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| Open AccessUnequal climate impacts on global values of natural capital
Country-level changes in economic production and the value of non-market ecosystem benefits show unequal impacts on the global values of natural capital resulting from climate-change-induced shifts in terrestrial vegetation cover.
- B. A. Bastien-Olvera
- , M. N. Conte
- & F. C. Moore
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Article |
Assessing the illegal hunting of native wildlife in China
Analysis of a database of convictions for illegal hunting in China reveals the scale of the threat to biodiversity posed by illegal hunting in China.
- Dan Liang
- , Xingli Giam
- & David S. Wilcove
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Article |
Optimal nitrogen rate strategy for sustainable rice production in China
A proposed optimal nitrogen rate strategy together with analysis of an extensive on-farm dataset shows that meeting national rice production targets in 2030 in China is possible while concurrently reducing nationwide nitrogen consumption.
- Siyuan Cai
- , Xu Zhao
- & Xiaoyuan Yan
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Article
| Open AccessBiomolecular analyses enable new insights into ancient Egyptian embalming
Philological analysis of labels and instructions, together with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of residues on vessels recovered from a 26th Dynasty embalming workshop at Saqqara, Egypt provide insights into ancient Egyptian embalming practices.
- Maxime Rageot
- , Ramadan B. Hussein
- & Philipp W. Stockhammer
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Article
| Open AccessComprehensive evidence implies a higher social cost of CO2
Coupling advances in socioeconomic projections, climate models, damage functions and discounting methods yields an estimate of the social cost of carbon of US$185 per tonne of CO2—triple the widely used value published by the US government.
- Kevin Rennert
- , Frank Errickson
- & David Anthoff
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Article |
When and where to protect forests
A dynamic optimization approach using plant species data from 458 forest ecoregions suggests a strategy for when and where to conserve forests globally over the next 50 years to maximize the conservation of plant biodiversity.
- Ian H. Luby
- , Steve J. Miller
- & Stephen Polasky
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Matters Arising |
Aquaculture will continue to depend more on land than sea
- Wenbo Zhang
- , Ben Belton
- & Max Troell
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Article |
The effect of rainfall changes on economic production
A global assessment shows that increases in the number of wet days and extreme daily rainfall adversely affect economic growth, particularly in high-income nations and via the services and manufacturing sectors.
- Maximilian Kotz
- , Anders Levermann
- & Leonie Wenz
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Article |
Carbon implications of marginal oils from market-derived demand shocks
Here the non-linear relationship is revealed between carbon emissions reductions and oil demand reductions, which depends on the magnitude of demand drop and the global oil market structure.
- Mohammad S. Masnadi
- , Giacomo Benini
- & Adam R. Brandt
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Article |
Estimating a social cost of carbon for global energy consumption
Using global data, econometrics and climate science to estimate the damages induced by the emission of one ton of carbon dioxide, climate change is projected to increase electricity spending but reduce overall end-use energy expenditure.
- Ashwin Rode
- , Tamma Carleton
- & Jiacan Yuan
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Article |
High and rising economic costs of biological invasions worldwide
Analysis of the InvaCost database shows that the costs of biological invasions have markedly increased between 1970 and 2017 and show no sign of slowing down, highlighting the importance of evidence-based and cost-effective management actions.
- Christophe Diagne
- , Boris Leroy
- & Franck Courchamp
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Perspective |
The technological and economic prospects for CO2 utilization and removal
Ten pathways for the utilization of carbon dioxide are reviewed, considering their potential scale, economics and barriers to implementation.
- Cameron Hepburn
- , Ella Adlen
- & Charlotte K. Williams
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Letter |
Catch shares slow the race to fish
A large-scale treatment–control meta-analysis of US fisheries provides evidence that the implementation of catch shares extend fishing seasons by slowing the race to fish.
- Anna M. Birkenbach
- , David J. Kaczan
- & Martin D. Smith
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Article |
Nomadic ecology shaped the highland geography of Asia’s Silk Roads
The authors use modelling to show that the network of trading routes known as the Silk Road emerged from hundreds of years of interactions between pastoralists as they moved their herds and flocks between higher and lower elevations in generally mountainous regions.
- Michael D. Frachetti
- , C. Evan Smith
- & Tim Williams
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Article |
Australia is ‘free to choose’ economic growth and falling environmental pressures
A multi-model framework that accounts for climate, water, energy, food, biodiversity and economic activity in Australia reveals that a sustainable society that enjoys economic improvement without ecological deterioration is possible, but that specific political and economic choices need to be made to achieve this.
- Steve Hatfield-Dodds
- , Heinz Schandl
- & Alex Wonhas
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Outlook |
Mining: Extreme prospects
High gold prices are making it worthwhile to look for gold in some unusual places.
- Brian Owens
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Letter |
Probabilistic cost estimates for climate change mitigation
Modelling that integrates the effects of uncertainties in relevant geophysical, technological, social and political factors on the cost of keeping transient global temperature increase to below certain limits shows that political choices have the greatest effect on the cost distribution.
- Joeri Rogelj
- , David L. McCollum
- & Keywan Riahi
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News & Views |
Conservation in the red
The Convention on Biological Diversity has pledged to reduce species-extinction threats around the globe by 2020. Analysis shows that this goal is achievable but requires a significant increase in the current rate of investment.
- Stephen Polasky
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Comment |
The Kyoto approach has failed
Abandon coal, price carbon consumption and look to new technologies for a lasting solution to global emissions, argues Dieter Helm.
- Dieter Helm
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Comment |
Cap and trade finds new energy
An emerging coalition is implementing carbon trading despite political obstacles. It is rewriting the map of climate diplomacy, says Michael Grubb.
- Michael Grubb
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News |
Space budget blow to climate science
Economic difficulties take their toll on European Space Agency’s Earth-observation programme.
- Edwin Cartlidge
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Editorial |
America’s carbon compromise
As looming tax increases and budget cuts threaten to plunge the US economy back into recession, Congress should take a hard look at introducing a carbon tax as an important part of the solution.
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News |
Global survey reveals routes to boosting crop yields
Improved fertilizer management and more irrigation could increase productivity by up to 70%, study finds.
- Virginia Gewin
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Letter |
Closing yield gaps through nutrient and water management
Global yields of major crops are analysed using climate, irrigation and new nutrient data to show that large production increases are possible from closing yield gaps to 100% of attainable yields, and that changes in management practices needed to close yield gaps vary considerably by region and current intensity.
- Nathaniel D. Mueller
- , James S. Gerber
- & Jonathan A. Foley
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News Explainer |
Drought devastates US crops
Impact on food prices likely to be felt around the world.
- Natasha Gilbert
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News |
Japan and Vietnam join forces to exploit rare-earth elements
Short supplies of the metals used in high-tech applications prompt countries to establish joint research centre.
- Ichiko Fuyuno
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News & Views |
Remote responsibility
International trade is the underlying cause of 30% of threatened animal species extinctions, according to a modelling analysis of the impact of global supply chains and consumption patterns on biodiversity. See Letter p.109
- Edgar Hertwich
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Review Article |
Securing natural capital and expanding equity to rescale civilization
Increasing population size and per capita impacts are making sustainability a difficult to goal to achieve; this Review explores possibilities for sustainable development.
- Paul R. Ehrlich
- , Peter M. Kareiva
- & Gretchen C. Daily
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Comment |
The hidden costs of flexible fertility
Urgent public debate is needed over a European proposal to regulate environmental levels of the active ingredient in birth-control pills, say Richard Owen and Susan Jobling.
- Richard Owen
- & Susan Jobling
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News |
Canada's renowned freshwater research site to close
Budget fall-out hits environmental research stations.
- Hannah Hoag
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Comment |
Tax 'societal ills' to save the planet
Funding is a major stumbling block for environmental initiatives, says Edward Barbier. Taxing financial transactions or trade in arms, tobacco and fuel might help.
- Edward Barbier
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News |
Conservation meets capitalism in Florida
An alternative financial strategy for coral-reef restoration as government funding dries up.
- Daniel Cressey
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Comment |
Oil's tipping point has passed
The economic pain of a flattening supply will trump the environment as a reason to curb the use of fossil fuels, say James Murray and David King.
- James Murray
- & David King
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Books & Arts |
Energy: Curbing urban greed
An overview of resource-guzzling US cities has lessons for us all, finds David Orr.
- David Orr
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News |
Disaster toll tallied
The soaring cost of natural catastrophes is due more to socio-economic than climatic factors.
- Quirin Schiermeier
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News |
Climate deal leaves questions on green fund and tech transfer
Little progress made on fund to help countries cope with climate change.
- T.V. Padma
- , Busani Bafana
- & Linda Nordling
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News |
Environmental projects get more than half a billion dollars
Global Environment Facility funds its most ambitious international programme ever.
- Natasha Gilbert
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News |
Japan funds projects to clean up Fukushima
Three major projects aim to make it possible for evacuees to return to their homes.
- David Cyranoski
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News |
Canada's ice cores seek new home
Confusion over fate of valuable climate record chills researchers.
- Hannah Hoag
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News |
Oil-spill research funds begin to flow
BP's post-spill research initiative is underway in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Mark Schrope
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Outlook |
Fuel options: The ideal biofuel
A biomass-based fuel needs to be cheap and energy dense. Gasoline sets a high standard.
- Neil Savage
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Books & Arts |
Books in brief
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Books & Arts |
Climate economics: Corporate greening falls short
Gail Whiteman is unconvinced by an argument that naked greed and market forces will drive businesses to cut their emissions.
- Gail Whiteman