In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the University of Exeter and Fishtek Marine have discovered that fitting fishing pots with LED lights can significantly increase catches of northern shrimp and other species. The findings hold promise for developing more sustainable and low-impact fishing practices.

The trial, conducted off Scotland’s west coast, showed that illuminated pots caught up to 19 times more northern shrimp than unlit ones. Moreover, the pots also attracted fish, which could lead to the development of new trap fisheries for larger species like cod.

According to Dr. Robert Enever from Fishtek Marine, “the light attracts zooplankton – like moths around a flame – which in turn attracts shrimp (which eat zooplankton), and that entices larger fish predators into the pots to gobble up the shrimp.” This “attraction cascade” creates a self-baiting pot, making it an attractive option for sustainable fishing.

While the trial’s catch rates were not commercially viable for northern shrimp, the authors suggest that this could change in areas with higher shrimp populations. Additionally, the high catch rates of fish, including juvenile poor cod, indicate that light-based traps could be used to develop low-impact fisheries for these species.

Dr. Tom Horton from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall emphasizes the importance of finding lower-impact alternatives, such as static gear like pots, to reduce bycatch and habitat disturbance associated with trawling. “Shrimp and cod are often fished by trawling, which can result in high bycatch (accidental catching of other species), and habitat disturbance,” he notes.

The study was funded by the UK Seafood Innovation Fund and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners. The research paper, published in Ocean and Coastal Management, provides valuable insights into the potential for light-based traps to enhance sustainable fishing practices.

The study, led by George Washington University in collaboration with scientists from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has mapped air pollution levels and carbon dioxide emissions across 13,189 urban areas worldwide. This comprehensive global analysis provides a powerful snapshot of how urban environments are evolving across the globe.

The research team used data from satellite observations, ground-based measurements, and computer models to measure city-level air pollution and the average amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere between 2005-2019. According to Susan Anenberg, professor of environmental and occupational health at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health, “This study shows that progress is possible but uneven, with some cities seeing worsening pollution while others are experiencing cleaner air over time.”

Key findings from the study include:

* More than 50% of cities showed links between all pollutants, suggesting they likely come from the same sources and could be reduced together.
* Urban areas in high-income regions with aggressive environmental policies saw simultaneous declines in all pollutants.
* Cities in regions undergoing rapid population and economic growth, including South Asia and parts of Africa, experienced rising pollution and emissions levels.
* Satellite remote sensing provides an unprecedented opportunity to track pollution levels in all cities worldwide.

The study’s integrated approach offers policymakers, researchers, and climate advocates a valuable new tool for assessing the effectiveness of strategies to reduce pollution. By tracking historical pollutant trends and analyzing correlations across air pollution, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide emissions, the study offers insights into how urban areas can make progress on both climate and public health goals.

Researchers have also created an interactive map and dashboard to track air pollution in cities worldwide, providing a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and climate advocates.

The study published in Nature Climate Change sheds light on the disproportionate impact of the world’s wealthiest individuals on global warming since 1990. According to the research, the top 10% of the global population is responsible for two-thirds of observed global warming and the resulting increases in climate extremes such as heatwaves and droughts.

The study assesses the contribution of high-emitting groups within societies, finding that the top 1% of the wealthiest individuals globally have a carbon footprint 26 times higher than the global average when it comes to monthly 1-in-100-year heat extremes. This also applies to Amazon droughts, with these emissions being 17 times more detrimental.

Lead author Sarah Schöngart explains, “Our study shows that extreme climate impacts are not just the result of abstract global emissions but can be directly linked to our lifestyle and investment choices, which in turn are linked to wealth.”

Using a novel modeling framework combining economic data and climate simulations, researchers were able to trace emissions from different global income groups. They found that emissions from the wealthiest 10% in the United States and China alone led to a two-to threefold increase in heat extremes across vulnerable regions.

The study’s findings are clear: if everyone had emitted like the bottom 50% of the global population, the world would have seen minimal additional warming since 1990. Coauthor Carl-Friedrich Schleussner emphasizes that addressing this imbalance is crucial for fair and effective climate action.

Moreover, the research highlights the importance of emissions embedded in financial investments rather than just personal consumption. Targeting the financial flows and portfolios of high-income individuals could yield substantial climate benefits.

“This is not an academic discussion – it’s about real impacts of the climate crisis today,” says Schleussner. “Climate action that doesn’t address outsize responsibilities of wealthiest members society risks missing one most powerful levers we have to reduce future harm.”

The authors suggest that their findings could motivate progressive policy instruments targeted at societal elites, noting such policies can foster social acceptance of climate action. Making rich individual polluters pay can also provide much-needed support for adaptation and loss and damage in vulnerable countries.

In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need to rebalance responsibility for climate action in line with actual emissions contributions is essential not just slow global warming but achieve more just resilient world.