Local leaders for affordable energy and climate resilience: Registrations open for the 2026 Covenant of Mayors Ceremony

Registrations are now open for the annual Covenant of Mayors Ceremony, taking place at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels on 15 October 2026.  The event will bring together hundreds of local and regional leaders from across Europe alongside high-level representatives of the European Commission and other key stakeholders to discuss how local action is central […]

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How stored nutrients shape spring leaf out in woody species |

Heng Ge, Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discusses her article: Autumn nutrient resorption and twig storage shape spring phenology in woody species When we think about spring phenology, we usually notice the visible signs first: buds swelling, leaves unfolding, and flowers opening. Spring phenology is often discussed as a response to […]

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Local climate action delivers, but more efforts are needed to meet 2030 goals

When local authorities intervene, climate and energy actions taken in various sectors yield results, according to new JRC analyses. The results are tangible particularly where local authorities hold direct influence through planning, the development of infrastructure, or targeted awareness approaches. However, forecasts based on municipalities’ plans show they are on the way to achieve 48.5% […]

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Using machine learning to predict invasion success – The Applied Ecologist

This blog post is also available in Spanish here. Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem health. When non-native plants spread into new environments, they can outcompete native species, disrupt habitats, and cause long-lasting damage to the natural habitats and the services that ecosystems provide to humans. Most […]

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How terrain offers trees a local refuge from climate change |

Lauren Jenkins, Duke University, discusses her article: Fecundity and terrain-climate interactions that shape tree niche differences across North America and Europe Terrain shapes tree reproduction When you think about climate change threatening forests, you may picture species migrating miles northward or upslope. But what if refuge is just around the hillside? In forests of the […]

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How terrain offers trees a local refuge from climate change |

Lauren Jenkins, Duke University, discusses her article: Fecundity and terrain-climate interactions that shape tree niche differences across North America and Europe Terrain shapes tree reproduction When you think about climate change threatening forests, you may picture species migrating miles northward or upslope. But what if refuge is just around the hillside? In forests of the […]

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5 things you should know about extreme heat – and how to beat it

Extreme heat is a growing challenge across Europe. In the first half of this year, Europe has already experienced two major heatwaves, with temperatures in June of up to 41°C for 100 million Europeans and all-time heat records beaten in thousands of cities. Europe is warming faster than any other region, and heatwaves are affecting […]

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When does a soft-release actually work? The importance of time in the enclosure in carnivore reintroductions – The Applied Ecologist

Reintroducing a carnivore into the wild is never simple. Years of planning, significant resources, and a great deal of careful coordination go into each release. Yet despite all this effort, reintroduced animals do not always settle where we want them to, and understanding why is critical for improving future reintroductions. One of the key decisions […]

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Defense against multiple enemies changes differently across latitudes in an invasive plant and its native congener |

Xinmin Lu, Huazhong Agricultural University, Joshua Lynn, Manchester University, and Evan Siemann, Rice University, discuss their article: Latitudinal patterns in growth and defense against multiple enemies of an invasive species and its native congener Why are some plant species more successful invaders than others? A long-standing hypothesis is that invasive plants differ from native species […]

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5 things you should know about climate scenarios

Scientists constantly investigate the state of our planet and our greenhouse gas emissions and policy choices. This allows them to make projections about what our climate will look like in the future, based on different paths we might follow. Based on current policy choices, scientists have recently said that the previous ‘worst-case scenario’ (known as […]

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