Articles in 2019

A novel method to assess the impacts of large-scale conservation interventions on household wealth while capturing local heterogeneity reveals small and variable impacts of a nationwide conservation programme in Tanzania.

Increased electricity availability has been posited as a boost for gender equity by providing women with access to appliances. However, social and household norms could mitigate this access, as this mixed-methods study investigates.

Current methods to remove oil microdroplets from wastewater are ineffective at the variable pH conditions commonly found in wastewater. This study presents a surface-engineered sponge that synergistically combines surface chemistry, charge and roughness, providing a solution to this problem.

Concentrations of glyphosate, a common herbicide, in water can be problematic due to its toxicity. Using both artificial and real water samples, this study shows the sustainability advantages of using magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles to remove glyphosate from water.

The cascading effects and feedbacks of interactions between planetary boundaries shrink the safe operating space originally identified by analysing each boundary separately.

The degradation and recycling of thermoset materials are major sustainability challenges. The synthesized thermoset hyperbranched polymers (HER-HT_n) reported in this study exhibit recoverability and rapid degradability in more environmentally friendly phosphoric acid solutions.

Nitrogen is critical to crop production but its overuse challenges sustainability. This study finds that, despite intense and growing nitrogenous fertilizer use, Pakistan’s crop yields have risen much more slowly than expected.

Substantial water savings can be achieved by coating toilet bowl surfaces to repel liquids, bacteria and viscoelastic solids such as human faeces. In this Article, the authors develop a sprayable, non-fouling coating that can reduce cleaning water consumption by ~90% compared with untreated surfaces.

Reducing herbicides exposes crops to yield losses from weeds. This study on winter wheat and barley finds that more even weed communities reduce yield losses by suppressing dominant weeds.

International shipping is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, but quantifying responsibilities has been difficult. This study uses satellite-observed data on vessels to determine the emissions from and subsequent health impacts of US–China bilateral trade of goods.

A study of over 250,000 pregnant women in Beijing, China, finds that missed abortion is associated with the concentration of four major air pollutants. The association is not linear but becomes stronger with higher concentrations.

Social responses to changes can trigger further crises. This study uses historical data and finds society’s failures to respond to climate change in China’s Hexi Corridor amplified problems.

Carbon taxes can increase the cost of basic goods. This modelling study finds that using one-third of carbon tax revenues for cash transfers to the poor can compensate such regressive impacts.

Wide adoption of electric vehicles can contribute to mitigate climate change and air pollution. Here the authors develop various fleet electrification scenarios in China to evaluate the associated air quality and health impacts to inform sound policies.

Seafood farming in the ocean has developed over decades following innovation diffusion S-shaped curves. Some countries have underdeveloped potential and, in others, current overproduction can become more sustainable.

This study explores the patterns and speed of diffusion and adoption of 22 area-based conservation initiatives worldwide. Most have limited uptake, and some take a long time before they are widely adopted.

A scenario simulation to tackle hunger globally reveals that improving food availability for the under-nourished through better distribution has a better environmental performance than increasing overall food availability.

Toxic heavy metal ions need to be removed from drinking water to protect public health. In this article, the authors demonstrated pressure-free removal of positively and negatively charged heavy metal ions from water using 2D MXene-based films.

Agrivoltaics can achieve synergistic benefits by growing agricultural plants under raised solar panels. In this article, the authors showed that growth under solar panels reduced tomato and pepper drought stress and increased production, while simultaneously reducing photovoltaic panel heat stress.

Public understandings of how economic, environmental and social aspects relate in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) varies. A large-sample study finds how some emphasize the trade-offs between them, and others view that the SDGs address all aspects simultaneously.