If you don’t like it, why not put a… price on it? Researchers from Stanford University prepared a guide to carbon pricing and how governments around the world are using the money generated from it.
Human land-use is a primary cause of biodiversity loss. A recent study shows that human changes to ecosystems has pushed global biodiversity loss beyond safe limits, which could reduce nature’s resilience.
A mathematical model has been constructed to analyze the effect of Beijing’s odd-and-even license plate rule. The results concur with previous studies: it works somewhat in the short-term, but inadequate in the long run.
A recent study analyzes how collective action can influence community resilience to flood hazards. It highlights several key interactions between human populations and the water systems they depend on.
Why are people so stubborn in their beliefs? Why do people, when confronted with someone who disagrees with them, so often double-down in their arguments? A Yale scientist may have some answers — with surprising findings on who are the worst culprits.
To grow or not to grow? That is not the question. Policymakers are unconsciously limited in their choices regarding climate policy by the conventional expectation to achieve economic growth. In a recent article, a researcher examines different perspectives on growth-versus-climate debate and points out a way forward.
Powerful tools for measuring environmental value can help policy makers prioritize their recommendations. Yet there is little information about how valuation actually impacts environmental regulation.
We have entered an era where humans have had a profound impact on the planet. In this new world that we have created, what species will endure and what others shall perish? How can we predict what species they will be?
More than 83 percent of chemicals have no safety information. Most businesses don’t design them for safety, and the government doesn’t test most of them for safety. Yet thousands of chemicals are in our water and soil, potentially causing human harm and costing billions to cleanup. How can we tell if new chemicals will cause damage to humans before they are made?
Maple sugar is the most important non-timber forest product in the northeastern U.S. A new study shows greater amounts of nitrogen in the soil can lead to sweeter sap and therefore higher maple sugar yields.
While much research has pointed to a steady decline of the Sumatran orangutan as a consequence of habitat loss, a recent study shows population estimates are higher than previously thought. Are these higher estimates enough to preserve the species?
A recent study showed empirical evidence of a turning point of Indonesia CO2 emissions. According to the findings, CO2 emissions will start to decline as income per capita reaches around $8,000, with profound implication Indonesian energy policy.
As one of the largest and arguable strongest economies on the African continent, South Africa has not shown the kind of leadership on renewable energy as might be expected, a group of researchers says.
The world has long attributed Tibetan wisdom to the Buddhist monks and their teachings, but largely ignored the wisdom of the nomads. Recently, scientists have proven that traditional grazing practiced by these nomads are crucial for Tibetan rangelands, promoting plant diversity and nectar production.
Nigerian communities can welcome economic prosperity with simple fixes. A study assessed the role of local community members in improving ecotourism in three historic and popular destinations.
In a recent study, a team of scientists was able to show how places like Norfolk, Va. will experience more flooding and coastal erosion than ever before — not only during hurricanes like Sandy and Isabel, but more frequently during typical rain and wind events.
Researchers have had initial success using waste wool and recycled polyester fibers (RPET) as an environmentally-friendly alternative for building insulation, a recent study finds.
A team of scientists from the U.S. and Canada has expanded the conversation about climate change and its effects on the world's ecosystems. In a study they look at a critical consequence of climate change — the potential for entire ecological systems to transition into new systems — and begin a discussion of management strategies, including whether or not we should intervene.
While lion populations in West, Central, and East Africa have all been declining at alarming rates, one study finds that lion populations in fenced reserves, specifically in South Africa, have actually been on the rise.
Household air pollution and contaminated drinking water are the two leading causes of death among children under the age of five in Rwanda. A recent study investigated the effectiveness of using cookstoves and water filters to improve children's health.
Can the alliance between trees and fungi reduce climate change effects? A recent study looks at the role of fungi in increasing the ability of trees to take up the potent greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
Researchers in California noticed alarming changes to ecosystems. Starvation of Brown Pelicans, disappearance of seabirds, and sea lions deaths all happening in succession begged the question: what was happening in their habitat? A recent study suggests an unlikely answer: the anchovy.
Shale gas and oil production have been associated with earthquakes in several parts of the world. New research shows that in the United Kingdom, human activities have caused earthquakes in the past and more fracking will likely increase the frequency of earthquakes.
Anyone with a smartphone can add to the collective understanding of science, including data that can help us understand changes in animal behavior. But how good is the data they collect and is it usable?
A recent study outlines the steps we need to take to fundamentally transform our power system and rely primarily on renewable energy sources. Reaching that goal will be challenging but not impossible.
Can social media reduce disaster impacts? If so, how much? A recent study successfully explored the influence of social media in reducing financial damages during the 2011 Bangkok flood and quantified the impact.