The EU 40 % greenhouse gas emission reduction target by 2030 in perspective
We assess the fairness and ambition level of the EU’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 % relative to 1990.
Drivers and patterns of land biosphere carbon balance reversal
The carbon balance of the land biosphere is the result of complex interactions between land, atmosphere and oceans, including climatic change, carbon dioxide fertilization and land-use change. While…
Greenhouse gas mitigation potentials in the livestock sector
The global livestock sector supports about 1.3 billion producers and retailers, and contributes 40–50% of agricultural GDP. We estimated that between 1995 and 2005, the livestock sector was…
Saving energy is not easy: An impact assessment of Dutch policy to reduce the energy requirements of buildings
The Dutch Government stimulates the application of energy efficiency measures to reduce the energy requirements of buildings, which are responsible for about 20% of the Dutch CO 2 emissions. For our…
Sustainable Development Goals in the Netherlands - Building blocks for Environmental policy for 2030
In September 2015, 193 countries agreed on a set of ambitious and aspirational global goals and targets for sustainable development; the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are also about…
Differences between carbon budget estimates unravelled
Several methods exist to estimate the cumulative carbon emissions that would keep global warming to below a given temperature limit. Here we review estimates reported by the IPCC and the recent…
Negative global phosphorus budgets challenge sustainable intensification of grasslands
Except for grassland soils in some northwestern European countries, grassland soils in most of the world have been exhausted over recent decades, particularly by exporting more phosphorus that is…
This study, commissioned by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), offers an assessment of the effect of bioenergy on greenhouse gas emissions. It combines estimates of supply-chain…
Trends in Global Vegetation Activity and Climatic Drivers Indicate a Decoupled Response to Climate Change
Detailed understanding of a possible decoupling between climatic drivers of plant productivity and the response of ecosystems vegetation is required. We compared trends in six NDVI metrics (1982–2010)…
Management options for restoring estuarine dynamics and implications for ecosystems: A quantitative approach for the Southwest Delta in the Netherlands
The Delta Works protect against flooding, but simultaneously cause environmental and socio-economic problems. We explore the consequences of management options and their implications for the…
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