Environment

As of 2015, about one third of all plastic ever made is in use. Of the total plastic waste generated between 1950 and 2015, 79% has accumulated in landfills or the natural environment, 9% has been recycled, and only 10% of that has been recycled again.

Environment

Between 2000 and 2012, crop and rangelands converted to oil and gas development led to a loss of 10 billion kilograms of dry biomass (weight of vegetation without water) in North America, and this loss may be permanent.

Environment

Paperback books are a better gift choice than hardcover books and DVDs from the perspectives of environmental impact and the amount of entertainment provided to the recipient.

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Climate change is predicted to decrease the amount of selenium (a trace mineral necessary for good health) in the soil, which could worsen the already frequent occurrence of selenium deficiency worldwide.

Greater exposure to PM2.5 air pollutants (particles 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller found in smoke and haze) is associated with an increased risk of diabetes. In 2016, over 3 million cases of diabetes were associated with this type of air pollution.

Recent heat and rain patterns contributed to abnormally large wheat losses in France. These climate conditions are expected to worsen and become more frequent with climate change.

Environment

Increased housing development in or near fire-prone wildland areas in the U.S. may intensify wildfire and firefighting problems, as there are more residents to evacuate and houses to protect.

Environment

Air pollution has negative effects on student health and school attendance in China, with higher pollution levels being linked to a greater number of absences due to respiratory illnesses.

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management

30% of books denying climate change published between 1982 and 2010 were self-published, 61% were written or edited by people without scientific credentials in climate science, 90% did not undergo peer review, and none were published by a university press.

American Behavioral Scientist

Higher nighttime temperatures due to climate change are projected to disrupt summer sleep patterns, particularly for people who cannot afford air conditioning and people who are more sensitive to heat, like the elderly.