News about climate and sustainability

BIODIVERSITY

2026.07.23

DNA vacuum reveals local wildlife in Danish nature

Researchers have developed a DNA vacuum that can suck genetic traces from animals out of the air and reveal which animals live in an area. In two new studies, the researchers collect air samples in three natural areas i…

nature and climate

2026.07.15

New study pinpoints Europe’s most critical wetlands for climate action

Europe must restore at least 30% of degraded wetlands within the next four years, but where should efforts be prioritised? Researchers from the University of Copenhagen now offer an answer with the first detailed map of…

food waste

2026.06.22

Scientists have designed a clay that can prevent fruits and vegetables from rotting too quickly

The gas ethylene causes fruit and vegetables to ripen faster and is responsible for millions of tons of food being lost annually during transport and storage. Now researchers from the University of Copenhagen, among…

Economics

2026.06.19

Competition from Chinese imports is causing CO₂ emissions to rise globally

Danish companies emit less CO₂ when they relocate certain tasks abroad. At the same time, emissions rise correspondingly in those countries. However, global emissions increase when companies are under pressure from chea…

Safe drinking water

2026.06.18

Researchers behind new spinout: Only a fraction of the chemicals in drinking water are tested for

Much of our drinking water contains hundreds of chemicals, but today we test for only a fraction of them. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have now launched a company offering an exceptionally broad…

Artificial intelligence

2026.06.16

AI gigafactories require political decisions – not just technological investments

The EU plans to build massive AI gigafactories, and Denmark has thrown its hat into the ring. But according to a new research brief from CAISA – the National Centre for AI in Society – there is a lack of broad political…

Plants

2026.06.02

From flat moss to forests and flowers: New discovery may explain how plants conquered land

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified a previously unknown protein that may help explain how plants managed to colonize land more than 400 million years ago.

Corals

2026.05.21

Warming oceans can disrupt coral oxygen supply and trigger coral death

A new study from the University of Copenhagen shows that marine heatwaves can disrupt microscopic moving structures on the surface of corals that support oxygen uptake.

Climate

2026.05.08

Green initiatives can cause conflict and inequality in Africa

Several African countries are keen to brand themselves through ambitious climate projects. But these green initiatives can, in some cases, fuel conflict – and because they are part of the global green transition, they…

2026.05.07

Industrial waste used to develop non-toxic wood protection

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new, non-toxic method for protecting wood that could eventually replace conventional pressure-treated timber.

climate

2026.05.07

Scientists stunned: Volcano cleans up after itself by removing methane from the air

A violent volcanic eruption in the South Pacific has revealed a surprising natural mechanism that could potentially help slow global warming. The finding provides entirely new insights into atmospheric chemistry and may…

food

2026.04.21

Less food waste: Supermarkets can save money by giving surplus food away

When supermarkets choose the right strategy for surplus food, they can both reduce food waste and improve their bottom line. An analysis from the University of Copenhagen shows that it is often more profitable to donate…

species

2026.04.16

Elephant genomes reveal a past of continental connectivity and a future of increasing isolation

In the largest genomic mapping of Africa's elephants, an international team of researchers shows that elephant history is defined by the ability to move across large distances and exchange genes throughout the African…

Public health

2026.04.09

“Wake-up call” from leading sleep scientists: Night-time warming threatens the sleep of billions

Hotter nighttime temperatures disrupt our sleep to an alarming degree and the impacts appear to be accelerating, scientists warn. An international group of scientists is calling for the first global taskforce to help…

Waste water

2026.04.09

Fish on antidepressants: Researchers develop new weapon against toxic substances in wastewater

Toxic chemicals from pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants pass through wastewater treatment systems every day and enter the aquatic environment. For the first time, a new research project from the University of…

DNA

2026.03.18

Past intensive whaling threatens the future of bowhead whales

Commercial whaling has left the bowhead whale vulnerable for many generations to come.

Climate

2026.02.17

New knowledge about Northern Europe's radiator: Volcanic eruptions in the past may have pushed ocean current towards collapse

New research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that volcanic eruptions during the Ice Age may have triggered sudden climate change by disrupting the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), causing…

Archaeology

2026.02.12

New study maps where wheat, barley and rye grew before the first farmers found them

Using advanced machine-learning and climate models, researchers have shown that the ancestors of crops like wheat, barley, and rye probably were much less widespread in the Middle East 12,000 years ago than previously…

Wetlands

2026.01.29

Wetlands do not need to be flooded to provide the greatest climate benefit

Contrary to expectations, wetlands do not need to be completely flooded to provide the greatest climate benefit. Instead, the water table should be below the soil surface and remain stable, according to a new study from…

biodiversity

2025.12.16

Your Christmas decorations may be hiding a tiny bit of badger and toad

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that moss acts as a natural trap for environmental DNA. This discovery opens the door to using moss as a simple, gentle and inexpensive method of monitoring…