Healthy ecosystems provide us with a wide range of foods, filter pollutants out of the air, and clean our water. A high level of biodiversity provides a layer of protection against pathogens by lowering the likelihood that certain diseases can become concentrated in individual animal or plant communities and spread faster.
Global ocean currents have a significant influence on our global weather and the climate. In particular medium-sized ocean eddies – so-called mesoscale eddies of up to 40 kilometers length – appear to have a significant influence on ocean circulation and thus on our temperatures. Climate scientists led by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) therefore developed a method to better estimate the influe
May 5 is a European day of protest for the equality of people with disabilities, an issue that is also relevant in the context of climate change. Although they are particularly hard-hit by the effects of climate change, people with disabilities are systematically ignored in climate policy, whereas they really ought to be included more and protected better. The situation could be improved with acce
Pollution and mountains of garbage: Plastic trash is a severe problem. But since it is hard to imagine life without plastics, researchers are looking for ways to deal with them more sustainably.
Penguin populations have been decreasing for years because of environmental and marine pollution and climate change. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), five of the world’s 18 penguin species are endangered. The populations of 12 species have been decreasing for decades, in some cases by 50 to 80 percent.
Maritime transport plays a significant role in the global economy and is largely responsible for international trade. Around 90 percent of all goods are transported by sea - and it is still rising.
Innovation plays an important role in the fight against global warming. A tour of a few especially promising research projects.
The greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, a product or a person can be clearly visualized using its carbon footprint. Knowing the footprint’s size can stimulate developments towards sustainability.
Biodiversity and climate are closely interrelated. On the one hand, biodiversity plays a key role in ensuring that we live in a stable climate and that vital cycles function; on the other hand, changing temperatures have an impact on animal and plant species. How can climate protection and nature conservation be thought together?
