Klimat & miljö

Marint områdesplanering (MSP) växer globalt men når inte ursprungsbefolkningarnas perspektiv i Stilla havet. En studie från Linköpings universitet och Fiji-universitetet avslöjar att Fijis MSP-process visar låg medvetenhet bland kuststäder med inhemsk (iTaukei) befolkning, begränsad tillit och minimal deltagande. Genom enkäter och fokusgruppsdiskussioner identifierade forskarna att interna maktskillnader inom gemenskaperna riskerar att reproducera uteslutning även under beteckningen "inhemsk deltagande". Studien föreslår att ursprungsbefolkningarnas världssyn, kunskap och praktiker kan förstärka MSP genom gemensamt kunskapsskapande. Omvänt kan MSP ge samhällen större inflytande över förvaltning och anslutning till större styrsystem. För energiinvesterare och klimatplanerare är slutsatsen viktig: hållbar havsresursförvaltning kräver lokala praxisgemenskaper med betrodda mellanmän för att överbrygga kunskapsklyftor och bygga samförvaltningskapacitet innan storskaliga projektImplementeras.

Nodularin-giftiga cyanobakteriebloomer sprider sig nordöver i Östersjön fram mot 2100, vilket påverkar vattenkvalitet och dricksvattenförsörjning. Svenska forskare från Umeå universitet, SLU och SMHI förutspådde utbredningen av toxinproducenten Nodularia spumigena och nodularingiftet med hjälp av empirisk Bayesiansk kriging och artfördelingsmodellering. Modellerna integrerade uppmätta toxinkoncentrationer med miljövariabler som temperatur, salthet, näringsstatus och geografisk läge. Resultaten visar att högre toxinutbredning förväntas i Östergötlands djupa bäcken, Norra Östersjön, Ålandshav och södra Bottniska viken redan vid nutid, med expansion nordöver till 2100. Toxinfördelningen styrs av salthets-, temperatur- och näringsvechselverkan. För vattenförsörjare, baddplatsägare och miljömyndigheter blir detta väsentligt för långsiktig planering av vattenkvalitetsövervakning och anpassningsåtgärder mot värmare förhållanden.

Geologists have mapped how carbonated rocks formed in Oman over millions of years, showing two distinct processes by which carbon dioxide becomes locked in stone. The findings could inform industrial strategies for permanent carbon storage, a critical tool for meeting climate targets.EN

Researchers have combined ground and canopy-based laser scanning to map the internal architecture of giant old-growth trees with unprecedented detail. The technique could transform how companies and governments assess forest carbon storage, timber value, and biodiversity hotspots—critical for climate accounting and conservation planning.EN

Researchers found that sea trout offspring inherited some behavioral traits from long-distance migrating parents, but the pattern was inconsistent across populations. The finding complicates predictions about how fish populations will adapt to climate change and suggests local environmental factors matter more than genetics alone.EN

New research shows expanding lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are disrupting water supplies to four major Asian rivers—the Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, and Salween—by trapping moisture that would otherwise flow downstream. The effect intensifies during autumn and threatens water security for millions relying on these rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower.EN

Extreme heat events across permafrost regions are accelerating at rates 30–40% faster than previously documented, with summer temperatures regularly spiking by 2.7°C per decade. For companies and governments managing critical infrastructure in the Arctic and Tibetan Plateau—from pipelines to data centers—this acceleration sharply narrows the window for adaptation and raises the cost of climate-resilient design.EN

Geoscientists have developed a machine-learning approach that dramatically improves the ability to trace where metamorphic rocks originate—a capability crucial for mineral exploration, environmental remediation, and understanding Earth's geological history. The advance could help companies and governments better assess mineral deposits and manage land resources.EN

Researchers discovered that deep-sea coral larvae don't actually feed until 38 days after fertilization—far later than their mouth structures suggest. The finding could reshape restoration strategies for commercially and ecologically important coral species threatened by ocean acidification and warming.EN

A landmark international agreement on marine genetic resources allows wealthy nations and biotech firms to continue profiting from ocean organisms without sharing benefits—deferring equity demands to a future review. The study reveals how negotiations shifted from fair-access principles to a complex technocratic scheme that preserves commercial advantage while postponing developing countries' claims.EN

A study of Berlin and Gothenburg reveals six distinct ways cities engage with citizen-led sustainability initiatives—from tolerating them to partnering with them. The findings show that how municipalities interact with these groups directly shapes whether local solutions scale up or fade away, with major implications for cities' climate targets and community buy-in.EN

A new taxonomy shows that fuel rationing policies can be perceived as fair or unfair depending entirely on how they're structured. The finding matters to policymakers weighing drastic climate measures: perceived fairness determines whether the public will accept or reject them.EN

Researchers in Sri Lanka discovered that existing planetary-scale soil maps badly miss local conditions in data-poor regions, achieving only modest predictive accuracy. The finding quantifies a critical gap for agricultural planning, infrastructure development, and climate modeling in tropical countries—and suggests machine learning can narrow it when paired with targeted local surveys.EN

Researchers have engineered a two-metal catalyst that cuts the energy needed for water-splitting hydrogen production by 23%, using inexpensive materials and simple manufacturing. The breakthrough could lower costs for green hydrogen across industries from chemicals to steel, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.EN

Trinidadian guppies living in fast-paced environments sacrifice reproductive capacity to tolerate parasites, while slower-living populations invest in blocking infection. The finding suggests that evolutionary pressures shape disease tolerance differently across populations—a pattern with implications for understanding how species adapt to climate change and emerging pathogens.EN

A new analysis of international AI strategies reveals a critical gap: current governance frameworks do not prioritize environmental sustainability. Researchers call for making large language models public goods and embedding sustainability into AI development—steps they argue are essential if the technology is to help rather than hinder climate action.EN

A new analysis reveals how governments are reframing environmental protection through a security lens—a shift reshaping policy priorities and spending. For companies and investors, this securitization of sustainability is creating new regulatory frameworks, risk categories, and competitive advantages that will reshape markets over the next decade.EN

A major new handbook examines how sustainability goals intersect with geopolitical interests—a critical gap for companies and governments navigating decarbonization. As nations compete over climate resources and green technology, understanding these power dynamics is becoming essential for predicting policy outcomes and investment viability.EN

Djupgeologisk lagring av kärnbränsle bygger på säkerhetsbedömningar som ofta stannar vid modellns gränser och mäter exponering under begränsad tid. En ny studie från Linnéuniversitetet visar att dessa analyser ignorerar miljökonsekvenser när radioaktiv material bringats till ytan genom framtida borrning. Uranet — huvudkomponenten i använt kärnbränsle — utgör både radiologisk och kemisk fara långt efter ett teoretiskt läckage, men nuvarande svenska och finska säkerhetsfall dokumenterar inte dess miljöbeteende efter att det återgått till naturliga system. Forskarna menar att säkerhet måste definieras som kontinuitet med naturen, inte enbart som slutning. Det kräver att långsiktig mobilitet och ekologisk påverkan av frigörda ämnen inkluderas i tillståndsprocesser. För infrastrukturplanerare och energimyndigheter förändrar detta synen på vad en tillräcklig säkerhetsbedömning innehåller och vilka tidshorisontale som måste täckas.

Young adults with type 1 diabetes achieved comparable health outcomes using remote care instead of clinic visits, according to a randomized trial published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. The finding could reshape how healthcare systems deliver chronic disease management and reduce costs while expanding access to underserved populations.EN

Valet av motjoner i fotokatalytisk dopning styr effektiviteten i organiska halvledare — en funktion som tidigare inte systematiskt undersökts. Forskare vid Linköpings universitet visar att mindre anjoner, särskilt bis(fluorosulfonyl)imid (FSI-), förbättrar ledningsförmågan i PBTTT-derivat upp till 2000 S cm⁻¹. Det sker genom att FSI- minskar aggregation av fotokatalysatorerna och ökar elektronaffiniteten med cirka 0,1 eV jämfört med större anjoner. Studien kombinerar spektroskopi och densitetsfunktionalteori för att kartlägga mekanismerna bakom effekten. För investerare i organisk elektronik innebär detta att motjonvalet blir en styrhävstång för att optimera ladningstransport utan att behöva ändra själva materialen. Upptäckten möjliggör milder processförhållanden och kan påskynda kommersialisering av hållbar organisk elektronik för energilagring och växelriktare.

A new analysis examines how ecocide—large-scale environmental destruction—is reshaping international law and becoming central to geopolitical competition. The findings suggest businesses and governments must prepare for a new regulatory landscape where environmental damage carries legal and diplomatic consequences, particularly in resource-rich regions.EN

Installing digital monitoring systems in buildings to cut energy use may backfire environmentally, according to new research. A Swedish life cycle analysis found that manufacturing sensors and electronics for building management creates more climate impact than the energy savings they deliver—challenging the assumption that smart building technology is automatically good for the planet.EN

A new study of Sweden's failed ethanol fuel program reveals how special-interest lobbying—not technology merit—can undermine green innovation policy. The 12-year push for ethanol cars shows that well-intentioned climate policies risk propping up old industries rather than disrupting them, a warning for governments backing emerging clean technologies.EN

Researchers comparing methods to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from food discovered that the same diet can appear either high or low-impact depending on how emissions are measured relative to calories. The finding has major implications for food industry claims, nutrition policy, and corporate sustainability reporting.EN