carbon emissions

A Tulane University study published in Nature Communications reveals the potential long-term effects of climate change on coastal wetlands, using a real-world experiment along the Gulf Coast. By leveraging a network of nearly 400 monitoring sites and novel satellite data techniques, the study found that nearly 90% of sites were unable to keep pace with the rapid sea-level rise, simulating conditions expected around 2070. The research underscores the urgency of adhering to the Paris Agreement to mitigate future wetland…

Recent Dartmouth research underscores the significant influence of Arctic permafrost on the formation of northernmost rivers and highlights the risks of substantial carbon release due to climate change-induced thawing. By analyzing thousands of watersheds, the study reveals the unique characteristics of Arctic river valleys and stresses the importance of understanding these landscapes in the face of global warming. Credit: SciTechDaily.comAs the Arctic warms, the growth of rivers could release carbon emissions equivalent…

While everyone’s been focused on accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles to cut carbon emissions, a technological hero has been rapidly ascending under the radar: the heat pump. Instead of burning natural gas or coal to produce heat, this fully electric device extracts warmth from outdoor air—even when it’s freezing outside—and pumps it inside to warm a structure. After years of stealthy, steady growth, heat pumps are now outselling gas furnaces in the United States, whereas EVs accounted for just 8 percent of all…

Bottom trawling significantly contributes to atmospheric carbon emissions by disturbing ocean sediments, a study finds. This method not only harms marine ecosystems but also releases vast amounts of carbon dioxide, doubling the emissions from the global fishing fleet’s fuel use. Immediate policy action is urged to address this overlooked source of carbon pollution and mitigate its impact on climate change and ocean health.A landmark study has uncovered that bottom trawling contributes to the release of as much as 370…

A recent study indicates that small dietary changes, such as substituting a beef burger for a turkey burger or choosing plant-based milk, can significantly reduce carbon emissions from food by 35% and improve diet quality, offering a practical approach to both environmental and health improvements. Credit: SciTechDaily.comMaking one small diet change — chicken instead of beef, plant milk instead of cow’s milk — could significantly curb carbon emissions and increase the healthfulness of your diet.Curbing carbon emissions…

In the new process, air is channeled through a liquid to capture CO2. If the liquid is irradiated with light, the greenhouse gas is released again and can be collected. Credit:ETH ZurichTo mitigate global warming, significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are essential. This includes phasing out fossil fuels and embracing energy-efficient technologies.However, simply cutting emissions is insufficient to achieve climate goals. It’s also critical to remove substantial amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere, storing it…

Researchers found that carbon credits for efficient cookstoves are overestimated by a factor of 10, challenging the effectiveness of these offsets in combating climate change and calling for a shift towards cleaner, health-standard-compliant cooking solutions. Credit: SciTechDaily.comNew study finds that global carbon markets overcredit cookstove greenhouse gas reductions by a factor of 10.The fastest growing type of offset on the global carbon market subsidizes the distribution of efficient cookstoves in developing…

The latest Global Carbon Project report reveals that global CO2 emissions, hitting a record 36.8 billion metric tons in 2023, are far from the reductions required for meeting the Paris Agreement climate goals. Significant disparities in regional trends and the pressing need for increased emissions reduction efforts and carbon removal technologies are highlighted.The latest carbon budget report from the Global Carbon Project reveals that global CO2 emissions remain significantly higher than the reductions required to…

In this graph, the orange line shows the global sea surface temperature throughout 2023. The other squiggles are previous years, with the uppermost dashed black line being the average between 1982 and 2011. The dark black line at upper left is where we’re starting out 2024. Notice it’s already at a sky-high level several months before temperatures typically peak. Even the record-breaking year of 2023 didn’t see these kinds of temperatures until late March and early April.The 2023 climate reports also note that Antarctic…

Scientists have devised a strategy for converting carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere into valuable carbon nanofibers. The process uses tandem electrocatalytic (blue ring) and thermocatalytic (orange ring) reactions to convert the CO2 (teal and silver molecules) plus water (purple and teal) into “fixed” carbon nanofibers (silver), producing hydrogen gas (H2, purple) as a beneficial byproduct. The carbon nanofibers could be used to strengthen building materials such as cement and lock away carbon for decades. Credit:…