In the debate on the use of biomass, ‘carbon debt’ is a frequently encountered term referring to the question whether using biomass, especially for bioenergy, makes a positive or negative contribution…
To keep the Paris goal of 1.5 °C goal alive, nations need to collectively commit to cut 42% off annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57% by 2035 in the next round of Nationally Determined…
A prospective evaluation of the ambition of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework goals and targets
In October 2024, at the 16 th Conference of the Parties (COP-16) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), countries have negotiated the mechanisms for planning, monitoring…
Progress of major emitters towards climate targets
This report by NewClimate Institute, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), provides an overview of projected greenhouse…
Nitrogen in agri-food systems and the environment: Next steps to a sustainable future
The widespread introduction of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilisers, post World War II in the 1950s, marked a historic turning point in the world's agricultural systems. The increased N supply…
Long-term variations (1970–2020) and spatial patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus soil budgets and fates in Indian agriculture
The Green Revolution rapidly increased India’s food production since the 1960s, but excessive synthetic fertilizer use caused severe environmental problems.
Reducing the cost of capital to finance the energy transition in developing countries
Climate stabilization requires the mobilization of substantial investments in low- and zero-carbon technologies, especially in emerging and developing economies. However, access to stable and…
Balancing energy transition: Assessing decent living standards and future energy demand in the Global South
Achieving low energy demand in buildings is crucial in climate change mitigation. In the Global South, however, reducing the energy demand blanketly is not advisable due to critical gaps in access to…
Human development is fundamentally dependent on the state of the environment. ‘Planetary boundaries’ define a set of limits with regard to the environmental conditions on the planet within which human…
Global sustainability scenarios lead to regionally different outcomes for terrestrial biodiversity
Mitigating climate change (CC) and reversing biodiversity decline are urgent and interconnected global priorities. Strategies to address both crises must consider the relationships, synergies and…