Deforestation lowers threshold for Amazon degradation to below 2°C warming
Around two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest could shift into degraded forest or savannah-like ecosystems at 1.5-1.9°C [...]
Environment
Urban water bodies are heavily contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria
The scientists analysed bacteria found in these samples and detected a higher diversity and load of [...]
New Peer-Reviewed Study: Bottom Trawling in Europe’s Waters Costs Society up to €16 Billion Annually — Mostly Due to Climate Impacts
The destructive fishing practice takes place in more than half of Europe’s marine protected areas (MPAs); [...]
Human changes in land-cover increase global landslide fatalities in mountains considerably
Land-cover changes appear more often in lower income countries, exacerbating the vulnerability of socioeconomically disadvantaged people. [...]
Saudi Arabia marks restoration of one million hectares of land
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reached a major milestone in restoring degraded land, announcing the [...]
Extreme global climate outcomes are possible even at 2°C of warming
Extreme climate impacts on people and the environment are often associated with very high levels of [...]
The food commodities driving deforestation globally
Maize, rice and cassava drive more deforestation than major export-oriented crops like cocoa, coffee, and rubber. [...]
Warming coastal waters primary driver of large-scale humid heatwaves
Rising sea surface temperatures in coastal waters are driving 50 to 64 percent of the increase [...]
Significant increase in droughts worldwide, particularly in Europe
The GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite missions show a dramatic global increase in the drought-affected areas, particularly [...]
Forest damage in Europe to rise by around 20 percent by 2100 even if warming is limited to 2°C
Forest damage in Europe caused by wildfires, storms and bark beetle outbreaks is projected to increase [...]
Urban trees can absorb more CO₂ than cars emit during summer
How much carbon dioxide do parks and individual trees in cities absorb, and how much do [...]
Nature Health Study Reveals Hidden Loneliness Risks from Climate Change
How does climate change affect people beyond physical destruction and environmental damage? A new review published [...]
Offshore wind farms change current patterns
Hereon researchers simulate long-term effects of wind and tidal wakes caused by wind turbines in the [...]
EU climate science advisory board calls for strengthened adaptation policy in new report
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, chaired by the Potsdam for Climate Impact Research’s [...]
Climate change is driving rising agricultural water use in Central Asia
Even as farmers shift toward less water-intensive crops, climate change is pushing agricultural water consumption upward [...]
Climate change could halve areas suitable for cattle, sheep and goat farming by 2100
A new study conducted at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) shows that grassland-based [...]