Sustainability as a research area investigates the biophysical, technological, and socio-economic conditions under which human and ecological systems can persist within planetary boundaries over the long term. It integrates methods from environmental science, systems ecology, industrial ecology, economics, and social sciences to analyze resource flows, environmental impacts, resilience, and equity. Core topics include sustainable resource management, climate and energy transitions, circular economy strategies, life cycle assessment, and governance mechanisms that align development with ecological limits. Research emphasizes quantitative indicators, scenario modeling, and policy-relevant frameworks to evaluate pathways that minimize degradation of natural systems while maintaining human well-being.
Despite being one of the most cooperative species on the planet, humans routinely fail to manage shared resources sustainably. We overfish from the oceans, burn fossil fuels, and over-prescribe antibiotics; behaviors that ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 22, 2026
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437
If there's one material that defines modern life more than any other, it's plastic: present from the moment we're born in newborn stool, in product packaging, in the soil beneath our feet and the air we breathe.
Environment
Jan 22, 2026
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515
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has sharply increased electricity and water consumption, raising concerns about the technology's environmental footprint and carbon emissions. But the story is more complicated ...
Environment
Jan 21, 2026
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28
Cities need clear limits and targets on urban sprawl to understand whether planning tools like greenbelts and denser development are working, according to new Concordia research. Applying such metrics in urban planning as ...
Environment
Jan 20, 2026
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23
As the world approaches the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with fewer than 1 in 5 targets on track, researchers warn that the next global framework risks repeating the same mistakes unless it ...
Environment
Jan 19, 2026
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26
When anyone talks about the future of sustainable aviation fuel, one question dominates: how do we replace fossil carbon without compromising food security or biodiversity? Experience leads some researchers to believe the ...
Biotechnology
Jan 19, 2026
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19
Although sunlight is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy available, clearing large swathes of desert habitat to build solar arrays has consequences for the plants and animals it displaces. Researchers are trying ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 15, 2026
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129
Adapting urban spaces to tackle climate change through nature-based solutions, especially in school playgrounds and environments, benefits both children and society as a whole. This is one of the main findings of a three-year ...
Environment
Jan 15, 2026
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28
Many cities are making great strides in the fight against climate change, such as improving building energy efficiency, reducing traffic congestion and switching to renewable power sources. But there is another often overlooked ...
Light-emitting semiconductors are used throughout everyday life in TVs, smartphones, and lighting. However, many technical barriers remain in developing environmentally friendly semiconductor materials.
Nanophysics
Jan 14, 2026
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45
