Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The renewable polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) has potential to replace the fossil-based polyethylene terephthalate, but the energy-intensive production hinders wider adoption. This study shows that PEF from industrial CO2 emissions and non-food biomass can save 40.5% emissions and energy use.
A reliable charging infrastructure is critical to wider adoption of electric cars. With large-scale social data and machine intelligence, this study shows the importance of the quality, not just the quantity, of charging stations to consumers, suggesting policy design should include consumer data.
While political interference with science is not new, this analysis of Australia’s largest coal mine being approved despite and over the objections of scientific managers provides a thorough case study in how environmental considerations are being ignored.
An analysis reveals only 17 out of 65 financiers require biodiversity impact mitigation measures, and overall the initiative falls short of international best practices
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) but it needs additional power that increases water use for plant cooling. This study models the impacts of retrofitting CFPPs with CCS on water resources globally and finds areas at risk of water scarcity.
The world keeps urbanizing. This study finds that since 1985 global urban lands have expanded four times faster than previously recognized and faster than population is growing.
Understanding patterns of energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector can help to improve the sustainability of transportation. This study analyses the most important determinants of energy and GHG intensities for light-duty vehicles, buses, railroads and aircraft.
Conservation agriculture prioritizes soil health and diverse cropping systems. This meta-analysis finds multiple benefits, including for water conservation and profitability, from conservation-agriculture practices in South Asia.
The sustainability of wild fisheries is limited by the capture of non-target species. This study estimates that such ‘bycatch’ from US fisheries totalled 1.93 million tonnes in 2010–2015, with a 10.5% discard rate. Despite considerable improvements, certain longline, trawl and gillnet fisheries have persistent bycatch issues.
Diverse strategies are needed to mitigate climate change. This study finds that storing carbon in soils represents 25% of land-based potential, of which 60% must come from rebuilding depleted carbon stores.
CO2 mineralization and utilization via alkaline solid wastes shows promise for both stabilizing solid waste and tackling climate change, but evidence of its actual CO2 reduction potential is scant. This study estimates that CO2 mineralization and utilization could lead to a 12.5% global reduction of CO2 emissions.
In India, a farming approach that minimizes purchasing agrochemicals is expanding. An assessment of this approach shows that it reduces soil degradation and provides moderate yields.
The recent shift in the United States from coal to natural gas for electric power has reduced the carbon dioxide emissions intensity of electric power production, but the other pollution-related impacts of this shift are not yet known. This study finds that, between 2005 and 2016, decommissioning coal-fired plants in the continental US saved an estimated 26,610 lives and 570 million bushels of corn, soybeans and wheat in their vicinities and also changed regional climate.