https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/science_society/environmental_policy/ Environmental Policy. Read policy recommendations from scientists and scientific organizations on many aspects of environmental policy. Background research available. en-us Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:08:42 EDT Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:08:42 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/science_society/environmental_policy/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260416071945.htm The ozone layer has been on track to recover thanks to the Montreal Protocol—but a loophole may be holding it back. Chemicals still permitted for industrial use are leaking into the atmosphere at higher rates than expected. Scientists now estimate this could delay ozone recovery by up to seven years. Closing this gap could speed up healing and reduce harmful UV exposure worldwide. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:53:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260416071945.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260409101057.htm Earth’s nights are steadily getting brighter overall, but the changes vary dramatically by region. Rapid urban growth is lighting up countries like China and India, while parts of Europe are dimming due to energy-saving efforts and new lighting technologies. The most detailed satellite analysis yet shows these shifts happening faster and more unevenly than expected. Even global trends can mask sharp local contrasts, from war-related blackouts to deliberate reductions in light pollution. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:50:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260409101057.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224505.htm Modern food systems may look stable on the surface, but they are increasingly dependent on digital systems that can quietly become a major point of failure. Today, food must be “recognized” by databases and automated platforms to be transported, sold, or even released, meaning that if systems go down, food can effectively become unusable—even when it’s physically available. Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:23:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260403224505.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260307213350.htm Satellites are giving scientists a powerful new way to watch over the world’s bridges. Using radar imaging, researchers can detect millimeter-scale movements that may signal early structural problems long before inspectors notice them. The study found many bridges—especially in North America—are aging and increasingly vulnerable, but satellite monitoring could sharply reduce the number classified as high-risk. The approach could be especially valuable in regions where traditional monitoring barely exists. Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:38:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260307213350.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260306224235.htm A sweeping new study from Northwestern University reveals that scientific fraud is no longer just the work of a few rogue researchers—it has evolved into a global, organized enterprise. By analyzing massive datasets of publications, retractions, and editorial records, researchers uncovered networks involving “paper mills,” brokers, and compromised journals that systematically produce and sell fake research, authorship slots, and citations. Sat, 07 Mar 2026 21:23:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260306224235.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260303145705.htm A sweeping new study reveals that what’s on your plate may directly shape the pesticides circulating in your body. Researchers found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables known to carry higher pesticide residues—such as strawberries, spinach, and bell peppers—also have significantly higher levels of those chemicals in their urine. While produce remains a cornerstone of a healthy diet, the findings highlight how everyday food choices can drive real-world exposure to substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental harm. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:09:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260303145705.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260303050622.htm Fusion energy may be one of the most promising clean power sources of the future—but only if scientists can precisely measure the extreme, fast-moving plasmas that make it possible. A new U.S. Department of Energy–sponsored report urges major investment in advanced diagnostic tools—the high-tech “sensors” that track plasma temperature, density, and behavior inside fusion systems. Bringing together 70 experts from universities, national labs, and private industry, the workshop identified seven priority areas ranging from burning plasma to full-scale pilot plants. Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:50:59 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260303050622.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260207092902.htm For decades, Americans were surrounded by lead from car exhaust, factories, paint, and even drinking water, often without realizing the damage it caused. By analyzing hair samples preserved across generations, scientists uncovered a striking record of how exposure soared before environmental rules and then collapsed after leaded gasoline and other sources were phased out. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:45:58 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260207092902.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206020847.htm A new study reveals that chemicals used to replace ozone-damaging CFCs are now driving a surge in a persistent “forever chemical” worldwide. The pollutant, called trifluoroacetic acid, is falling out of the atmosphere into water, land, and ice, including in remote regions like the Arctic. Even as older chemicals are phased out, their long lifetimes mean pollution is still rising. Fri, 06 Feb 2026 03:17:32 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260206020847.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201062457.htm Middle age is becoming a tougher chapter for many Americans, especially those born in the 1960s and early 1970s. Compared with earlier generations, they report more loneliness and depression, along with weaker physical strength and declining memory. These troubling trends stand out internationally, as similar declines are largely absent in other wealthy nations, particularly in Nordic Europe, where midlife well-being has improved. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:25:53 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260201062457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260108231330.htm A new study finds that TikTok videos about gout frequently spread confusing or inaccurate advice. Most clips focus on diet changes and supplements, while barely mentioning the long-term treatments doctors say are essential for controlling the disease. Many videos also frame gout as a lifestyle problem, rather than a condition driven largely by genetics and underlying health factors. Researchers say the platform has huge potential—but only if accurate medical voices step in. Fri, 09 Jan 2026 02:21:43 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260108231330.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260103155040.htm UK experts are warning that access to new weight-loss drugs could depend more on wealth than medical need. Strict NHS criteria mean only a limited number of patients will receive Mounjaro, while many others must pay privately. Researchers say this risks worsening existing health inequalities, especially for groups whose conditions are often missed or under-diagnosed. They are calling for fairer, more inclusive access before gaps in care widen further. Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:35:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260103155040.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251226045345.htm A first-of-its-kind national trial shows that public Montessori preschool students enter kindergarten with stronger reading, memory, and executive function skills than their peers. These gains don’t fade — they grow over time, bucking a long-standing trend in early education research. Even better, Montessori programs cost about $13,000 less per child than traditional preschool. The results suggest a powerful, affordable model hiding in plain sight. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 07:40:43 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251226045345.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224032356.htm What we put on our plates may matter more for the climate than we realize. Researchers found that most people, especially in wealthy countries, are exceeding a “food emissions budget” needed to keep global warming below 2°C. Beef alone accounts for nearly half of food-related emissions in Canada. Small changes—less waste, smaller portions, and fewer steaks—could add up to a big climate win. Wed, 24 Dec 2025 09:52:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224032356.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205421.htm Researchers exploring Bolivia’s Great Tectonic Lakes discovered a landscape transformed over centuries by sophisticated engineering and diverse agricultural traditions. Excavations show how Indigenous societies adapted to dynamic wetlands through raised fields, canals, and mixed livelihoods. Today’s local communities preserve this biocultural continuity, guiding research and conservation. Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:45:19 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205421.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128050512.htm Researchers have finally assigned a strange 3.4-million-year-old foot to Australopithecus deyiremeda, confirming that Lucy’s species wasn’t alone in ancient Ethiopia. This hominin had an opposable big toe for climbing but still walked upright in a distinct style. Isotope tests show it ate different foods from A. afarensis, revealing clear ecological separation. These insights help explain how multiple early human species co-existed without wiping each other out. Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:48:15 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251128050512.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251124025654.htm Ultra-processed foods are rapidly becoming a global dietary staple, and new research links them to worsening health outcomes around the world. Scientists say only bold, coordinated policy action can counter corporate influence and shift food systems toward healthier options. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:07:46 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251124025654.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251013040314.htm Vast amounts of valuable research data remain unused, trapped in labs or lost to time. Frontiers aims to change that with FAIR² Data Management, a groundbreaking AI-driven system that makes datasets reusable, verifiable, and citable. By uniting curation, compliance, peer review, and interactive visualization in one platform, FAIR² empowers scientists to share their work responsibly and gain recognition. Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:46:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251013040314.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251005085621.htm Over 40% of fatal crash victims had THC levels far above legal limits, showing cannabis use before driving remains widespread. The rate didn’t drop after legalization, suggesting policy changes haven’t altered risky habits. Experts warn that the lack of public awareness around marijuana’s dangers behind the wheel is putting lives at risk. Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:56:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251005085621.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250915202839.htm Preschoolers with ADHD are often given medication right after diagnosis, against medical guidelines that recommend starting with behavioral therapy. Limited access to therapy and physician pressures drive early prescribing, despite risks and reduced effectiveness in young children. Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:10:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250915202839.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250913232936.htm GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic have transformed weight loss in the U.S., with nearly 12% of Americans having tried them, according to a new RAND report. Usage is especially high among women aged 50 to 64, while men catch up in older groups. Despite effectiveness, side effects like nausea and diarrhea are common, and most Americans say they don’t plan to take them. Sun, 14 Sep 2025 09:59:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250913232936.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002359.htm Whale sharks in Indonesia are suffering widespread injuries, with a majority scarred by human activity. Researchers found bagans and boats to be the biggest threats, especially as shark tourism grows. Protecting these gentle giants may be as simple as redesigning fishing gear and boat equipment. Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:01:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250828002359.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803233104.htm New research led by Mass General Brigham reveals that people facing social challenges—like food insecurity, financial strain, and limited healthcare access—are two to three times more likely to develop long COVID. Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:33:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803233104.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803011830.htm Every time someone snaps a wildlife photo with iNaturalist, they might be fueling breakthrough science. From rediscovering lost species to helping conservation agencies track biodiversity and invasive threats, citizen observations have become vital tools for researchers across the globe. A new study reveals just how deeply this crowdsourced data is influencing modern ecological science, and how much more it could do. Sun, 03 Aug 2025 08:28:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803011830.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230311.htm When you're mentally exhausted, your brain might be doing more behind the scenes than you think. In a new study using functional MRI, researchers uncovered two key brain regions that activate when people feel cognitively fatigued—regions that appear to weigh the cost of continuing mental effort versus giving up. Surprisingly, participants needed high financial incentives to push through challenging memory tasks, hinting that motivation can override mental fatigue. These insights may pave the way to treating brain fog in disorders like PTSD and depression using brain imaging and behavior-based therapies. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:34:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230311.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250622030429.htm AI is revolutionizing the job landscape, prompting nations worldwide to prepare their workforces for dramatic changes. A University of Georgia study evaluated 50 countries’ national AI strategies and found significant differences in how governments prioritize education and workforce training. While many jobs could disappear in the coming decades, new careers requiring advanced AI skills are emerging. Countries like Germany and Spain are leading with early education and cultural support for AI, but few emphasize developing essential human soft skills like creativity and communication—qualities AI can't replace. Sun, 22 Jun 2025 03:04:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250622030429.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250616040235.htm A lifelong fascination with nature and fieldwork led this researcher to the world of ethnobiology a field where ecology, culture, and community come together. Investigating how local people relate to species like the anaconda, their work blends traditional knowledge with scientific methods for better conservation. The tale of the mythic Great Snake morphs into economic concerns over vanishing chickens, revealing how cultural beliefs and practical needs coexist. Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:02:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250616040235.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250614034233.htm Study suggests that appetite for bushmeat -- rather than black market for scales to use in traditional Chinese medicine -- is driving West Africa's illegal hunting of one of the world's most threatened mammals. Interviews with hundreds of hunters show pangolins overwhelmingly caught for food, with majority of scales thrown away. Survey work shows pangolin is considered the most palatable meat in the region. Sat, 14 Jun 2025 03:42:33 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250614034233.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250611083736.htm California s solar energy boom is often hailed as a green success story but a new study reveals a murkier reality beneath the sunlit panels. Researchers uncover seven distinct forms of corruption threatening the integrity of the state s clean energy expansion, including favoritism, land grabs, and misleading environmental claims. Perhaps most eyebrow-raising are allegations of romantic entanglements between senior officials and solar lobbyists, blurring the lines between personal influence and public interest. The report paints a picture of a solar sector racing ahead while governance and ethical safeguards fall dangerously behind. Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:37:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250611083736.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250603172908.htm Australia can reach net-zero emissions and still protect its natural treasures but only if everyone works together. New research from Princeton and The University of Queensland shows that the country can build the massive amount of renewable energy infrastructure needed by 2060 without sacrificing biodiversity, agriculture, or Indigenous land rights. But the path is delicate: if stakeholders clash instead of collaborate, the result could be soaring costs and a devastating shortfall in clean energy. Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:29:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250603172908.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155340.htm Global warming is continuously advancing. How quickly this will happen can now be predicted more accurately than ever before, thanks to a method developed by climate researchers. Anthropogenic global warming is set to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2028 and hence improved quantification of the Paris goals is proposed. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:53:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155340.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154901.htm Researchers have developed a deep learning model called LSTM-SAM that predicts extreme water levels from tropical cyclones more efficiently and accurately, especially in data-scarce coastal regions, to offer a faster, low-cost tool for flood forecasting. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:49:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602154901.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155415.htm Anthropologists have examined the societal consequences of global glacier loss. This article appears alongside new research that estimates that more than three-quarters of the world's glacier mass could disappear by the end of the century under current climate policies. Thu, 29 May 2025 15:54:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529155415.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124628.htm Replanting forests can help cool the planet even more than some scientists once believed, especially in the tropics. But even if every tree lost since the mid-19th century is replanted, the total effect won't cancel out human-generated warming. Thu, 29 May 2025 12:46:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124628.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124447.htm A new study shows that wildlife underpass tunnels dramatically reduce deaths of frog, salamanders, and other amphibians migrating across roads. Thu, 29 May 2025 12:44:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124357.htm The global measles outbreak must trigger an urgent debate into whether a vaccine should be recommended earlier to better protect against the highly contagious disease during infancy, a new review states. Thu, 29 May 2025 12:43:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124357.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124114.htm Reducing travel speeds and using an intelligent queuing system at busy ports can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oceangoing container vessels by 16-24%, according to researchers. Not only would those relatively simple interventions reduce emissions from a major, direct source of greenhouse gases, the technology to implement these measures already exists. Thu, 29 May 2025 12:41:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529124114.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528132240.htm Close to five million smuggled seahorses worth an estimated CAD$29 million were seized by authorities over a 10-year span, according to a new study that warns the scale of the trade is far larger than current data suggest. The study analyzed online seizure records from 2010 to 2021 and found smuggling incidents in 62 countries, with dried seahorses, widely used in traditional medicine, most commonly intercepted at airports in passenger baggage or shipped in sea cargo. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:22:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528132240.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124539.htm When formulating climate policy, too little attention is paid to social factors and too much to technological breakthroughs and economic reasons. Because citizens are hardly heard in this process, European governments risk losing public support at a crucial moment in the climate debate. Tue, 27 May 2025 12:45:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124539.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120439.htm A new study shows that monitoring and managing select bird species can provide benefits for other species within specific regions. Fri, 23 May 2025 12:04:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120439.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522183159.htm As the US national debate intensifies around immigration, a new study is challenging conventional wisdom about 'brain drain'--the idea that when skilled workers emigrate from developing countries, their home economies suffer. Thu, 22 May 2025 18:31:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522183159.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162546.htm Every year, total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing quotas are set across Europe through a multi-step process -- and yet many fish stocks in EU waters remain overfished. A new analysis reveals that politically agreed-upon catch limits are not sustainable because fish stock sizes are systematically overestimated and quotas regularly exceed scientific advice. In order to promote profitable and sustainable fisheries, the researchers propose establishing an independent institution to determine ecosystem-based catch limits that management bodies must not exceed. Thu, 22 May 2025 16:25:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162546.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521125115.htm A study has found that implementing robust air pollution control measures could mean Southeast Asian countries prevent as many as 36,000 ozone-related premature deaths each year by 2050. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:51:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521125115.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124607.htm Hurricane winds are a major contributor to storm-related losses for people living in the southeastern coastal states. As the global temperature continues to rise, scientists predict that hurricanes will get more destructive -- packing higher winds and torrential rainfall. A new study projects that wind losses for homeowners in the Southeastern coastal states could be 76 percent higher by the year 2060 and 102 percent higher by 2100. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:46:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124607.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520121142.htm A novel analysis suggests more than 3,500 animal species are threatened by climate change and also sheds light on huge gaps in fully understanding the risk to the animal kingdom. Tue, 20 May 2025 12:11:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250520121142.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250519204507.htm The average energy project costs 40% more than expected for construction and takes almost two years longer than planned, finds a new global study. One key insight: The investment risk is highest for nuclear power plant construction and lowest for solar. The researchers analyzed data from 662 energy projects built between 1936 and 2024 in 83 countries, totaling $1.358 trillion in investment. Mon, 19 May 2025 20:45:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250519204507.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250519131038.htm Using centuries of land-use data, scientists have trained an AI system that evolves policy ideas the way nature evolves species—testing, mutating, and keeping only the best. The result? Smarter strategies for cutting carbon that avoid wrecking farms or habitats, proving that climate solutions don’t have to mean sacrificing everyday life. Mon, 19 May 2025 13:10:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250519131038.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516165150.htm New research suggests that the negative effects of the ozone hole on the carbon uptake of the Southern Ocean are reversible, but only if greenhouse gas emissions rapidly decrease. The study finds that as the ozone hole heals, its influence on the ocean carbon sink of the Southern Ocean will diminish, while the influence of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will rise. Fri, 16 May 2025 16:51:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516165150.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516134552.htm A study has shown scientific knowledge on the conservation of endangered species is often overlooked when not presented in English. Fri, 16 May 2025 13:45:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516134552.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514181240.htm A new study found that over a quarter of the world's naturalized plant species are threatened in parts of their native range -- raising questions about the role non-native populations may play in global conservation efforts. Wed, 14 May 2025 18:12:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514181240.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180737.htm A collaborative study tested 17 strategies in an 'intervention tournament.' Interventions targeting future thinking, such as writing a letter for a child to read in the future, are the most effective ways to motivate climate action. Wed, 14 May 2025 18:07:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180737.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514141640.htm A multidisciplinary team of researchers has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict acute child malnutrition in Kenya up to six months in advance. The tool offers governments and humanitarian organizations critical lead time to deliver life-saving food, health care, and supplies to at-risk areas. The machine learning model outperforms traditional approaches by integrating clinical data from more than 17,000 Kenyan health facilities with satellite data on crop health and productivity. It achieves 89% accuracy when forecasting one month out and maintains 86% accuracy over six months -- a significant improvement over simpler baseline models that rely only on recent historical child malnutrition prevalence trends. Wed, 14 May 2025 14:16:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514141640.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514111054.htm A new study finds that with bold and coordinated policy choices -- across emissions, diets, food waste, and water and nitrogen efficiency -- humanity could, by 2050, bring global environmental pressures back to levels seen in 2015. This shift would move us much closer to a future in which people around the world can live well within the Earth's limits. Wed, 14 May 2025 11:10:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514111054.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161151.htm Mercury is released by environmental and human-driven processes. And some forms, specifically methylmercury, are toxic to humans. Therefore, policies and regulations to limit mercury emissions have been implemented across the globe. And, according to new research, those efforts may be working. Researchers found that atmospheric mercury levels have decreased by almost 70% in the last 20 years, mainly because human-caused emissions have been reduced. Thu, 08 May 2025 16:11:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161151.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161141.htm A new study analyzes the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that showed that brick kiln owners in Bangladesh are willing and able to implement cleaner and more efficient business practices within their operations -- without legal enforcement -- if they receive the proper training and support, and if those changes are aligned with their profit motives. The study is the first to rigorously demonstrate successful strategies to improve efficiency within the traditional brick kiln industry. Thu, 08 May 2025 16:11:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508161141.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113110.htm Global emissions of carbon dioxide from industry can be reduced by five per cent. But that requires companies and policy makers to take a holistic approach to energy efficiency and energy management and not solely focus on technological development. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:31:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508113110.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508112725.htm From seatbelt laws to new speed limits -- many people soon stop resisting policy changes that restrict their personal freedom once the new rules come into force. Researchers also identified the underlying psychological mechanism to gain important insights for possible communication strategies when introducing such measures. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:27:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508112725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507141127.htm Scientists say human-caused climate change led to 15,000 additional early deaths from wildfire air pollution in the continental United States during the 15-year period ending in 2020. Wed, 07 May 2025 14:11:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507141127.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130519.htm Wealthy individuals have a higher carbon footprint. A new study quantifies the climate outcomes of these inequalities. It finds that the world's wealthiest 10% are responsible for two thirds of observed global warming since 1990 and the resulting increases in climate extremes such as heatwaves and droughts. Wed, 07 May 2025 13:05:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507130519.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125838.htm Climate scientists reveal that millions of today's young people will live through unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves, crop failures, river floods, droughts, wildfires and tropical storms under current climate policies. If global temperatures rise by 3.5 C by 2100, 92% of children born in 2020 will experience unprecedented heatwave exposure over their lifetime, affecting 111 million children. Meeting the Paris Agreement's 1.5 C target could protect 49 million children from this risk. This is only for one birth year; when instead taking into account all children who are between 5 and 18 years old today, this adds up to 1.5 billion children affected under a 3.5 C scenario, and with 654 million children that can be protected by remaining under the 1.5 C threshold. Wed, 07 May 2025 12:58:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125838.htm