Environment News

Image shows an lowland open valley with a stream running through. There is just one tree and a lot of moorland tussock.

Replanting lost woodlands cuts the risk of extreme flooding

Published
Friday 17th November, 2023
Categories
Working with our region
Science
Environment
Research

Pioneering research will for the first time monitor how the creation of England’s biggest new native woodland could help stave off the worst effects of climate change, such as flooding.

View taken from above the tree canopy at the Desta coffee plantation in Ethiopia. It shows the top of the tree canopy.

Forests are vital to help reduce atmospheric CO2 

Published
Monday 13th November, 2023
Categories
Global
Science
Environment

If the world’s natural forests are allowed to grow and mature rather than being cut down, 226 billion tonnes of carbon could be taken out of the atmosphere, according to a major international study.  

A large iceberg floating in the sea in Disko Bay, Greenland. The iceberg stands tall above the sea, posing a hazard to nearby maritime traffic

AI can map the outline and area of giant icebergs

Published
Thursday 9th November, 2023
Categories
Technology
Science
Environment
Research

Scientists have trained an artificial intelligence or AI system to accurately map in one-hundredth of a second the surface area and outline of giant icebergs captured on satellite images.

A building with seven smoking chimneys

Window to avoid 1.5°C of warming rapidly closing

Published
Monday 30th October, 2023
Categories
Global
Science
Environment
Research

Humanity is rapidly reaching the limit for how much additional carbon can be emitted into the atmosphere to keep global warming within 1.5 °C, according to a new research.

A penguin standing on icy slope with white valley and white mountains in the background.

Over 40 percent of Antarctica’s ice shelves are smaller

Published
Friday 13th October, 2023
Categories
Global
Science
Environment
Research

71 of the 162 ice shelves that surround Antarctica have reduced in volume over 25 years from 1997 to 2021, with a net release of 7.5 trillion tonnes of meltwater into the oceans, say scientists.

A group of people stood in high vis jackets and hard hats

Investing in carbon removal

Published
Thursday 28th September, 2023
Categories
Environment
Business & Economy
Working with business

A spinout company from the University of Leeds has received investment to scale up its pioneering carbon dioxide removal technology.

Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero with a group of seven team members of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures

Minister praises University's environment work

Published
Wednesday 20th September, 2023
Categories
University
Environment

Pioneering environment research at the University of Leeds has been applauded by Government's Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Members of Mafwa Theatre sketching their surroundings at Askham Bog with Katie Surridge. The landscape is lush and green, with long grass, trees and other plants filling the background.

Living wall on campus will honour precious peatlands

Published
Wednesday 20th September, 2023
Categories
Arts & Culture
Working with our region
Environment

An artist is collaborating with a community arts group to create a living wall for the University of Leeds, inspired by carbon-storing peatlands.

Two people in winter coats use a long pole to collect core samples on wet plain with lake in background

Melting ice likely triggered climate change 8,000+ years ago

Published
Thursday 14th September, 2023
Categories
Environment

Using geological samples from the Ythan Estuary in Scotland, scientists have identified a melting ice sheet as the probable trigger of a major climate-change event just over 8,000 years ago.