38796 research outputs found
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Unpacking the growth of global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
No full textAgriculture, forestry, and other land use contribute about a fifth of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Mitigation efforts have emphasized “decoupling” that sustains production while lowering emissions per unit of output. However, the underlying decoupling mechanisms have not been fully characterized. We rely on a mathematical identity to decompose agricultural GHG emission growth (ΔE) into three parts: output (ΔY), emissions per unit of input (ΔE/X), and output per unit of input (ΔY/X) or total factor productivity (TFP). We then rely on official country-level data to quantify the historical contribution of these components. Over 1961 to 2021, we find that TFP growth—which captures the sector’s ability to produce more output per unit of measured input—has consistently remained one of the main sources of GHG emission reduction within farms. Further decomposition reveals a key role for rising land productivity in reducing emission intensity. Productivity growth is the main force slowing growth of agricultural GHG emissions.JRC.D.4 - Economics of Food System
Linking aquaculture practices to antibiotic occurrence, accumulation, and environmental risk in freshwater systems
No full textAquaculture is a rapidly expanding component of global food production, but its intensification raises environmental concerns due to the widespread use of antibiotics to control bacterial diseases. This study examined the occurrence, distribution, and ecological risks of antibiotic residues in freshwater ecosystems downstream of aquaculture facilities in Latvia. Twenty-three antibiotics were analyzed in outflows, sediments, and biota using UHPLC–MS/MS. Four compounds—enrofloxacin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, and florfenicol—were detected, with enrofloxacin and doxycycline showing the highest detection frequencies and concentrations in the outflows (up to 1315 ng L⁻¹ and 775 ng L⁻¹, respectively). Substantial accumulation occurred in sediments (up to 13,811 µg kg⁻¹ for enrofloxacin) and molluscs (up to 97 µg kg⁻¹ for doxycycline), suggesting persistence and potential bioaccumulation. Risk quotient (RQ) analysis indicated high environmental risk (RQ ≥ 1) in 10% of outflows, mainly associated with enrofloxacin. Extremely high RQs were observed in sediments (11–9086) and molluscs (43–200) for all detected antibiotics. Antibiotic levels and occurrence patterns varied significantly among aquaculture types, with juvenile salmonid farms identified as key sources of pollution. These findings highlight freshwater aquaculture as an under-recognized source of antibiotic contamination in the Baltic region and underscore the need for enhanced monitoring, transparent reporting, and stricter regulations to mitigate antimicrobial pollution and resistance development in aquatic environments.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition - diet, excess body weight, physical activity, sedentary behavior, breastfeeding, and cancer
No full textDiet, body weight, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and breastfeeding are modifiable factors influencing the cancer burden in the European Union, shaped by underlying social, environmental and behavioural conditions. Obesity has reached epidemic levels, strongly driven by the widespread intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods, which are rich in sugar, fat and salt. Consumption of red and processed meat also commonly exceeds dietary recommendations. Physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary behaviour are widespread. Breastfeeding rates vary widely across Europe but are generally low, particularly in high-income countries.
To reduce cancer risk, the European Code Against Cancer, fifth edition, recommends a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, legumes and fruits, while limiting red meat and avoiding processed meat. Intake of vegetables, legumes and fruits prevents aerodigestive tract cancers, while diets high in whole grains and low in red and processed meat reduce colorectal cancer risk. Avoiding excess body weight through diet and physical activity, and limiting prolonged sitting, decreases the risk of numerous cancers. Promoting and supporting sustained breastfeeding contributes to lowering breast cancer risk. Key policy interventions, such as fiscal incentives, urban planning, marketing restrictions and public awareness campaigns, are central to creating supportive environments for cancer prevention.JRC.F.1 - Disease Preventio
Scoping report: Future challenges to democracy
Full text linkThe report identifies 10 key challenges and emerging trends impacting European
democratic systems and suggests future policy options. These challenges are structured
across three interconnected levels: citizens and societal dynamics, the information and
knowledge environment, and institutions and the democratic system. This framework aims
to provide a comprehensive and integrated view of democracy as a connected ecosystem,
emphasising how challenges in one area can affect the entire system. Recognising this
interconnectivity is crucial for addressing these challenges and ensuring democratic
resilience.
From the citizens’ perspective, a shift towards latent support for non-democratic
governance has been seen, partly due to representation gaps affecting social groups like
young people. This can diminish institutional trust and weaken democratic support, evident
in declining voter turnout, rising populism and increased polarisation. The weakening
of democratic norms could lead to confrontation-focused political culture, increasing
instability. Addressing democratic disillusionment is vital to prevent drastic changes in
political attitudes, and deliberative processes offer potential for revitalisation, although
they must emphasise diversity and inclusivity.
The information landscape has been transformed by social media, challenging citizens’
ability to access accurate information and exacerbating divisions. Technological
advancements, particularly AI, could further amplify these issues, potentially decreasing
trust in experts and institutions. Democratic institutions themselves are facing declines
in quality, including in respect of electoral integrity and the rule of law, while facing
risks from coordinated efforts of global autocracies to undermine EU democracies. To
build resilience, institutions must earn citizens’ trust, as it underpins political agency and
democratic effectiveness. Countering the erosion of this trust is crucial, as it is a key target
for democracy’s adversaries.JRC.S.2 - Science for Democracy, Public Governance and Administratio
Territories and demographic change
Full text linkThe EU is experiencing significant demographic transformations, including population decline, ageing, and uneven migration trends, with rural and remote regions facing the greatest challenges. This report provides policymakers, regional stakeholders, and EU-level representatives with a comprehensive resource to navigate these shifts. It offers in-depth data, a taxonomy and policy fiches to categorize demographic challenges and options to align policy responses with regional characteristics and demographic trends. This contribution highlights potential policies approaches in the fields of economics, infrastructure, environment and energy, housing, education, services and health, emphasizing the need for evidence-based, place-sensitive and targeted interventions. A novel thematic analysis of cohesion policy funds allocation contributing to address demographic change highlighting its critical role in addressing disparities ensuring that they do not deepen regional inequalities is proposed. "Territories and demographic change" moreover highlights how strategic planning, administrative capacity and peer learning are key to foster cross-regional collaboration and innovative solutions. A key message is that by integrating demographic considerations into territorial policies, the EU can transform demographic challenges into opportunities, promoting sustainable growth, resilience, and social cohesion across all regions.JRC.B.3 - Territorial Developmen
Addressing Residential Cooling Demand and Summer Energy Poverty in the EU - Towards a Cooler Future
Full text linkEnergy poverty is a growing challenge in Europe. As summer heatwaves intensify, the need for space cooling becomes increasingly crucial.. In 2023, data from the harmonised EU-SILC survey revealed that 26% of households were unable to keep their homes at a comfortably cool temperature during the summer of 2022, with this rate climbing to nearly 35% among the lowestincome group. Southern and eastern Member States, as well as urban residents and vulnerable populations, are the most affected. Inadequate cooling can lead to serious health issues and increased mortality rates. This report utilises harmonised survey indicators to map summer energy poverty across the EU, highlighting the growing spatial and social disparities in cooling adequacy and identifying the groups most at risk. Furthermore, it quantifies current residential cooling needs and unmet demand through an income-constrained model.JRC.C.7 - Energy Transition Insights for Polic
Agroforestry as a climate change adaptation strategy: Evidence from Ghana's cocoa sector
No full textContext
In sub-Saharan Africa, where most farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture, climate change poses serious threats. Agroforestry offers a promising adaptation strategy, with well-documented ecological and economic benefits. Yet, evidence on its role in enhancing household-level resilience to adverse weather events, such as drought, remains limited.
Objective
We assess how decreases in rainfall affect cocoa yield among agroforestry adopters and non-adopters in Ghana and examine whether these effects vary by regional climatic suitability.
Methods
We combine a two-wave panel data set of 365 cocoa-producing households with satellite-based climate data. We use a correlated random effects model to estimate the differential effects of reduced rainfall on yield by agroforestry status. To test for heterogeneity, we re-estimate the model for two subsamples located in climatically suitable and less suitable cocoa-growing regions.
Results and conclusions
We find that on average, agroforestry adopters are less severely affected by reduced rainfall. A one-millimeter decrease in rainfall significantly reduces yield by 2.17 kg/ha for adopters and 2.84 kg/ha for non-adopters. However, when disaggregating between regions, this effect only holds in climatically suitable regions. In less suitable, drier regions, we do not find any significant effects. Our findings suggest that agroforestry could be used as a strategy for adapting to climate change, although more research is needed to understand the conditions under which it would be most effective.
Significance
We are among the first to use household panel data to econometrically assess the effects of reduced rainfall on yield based on agroforestry adoption in the cocoa sector.JRC.D.4 - Economics of the Food Syste
Is soil sampling appropriate for quantitative carbon accounting for biochar? An experimental investigation to assess soil carbon accumulation
No full textBiochar, a major CDR method with significant co-benefits to agriculture, is listed as a sustainable agricultural method for SCA in sustainable biofuel regulations. In Europe, this is accounted via the esca factor (REDII-IR), while at international level this is considered through the Fsca factor. Fsca is analogous to esca in REDII, with similar, even if not identical, requirements (ICAO, for SAF). RED-II requires soil sampling to quantitatively assess the SCA from biochar addition: instead, ICAO CORSIA, as well as the draft incoming EU-CRCF (for voluntary carbon removals), require full characterization of biochar, incorporation in soil and third-party auditing during deployment (ICAO), but not necessarily soil sampling. This study presents experimental evidence evaluating the adequacy of current soil sampling protocols for the quantitative accounting of carbon saving/removals from biochar application to soil. The findings demonstrate that these protocols have intrinsic limitations, even when applied within a narrowly defined (75 m2), homogeneous, and controlled area. Key issues include the arbitrary selection of sampling locations, the limited quantity of material analysed by standard laboratory instrumentation, and the statistically insignificant variation observed in SOC and BD measurements. Measured SOC figures were inconsistent with the amount of carbon introduced through biochar amendment: the SOC content of the biochar-amended soil plot was larger than the one actually introduced and thus expected to be retrieved via analytics. This observation is attributed to the spatial heterogeneity of soil characteristic, and statistical significance of measured samples, in addition to the physical challenge of blending homogeneously a solid amendment (biochar) in a the solid soil phase, a limitation that cannot be entirely overcome even when employing conventional and appropriate tillage methods.
These results also raise broader concerns regarding the use of conventional soil sampling protocols for establishing SOC baselines in other (i.e. non biochar-based) carbon farming approaches. The observed high variability in carbon stock measurements hardly matches the precision required for assigning economic value. To address these shortcomings, an integrated approach combining rigorous experimental design with validated modelling frameworks is necessary to ensure scientifically robust and quantitatively defensible allocation of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation benefits and carbon savings/credits.JRC.C.2 - Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Leaching behaviour of Cs, Sr, and Eu nitrates from Fe-rich polymers: Influence of precursor composition, presence of CeO₂ nanoparticles, and the effect of high-dose gamma irradiation
No full textThe long half-lives and potential impact of environmental contamination of radionuclides in liquid nuclear waste make radioactive waste management a major concern for society and the nuclear industry. One prospective solution for efficiently immobilising liquid nuclear waste is the use of Alkali-Activated Materials (AAMs). The immobilisation ability of AAMs largely depends on their composition and the effect of the introduced radionuclides on the structure itself. The purpose of this work is to investigate the leaching behaviour of radioactive simulants such as strontium (Sr), caesium (Cs), and europium (Eu) nitrates from iron-rich slag-derived AAM samples, explore the impact of CeO2 nanoparticles` presence, as well as the effects of gamma irradiation on the
structure and leachability of the contaminants. CeO2 nanoparticles are investigated for preconcentrating radionuclides from liquid nuclear waste and have been previously used in isolating and adsorbing Eu3+. Samples received a cumulative dose of 6.51 MGy of radiation from a cobalt-60 (60Co) source. Potential changes in mechanical characteristics and microstructure were investigated by SEM analysis and nanoindentation. The leaching tests revealed significant variability in the release of elements such as Fe, Na, Al, Cs, Sr, Eu, and Ce across different samples, influenced by the slag composition and the presence of CeO₂ nanoparticles. No appreciable variations were observed in the simulated radionuclides or structural element releases from the irradiated and non-irradiated samples. Irradiation did not affect the materials’ hardness and had a limited effect on elastic modulus (E). From this perspective, the produced AAMs are suitable candidates for nuclear waste immobilisation.JRC.G.I.5 - Nuclear Science and Innovation for Energy and Healt
Investigating methodological aspects of absolute environmental sustainability assessment based on planetary boundaries
No full textThe integration of Planetary Boundaries (PBs) in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) enables the assessment of the environmental sustainability of systems, with the resulting approach termed Absolute Environmental Sustainability Assessments (AESA). This approach has gained significant interest from academia to policymaking, leading to increasing applications but also differing methodologies. To ensure the robustness and comparability of AESA studies, we critically investigate two key methodological aspects related to i) harmonisation of LCA indicators with the PBs control variables and ii) allocation of the Safe Operating Space delineated by the PBs to systems. We use as a case study the EU consumption Footprint to analyse the effects of these methodological aspects on AESA results. Our findings suggest that current consumption patterns in the EU are environmentally unsustainable under an equal per capita principle for all (harmonisation) methods, with at least one boundary transgressed. The extent of boundary transgression varies significantly across methods due to differences in modelling parameters or boundary definition. The choice of allocation principle also significantly affects AESA results, and can even reverse the study's conclusions (e.g. under the Acquired Rights principle). This highlights the utmost importance of employing multiple principles as a sensitivity analysis in AESA studies to ensure robust conclusions. Future work should align individual methods to use similar methodological assumptions, and investigate the merits of developing PB-dependent allocation factors. Regionalisation of boundaries and inclusion of the Biosphere integrity PB are also key limitations that should be investigated.JRC.D.3 - Land Resources and Supply Chain Assessment