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Missouri and the World

sustainability

Why ‘decarbonizing everything’ may be impossible – and what comes next

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For years, most climate discussions have focused on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy such as wind and solar power.

But some scientists now argue that the challenge goes far beyond simply generating cleaner electricity.

According to analysis published by The Conversation, a significant share of fossil fuels are never burned for energy at all. Instead, they become part of the physical materials used throughout modern life – including plastics, fertilizers, insulation, synthetic fabrics and construction products. [Read more…] about Why ‘decarbonizing everything’ may be impossible – and what comes next

AI’s rapid growth is putting increasing pressure on water supplies

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As artificial intelligence systems continue expanding across the global economy, environmental researchers and analysts are warning that the AI boom may be creating an increasingly serious – and often overlooked – problem: water consumption.

Much of the public discussion surrounding AI infrastructure has focused on electricity demand and carbon emissions. But the giant data centers powering AI systems also require enormous quantities of water to cool servers and generate electricity.

An investigation published by Proof News argues that water usage linked to AI development is rising rapidly as major technology companies race to build larger and more powerful AI systems. [Read more…] about AI’s rapid growth is putting increasing pressure on water supplies

Why some climate experts say Indigenous leadership is essential to protecting biodiversity

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As governments around the world continue debating how to tackle climate change, some environmental advocates and researchers argue that Indigenous communities should play a much larger role in shaping global conservation and climate policy.

A viewpoint article published by Analyst News argues that Indigenous knowledge systems and traditional land stewardship practices are being overlooked despite their importance in protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.

The article was written by Nana Kwesi Osei Bonsu, a Ghanaian land custodian and founder of Land Rights Defenders Inc. [Read more…] about Why some climate experts say Indigenous leadership is essential to protecting biodiversity