Annual global temperature is likely to be at least 1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels in each of the coming five years, putting globally agreed climate change targets in jeopardy, new data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reveals.
Rising nitrous oxide emissions are jeopardizing the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a major study. The growing use of nitrogen fertilizers in the production of food worldwide is increasing atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide that remains in the atmosphere for more than 100 years.
Genome researchers have discovered that it is Europe, not China, which has been the main source of spreading the coronavirus disease around the world.
Artificial night-time lighting has a diverse range of effects across the natural world and should be limited where possible, researchers say.
Nearly 40 years of satellite data from Greenland shows that glaciers on the island have shrunk so much that even if global warming were to stop today, the ice sheet would continue shrinking.
Researchers conclude that 5G technology will be more efficient and enable innovative applications, such as flexible working, a smart grid or precision agriculture, thereby helping to reduce CO2 emissions.
Due to rising temperatures and longer dry periods, two plant species have already gone extinct over the last 40 years. The populations of many others have decreased by one third, researchers write.
Antibiotic resistance is an increasing health problem, but new research suggests it is not only caused by the overuse of antibiotics. It is also caused by pollution.
Experts estimate that it could reduce the increase of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by a third. At the same time, agricultural yields in many regions would also increase significantly.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for worldwide solidarity: “Developed countries must support health systems in countries that are short of resources.” We were not prepared, Mr. Guterres said, and this was a hard lesson.