Meltwater lakes that form at glacier margins cause ice to recede much further and faster compared to glaciers that terminate on land, according to a new study. But the effects of these glacial lakes are not represented in current ice loss models, warn the study authors. Therefore, estimates of recession rates and ice mass loss…
Rising nitrous oxide emissions are jeopardizing climate goals and the Paris Accord, according to a new international study. The growing use of nitrogen fertilizers in the production of food worldwide is increasing concentrations of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere—a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide—which remains in the atmosphere longer than a…
The transition to net-zero cannot be sustainable if it creates or exacerbates social inequalities, warns a group of academic experts from the COP26 Universities Network. The group is made up of more than 45 UK universities, including the University of Leeds. In a new policy briefing, the authors emphasise that the impacts of climate change…
Scientists at the University of Leeds have pledged to develop a new generation of ultra-efficient electronics to help the UK achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The growth in digital technologies, smart phones, smart grids, electric vehicles and renewable energy will result in a dramatic increase in electronic devices. It has been estimated that there will be almost 30 billion networked devices in…
Global energy consumption in 2050 could be reduced to the levels of the 1960s and still provide a decent standard of living for a population three times larger, according to a new study. The study, led by the University of Leeds, has estimated the energy resource needed for everyone to be provided decent living standards…
