Category: 9. Environment
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Utilizing a novel high-resolution malaria dataset for climate-informed predictions with a deep learning transformer model
Thomson, M. C. et al. Malaria early warnings based on seasonal climate forecasts from multi-model ensembles. Nature 439(7076), 576–579 (2006). Article ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar Hashizume, M., Terao, T. & Minakawa, N. The Indian Ocean Dipole and malaria risk in the highlands of western Kenya. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 106(6), 1857–1862 (2009). Article ADS …
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‘Rights of nature’ are being recognized overseas. In Australia, local leadership gives cause for optimism
Credit: CC0 Public Domain As each day passes, the need to protect Australia’s environment grows more urgent. As noted in the most recent State of Environment Report in 2021, we are increasingly turning to “measures of last resort” to prevent species extinctions and the collapse of ecosystems. In legal theory, the “rights of nature” acknowledges…
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New model sheds light on grassland desertification dynamics
Scientists conduct grassland sampling surveys in Xilingol. Credit: AIR In a study published in Remote Sensing, scientists from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have employed a Desertification Difference Index (DDI) model to better understand and combat global grassland desertification. The study focused on extracting desertification information using…
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How to make your life greener in 2024
Credit: CC0 Public Domain People all around the world traditionally use their new year to embark on a change in lifestyle. The People’s Climate Vote, a UN survey of public opinion on climate change, highlights that citizens around the world recognize climate change as a global emergency and agree that we should do everything necessary…
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AI predicts the influence of microplastics on soil properties
Credit: Environmental Pollution (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122833 Plastic waste and its buildup in nature has become a major environmental concern in recent times. While plastic pollution in the oceans is undoubtedly a problem, the presence of plastics in soils around the world is also known to cause severe environmental and health issues. As plastics fragment into…
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Forest fires: a record year
A wildfire raged in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park, northern Greece, in September. As the deadliest year this century for forest fires comes to a close, attention is turning to how to prevent such infernos happening again. In 2023 forest fires destroyed nearly 400 million hectares (988 million acres) of land around the world, killed…
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To help beleaguered Javan rhinos, study calls for tree felling, captive breeding
The sole remaining population of Javan rhinos, around 70 individuals, persists in a single national park in Indonesia. A new paper argues that conservationists should clear some areas of the park to increase feeding areas for rhinos, and create a captive-breeding program for the species. Recent government reports indicate that 13 of the remaining Javan…
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How the palm oil industry did the seemingly impossible (commentary)
Wilmar International’s No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation policy, announced ten years ago, marked a significant milestone in environmental conservation by prohibiting deforestation, peatland destruction, land-grabbing, and labor abuses in their global supply chain, impacting thousands of palm oil companies. The policy, a result of global campaigning and intense negotiations, contributed to a dramatic reduction…
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Reports allege abuses by Glencore in Peru and Colombia, and the banks funding them
Mining giant Glencore continues to commit serious environmental and human rights violations in its mines in Peru and Colombia despite public promises to respect human rights and the environment, according to three news reports by advocacy organizations. The reports document cases of air and water pollution, extensive environmental damage, lack of consultation with communities, and…
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Top species discoveries from 2023
Scientists described a slew of new species this past year, including an electric blue tarantula, two pygmy squid, a silent frog, and some thumb-sized chameleons. Experts estimate less than 20% of Earth’s species have been documented by Western science. Although a species may be new to science, it may already be well known to local…