| 1. |
- Althoff, Daniel, 1991-, et al.
(author)
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Global patterns in water flux partitioning : Irrigated and rainfed agriculture drives asymmetrical flux to vegetation over runoff
- 2023
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In: One Earth. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 6:9, s. 1246-1257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The partitioning of precipitation water input on land between green (evapotranspiration) and blue (runoff) water fluxes distributes the annually renewable freshwater resource among sectors and ecosystems. The patterns and main drivers of this partitioning are not fully understood around the global land area. We decipher the worldwide patterns and key determinants of this water flux partitioning and investigate its predictability based on a global machine learning model. Available data for 3,614 hydrological catchments and model application to the global land area agree in showing mostly larger green than blue water flux. Possible expansion/intensification of irrigated and/or rainfed agriculture to feed a growing human population, along with climate warming, will tend to increase this flux partitioning asymmetry, jeopardizing blue water security. The developed machine learning model presents a promising predictive tool for future blue and green water availability under various forthcoming climate and land-use change scenarios around the world.
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| 2. |
- Bager, Simon L., et al.
(author)
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Eighty-six EU policy options for reducing imported deforestation
- 2021
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3322 .- 2590-3330. ; 4:2, s. 289-306
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite the importance of tropical forest conservation in achieving global sustainability goals and the key role of forest-risk commodity trade in driving deforestation, consumer country policy options for reducing imported deforestation have received limited scholarly attention. Drawing on gray literature and a European Commission public consultation, we identify 86 policy options for the European Union to address deforestation. We assess the political feasibility and map the “theory of change” (TOC)—the causal chain through which the policies address deforestation—for each of these policy options, identifying a trade-off between feasibility and potential impacts: information-based and cooperative policies, which dominate our sample, typically exhibit high feasibility, but mostly lack convincing TOCs, while more stringent regulatory and market-based policy options generally have lower feasibility. We propose three principles for overcoming the feasibility-impact dilemma: (1) build policies on proven TOCs, (2) use policy mixes, and (3) work with key stakeholders, supply chains, and regions. Images of distressed orangutans in Indonesia and forest fires in Brazil have increased public awareness of deforestation across the globe. Still, deforestation continues more or less unabated, driven by demand for forest-risk commodities, such as palm, soy, cocoa, and beef. What can the European Union (EU) and other consumer regions do to address this problem? Here we present 86 policy options for the EU to address tropical deforestation, identified through a review of gray literature and EU stakeholder consultation responses. Analyzing these, we show that policy options that are politically feasible policies tend to have a weaker theory of change—the causal chain through which the policies address deforestation—setting up a trade-off between feasibility and impact. However, there are exceptions, such as mandatory due diligence, which show potential impact and appear politically feasible. Through policy mixing and working with key stakeholders, supply chains, and producer regions, these barriers can be overcome. Images of distressed orangutans in Indonesia and forest fires in Brazil have increased public awareness of deforestation. Still, deforestation continues unabated, driven by demand for forest-risk commodities, such as palm and soy. Here, we present 86 policy options for the EU to reduce imported deforestation. We identify a trade-off between policy feasibility and potential impact. Mixing different policies and working with key stakeholders, supply chains, and producer regions can help overcome this trade-off.
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| 3. |
- Bauer, Fredric, et al.
(author)
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Plastics and climate change breaking carbon lock-ins through three mitigation pathways
- 2022
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 5:4, s. 361-376
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The plastic industry is dependent on fossil fuels in various ways that result in strong “carbon lock-in” throughout the value chain and large and growing CO2 emissions. The industry must decarbonize to reach global net-zero pledges. Although a few initiatives have been launched, they primarily focus on plastic waste. Current research has investigated mitigation potential on different parts of the plastic value chain but remains in silos. Here, we review carbon lock-ins throughout the plastic value chain and identify possible mitigation pathways for each stage of the plastic life cycle. We show how lock-ins are stubbornly entrenched across the domains of production, markets, waste management, industry organization, and governance. Overcoming these carbon lock-ins and achieving zero-carbon targets for the sector by 2050 will require thorough systemic change to how plastics are produced, used, and recycled, including promotion of demand reduction strategies, bio-based feedstocks, and circular economy principles. Strict governance structures, enforceable regulation, and a new proactive and inclusive vision for the low-carbon transition are equally important.
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| 4. |
- Benitez, Almudena, et al.
(author)
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A renaissance for lithium-sulfur batteries through low-cost, efficient, and sustainable biomass cathodes
- 2022
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 5:3, s. 224-226
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Although lithium-ion batteries face material sustainability issues, one promising alternative-lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries-suffers from destructive chemical reactions. Recently in Chem, Hou et al. proposed one viable solution: an encapsulating lithium polysulfide electrolyte. We discuss this advance and the potential role of biomass as an alternative sustainable material for Li-S battery cathodes.
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| 5. |
- Bennich, Therese, et al.
(author)
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Recurring patterns of SDG interlinkages and how they can advance the 2030 Agenda
- 2023
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In: One Earth. - : CELL PRESS. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 6:11, s. 1465-1476
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set a vision for a more sustainable world, to be realized by 2030. Progress to date is insufficient and implementation challenges are many, including the need for strategies that maximize synergies and mitigate trade-offs and conflicts among the goals. This scoping review synthesizes 51 recent scientific articles on interlinkages, with findings that can help decision-makers address this challenge. We identify recurring patterns of SDG interlinkages, including SDGs that promote other SDGs (e.g., SDGs 4, 6, and 17) and those at risk due to negative impacts from progress in other areas (e.g., SDGs 14 and 15). Such patterns can inform national and local implementation. Further research is needed to clarify the systemic roles of some SDGs (e.g., SDGs 10-12), understand causal relationships, and assess policy options. We make six recommendations for science to make interlinkages knowledge more accessible and for decision-makers to systematically use this knowledge.
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| 6. |
- Billen, Gilles, et al.
(author)
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Reshaping the European agro-food system and closing its nitrogen cycle: The potential of combining dietary change, agroecology, and circularity
- 2021
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3322 .- 2590-3330. ; 4:6, s. 839-850
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- After World War II, the evolution of Europe's agro-food system has been marked by intensified use of synthetic fertilizers, territorial specialization, and integration in global food and feed markets. This evolution led to increased nitrogen (N) losses to aquatic environments and the atmosphere, which, despite increasing environmental regulations, continues to harm ecosystems and human well-being. Here, we explore how these N losses can be drastically reduced in a scenario synergistically operating three levers: (1) a dietary change toward less animal products and an efficient recycling of human excreta; (2) the generalization of region-specific organic crop rotation systems involving N2-fixing legumes, making it possible to do without synthetic N fertilizers; and (3) the reconnection of livestock with cropping systems allowing optimal use of manure. This scenario demonstrates the possibility to feed the projected European population in 2050 without imports of feed and with half the current level of environmental N losses.
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| 7. |
- Boyd, Emily, et al.
(author)
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Loss and damage from climate change: A new climate justice agenda
- 2021
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 4:10, s. 1365-1370
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The effects of climate change, whether they be via slow- or rapid-onset events such as extreme events, are inflicting devastating losses and damage on communities around the world, with the most vulnerable affected the most. Although the negative impacts of climate change and the concept of loss and damage are included in international conventions, such as the United Nations Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and Article 8 of the Paris Agreement, these stop short of providing clear compensation mechanisms. The science of loss and damage has evolved with the development of extreme event attribution science, which assesses the probability of an extreme event being influenced by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, but loss and damage still suffers from the lack of a clear definition and measurability and is further complicated by debates on climate justice and shared but differentiated responsibilities. This primer presents an overview of loss and damage, discusses the complexities and knowledge gaps, and proposes next steps for an interdisciplinary research agenda.
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| 8. |
- Carlsen, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Chasing artificial intelligence in shared socioeconomic pathways
- 2024
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In: One Earth. - : CELL PRESS. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 7:1, s. 18-22
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The development of artificial intelligence has likely reached an inflection point, with significant implications for how research needs to address emerging technologies and how they drive long-term socioeconomic development of importance for climate change scenarios.
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| 9. |
- Carmine, G., et al.
(author)
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Who is the high seas fishing industry?
- 2020
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 3:6, s. 730-738
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Seafood companies rarely disclose what or where they are fishing. To provide a first overview of the fishing industry in the high seas-the area beyond national jurisdiction-we linked fishing activity in the high seas to vessel owners and corporate actors. We identified 1,120 corporate actors for 2,482 vessels (similar to 2/3 of high seas fishing vessels and effort in 2018) and found that the top 100 corporate actors account for 36% of all high seas fishing effort. As attribution for anthropogenic activities expands beyond a national framework, we demonstrate the feasibility of methods to identify the high seas fishing industry. These results provide a unique lens through which to view accountability for the use and protection of marine biodiversity.
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| 10. |
- Carney Almroth, Bethanie, et al.
(author)
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Understanding and addressing the planetary crisis of chemicals and plastics
- 2022
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In: One Earth. - : Elsevier BV. - 2590-3330 .- 2590-3322. ; 5:10, s. 1070-1074
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Planetary functions are destabilized by the releases of large quantities and numbers of anthropogenic chemicals, which go beyond planetary boundaries and threaten the safe operating space for humanity. Here, we call for urgent action to mitigate these threats and identify opportunities for intervention along the impact pathway of anthropogenic chemicals, including plastics.
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