-like softness for wearable fabrics. The fabric can lower human skin temperature by 2.3 °C with over 20% savings on indoor cooling energy.
Dams in the Mekong Basin are built without considering impacts on river processes. This study shows that with strategic planning in the lower Mekong, 68% of the basin’s hydropower potential could have been developed while trapping 21% of the basin’s sand load.
Achieving a high quality of life within the biophysical limits of the planet is a significant challenge. This study quantifies the resource use associated with meeting basic human needs, compares it to downscaled planetary boundaries for over 150 nations and finds that no country meets its citizens’ basic needs sustainably.
It is well known that electricity production from the combustion of fossil fuels is a major source of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Now, research shows that large generation plants are not necessarily the worst emitters.
Technological innovations have allowed exponential growth in the human population and economy, but can it continue? A new model combining population, culture, and innovation projects possible futures for humanity.
A two-wave survey focused on 21 actions shows that the anticipation of a ‘feel-good’ effect is positively associated with proenvironmental behaviours over a four-week period. This association is found to be stronger for low-cost green choices.
In the United States, urban agriculture is growing as a result of increased availability of unused land and innovative development; the growth of farms and community gardens improves the ability of community members to cope with social and environmental change. But what will make urban agriculture sustainable?
