Latest news with #NatureClimateChange
TimesLIVE
10-07-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
Study finds people back climate policies when weather hits home
People are more likely to support climate policies when they believe extreme weather events are caused by climate change, a new international study has found. Published in Nature Climate Change on July 1, the study led by a team of international researchers, including one from Stellenbosch University, revealed that public support for climate action is simply not about experiencing floods, droughts, or heatwaves. Rather, what matters most is whether individuals believe these events are linked to climate change. 'Our data suggest that if individuals attribute extreme weather events to climate change, support for climate policies is higher regardless of whether the events are more frequent. The reverse causal relationship is also possible: people who are supportive of climate policies are more likely to attribute extreme weather to climate change.' The team collected data from 68 countries, using a mix of natural and social science data. Participants' experiences with extreme weather, such as floods, heatwaves and tropical storms, were compared with their support for climate policies like carbon taxes, sustainable energy and forest protection. Support was highest for protecting forested and land areas (82%) and increasing the use of sustainable energy (75%). However, proposals to raise taxes on carbon-intensive foods and fossil fuels drew the least support, with only 22% and 29% respectively backing them 'very much'. The study also found regional differences. 'Support for climate policies was particularly high in African and Asian countries, average in Australia, Costa Rica, and the UK, and below the global average in several European countries such as Czechia (Czech Republic), Finland and Norway.' Demographic differences also emerged. Men, younger people, the highly educated, those with higher incomes, religious individuals, and those with left-leaning political views were more likely to support climate policies. However, the link between extreme weather and policy support was not consistent across all events. While attribution to climate change played a key role in policy support for heatwaves and cyclones, the same could not be said for heavy rainfall. The study found a negative relationship between the number of people exposed to heavy precipitation and support for climate policies. 'Subjective attribution was relatively low for heavy precipitation. This corroborates previous findings that people often fail to link extreme rainfall with climate change.' This may help explain inconsistent findings in previous research. 'Few of these studies assessed whether participants linked these events to climate change, therefore missing a key controlling variable. Consequently, we strongly recommend that future studies assess subjective attribution.' The researchers referenced media coverage as a potential reason for this. A review of media reports from 10 countries between 2006 and 2018 found that extreme weather reporting mostly focused on hurricanes, storms, fires and other visible anomalies, and less on rain-related events. 'Countries more exposed to heavy precipitation might therefore be less willing to support climate policies because they are less likely to link those events to climate change,' said the researchers. Their analysis also showed that the negative effects of rainfall exposure on policy support were strongest among people who did not believe climate change caused those events. 'This further highlights the need for more research on climate change communication on types of extreme weather events that are not typically associated with climate change, such as heavy precipitation, as these events might serve as 'teachable moments'.' However, they cautioned that the relationship between rainfall exposure and climate policy support was not always significant, especially in exploratory models that considered additional variables like land area and climate change belief. 'This finding should therefore be interpreted with caution,' said the researchers. 'The researchers call for more studies about effective climate change communication on types of extreme weather events that are not typically associated with climate.'
Japan Today
01-07-2025
- Science
- Japan Today
Policymakers often ignore forest regeneration in fight against climate change, research finds
A drone views shows fallen trees in a secondary forest where farmers (not pictured) were in the last stages of clearing land as soybean farming expanded in the Amazon, in Santarem, Para state, Brazil. By Stefanie Eschenbacher Naturally-regenerating forests are often ignored by policymakers working to curb climate change even though they hold an untapped potential to rapidly absorb planet-warming carbon from the atmosphere, scientists write in a new research paper. These so-called secondary forests, which have regenerated themselves after being razed, often for agriculture, can help bring the world closer to the net-zero emissions target needed to slow global warming, the research published in the journal Nature Climate Change shows. That is because these young forests, which are made of trees between two and four decades old, can remove carbon from the atmosphere up to eight times faster per hectare than forests that were just planted, they found. It comes as companies worldwide are raising millions of dollars to regrow forests from scratch to generate carbon credits they can sell to polluting industries seeking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Secondary forests, on the other hand, are often not allowed to regenerate themselves for long enough to benefit the climate, either because they are cleared or because they fall prey to fires or pests. Across the tropics, they found, only 6% of secondary forests reach two decades of regrowth. "It's a constant cycle of deforestation," said Nathaniel Robinson, one of the authors and a scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry. He added that their vulnerability "is likely tied to policy loopholes." Robin Chazdon, a research professor at the Forest Research Institute of the University of the Sunshine Coast, in Australia, who was not involved, said the refined evaluation of the global carbon mitigation potential of regrowing forests had important implications that could shape new climate policy. Last week, Reuters revealed how a loophole in the Amazon Soy Moratorium, an agreement signed by the world's top grain traders that they would not buy soy grown on recently deforested land, has allowed Brazilian farmers to market soy grown in razed secondary forests as deforestation-free. The Moratorium, like many conservation policies around the world, protects old-growth rainforests, but not regrown ones. In the Brazilian Amazon, half of secondary forests are cleared within eight years of regrowing, the scientists found. "The most rapid and largest carbon removal comes from these young secondary forests," said Susan Cook-Patton, a reforestation scientist at The Nature Conservancy, and one of the authors. But, she added, these forests "just aren't often appreciated." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers turn to 'living libraries' in effort to solve growing threat to food supply: 'Pressures on food crops touch every country on our planet'
Imagine if the key to protecting our favorite foods from a changing climate was hidden away in a vault in the Arctic, and we just figured out how to unlock it. That's the real-world promise of a new gene selection technique that could revolutionize the way we grow food. Scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and their global partners have developed a faster, more affordable method for identifying genes that help crops survive extreme weather. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change and reported by reveals that these researchers are looking toward seed banks, sometimes called "living libraries," for solutions. These collections store thousands of plant varieties with unique genetic traits that could make crops stronger and more resilient. "Climate-driven pressures on food crops touch every country on our planet, and this technique holds promise for making more use of our global genebanks," said study co-author Michael Kantar of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, per That means future versions of your favorite foods like coffee, rice, or chocolate might be better equipped to thrive despite rising temperatures. This new method, called environmental genomic selection, combines DNA data with climate models to predict how different plants will perform under future conditions. Instead of growing and testing thousands of plants, researchers can now use a smaller, diverse group to find the best candidates for breeding. By helping farmers grow crops that need less water, resist pests naturally, and thrive without harmful chemicals, this breakthrough could reduce pollution, protect natural resources, and support healthier communities. It also means we may have new ways to protect everyday staples we often take for granted, from the rice in your pantry to the chocolate in your snack drawer. The researchers tested the method on sorghum, a drought-tolerant grain, and found that it works on dozens of other crops as well, including barley, cannabis, and peppers. Their findings also show that countries heavily reliant on one crop may need genetic resources from other regions to stay resilient. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. With Crop Trust reporting more than seven million samples stored in global genebanks, this tool could help scientists turn these collections into real-world solutions, faster and more affordably than ever before. For everyday people and farmers alike, that means more reliable harvests, more nutritious meals, and a stronger food system no matter what the forecast brings. More food innovations, such as vertical farms and drought-resistant crops, are making it easier for people to eat well while reducing pollution. To help build a more sustainable food system, people can turn to plant-based food alternatives or even grow their own food, as well as compost food scraps. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Science
- The Star
Policymakers often ignore forest regeneration in fight against climate change, research finds
FILE PHOTO: A drone views shows fallen trees in a secondary forest where farmers (not pictured) were in the last stages of clearing land as soybean farming expanded in the Amazon, in Santarem, Para state, Brazil October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo (Reuters) -Naturally-regenerating forests are often ignored by policymakers working to curb climate change even though they hold an untapped potential to rapidly absorb planet-warming carbon from the atmosphere, scientists found in a research paper published Tuesday. These so-called secondary forests, which have regenerated themselves after being razed, often for agriculture, can help bring the world closer to the net-zero emissions target needed to slow global warming, the research published in the journal Nature Climate Change shows. That is because these young forests, which are made of trees between two and four decades old, can remove carbon from the atmosphere up to eight times faster per hectare than forests that were just planted, they found. It comes as companies worldwide are raising millions of dollars to regrow forests from scratch to generate carbon credits they can sell to polluting industries seeking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Secondary forests, on the other hand, are often not allowed to regenerate themselves for long enough to benefit the climate, either because they are cleared or because they fall prey to fires or pests. Across the tropics, they found, only 6% of secondary forests reach two decades of regrowth. "It's a constant cycle of deforestation," said Nathaniel Robinson, one of the authors and a scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry. He added that their vulnerability "is likely tied to policy loopholes." Robin Chazdon, a research professor at the Forest Research Institute of the University of the Sunshine Coast, in Australia, who was not involved, said the refined evaluation of the global carbon mitigation potential of regrowing forests had important implications that could shape new climate policy. Last week, Reuters revealed how a loophole in the Amazon Soy Moratorium, an agreement signed by the world's top grain traders that they would not buy soy grown on recently deforested land, has allowed Brazilian farmers to market soy grown in razed secondary forests as deforestation-free. The Moratorium, like many conservation policies around the world, protects old-growth rainforests, but not regrown ones. In the Brazilian Amazon, half of secondary forests are cleared within eight years of regrowing, the scientists found. "The most rapid and largest carbon removal comes from these young secondary forests," said Susan Cook-Patton, a reforestation scientist at The Nature Conservancy, and one of the authors. But, she added, these forests "just aren't often appreciated." (Reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; editing by Manuela Andreoni and Aurora Ellis)
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Science
- Straits Times
Policymakers often ignore forest regeneration in fight against climate change, research finds
FILE PHOTO: A drone views shows fallen trees in a secondary forest where farmers (not pictured) were in the last stages of clearing land as soybean farming expanded in the Amazon, in Santarem, Para state, Brazil October 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli/File Photo Naturally-regenerating forests are often ignored by policymakers working to curb climate change even though they hold an untapped potential to rapidly absorb planet-warming carbon from the atmosphere, scientists found in a research paper published Tuesday. These so-called secondary forests, which have regenerated themselves after being razed, often for agriculture, can help bring the world closer to the net-zero emissions target needed to slow global warming, the research published in the journal Nature Climate Change shows. That is because these young forests, which are made of trees between two and four decades old, can remove carbon from the atmosphere up to eight times faster per hectare than forests that were just planted, they found. It comes as companies worldwide are raising millions of dollars to regrow forests from scratch to generate carbon credits they can sell to polluting industries seeking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Secondary forests, on the other hand, are often not allowed to regenerate themselves for long enough to benefit the climate, either because they are cleared or because they fall prey to fires or pests. Across the tropics, they found, only 6% of secondary forests reach two decades of regrowth. "It's a constant cycle of deforestation," said Nathaniel Robinson, one of the authors and a scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry. He added that their vulnerability "is likely tied to policy loopholes." Robin Chazdon, a research professor at the Forest Research Institute of the University of the Sunshine Coast, in Australia, who was not involved, said the refined evaluation of the global carbon mitigation potential of regrowing forests had important implications that could shape new climate policy. Last week, Reuters revealed how a loophole in the Amazon Soy Moratorium, an agreement signed by the world's top grain traders that they would not buy soy grown on recently deforested land, has allowed Brazilian farmers to market soy grown in razed secondary forests as deforestation-free. The Moratorium, like many conservation policies around the world, protects old-growth rainforests, but not regrown ones. In the Brazilian Amazon, half of secondary forests are cleared within eight years of regrowing, the scientists found. "The most rapid and largest carbon removal comes from these young secondary forests," said Susan Cook-Patton, a reforestation scientist at The Nature Conservancy, and one of the authors. But, she added, these forests "just aren't often appreciated." REUTERS Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
