Solastalgia: Distress Caused by Environmental Change
The 2005 conceptual study by Glenn Albrecht introduced the term 'solastalgia' to describe the distress people experience when their home environment is negatively transformed,…
Topic archive
Human Systems and Society
Explores how societies organize, interact, and shape the world around them
Environmental Regulation vs Market-Based Policy: A Comprehensive Comparison
Environmental regulation uses government-mandated rules and technology standards to control pollution, while market-based policies harness economic incentives like taxes, tradable permits, and subsidies to…
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities Explained
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) is a principle of international environmental law that recognizes all nations share a duty to protect the environment, but…
Evidence Strength vs Certainty: How Often Are Clinical Guidelines Based on High-Certainty Evidence?
A 2021 systematic survey of 138 clinical practice guidelines found that only 9.1% of recommendations were supported by high-certainty evidence, according to a study…
How Urban Sprawl Increases Resource Consumption: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Mitigation Strategies
Urban sprawl—low-density, car-dependent development—significantly increases per capita consumption of land, energy, water, and materials. Compact, mixed-use urban forms can reduce these demands, but implementation…
Who Is Most Vulnerable to Extreme Heat?
A large multicountry observational study found that the elderly, people with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, and those living in urban areas face the highest…
How Air Pollution Affects the Heart and Lungs: Evidence from the California Teachers Study
A long-term cohort study of over 100,000 women found that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was associated with increased…
Global Study Links Wildfire Smoke to Tens of Thousands of Annual Deaths
A large international study found that short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfires is associated with increased daily mortality from all causes,…
ESG vs Sustainability: Key Differences and Why They Matter
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) refers to a set of criteria used by investors to evaluate a company’s operations and risk exposure, while sustainability…
What Is Energy Intensity? A Comprehensive Explainer
Energy intensity is a measure of the energy required to produce one unit of economic output, typically expressed as energy consumption per unit of…