Islands make up just over five per cent of the world’s land yet are home to 31 per cent of Earth’s plant species. A new study shows that more than half the plants unique to islands are classified as threatened, with habitat loss, climate warming and invasive species to blame. A new study has revealed…
Dozens of studies have demonstrated that nitrogen pollution, due mainly to the burning of fossil fuels and agricultural practices, is causing plant biodiversity losses worldwide. But whether rising levels of climate-warming carbon dioxide gas are amplifying those nitrogen-induced biodiversity losses or dampening them remains unclear and is an understudied topic. The newly published findings of…
A reader asked: To what extent are cats responsible for climate change? To answer this question, we turned to the editor-in-chief of Yale Climate Connections, Sara Peach, a longtime environmental journalist. Here is her answer: Gather round, fans of the world’s fluffiest, most smoochable animal with switchblades in their feet. Let’s answer this question by…
A new report finds that one-quarter of the world’s crops are grown in places facing high levels of water stress, water unreliability, or both. The analysis comes from the research nonprofit World Resources Institute, or WRI, and highlights the difficulty of growing enough food to meet rising demand on a warming planet. One out of…
As the world faces growing challenges from climate change, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation, the need for innovative solutions to ensure food security has become more urgent than ever. World Food Day, celebrated annually on October 16, serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable practices in feeding the global population. Let’s discuss Nature-Based…
Despite an overwhelming scientific consensus, public perception of climate change remains varied and, at times, misinformed. Understanding what people truly know about climate change is crucial for effective communication and policy-making. It is this understanding that ultimately determines how well society responds to the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The Power of Perception…
A recent international study shows plants in dry areas adopt different survival strategies. Scientists believe this is good for biodiversity conservation. The study looked at how plants in arid regions have adapted to extreme habitats. It involved 120 scientists from 27 countries, including South Africa. Peter le Roux from the University of Pretoria’s Plant and…
Exported gas emits far more greenhouse gas emissions than coal, despite fossil-fuel industry claims it is a cleaner alternative, according to a major new research paper that challenges the controversial yet rapid expansion of gas exports from the US to Europe and Asia. Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels when combusted for energy, with…
Climate change is threatening Greece’s centuries-old olive-growing communities and the timeless traditions they cultivate. It’s not hard to find olive groves in Greece. They are—quite literally—everywhere. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in the car traveling through the country: from Athens in the south to my grandma’s native Thrace, a region that sits on the border…
Cargo ships, tankers etc are usually loaded at land-based terminals but sometimes it is necessary for various reasons for cargo to be transferred from one ship to another while at sea. Many of these ship-to-ship transfer (STS) operations involve the transfer of liquid fuels. This can be a risky business with a danger of spillage…