If Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal and Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasser star player, posts something on Instagram, the energy needed to send the post to fans around the world could power 10 homes for a year. That is according to calculations by researchers at Loughborough University in the UK, who have analysed the carbon impact of personal and commercial internet use. […]
Excess carbon dioxide emitted by human activities — such as fossil fuel burning, land-use changes and deforestation — is absorbed by the world’s oceans. While this absorption helps mitigate global warming, it also has adverse effects on marine life, including fish and plants. While the impact of what is known as anthropogenic carbon dioxide on […]
Deaths caused by heat could triple in Europe by 2100 under current climate policies, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal. Researchers say their findings highlight the need to strengthen policies to limit global warming to protect vulnerable regions and members of society from the effects of higher temperatures. In recent years, Europe has experienced […]
Flooding around the world is likely to increase significantly in decades ahead if countries fail to meet official pledges to cut carbon emissions, new research shows. The latest study led by researchers from the University of Bristol and water risk intelligence firm Fathom looked at forecasts for different types of flooding in various climate change scenarios. High […]
Groundbreaking research by Abu Dhabi scientists on a carbon material called graphene could lead to new ways of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Removing CO2 rather than simply reducing emissions, is seen by many as essential given that the world is failing to meet climate goals aimed at limiting the effects of global warming. The properties of graphene, a material extracted from graphite, […]
More than four billion people do not have safe drinking water, according to a new study that suggests the scale of the health and poverty problem is twice as bad as feared. Figures shared with The National suggest about 250 million people in the Middle East and North Africa do not use a safely managed water supply, War-torn Sudan and Yemen are the region’s worst-affected countries, […]
When it comes to climate change, carbon dioxide is the standout culprit and much of the world’s attempts to decarbonise and achieve Net Zero centre on the greenhouse gas. But there are other villains in the global warming story, including fluorinated gases, nitrous oxide and methane. Methane deserves special attention. It’s got its fingers in many pies […]
Hot weather is a daily reality in the UAE and the Gulf at large in the summer, but soaring temperatures are not the only potential hazard presented by the outdoor environment. Air quality often falls below recommended World Health Organisation guidelines, risking both short and long-term health consequences, and effects are often particularly severe at this time of year. The issue is highlighted by […]
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas frequently produced in the sea and in fresh water. Lakes in particular release large quantities of this climate-killer. Fortunately, however, there are microorganisms that counteract this: They are able to utilize methane to grow and generate energy, thus preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. These microorganisms, known […]
University of Missouri scientists are battling against an emerging enemy of human health: nanoplastics. Much smaller in size than the diameter of an average human hair, nanoplastics are invisible to the naked eye. Linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in people, nanoplastics continue to build up, largely unnoticed, in the world’s bodies of water. The […]
