Carbon cycle

• Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is a fundamental process to a sustainable future, relying on a suite of technologies among which the electrochemical reduction of CO2 is vital.
• Furthermore, the presence of oxygen impurities in flue gas results in undesired side reactions, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the CO2 reduction process.
• Utilising this approach, they designed a nickel catalyst boasting exceptional performance for CO2 reduction, achieving an impressive efficiency rate exceeding 99 percent.
• This versatility offers a broad platform for converting waste CO2 into a diverse range of chemicals, underscoring the technique's adaptability to different industrial needs.

• "For the world to effectively address greenhouse gas emissions, carbon removal is an essential element of the path to Net Zero.
• There's no way to reverse humanity's impact on the climate without extracting carbon from our atmosphere and oceans," said Anousheh Ansari, chief executive officer, XPRIZE.
• The 20 finalist teams included below are listed by the competition's four removal pathway tracks: Air, Rocks, Oceans, Land, Oceans.
• To date, XPRIZE Carbon Removal awarded $20M, with $5M distributed to 23 student teams, and $15M awarded to 15 milestone winners.

• "The proposals represent another example of NASA's holistic approach to studying our home planet," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
• "As we continue to confront our changing climate, and its impacts on humans and our environment, the need for data and scientific research could not be greater.
• These proposals will help us better prepare for the challenges we face today, and tomorrow."
• After the study period, NASA will choose two proposals to go forward to launch with readiness dates expected in 2030 and 2032.

• The first ever State of the World’s Migratory Species report, released today by the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, showed that the conservation status of many migratory species is getting worse.
• The convention maintains a list of migratory species that are already in need of protection.
• More than one in five (or 22%) of the already threatened migratory species now face extinction.

Which species are listed?

• There are 4,508 species in the world that are migratory, and the convention lists 1,189.
• What must be done

  My research has pointed out that migratory species undertake remarkable journeys that connect diverse habitats across the globe.

• The report found that the threatened migratory species occurring in Africa, Asia and North America are experiencing the fastest declines.
• Of the migratory species that the convention lists as needing some level of protection, 97% are under threat of extinction.

Migratory animals’ habitats are being destroyed

• In Africa, 79% of new cropland over the past few decades has been established by destroying the natural vegetation where many migratory animals lived, the report says.
• The report also points out that pollution and introducing alien invasive species into habitats of natural vegetation put pressure on these indigenous species.

Why migratory species are important

• Migratory species consume tons of food daily.
• For example, deep-sea creatures, particularly tiny zooplankton, migrate from deep waters to the surface at night to feed on phytoplankton.
• Tiny marine animals are key to working out its climate impacts

  Protecting migratory species goes beyond conserving biodiversity; it is crucial for ensuring a healthier future for our planet.

What to do about it

• This includes expanding protected areas used by migratory species, taking down fences and making more effort to connect protected areas to each other.
• Stronger laws, enhanced international collaboration to curb illegal activities, and reducing bycatch in fisheries are urgently required, says the report.
• This report marks a significant step towards creating a conservation roadmap for migratory species.

• He is a senior Statistician at the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
• He is also affilicated with the One Mara Research Hub (OMRH) and the Greater Serengeti-Mara Conservation Society; both devoted to securing the future of the magnificient Greater-Serengeti Mara Ecosystem.