Articles from Science for Environment Policy

Weeds important for restoring biodiversity in farmland environments
The way in which agricultural land is managed can cause environmental changes that affect biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems. A new study suggests agri-environmental schemes that focus on restoring common weeds, such as thistles, buttercups and clover, could have wide-ranging benefits as these plants appear to help stabilise the supportive links between different species found in farmlands.
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New approach to developing scenarios for future of low carbon cities
A new study has explored how cities can create a low carbon future by presenting an approach to stakeholder engagement that develops scenarios of an ideal city. Rather than projecting towards a low carbon target for the future, the study suggests that 'backcasting' to the present day from these scenarios may provide a useful goal-orientated approach to environmental planning in cities.
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More than economic incentives needed to reduce pesticide use
A new study from Denmark has indicated that a substantial proportion of farmers may place professional values above cost savings when making decisions about how much pesticide to use. This implies that agricultural policy should consider a broad array of policy instruments to reduce pesticide usage.
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Kitchen sink study points the way to water conservation
Dishwashing is responsible for over half of tap water used in the kitchen, according to the results of a new study, which also suggests that people who live alone consume double the water per person that those that live in a four or five-person household. Although relatively few households were studied, this research could prove useful in helping develop consumer advice for saving water.
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Assessment of total annoyance caused by combined industrial noises
A new study has assessed the annoyance caused by a combination of noises typically found on an industrial site. The results could help improve total noise annoyance prediction models. For example, it was found that 'broadband' noises, which consist of a wide range of frequencies, lead to more annoyance if they are combined with a specific additional set of low frequency noises, which can lead to an overall identical noise level.
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