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A study of over 36,000 villages in Indonesia shows that palm oil eco-certification reduces poverty in market-oriented villages but increases it in subsistence villages.
Negative air ions (NAIs) have been widely harnessed for air purification and environmental therapeutics. Herein, the authors construct a triboelectric NAI generator that produces NAIs with high efficiency, stimulated by mechanical motions.
Waste recycling is part of a circular economy, but for some materials its environmental benefits are unclear. Looking at the circularity of the global paper life cycle, under various levels of waste recycling, this study shows that any climate benefits hinge on reducing the carbon intensity of the energy used.
To increase the policy relevance of ecosystem service benefits research, studies need to better predict the impact of specific decisions, according to an analysis of the literature.
A geospatial estimate of water scarcity in middle- to low-income countries finds that less than 37% of small-scale farms have irrigation. However, there exist considerable gaps in evidence for most commonly proposed, on-farm interventions.
To promote sustainable agriculture, small-scale producers must be included in the transformation of food systems. This scoping review finds that non-contract interactions provide producers with services such as credit, information and logistics.
A more sustainable agriculture is needed to address global food security and environmental degradation. This scoping review surveys the incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable practices benefiting their farms, the environment or both.
Reducing postharvest crop losses is vital to sustainably increase agricultural productivity. This analysis reveals a need for systematic assessment of postharvest loss reduction interventions across the value chain, targeting stakeholders beyond farmers, and for a more diverse range of food crops, to shape future policy decisions.
Exposure to volatile chemical products happens during or in the vicinity of product use and through ambient air; the latter pathway is neglected in exposure estimates. This study shows that both pathways should be considered in efforts to develop safer and more sustainable products and to achieve cleaner air.
Reverse osmosis membranes are the primary technology used for desalination and wastewater recycling, but they are prone to biofouling and subsequent performance deterioration due to poor tolerance to disinfecting agents such as chlorine. Here a chlorine-resistant polyester reverse osmosis membrane is developed to prevent biofouling and increase the sustainability of desalination and wastewater reuse.
Models used to calculate the costs of carbon emissions do not include ecological damages. This study expands an integrated assessment model to include natural capital as a form of wealth, and shows that accounting for the use and non-use value of nature has large implications for climate policy.
Worldwide, longer fire seasons are causing unsustainable impacts. This study finds that the 2019–20 Australia fire season caused health-related costs of AU$1.95 billion, nine times the median for the previous 19 years.
Changes in forest disturbance affect their sustainability. This study finds that between 1986 and 2016, 36 million disturbances by humans or other causes affected 17% of Europe’s forest area.
Shifting global food production to plant-based diets by 2050 can sequester 99–163% of the CO2 emissions budget towards limiting climate warming to 1.5 °C.
New battery chemistry can help reduce the reliance on Co for electric vehicles. However, to avoid burden shifting to other resources such as Ni, circular economy strategies with enhanced battery traceability and recycling could contribute substantially to the reduction of primary Co demand from the automotive industry.
Marine construction is sprawling globally. As of 2018, this study finds that the structures occupied 32,000 km2 but affected 1 to 3 million km2, a shadow expected to expand 50–70% by 2028.
Recycling nutrient-rich manure helped fertilize traditional farms. This study finds a near 60% drop in the share of rural Chinese households raising livestock and planting crops, a link worth rebuilding regionally to intensify agriculture sustainably.
While ecological restoration has been promoted for curbing degradation and improving ecosystem health, the impacts on water flux and storage have been understudied. This article finds that large-scale restoration efforts can actually deplete terrestrial water storage, requiring more effort to balance ecosystem needs.