How Inequality Affects Environmental Risk
Inequality shapes environmental risk by concentrating hazards in disadvantaged communities while limiting their capacity to respond. Low-income and marginalized groups often face greater exposure…
Evidence library
Joaquimma Anna
Research, explainers and solution analysis for understanding change across a living planet.
114 resources
What Is the Global Carbon Budget?
The global carbon budget is the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that can be emitted while still limiting global warming to a specific…
Primary vs Secondary Microplastics: Definitions, Sources, and Environmental Impact
Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured small plastic particles, such as microbeads and industrial pellets, while secondary microplastics result from the breakdown of larger plastic…
What Is a Climate Tipping Point?
A climate tipping point is a critical threshold beyond which a natural system undergoes a significant, often irreversible change, even if the driving forces…
What Happens When a Planetary Boundary Is Transgressed?
Transgression of a planetary boundary means that a key Earth-system control variable has moved beyond the proposed safe operating space, entering a zone of…
Planetary Boundaries and Doughnut Economics: A Comparison of Earth-System Frameworks
The Planetary Boundaries framework defines a safe operating space for humanity based on nine Earth-system processes, while Doughnut Economics combines an ecological ceiling derived…
What Is a Circular Business Model? A Comprehensive Analysis
A circular business model is an economic framework that aims to decouple growth from resource consumption by designing out waste, keeping products and materials…
How to Evaluate an Environmental Claim: Key Statistics and Trends
In 2021, a sweep by the European Commission and national consumer authorities found that 42% of green claims on websites were exaggerated, false, or…
How to Read an Environmental Chart: The Keeling Curve and Atmospheric CO₂
The Keeling Curve shows the latest atmospheric CO₂ concentration at Mauna Loa Observatory: 426.55 parts per million (ppm) in February 2025, as reported by…
Why the Oceans Absorb Carbon Dioxide
The oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere because of a natural chemical equilibrium: CO2 dissolves in seawater and reacts with water to form…