Putting a price on CO₂ emissions and thus making emissions more expensive can make a significant contribution to reducing them. In a study published in the Economic Journal, Prof. Dr. Fabian Herweg, University of Bayreuth, and Prof. Dr. Klaus M. Schmidt, LMU Munich, compare two governmental instruments of carbon pricing with regard to their effectiveness: A carbon tax strengthens the willingness of households to voluntarily reduce CO₂ emissions. In contrast, a market for trading emission allowances that is based on a pre-determined emissions cap has a discouraging effect. It leads to higher emissions and shifts the burden of climate protection onto consumers with lower incomes.
The experimental "9 Euro Ticket" general transit pass has run its course and the calls for a successor pass are growing. A study conducted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) accompanied more than 2000 people during the 9 Euro Ticket trial period, interviewing them on a regular basis. In addition to questions on mobility behavior, information on the price which the participants were willing to pay for a follow-up pass also played an important role.
Climate change is putting increasing pressure on forests. In recent years substantial forest areas have died off in Central Europe as a result of climate extremes. With the participation of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), researchers have now generated the first climate risk map for the earth's forests. The map clearly shows that, in addition to Central Europe, forests in western North America as well as the southern portion of the boreal forest and the eastern Amazon are particularly at risk.
Dispersion paints are mostly used in households for painting walls and ceilings. An interdisciplinary research team from the University of Bayreuth has now analysed the chemical composition of two typical dispersion paints and discovered a large number of solid particles in them which are only a few micro- or nanometers in size. Studies on biological test systems showed that these particles can harm living organisms. Using a novel membrane developed at the University of Bayreuth, these particles can be filtered out of water before they enter the environment.
The number of tree species growing in regions close to the equator is significantly higher than in regions further north and south of the earth. An international study published in „Nature Ecology and Evolution“ investigates the causes of this with a precision never before achieved. It emphasizes that the diversity of tree species in the tropics does not depend solely on bioclimatic factors. The study is based on a cooperation of 222 universities and research institutions. On the part of the University of Bayreuth, PD Dr. Andreas Hemp, who has been researching vegetation in mountainous regions of East Africa for more than 30 years, was involved in this international research.
The disruptions in global trading markets resulting from the war in Ukraine, among other causes, have focused public attention on the issue of securing a sufficient supply of high-quality foods for the global population. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are searching for modern methods to boost global harvests and thus to ensure global food security. Wheat plays a special role in these efforts.
The World Biodiversity Council (IPBES) has selected Dr Stephanie Thomas, a scientist in the Biogeography research group at the University of Bayreuth, as lead author of the next IPBES report. She is one of two experts from Bavaria who will work on the new report. IPBES reports collect and evaluate existing knowledge on the state of nature worldwide, and use it to derive options for action by governments to protect biodiversity. IPBES has 139 member states worldwide.
Passive day cooling is a promising technology for the sustainable reduction of energy consumption. It avoids the heating up of buildings by solar radiation and dissipates accumulated heat without external energy consumption. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now created a test system with which the materials used for passive cooling can be reliably characterised and compared - regardless of weather conditions and environmental conditions. The measurement setup presented in "Cell Reports Physical Science" is the first step towards a standardised, globally applicable test system for comparing high-performance cooling materials.
Researchers from the University of Augsburg and Lancaster University are investigating how soil tillage on slopes affects the crop yields of entire regions. The results of their study have now been published in the journal Nature Food.
Peatlands are the focus of a podcast series by the Bayreuth Centre of Ecology & Environmental Research (BayCEER) at the University of Bayreuth. For four years, as part of the Bavarian Climate Research Network, the "AquaKlif - Effects of multiple stressors on stream ecosystems during climate change" project has been asking the question of what we can do to mitigate the effects of climate change on streams? An important step here is the protection of the moors in the headwaters of low mountain ranges. Two young scientists who are researching lowland moors at the Hydrology research group in BayCEER talked to experts about this. The outcome was the "Moorminuten" podcast.
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