The number and diversity of insects is declining worldwide. Some studies suggest that their biomass has almost halved since the 1970s. Among the main reasons for this are habitat loss – for example through agriculture or urbanization – and climate change. These threats have long been known. What is less well-known is how these global change drivers interact and how their effects can become even more severe that way. For example, insects that have been deprived of their natural habitat…

The BRICS nations, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represent the world’s major emerging markets. In 2022, their aggregated GDP amounted to about USD 25.95 trillion, accounting for 26% of global GDP. Over the past decade, these economies have grown at an average annual rate of about 2.87%, surpassing the global average of 2.73%. This rapid economic growth has also driven energy demand, with the BRICS nations collectively accounting for about 46% of the world’s total primary energy consumption…

The finding offers new insights into Asia’s rainforest history, researchers say UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the first time, scientists have discovered fossil evidence of an endangered, living tropical tree species. The unprecedented find was made in Brunei, a country on the large island of Borneo, and reveals a critical piece of the ancient history of Asia’s rainforests, highlighting the urgent need for conservation in the region, according to researchers at Penn State who led the discovery. The research team…

A new study found that brick kiln owners were willing to implement energy-efficient operational changes after receiving training and support. The social benefits of reduced carbon emissions from these changes outweighed costs by a factor of 65 to 1 Brick manufacturing is a central component of the economy in South Asia, but also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, as the practice releases carbon dioxide (CO₂), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and other contaminants into the environment….