Message from the Editor-in-Chief: open science to support global sustainable development

As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.

Global Initiatives for Energy ConservationEnergy conservation is the practice of reducing energy use through smarter choices and efficient technologies. Around the world, countries are working together on initiatives to conserve energy, reduce pollution, and slow down climate change. These efforts involve using renewable energy sources, improving building designs, promoting efficient transportation, and encouraging responsible energy use at home and in industries. These global actions show how...

Subject: Physical ScienceChapter: Resources, Energy, and SocietyNGSS Alignment: MS-PS1-3Lesson Title: Environmental Impact of Resource UseThe extraction, processing, and use of natural resources affect the environment in many ways. Resources such as water, fossil fuels, minerals, and forests are essential for human activities, but their overuse can lead to pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. Scientists and engineers work to develop sustainable solutions that balance resource use...

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

Human civilization relies on biodiversity in many ways. Sudden changes in species biodiversity result in environmental changes that can modify weather patterns and therefore human civilizations.

Environmental Impacts of Nonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy play a major role in global energy production and have significant environmental consequences. Extracting, processing, and burning these resources release pollutants, greenhouse gases, and waste products, affecting air, water, and ecosystems. Comprehending these effects is crucial for the creation of more environmentally friendly energy alternatives.Major Environmental...