Ecological

Ecological Impacts of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Runoff Eutrophication and Aquatic Dead Zones Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers enter waterways through surface runoff and leaching, triggering eutrophication—a process where algal blooms deplete dissolved oxygen, creating hypoxic “dead zones” incapable of supporting marine life12. The scale of this crisis is particularly evident in the Gulf of Mexico, where a massive 6,334-square-mile dead zone persists due to Midwestern agricultural runoff. This environmental catastrophe has decimated local fishing industries, reducing shrimp catches by 40% and destabilizing coastal economies that have relied on these waters for generations34. ...

A recent study published in Nature has raised concerns about the current state of Earth’s climate system. The research suggests that the “safe and just” climate boundary has already been breached, with global average temperatures surpassing the 1°C threshold above pre-industrial levels.1 This finding is particularly significant in the context of the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit warming to 1.5°C, as it indicates that we are dangerously close to exceeding this critical limit. ...