A simple breakdown of challenging research papers, summarized in a visually appealing way that connects research to the bigger picture. Use this as a tool to get introduced to topics before exploring them in more detail.
Visual Infographics
Street Network Sprawl: Simplifying Geographic Representation for Better Urban Development
Street network sprawl describes a trend for less connected street networks, which play a large role shaping economic, social and environmental outcomes of urban areas. A higher sprawl reduces the effectivity of public transportation, making any form of transport (other than via motor vehicle) increasingly difficult. This paper simplifies geographic representation of street networks, creating a global dataset that can be used to inform policy to improve urban development and ultimately shape the formation of urban cities.
Monetizing the Cost of Biological Invasions - A Proposal For Preventative Action
Socioeconomic and ecological impacts from biological invasions are rapidly escalating worldwide. Despite this, mitigation measures are limited by effective management plans. These plans are often delayed due to competing priorities in budget constraints, high cost of investment, and lack of urgency in investing before invasion consequences manifest. However, research has shown the high financial cost associated with delayed management, which further increases socioeconomic impacts. Join us as we explore the argument for preventative investment against biological invasions.
The Boreal Zone - Understanding Long-Term Environmental Changes
The Boreal Zone performs vital functions, contributing to economic activity in Canada through natural resource use and providing key ecosystem services via carbon sequestration. However, this wondrous landscape is facing environmental changes due to global warming and other anthropogenic stressors. Quantifying baseline ecosystem conditions is crucial to understanding modern conditions, and therefore for developing sustainable management plans. Paleolimnological approaches greatly ease monitoring methods, providing a robust opportunity to identify rapid ecosystem change.
Mapping Flood Vulnerability - A Case Study in Peru
As temperatures rise, climate change causes increased frequency and magnitude of natural disasters. In the tropics, hurricanes and heavy rainfall are fuelling the intensity of floods, posing a risk for millions living along floodplain regions. The increased intensity and unpredictability of natural disasters is rendering communities vulnerable to their impacts, thus making it paramount for climate policy and disaster aid to reflect the complexity of vulnerability. This study utilizes the 2011 flood in Peru’s Ucayali River to examine how assets, social identity and social networks impact vulnerability and examines how vulnerability varies by exposure, impacts, responses.
Faster than Quicksand - The Need to Achieve Sustainable Sand Extraction
Sand is the key ingredient of modern life, making up basic materials like glass, concrete and asphalt. Despite its prevalence as a pillar of urbanization, sand is not as abundant as one might think. Sand demand is set to far outpace natural supply by 2050, posing challenges for increased societal advancement. Authors of this study call for increased regulation from international bodies such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in order to better implement sustainable management strategies for sand extraction.
Land Tenure Security - How Secure Land Rights Improve Lives and Protect the Environment
Clear, secure, and equitable access to land rights are a necessity for strengthening governance systems, social stability, economic growth, environmental conservation and human development. Land tenure insecurity stems from extractive colonial imprints put in place to benefit settlers. Despite this, recent policies work to shift the narrative away from these destructive practices, with LTS encompassing goals of decentralization and amending power imbalances. This study aims to highlight the positive linkages between LTS interventions and human well being and environmental benefits, recognizing how it can be used to form better sustainability agendas.
Material Circularity at McGill - Applying Principles to IT Consumption
To stay within Earth’s Planetary Boundaries, a fundamental shift in consumption patterns is essential. The prevailing linear model—centered on extraction, consumption, and disposal—must be replaced with a circular approach. The circular economy addresses this by creating a closed-loop system where waste is minimized by converting outputs into inputs. This holistic model is increasingly adopted in waste management strategies at institutional and municipal levels. Explore how circular economy principles are applied to e-waste management at McGill, a sector facing growing scrutiny for its high resource consumption.
The Future of Agriculture - Exploring Protected Agriculture
The agriculture industry faces growing challenges in navigating the impacts of climate change in the face of population growth and rising food demand. This review provides an excellent overview of protected agriculture (P.A.) in different extreme environments, as well as current challenges and advancements in the field, showcasing the importance of human adaptation and smart agriculture in the face of climate change.
Alternative Jet Fuels and Climate Geopolitics
As the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, sustainable jet fuel has emerged as a promising solution to power cleaner skies. However, the success of this transition hinges not only on technological innovation but also on the collaboration and alignment of diverse stakeholder opinions—from airlines and fuel producers to regulators and consumers.
The Impact of Property Rights on Ecosystem Services
Property rights are essential for managing ecosystem services, ensuring accountability and sustainable use of natural resources. Understanding who controls these services is crucial for determining who benefits from them, which historically has lead to exploitation of resources and inequities between beneficiaries. Integrating property rights into ecosystem management will help prevent the overexploitation of shared resources and ensure they are equitably distributed.
Extended Producer Responsibility for E-Waste Management
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a cornerstone of the circular economy, ensuring manufacturers take ownership of their products’ entire lifecycle. By incentivizing durable designs and efficient recycling systems, EPR not only minimizes waste but also helps create a sustainable loop where materials are reused, reducing the demand for primary resources.
