Paris targets within reach by aligning, broadening and strengthening net-zero pledges
Many countries have recently announced the ambition to reach net-zero emissions targets. Here we explore the climate and energy transition impacts of the following strategies using the IMAGE…
An environmental and socially just climate mitigation pathway for a planet in peril
Climate change—a critical issue that many consider a major threat for life on Earth—is a symptom of ecological overshoot, long-term consumption and production patterns that lead to excessive and…
Reassessing the need for carbon dioxide removal: moral implications of alternative climate target pathways
The 1.5 °C goal has given impetus to carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures, such as bioenergy combined with carbon capture and storage, or afforestation. However, land-based CDR options compete with…
Costs and benefits of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser for global production of cereal grains in 2015 and in 2050 under contrasting scenarios
Increased use of synthetic N fertiliser has boosted global cereal grain production, but has also led to a massive increase of reactive N loss and environmental impacts. This paper quantifies the…
Experts and expertise in practices of citizen engagement in climate policy: a comparative analysis of two contrasting cases
The need for engaging citizens in climate policymaking is increasingly recognised. Despite indications that the form of expert involvement can strongly influence participatory processes, this remains…
Analysis of climate policy scenarios has become an important tool for identifying mitigation strategies, as demonstrated in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group III…
Circular consumption to reduce environmental pressure
The European Union and various individual countries strive for a more circular economy to reduce environmental pressure. The transition towards a circular economy requires a change in what and how we…
Assessing ambitious nature conservation strategies in a below 2-degree and food-secure world
Global biodiversity is projected to further decline under a wide range of future socio-economic development pathways, even in sustainability-oriented scenarios. This raises the question of how…
Surface-Water Nitrate Exposure to World Populations Has Expanded and Intensified during 1970−2010
Excessive nitrate in surface waters deteriorates the water quality and threatens human health. Human activities have caused increased nitrate concentrations in global surface waters over the past 50…
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