Encouraging findings on public acceptance of global climate policy

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)

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Even though the topic seems to have slipped down the political agenda, comprehensive measures to combat global heating enjoy widespread public support around the world. A study co-authored by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the renowned journal Nature Human Behaviour now takes a scientific look at the acceptance of global climate policies. The research team draws on surveys that it initiated around the globe specifically for this purpose. It shows that there is strong and genuine support for international carbon pricing, per capita reimbursement of revenues, and thus redistribution to poorer countries.

“This study is not about current sentiment, but about deep-seated attitudes,” explains co-author Linus Mattauch, head of PIK’s Societal Transition and Well-being research group. “That’s why we test the robustness of questionnaire responses by a wide variety of methods – in other words, we check whether they will hold up over time. We were pleasantly surprised by the results. Politicians should not be too afraid of citizens when pushing ahead with global climate protection.”

The encouraging findings are based on two scientifically rigorous representative surveys conducted in 2021 and 2023: the first among around 41,000 people in 20 countries accounting for almost three-quarters of all carbon emissions, and the second among 8,000 people in the US and the EU. The 20-country survey shows support for climate policy at the global level, ranging from 70 percent (US) to 94 percent (Japan). And there is similarly high support, in principle, for an ambitious global carbon pricing scheme, in which the remaining global emissions budget (in line with the 2-degree limit) is divided according to population, with countries receiving emission rights that they can trade.

List experiment and conjoint analyses

A finding from the US–EU survey goes even further: the questionnaire specified a concrete timeline for pricing, with 90 dollars per tonne of CO₂ in 2030, and a per capita reimbursement of 30 dollars per month for every adult worldwide. This would be a substantial financial inflow to the Global South, where per capita carbon emissions are relatively low and where 30 dollars has more purchasing power than in the wealthy Global North. Even though they understood that their own country would occur a financial loss under these conditions, three-quarters of respondents in the EU, and more than half in the US, expressed support for this idea.

To test whether these were genuinely held convictions, the research team used a list experiment, for example: it “hid” the proposal among other ideas so that it would not be perceived as socially desirable and selected for that reason alone. It also linked the answer to an “action” – namely signing a fictitious petition to the government. The experts also used conjoint analysis, commonly used in market research, in which they broke down the “product” in the questionnaire (i.e., global carbon pricing with redistribution) into its constituent features and compared it with alternatives. Asking respondents to rank various measures, and probing the pros and cons of the actual proposal, also helped to verify the seriousness of the responses.

Willingness to pay the Global South

The reference point of the study – global carbon pricing with redistribution – is considered a long-term goal at best. Indeed, the only concrete plans currently on the table are “climate clubs” involving several countries, or climate agreements (“Just Energy Transition Partnerships”) between industrialised countries and individual nations in the Global South. Regardless of the specific model, however, public acceptance will be a critical issue. The research team is confident that people in the wealthy Global North are willing to pay for climate protection in poorer countries.

“Against this backdrop, the question is why the international community is not making faster progress,” says Adrien Fabre from the French research centre CIRED, the lead author of the study. “How misunderstandings and misperceptions arise in public discourse, and what role interest groups play is yet unclear. Perhaps the boundaries of what is considered realistic are shifting. Our work could contribute to this.”

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Journal

Nature Human Behaviour

DOI

10.1038/s41562-025-02175-9 

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Majority support for global redistributive and climate policies

Article Publication Date

5-Jun-2025

 

Old smartphones can have a new life as tiny data centers

Estonian Research Council

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Prototype

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Credit: Kadri-Ann Kivastik

Researchers at the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science introduce a novel approach to reducing electronic waste and advancing sustainable data processing: turning old smartphones into tiny data centers.

Each year, more than 1.2 billion smartphones are produced globally. The production of electronic devices is not only energy-intensive but also consumes valuable natural resources. Additionally, the manufacturing and delivery processes release a significant amount of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, devices are aging faster than ever — users replace their still-functional phones on average every 2 to 3 years. At best, old devices are recycled; at worst, they end up in landfills.

Although the most sustainable solution would be to change consumer behavior and consider more carefully whether every new model truly requires replacing the old one, this is easier said than done. Rapid technological development quickly renders older devices obsolete. Therefore, alternative solutions are needed — such as extending the lifespan of devices by giving them an entirely new purpose.

This is precisely the approach tested by researchers Huber Flores, Ulrich Norbisrath, and Zhigang Yin from the University of Tartu’s Institute of Computer Science, along with Perseverance Ngoy from the Institute of Technology and their international colleagues. “Innovation often begins not with something new, but with a new way of thinking about the old, re-imagining its role in shaping the future,” explained Huber Flores, Associate Professor of Pervasive Computing. They demonstrated that old smartphones can be successfully repurposed into tiny data centers capable of efficiently processing and storing data. They also found that building such a data center is remarkably inexpensive — around 8 euros per device.

These tiny data centers have a wide range of applications. For example, they could be used in urban environments like bus stops to collect real-time data on the number of passengers, which could then be used to optimize public transportation networks.

In the project's first stage, the researchers removed the phones’ batteries and replaced them with external power sources to reduce the risk of chemical leakage into the environment. Then, four phones were connected together, fitted with 3D-printed casings and holders, and turned into a working prototype ready to be re-used, fostering sustainable practices for old electronics.

The prototype was then successfully tested underwater, where it participated in marine life monitoring by helping to count different sea species. Normally, these kinds of tasks require a scuba diver to record video and bring it to the surface for analysis. But with the prototype, the whole process was done automatically underwater.

The team's results show that outdated technology doesn’t have to end up as waste. With minimal resources, these devices can be given a new purpose, contributing to the development of more environmentally friendly and sustainable digital solutions.

“Sustainability is not just about preserving the future — it’s about reimagining the present, where yesterday’s devices become tomorrow’s opportunities,” commented Ulrich Norbisrath, Associate Professor of Software Engineering.

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Journal

IEEE Pervasive Computing

DOI

10.1109/MPRV.2025.3541558 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Supporting Sustainable Computing by Repurposing E-Waste Smartphones as Tiny Data Centers

New body-size database holds the key to saving marine life

A new database cataloging the maximum body size of marine animals looks set to be crucial in conservation efforts 

University of Sheffield

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Dr. Craig McClain photographing a whale shark off the coast of Cancun, Mexico, to collect body size data.

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Credit: Photo by Dr. Alistair Dove

New body-size database holds the key to saving marine life
**Images available**

• A new database cataloging the maximum body size of marine animals looks set to be crucial in conservation efforts 

• The database will plug gaps in scientific knowledge around the impact of body size on  marine animal ecosystems, their evolution and their  response  to environmental threats

•  Created by a team of researchers, including a University of Sheffield academic, the tool opens the door to a deeper understanding of the ocean’s biodiversity

 

A new database detailing  the maximum body size of marine life  will shed light on species at risk from climate change and habitat degradation, paving the way for targeted protection.

Unlike the terrestrial animal kingdom, there are gaps in scientific understanding of how size has affected marine animal ecosystems, their evolution and how they could respond to environmental threats. 

Where information is known about the size of marine animal species, it has tended to focus on the larger marine animals.

Now, an international group of scientists, including a researcher from the University of Sheffield, has created a database holding information on 85,000 marine animal species. 

Known as the Marine Organismal Body Size Database or MOBS, it covers a range of species from microscopic zooplankton to whales. 

Dr Tom Webb, from the School of Biosciences at Sheffield and one of the researchers involved in the project, said: “Put simply, biologists have tended to focus on bigger organisms. And as a result, a lot of our understanding of how marine food webs and ecosystems work is based on knowledge of these larger species. 

“But we also know that small-bodied species are really important: they constitute the majority of biodiversity, and are likely to fulfil unique and important functions within their ecological communities. 

“Body size is such a key trait - important in determining how species interact with each other, and how they will react to a changing environment. The more species for which we are able to put a size to a name, the more accurate and representative our predictions about the fate of marine biodiversity can be.”

The scientists have announced the release of the database today (June 5) in the scientific journal Global Ecology and Biogeography. The paper, entitled - MOBS 1.0: A database of interspecific variation in marine organismal body sizes - outlines how the knowledge of the body size of most marine animals remains "conspicuously inadequate”.

This severely limits the ability to predict and deal with how environmental changes, like climate change, overfishing, and habitat destruction, affect these ocean environments.

A broader understanding of size is important as scientists recognise that marine food webs are typically very highly-size structured, with bigger organisms eating smaller organisms. This matters - for example, fishing for big fish has implications for their smaller prey and vice versa.

Studies also show larger birds are more susceptible to extinction than smaller birds.

So far, around 40 percent of marine species have been included in the database. Over the next couple of years, the researchers hope to increase coverage to 75 percent of marine animal species.

Professor Craig R. McClain, from the University of Louisiana and lead creator of the database, added: “Body size isn’t just a number—it’s a key to how life works.

 “For decades, we’ve had this enormous data gap in marine life. MOBS doesn’t just close that gap—it opens the door to a deeper understanding of the ocean’s biodiversity.”

The database is open source and can be accessed at github: https://github.com/crmcclain/MOBS_OPEN

The study is an example of the breadth of research covered in the University’s School of Biosciences, which aims to train students to solve some of the world's biggest challenges, from cancer, antimicrobial resistance and healthy ageing, to climate change and saving the planet’s biodiversity.

End

Notes to editors

Study Biosciences at the University of Sheffield

The paper  - McClain, C. R., Heim, N. A., Knope, M. L., Monarrez, P. M., Payne, J. L., Santos, I. T., & Webb, T. J. (2025). MOBS 1.0: A database of interspecific variation in marine organismal body sizes. Global Ecology and Biogeography - is available online (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/geb.70062)

Images

There are images that can be used with this story. They can be downloaded from: https://tinyurl.com/3uh8exxp

Full caption details are in the image files.

Fig. 2 Blue-stain fungal hyphae from the Jurassic of China

Credit

©Science China Press

Journal

Global Ecology and Biogeography

DOI

10.1111/geb.70062 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

MOBS 1.0: A database of interspecific variation in marine organismal body sizes.

Article Publication Date

5-Jun-2025

 

Relationship insecurity is the link between poor sleep and feelings of jealousy

The effect of sleep on social emotions may depend on individual differences in relationship styles

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

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DARIEN, IL – A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting found that poor sleep quality is related to relationship insecurity, which moderates the effect of sleep quality on daily feelings of jealousy.

Results show that anxious attachment, which involves difficulties with trust and low self-esteem in relationships, was related to poorer sleep quality. The study also found that poor sleep quality was associated with more daily feelings of jealousy, but this effect was only significant for those with high levels of attachment anxiety.

“Interestingly, poor sleep wasn’t uniformly related to all negative socioemotional outcomes,” said Giovanni Alvarado, lead author and doctoral candidate at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. “This suggests that attachment style might shape which emotions are most affected by sleep quality.”

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep is essential to health. The AASM recommends that adults should sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. In addition to adequate duration, healthy sleep requires good quality, appropriate timing and regularity, and the absence of sleep disturbances or disorders.

The study involved 68 young adults who completed questionnaires about sleep and relationships. They also completed daily self-reports capturing experiences of social emotions and behaviors over a two-week period.

According to Alvarado, the study underscores the complex link between sleep and relationships.

“People with anxious attachment, or those who struggle with insecurity in relationships, may be especially vulnerable to feelings of envy and jealousy when they’re sleep deprived,” said Alvarado. “This helps us understand why some individuals may have more difficulty navigating social situations when they’re tired and could inform more targeted interventions that consider an individual’s relationship style when addressing sleep issues.”

The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep and will be presented Tuesday, June 10, during SLEEP 2025 in Seattle. SLEEP is the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

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Abstract Title: Sleep Quality and Social Interaction: The Moderating Role of Attachment Style
Abstract ID: 0163
Poster Presentation Date: Tuesday, June 10, 10-10:45 a.m. PDT, Board #051
Presenter: Giovanni Alvarado, lead author, doctoral candidate, Montana State University

About the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC

The APSS is a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. The APSS organizes the SLEEP annual meeting each June (sleepmeeting.org).

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Established in 1975, the AASM is a medical association that advances sleep care and enhances sleep health to improve lives. The AASM membership includes more than 9,500 physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals who help people who have sleep disorders. The AASM also accredits 2,300 sleep centers that are providing the highest quality of sleep care across the country (aasm.org).

About the Sleep Research Society 

The SRS is a professional membership society that advances sleep and circadian science. The SRS serves its members and the field of sleep and circadian research through training and education, and by providing forums for the collaboration and exchange of ideas. The SRS facilitates its goals through scientific meetings and trainee specific programming, and by advocating for federal sleep and circadian research funding. The SRS also publishes the peer-reviewed, scientific journals Sleep and Sleep Advances (sleepresearchsociety.org).

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Journal

SLEEP

DOI

10.1093/sleep/zsaf090.0163 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Sleep Quality and Social Interaction: The Moderating Role of Attachment Style

 

From brine to fresh: bio-inspired solar evaporator achieves zero liquid discharge

Science China Press

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The bio-inspired solar evaporator, with an external photothermal layer and an internal water supply channel, enhances brine transport to form a porous salt shell that facilitates vapor release and brine transport. This design breaks the trade-off between stable evaporation and salt accumulation.

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Credit: ©Science China Press

The global shortage of freshwater has become one of the world's most critical challenges. While traditional seawater desalination provides a feasible solution, the discharge of concentrated brine wastewater has severely impacted marine ecosystems. In recent years, solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology has been widely recognized as one of the most promising approaches for freshwater production, thanks to its environmental sustainability and high efficiency.

However, conventional solar evaporators suffer from salt crystallization, which poses a major challenge in the solar desalination process. Deposited salt crystals on the evaporator’s surface not only drastically reduces sunlight absorption but also obstruct brine supply, ultimately causing a sharp decline in evaporation performance and significantly shortening the evaporator’s lifespan. As a result, conventional solar evaporators must balance stable evaporation with salt accumulation. Overcoming this limitation and achieving long-term, efficient, and stable evaporation in the continuous desalination of high-salinity brine is the key objective for next-generation evaporator design.

Inspired by the salt secretion and brine transport mechanisms of mangroves, the research team from Shandong First Medical University developed a bioinspired solar evaporator with an external photothermal layer and internal water supply channels. The external photothermal layer enables efficient sunlight absorption, rapid vapor diffusion, and uniform surface salt crystallization. Meanwhile, the internal water supply channels facilitate continuous brine transport, ensuring timely replenishment at the crystallization surface to sustain evaporation. This design not only minimizes photothermal material consumption, but also enhances brine transport efficiency, forming porous salt crystals on the evaporator's surface. As a result, it enables continuous, high-efficiency evaporation and automated salt collection from near-saturated brine, ultimately achieving complete separation of water and salt.

The bio-inspired solar evaporator demonstrated outstanding evaporation performance (3.98 kg m⁻² h⁻¹), efficient salt collection capacity (1.27 kg m⁻² h⁻¹), long-term durability (continuous operation for 7 days), and zero liquid discharge desalination under the 25 wt% brine conditions. In outdoor tests, the bio-inspired solar evaporator achieved a record-high water production rate of 3.50 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. Additionally, it can purify various contaminated water sources into fresh water that meets World Health Organization standards.

Compared to conventional solar evaporators, bio-inspired solar evaporators overcome the long-standing trade-off between stable evaporation and salt accumulation, achieving efficient and stable desalination and salt collection under high-salinity brine conditions. Importantly, by extending this design concept to other solar desalination systems, its broad applicability has been demonstrated. This study proposes a universal design strategy for solar evaporators, providing crucial insights for the development of next-generation s highly efficient and stable evaporators capable of continuous desalination of high-salinity brine.

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Journal

Science Bulletin

DOI

10.1016/j.scib.2025.04.071 

Method of Research

Experimental study