"Science for Environment Policy" Newsletter Issues

Bat-friendly cities: urban planning recommendations from new citizen science study (15/11/2022)

Cities can effectively support bat populations when urban planners and conservationists create the right ecological conditions, concludes a new study from Germany. The researchers, who collaborated with citizen scientists to monitor Berlin’s bats, recommend minimising artificial light at night and creating good access for bats to forest patches and water bodies. Click here to read more

Modelling a microplastic-free Black Sea: strategies to lower waste from feeder rivers (15/11/2022)

The semi-enclosed Black Sea is fed by multiple European and Asian rivers which carry microplastic pollution. This research aims to find the most effective strategy to lower microplastic (MP) pollution in the sea, by modelling different riverine MP pollution-reduction scenarios for 2050. These scenario insights can inform policy development, to aid realisation of a zero-pollution future for the Black Sea. Click here to read more

Using blue-green infrastructure in cities increases regional habitat connectivity and benefits biodiversity (15/11/2022)

Global urbanisation is increasing and negatively impacting on the quality, connectivity and ecosystem functioning of natural spaces. Local infrastructure interventions, such as existing blue (aquatic), and green (terrestrial) infrastructures for storm-water management and climate adaptation – can also aid biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. This study of the Swiss lowlands used amphibian monitoring and species distribution data as well as connectivity modelling, to find key landscape elements of regional importance and local opportunities for urban blue-green infrastructure that could help enhance habitat connectivity. Click here to read more

Fast fashion: common reasons garments are discarded (15/11/2022)

Can clothing be more sustainable? A new study identifies the top causes of garment failure and suggests possible solutions, informed by industry professionals. Despite widespread awareness of the importance of sustainable consumption and the environmental impact of the clothing industry, poor quality, short-lived clothing continues to come to market on a huge scale. A highly competitive retail market and offshore manufacturing have reduced the price of clothing, which is now a disposable commodity for many consumers. Click here to read more

UV-filters: contamination of seawater may pose high environmental risk (08/11/2022)

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are an emerging pollutant used in industrial processes, cosmetics and toiletries. This study aimed to expand knowledge on the sources and potential impacts of eight UV filters using water samples from beaches and waste-water plants on Gran Canaria island, Spain. The researchers report that high visitor numbers and sheltered conditions raised pollution levels at beaches, and that seawater concentrations sometimes presented a high level of environmental risk. Click here to read more

Potential of big data analytics in food-waste reduction businesses (08/11/2022)

Food waste is a significant global issue and in recent years a range of businesses aimed at addressing it have been established. This study considered 41 case studies to assess the different business models adopted and how they utilise big data analytics. The researchers say that businesses focusing on resource efficiency typically make better use of big data than those which create value from waste. Click here to read more

Overhead line vehicle-charging system could substantially reduce emissions from road freight (08/11/2022)

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from freight transport is an important, but currently underdeveloped, emission-reduction measure. This study used data from a German pilot project to conduct a life cycle assessment of hybrid trucks that charge from an overhead line system while driving. The researchers say that by operating at full capacity with realistic technological improvements, the systems could reduce emissions by 22.1% in comparison to conventional trucks. Click here to read more

Greener behaviour may be good for your health – but is this true for people from different cultures or socio-economic circumstances? (08/11/2022)

Pro-environmental behaviours (PEB), such as taking shorter showers or reducing household food waste, may be linked to personal wellbeing, or happiness. Research has shown that happiness and pro-environmental behaviours can be mutually reinforcing – that is, the more of these actions people carry out, the better they feel – which results in more engagement in these behaviours. However, little is known about how the PEB-wellbeing relationship is affected by privilege, wealth, personal inclination and culture. Click here to read more

Smart charging of electric vehicles could promote renewable energy adoption (18/10/2022)

Increasing uptake of electric vehicles across Europe will impact energy demand as electricity supply transitions towards renewable sources. This study considers how flexible vehicle charging could affect the adoption of renewables, backup capacity requirements and CO2-emission reduction costs. The study analyses three different charging strategies representing the different EV flexibility levels, which, from low to high flexibility, are: dumb charging, smart charging and smart charging in combination with bidirectional charging (vehicle-to-grid or V2G). Click here to read more

Marine sediment analysis confirms effectiveness of pollution control legislation (18/10/2022)

Levels of chemical pollution vary over time as new substances are brought into use and, in some cases, restricted or prohibited. This study used samples from a dated sediment core taken from the North Sea to track levels of 90 chemicals over the last century. The researchers report that, following legislative restrictions, pollution levels fell for many substances, but residual levels remain much higher than before contamination in several cases. Click here to read more

Europe’s beech forests threatened by climate change (18/10/2022)

Beech is one of the most ecologically and economically valuable tree species in Europe. A new study finds that climate change could significantly reduce beech trees’ growth across most of the continent this century. Forest dieback may follow, the researchers warn. Click here to read more

Understanding of the broader context is important for small and medium-sized enterprises transitioning to circular economy (18/10/2022)

Models for adopting a circular economy are largely aimed at large corporations. Recent research looks at six smaller enterprises in the UK and the EU to characterise the tools, opportunities and challenges affecting successful transitions. This study presents a framework identifying the key stages in the circular economy transition process and highlights the importance of engaging with the wider environmental, social and business context. Click here to read more

E-waste: chemical processing without heat may offer efficient method of recovering metals from end-of-life products (11/10/2022)

Waste from disposed electrical products – e-waste – is one of the fastest growing solid waste streams. Over 53 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was generated in 2019, predicted to grow to 74 Mt in 2030. Meanwhile, new electronics include about 8% of all gold produced each year – about 250 tonnes. Current methods of recovering gold and other metals from e-waste tend to use large amounts of energy, but researchers have proposed a new chemical-processing system that can be carried out at ambient temperature and pressure. Click here to read more

Retaining deadwood in disturbed forests reduces changes to soil fungal communities and promotes regeneration (11/10/2022)

Events such as storms that cause significant damage to forest trees have obvious effects above ground. What happens below ground is less apparent, and less studied. Knowledge of impacts on fungal communities and carbon stocks, however, is important for informing optimal management. In particular, the symbiotic fungi that help trees to grow can be negatively impacted by disturbance, new research shows – which could be key in natural forest regeneration. Click here to read more

Shifts in distribution of bird species due to climate change may compromise ecosystem services (11/10/2022)

As species’ ranges shift due to climate change, ecosystems will be altered and may change how they function. This study uses a large data set to model changes in the ecological roles performed by bird species in ecosystems around the world. The researchers report that forecast changes in ecological function vary across geographic areas. They suggest possible implications of these findings for future provision of ecosystem services. Click here to read more

Bird conservation: protected areas are most effective when over 50 hectares in size (11/10/2022)

Establishing protected areas (PAs) is important for the conservation of species, but more data is needed on their effectiveness. Drawing on a large data set from previous observational studies worldwide, new research indicates that protected fragments of forest can be successful for bird conservation, however, their size is the most important factor – rather than the level of protection. Additionally, protection need not be limited to pristine areas, as ‘moderate protection’ – with some human activity permitted – is also worthwhile in areas over 175 hectares. Click here to read more

Estimating environmental damage from key resources required for EU low-carbon transition (30/09/2022)

Transition to a low-carbon economy will create additional demand for many raw materials, production of which will have a range of environmental impacts. This study assessed the environmental costs associated with meeting demand for key resources in the EU by 2050. The researchers estimate the total annual cost at €38.9 billion, with 48.5% arising from materials used for electric-vehicle batteries, including nickel, accounting for 24.9% of total cost. Click here to read more

Expenditure on preventing biological invasions is far below environmental damage costs (30/09/2022)

Invasive alien species are a major global problem causing substantial environmental and economic damage. This study explored the costs associated with such species, using the InvaCost database, to quantify the level of damage and of mitigation measures. The researchers report that between 1960 and 2020 invasive alien species caused over US$1 130.6 billion (€1 trillion) in damage worldwide, with management expenditure ten times lower, and preventative management representing a small fraction of this outlay. Click here to read more

Benefits of agri-environment wildflower areas vary according to the surrounding landscape (30/09/2022)

Sowing wildflower areas is a common agri-environment measure, however, its biodiversity impacts are disputed. Recent research assessed non-pollinator invertebrates (spiders and beetles) using a focus on landscape characteristics to broaden the perspective on this debate. The researchers report that the presence of different semi-natural habitats in the surrounding area can influence the effects on arthropod communities. They recommend that landscape characteristics be considered in the design of such schemes. Click here to read more

Abandoned agriculture in the Valencia Region, Spain: a transition to woodland and scrubland over a 50-year period (30/09/2022)

Abandonment of agricultural areas in Mediterranean Europe can exacerbate fire risk due to increases in natural vegetation. This study used comprehensive sets of images, from 1957 and 2007, to evaluate transitions of land use and land cover over that time span in the Valencia region, eastern Spain. The researchers report strong trends towards the establishment of woodland and scrubland, but minimal transition between the two. Click here to read more

Assessing the role of final energy demand in integrated assessment models (07/09/2022)

Models used to assess climate change mitigation pathways rely on assumptions about the relationships between different factors – such as economic growth and climate warming. This study examines hypotheses about the role of final energy demand levels that underpin models used in a prominent international report on climate change. The researchers argue that these models under-represent the potential for global energy demand reduction to contribute to carbon mitigation targets, particularly in reducing dependence on carbon dioxide removal techniques. Click here to read more

Identifying future climate refugia in Mediterranean Europe (07/09/2022)

Climate refugia are areas that remain relatively buffered from the effects of climate change over time, enabling them to play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity. New research has identified sites that may serve as climate refugia in Mediterranean Europe over the next 50 years. Most refugia are located outside existing national protected areas, highlighting substantial protection gaps relevant to conservation planning. Click here to read more

Semi-natural conditions promote ecological recovery of urban streams (07/09/2022)

Freshwater ecosystems in urban areas face a variety of pressures and are often significantly degraded. This study considers the potential for recovery of invertebrate communities in urban streams based on 12 years of data from a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. The researchers report that streams with natural features and good water quality tended to recover well, given suitable climatic conditions. Click here to read more

Temperature-driven changes in traits of European birds are also influenced by other factors (07/09/2022)

Studies that observe physical and behavioural changes in wild species over periods of rising temperature rarely evaluate the role of climate change in relation to simultaneous changes of other environmental factors. This study applied a novel approach to long-term datasets on European birds to quantify the contribution of other factors to observed changes over past decades. The researchers say that just over half of observed effect was due to rising temperatures, with other factors mostly accentuating these impacts. Click here to read more

Environmental status assessment of Mediterranean Sea finds notable differences between ecoregions (07/09/2022)

The EU aims to achieve ‘good’ environmental status in marine areas across all Member States. This study assesses protected and non-protected sites in the Mediterranean Sea according to key ecological indicators. The researchers say that protected areas enhanced fish populations and no-trawl zones improved overall ecological status. They argue that more work is needed to gather sufficient data for assessments and to develop indicators that accommodate differences between sites. Click here to read more

COVID-19 and the environment: links, impacts and lessons learned (15/09/2022)

Low-carbon fuels could power Europe’s bulk cargo-carrying ships (09/08/2022)

The shipping industry needs to decarbonise in order to meet global climate targets. This study compares the suitability of five low-carbon fuels to power all ships carrying bulk cargo in Europe. The results show that technologies support this transition but would increase total ownership costs (the purchase price of an asset plus the costs of operation). Public policy measures are needed to foster and accelerate the change. Click here to read more

Natura 2000 sites with management plans are most effective at helping waterbirds adapt to climate change (09/08/2022)

A major role of protected areas is to provide species with opportunities to shift their distribution in response to climate change. This study looks at key characteristics of Natura 2000 sites to assess their influence on the speed at which water-bird communities react to rising temperatures. The researchers report that sites designated under the EU’s Birds Directive, and with a management plan, are most effective at facilitating climate change adaptation. Click here to read more

Factors promoting green growth include access to information on funding opportunities (09/08/2022)

Encouraging businesses to adopt more sustainable practices is a key element in EU environment policy. This study looks at a range of factors that influence the uptake of such measures by small- to medium-sized enterprises across the EU. The researchers report that having information on funding opportunities promotes green growth and recommend public-private partnerships as an appropriate funding model. Click here to read more

Utilising sewage waste-water heat in district-heating systems, Serbia (10/08/2022)

District heating can provide an efficient solution to heating urban buildings, while waste-water treatment plants represent a potential source of renewable energy. This study evaluated the potential impacts of using waste-water heat to supply district heating systems and applied it to the situation in Serbia. The researchers say that widespread use of this approach could improve efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and that the methodology could be applied elsewhere. Click here to read more

Recycling residential building materials: opportunities and limitations (10/08/2022)

Reusing materials from existing buildings (or ‘urban mining’) has been proposed as a means to reduce demolition waste, raw material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This study models the opportunities for urban mining in the Netherlands under practical constraints, up to the year 2050. The researchers find a limited potential for recycled materials to meet demand and reduce emissions. They highlight priority areas that could improve possible outcomes. Click here to read more

Deep-sea mining: developing an environmental management framework (12/07/2022)

Mining lumps of ore found on deep seabeds could be a means of supplying metals required for transitioning to a green economy, such as those needed to produce electric-vehicle batteries. However, limited knowledge of the deep-sea environment and the likely impacts of mining present challenges for the environmental management of such operations. In this study, researchers present an analysis of key drivers, barriers and enablers to construct a practical environmental management framework for deep-sea mining. Click here to read more

Climate-induced shifts in species distribution could impact the management of internationally shared fish stocks (18/07/2022)

Climate change will affect the distribution of many commercially harvested fish and shellfish species, including stocks that occur across national boundaries and are subject to international management agreements (i.e. ‘transboundary’ fish stocks). This study models how the ranges of transboundary stocks are likely to move between countries. The researchers find that shifts may already be happening and could affect 45% of the world’s internationally shared fish stocks by the end of the current century. Click here to read more

Marine litter on Mediterranean coasts may originate in other countries (12/07/2022)

Marine litter, especially plastic, is a matter of concern globally and within the EU, with mitigating measures most effectively applied at the point of origin. This study considers litter found around the Mediterranean coast and uses a model to simulate its origin. The researchers report that over 18% of the litter came from a different country to where it was found, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration on this issue. They also identify particles of marine litter originating in the open sea, which is environmentally significant due to potentially prolonged exposure of marine wildlife. Click here to read more

Assessing the impact of nutrient input from dogs on semi-natural ecosystems near cities (12/07/2022)

Limitation of soil nutrients is often integral to conservation management of semi-natural areas. However, many people enjoy walking their dogs in green spaces near to urbanised areas, resulting in additional nutrient inputs from canine waste. In this study, researchers estimate the quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus introduced via dog urine and faeces to four peri-urban spaces in Belgium. They argue that the levels of nutrient input are ecologically significant and recommend measures to limit this impact. Click here to read more

Which lockdown measures reduced what type of air pollution in European cities? (12/07/2022)

Lockdown restrictions responding to the Covid-19 pandemic led to reductions in air pollution in cities across Europe. This study uses a novel approach to assess the effects of different lockdown measures on four pollutants. The researchers say that nitrogen dioxide and particulates reduced significantly, particularly in response to school and workplace closures and stay-at-home measures. Click here to read more

Migration between Italian provinces may be influenced by air pollution levels (24/06/2022)

Traditional studies of factors affecting internal migration commonly focus on socioeconomic conditions such as income and employment, however, a growing body of research suggests that environmental factors may be significant. This study presents the first empirical analysis of the influence of air pollution on migration between provinces in Italy. The results suggest that local environmental conditions can have effects on intranational population movement. Click here to read more

The ongoing digitalisation of agriculture: identifying key research areas (24/06/2022)

The adoption of digital technology in agriculture is a rapidly advancing field. Further research is needed to inform investment decisions and policy formulation that ensure associated economic, social and sustainability benefits are achieved. This study consulted a range of stakeholders to produce a structured list of research priorities. Click here to read more

Using thermal energy storage in buildings to support a renewable energy grid (24/06/2022)

Energy storage capacity is a key issue for large-scale renewable energy grids. Electric battery storage presents scaling challenges and, in some cases, thermal energy storage (TES) may be a more appropriate technology. This study assessed the potential for TES to meet thermal energy requirements for residential and commercial buildings in the United States. The researchers report that TES can be an effective and competitive system and propose key areas for future research. Click here to read more

Wind-farm projects: local government faces dilemmas when resisting plans alongside citizen-action groups (24/06/2022)

National initiatives for wind-farm expansion can lead to local governments collaborating with civil society to oppose specific projects. This study presents two such cases and assesses some of the key strategic issues facing the local authorities as they contest the proposals. The researchers identify four key dilemmas and argue that a consideration of these can help in understanding how such situations occur. Click here to read more