Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01680-z
Eartha Weber, Vassilus Daioglou, Laszlo Vreedenburgh, Jonathan Doelman, George Downward, Maria Gabriela Matias de Pinho, Detlef van Vuuren
Global climate mitigation and clean cooking fuel use improves air quality and cardiopulmonary health for the majority of the world’s population. Co-implementation of strategies addressing both outdoor and household air pollution offers greater and sustained long-term health benefits.
{"title":"Climate action and clean cooking are vital for sustaining air pollution-related health benefits","authors":"Eartha Weber, Vassilus Daioglou, Laszlo Vreedenburgh, Jonathan Doelman, George Downward, Maria Gabriela Matias de Pinho, Detlef van Vuuren","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01680-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01680-z","url":null,"abstract":"Global climate mitigation and clean cooking fuel use improves air quality and cardiopulmonary health for the majority of the world’s population. Co-implementation of strategies addressing both outdoor and household air pollution offers greater and sustained long-term health benefits.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"9 1","pages":"16-17"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01680-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146049433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01681-y
Tianqi Xiao, Francesco Fuso Nerini, H. Damon Matthews, Massimo Tavoni, Fengqi You
The rapidly increasing demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) models requires extensive server installation with sustainability implications in terms of the compound energy–water–climate impacts. Here we show that the deployment of AI servers across the United States could generate an annual water footprint ranging from 731 to 1,125 million m3 and additional annual carbon emissions from 24 to 44 Mt CO2-equivalent between 2024 and 2030, depending on the scale of expansion. Other factors, such as industry efficiency initiatives, grid decarbonization rates and the spatial distribution of server locations within the United States, drive deep uncertainties in the estimated water and carbon footprints. We show that the AI server industry is unlikely to meet its net-zero aspirations by 2030 without substantial reliance on highly uncertain carbon offset and water restoration mechanisms. Although best practices may reduce emissions and water footprints by up to 73% and 86%, respectively, their effectiveness is constrained by current energy infrastructure limitations. These findings underscore the urgency of accelerating the energy transition and point to the need for AI companies to harness the clean energy potential of Midwestern states. Coordinating efforts of private actors and regulatory interventions would ensure the competitive and sustainable development of the AI sector. The rapid expansion of AI server installations in the United States poses sustainability challenges in terms of water usage and carbon emissions. A study now quantifies these potential impacts and outlines coordinated mitigation strategies for the AI sector to achieve net-zero.
{"title":"Environmental impact and net-zero pathways for sustainable artificial intelligence servers in the USA","authors":"Tianqi Xiao, Francesco Fuso Nerini, H. Damon Matthews, Massimo Tavoni, Fengqi You","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01681-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01681-y","url":null,"abstract":"The rapidly increasing demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) models requires extensive server installation with sustainability implications in terms of the compound energy–water–climate impacts. Here we show that the deployment of AI servers across the United States could generate an annual water footprint ranging from 731 to 1,125 million m3 and additional annual carbon emissions from 24 to 44 Mt CO2-equivalent between 2024 and 2030, depending on the scale of expansion. Other factors, such as industry efficiency initiatives, grid decarbonization rates and the spatial distribution of server locations within the United States, drive deep uncertainties in the estimated water and carbon footprints. We show that the AI server industry is unlikely to meet its net-zero aspirations by 2030 without substantial reliance on highly uncertain carbon offset and water restoration mechanisms. Although best practices may reduce emissions and water footprints by up to 73% and 86%, respectively, their effectiveness is constrained by current energy infrastructure limitations. These findings underscore the urgency of accelerating the energy transition and point to the need for AI companies to harness the clean energy potential of Midwestern states. Coordinating efforts of private actors and regulatory interventions would ensure the competitive and sustainable development of the AI sector. The rapid expansion of AI server installations in the United States poses sustainability challenges in terms of water usage and carbon emissions. A study now quantifies these potential impacts and outlines coordinated mitigation strategies for the AI sector to achieve net-zero.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 12","pages":"1541-1553"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01681-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145772789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01700-y
Sebastian Villasante, Lynne Shannon, Sandra Waddock, Lucas A. Garibaldi, Nathan J. Bennett, Joyeeta Gupta, David Obura, Albert V. Norström, Karen O’Brien, Unai Pascual, Arun Agrawal
{"title":"The human right to a safe climate","authors":"Sebastian Villasante, Lynne Shannon, Sandra Waddock, Lucas A. Garibaldi, Nathan J. Bennett, Joyeeta Gupta, David Obura, Albert V. Norström, Karen O’Brien, Unai Pascual, Arun Agrawal","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01700-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01700-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 12","pages":"1423-1424"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145772763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01677-8
L. Q. Quan, C. R. Hackney, G. Vasilopoulos, T. Coulthard, N. N. Hung, S. E. Darby, D. R. Parsons
The Tonle Sap Lake (TSL), one of the world’s most productive lake–wetland ecosystems is sustained by an annual flood pulse that reverses Lower Mekong River flow into the lake during the monsoon and returns freshwater downstream during the dry season. Recent declines in the reverse flow have previously been attributed to climate change and upstream damming. However, here we show that between 1998 and 2018, riverbed lowering of the Mekong mainstem, driven by sand mining and upstream sediment trapping, has reduced the reverse flow by between 40 and 50% (high- to low-flow year range; 47% for medium flows). Projections to 2038, with additional riverbed lowering driven by ongoing sand mining, predict reverse flow declines of 69% (64–73%) compared with 1998. We show how these changes affect the lake’s flow regulation services across the Lower Mekong system. Specifically, the reduced TSL reverse flow increases flows to the Mekong Delta by ~26 km3 (31–23 km3) during the monsoon, heightening flood risk, while decreasing dry-season flows by ~59% (50–61%), contributing to intensified saltwater intrusion and diminished agricultural yields across the Mekong’s Delta. Our results underscore how excessive sand extraction is an existential threat to the TSL–Mekong system’s sustainability. The annual flood of Tonle Sap Lake supports over 20 million people’s livelihoods. Riverbed lowering due to sand mining and sediment diversion has substantially reduced the annual flood pulse and is projected to worsen if business continues as usual.
{"title":"Sand-mining-driven reduction in Tonle Sap Lake’s critical flood pulse","authors":"L. Q. Quan, C. R. Hackney, G. Vasilopoulos, T. Coulthard, N. N. Hung, S. E. Darby, D. R. Parsons","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01677-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01677-8","url":null,"abstract":"The Tonle Sap Lake (TSL), one of the world’s most productive lake–wetland ecosystems is sustained by an annual flood pulse that reverses Lower Mekong River flow into the lake during the monsoon and returns freshwater downstream during the dry season. Recent declines in the reverse flow have previously been attributed to climate change and upstream damming. However, here we show that between 1998 and 2018, riverbed lowering of the Mekong mainstem, driven by sand mining and upstream sediment trapping, has reduced the reverse flow by between 40 and 50% (high- to low-flow year range; 47% for medium flows). Projections to 2038, with additional riverbed lowering driven by ongoing sand mining, predict reverse flow declines of 69% (64–73%) compared with 1998. We show how these changes affect the lake’s flow regulation services across the Lower Mekong system. Specifically, the reduced TSL reverse flow increases flows to the Mekong Delta by ~26 km3 (31–23 km3) during the monsoon, heightening flood risk, while decreasing dry-season flows by ~59% (50–61%), contributing to intensified saltwater intrusion and diminished agricultural yields across the Mekong’s Delta. Our results underscore how excessive sand extraction is an existential threat to the TSL–Mekong system’s sustainability. The annual flood of Tonle Sap Lake supports over 20 million people’s livelihoods. Riverbed lowering due to sand mining and sediment diversion has substantially reduced the annual flood pulse and is projected to worsen if business continues as usual.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 12","pages":"1455-1466"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01677-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145772787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01684-9
Xinming Nie, Shijian Wang, Hao Liu
Aqueous zinc batteries, with intrinsic safety and low cost, struggle at low temperatures primarily because their water-based electrolytes freeze. Now a dual-salt electrolyte design enables stable battery operation even at −40 °C.
{"title":"Aqueous batteries beating the cold","authors":"Xinming Nie, Shijian Wang, Hao Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01684-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01684-9","url":null,"abstract":"Aqueous zinc batteries, with intrinsic safety and low cost, struggle at low temperatures primarily because their water-based electrolytes freeze. Now a dual-salt electrolyte design enables stable battery operation even at −40 °C.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 11","pages":"1244-1245"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145547320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01682-x
Peter I. Macreadie, Tanveer M. Adyel
{"title":"Plastics disposal as a climate decision","authors":"Peter I. Macreadie, Tanveer M. Adyel","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01682-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01682-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 12","pages":"1425-1425"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145772786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01629-2
Haruko M. Wainwright, Kate Whiteaker, Hansell Gonzalez-Raymat, Miles E. Denham, Ian L. Pegg, Daniel I. Kaplan, Nikolla P. Qafoku, David Wilson, Shelly Wilson, Carol A. Eddy-Dilek
Nuclear energy has an important role in the low-carbon energy transition, but the safety of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) management remains a public concern. Here we investigate the interplay between waste management strategies and their environmental impacts with a particular focus on a highly mobile and persistent radionuclide, iodine-129 (I-129), which is the dominant risk contributor from SNF disposal and at existing groundwater contamination sites. The results show that the current recycling practice releases more than 90% of I-129 in SNF into the present-day biosphere using an isotropic dilution strategy, whereas the direct disposal of SNF in geological repositories is likely to delay and reduce the release by 8 orders of magnitude. In addition, our data synthesis of surface water concentrations near four nuclear facilities shows that the release-dilution strategy results in lower concentrations than regulatory standards, while insufficient waste isolation in the past has resulted in locally high concentrations within one site. Our analysis suggests that it is essential to consider effluents more explicitly as a part of the waste, that as society moves from dilution to isolation of waste, the potential risks of waste isolation to local regions should be carefully evaluated, and that excessive burdens of proof could hinder or discourage waste isolation. Comprehensive waste management strategies—considering not just volume but also mobility, isolation technologies and ultimate fates—are needed for persistent contaminants. This study offers valuable insights for optimizing the management of SNF and other persistent contaminants. Safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is a prerequisite for the development of nuclear power but remains challenging. This study reveals the interplay between SNF management strategies and their environmental impacts with a particular focus on iodine-129, a highly mobile, persistent and dominant risk contributor.
{"title":"The iodine-129 paradox in nuclear waste management strategies","authors":"Haruko M. Wainwright, Kate Whiteaker, Hansell Gonzalez-Raymat, Miles E. Denham, Ian L. Pegg, Daniel I. Kaplan, Nikolla P. Qafoku, David Wilson, Shelly Wilson, Carol A. Eddy-Dilek","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01629-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01629-2","url":null,"abstract":"Nuclear energy has an important role in the low-carbon energy transition, but the safety of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) management remains a public concern. Here we investigate the interplay between waste management strategies and their environmental impacts with a particular focus on a highly mobile and persistent radionuclide, iodine-129 (I-129), which is the dominant risk contributor from SNF disposal and at existing groundwater contamination sites. The results show that the current recycling practice releases more than 90% of I-129 in SNF into the present-day biosphere using an isotropic dilution strategy, whereas the direct disposal of SNF in geological repositories is likely to delay and reduce the release by 8 orders of magnitude. In addition, our data synthesis of surface water concentrations near four nuclear facilities shows that the release-dilution strategy results in lower concentrations than regulatory standards, while insufficient waste isolation in the past has resulted in locally high concentrations within one site. Our analysis suggests that it is essential to consider effluents more explicitly as a part of the waste, that as society moves from dilution to isolation of waste, the potential risks of waste isolation to local regions should be carefully evaluated, and that excessive burdens of proof could hinder or discourage waste isolation. Comprehensive waste management strategies—considering not just volume but also mobility, isolation technologies and ultimate fates—are needed for persistent contaminants. This study offers valuable insights for optimizing the management of SNF and other persistent contaminants. Safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is a prerequisite for the development of nuclear power but remains challenging. This study reveals the interplay between SNF management strategies and their environmental impacts with a particular focus on iodine-129, a highly mobile, persistent and dominant risk contributor.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 11","pages":"1391-1399"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145547317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01670-1
Jan Streeck, Johan Andrés Veléz-Henao, Jarmo S. Kikstra, Shonali Pachauri, Jihoon Min, Fridolin Krausmann, Helmut Haberl, Stefan Pauliuk, Tommaso Zaini, Dominik Wiedenhofer
Global inequalities in resource use leave billions below decent living standards (DLS)—a proposal of universal minimum service levels required to meet essential human needs. Although research has examined the energy use and greenhouse gas emission implications of achieving universal DLS, little is known about the necessary expansion of societies’ material stocks in buildings, infrastructure and machinery. Here we estimate that closing global DLS gaps would require an increase of approximately 12% in the existing material stocks of society, if efforts to expand these stocks are devoted exclusively to meet DLS. At current construction rates, this could be accomplished by 2030. However, if historical trends of unequal growth of material stocks driven by demands beyond DLS persist, the material stock requirements for DLS could increase tenfold, risking the achievement of sustainable development and climate change mitigation goals. To achieve DLS for all while limiting environmental pressures, it is essential to prioritize expansion of material stocks for closing DLS gaps and to critically asses stock expansion for demands beyond DLS—especially in affluent regions. Such a strategy could ensure universal DLS at more sustainable resource use levels. Billions still lack decent living standards (DLS), yet it is not known how much growth in material stocks for buildings, infrastructure and machinery will be required to meet these needs. This study estimates that increasing the material stocks by 12% would suffice to achieve DLS for all, achievable by 2030.
{"title":"Small increases in material stocks to achieve decent living standards globally","authors":"Jan Streeck, Johan Andrés Veléz-Henao, Jarmo S. Kikstra, Shonali Pachauri, Jihoon Min, Fridolin Krausmann, Helmut Haberl, Stefan Pauliuk, Tommaso Zaini, Dominik Wiedenhofer","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01670-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01670-1","url":null,"abstract":"Global inequalities in resource use leave billions below decent living standards (DLS)—a proposal of universal minimum service levels required to meet essential human needs. Although research has examined the energy use and greenhouse gas emission implications of achieving universal DLS, little is known about the necessary expansion of societies’ material stocks in buildings, infrastructure and machinery. Here we estimate that closing global DLS gaps would require an increase of approximately 12% in the existing material stocks of society, if efforts to expand these stocks are devoted exclusively to meet DLS. At current construction rates, this could be accomplished by 2030. However, if historical trends of unequal growth of material stocks driven by demands beyond DLS persist, the material stock requirements for DLS could increase tenfold, risking the achievement of sustainable development and climate change mitigation goals. To achieve DLS for all while limiting environmental pressures, it is essential to prioritize expansion of material stocks for closing DLS gaps and to critically asses stock expansion for demands beyond DLS—especially in affluent regions. Such a strategy could ensure universal DLS at more sustainable resource use levels. Billions still lack decent living standards (DLS), yet it is not known how much growth in material stocks for buildings, infrastructure and machinery will be required to meet these needs. This study estimates that increasing the material stocks by 12% would suffice to achieve DLS for all, achievable by 2030.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 12","pages":"1567-1581"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-025-01670-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145772840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-03DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01644-3
Jingran Zhang, Fang Wang, Zhao Jia Ting, Weiguo Dong, Shaojun Zhang, Ye Wu, Chris P. Nielsen, Ming Zhao, Jiming Hao, Michael B. McElroy
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a promising decarbonization solution for aviation, but its adoption remains below 1% due to high cost. As municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to grow and sustainable disposal remains challenging, converting MSW into SAF offers an attractive pathway to align the goals of zero-waste cities and carbon-neutral aviation, given its reliable availability, low emissions and low cost. Here we evaluate MSW as feedstock for SAF production via industrial-scale gasification and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis data. The life cycle assessment indicates that MSW-based SAF can reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 80–90% compared with conventional jet fuel, with gasification being the primary technical challenge. Incorporating green hydrogen further enhances mitigation, reducing emissions by up to 50% and enabling a reduction of over 170 kg of CO2 per tonne of processed MSW. Globally, MSW-based SAF production could exceed 50 Mt yr−1 (62.5 billion litres), offering a 16% reduction in aviation greenhouse gas emissions. In Europe, the estimated 5.4 Mt yr−1 SAF capacity from this study exceeds the European Union blending mandate and complies with its restriction to non-food and feed feedstocks. Economic analysis indicates that using SAF to meet Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) targets can lead to substantial cost savings, particularly when subsidies are available. Municipal solid waste (MSW) could power sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), but costs and technical hurdles such as gasification hinder its adoption. A study now shows that MSW can be turned into SAF with 80–90% lower lifecycle emissions while offering a 16% reduction in aviation greenhouse gas emissions.
{"title":"Powering air travel with jet fuel derived from municipal solid waste","authors":"Jingran Zhang, Fang Wang, Zhao Jia Ting, Weiguo Dong, Shaojun Zhang, Ye Wu, Chris P. Nielsen, Ming Zhao, Jiming Hao, Michael B. McElroy","doi":"10.1038/s41893-025-01644-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41893-025-01644-3","url":null,"abstract":"Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a promising decarbonization solution for aviation, but its adoption remains below 1% due to high cost. As municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to grow and sustainable disposal remains challenging, converting MSW into SAF offers an attractive pathway to align the goals of zero-waste cities and carbon-neutral aviation, given its reliable availability, low emissions and low cost. Here we evaluate MSW as feedstock for SAF production via industrial-scale gasification and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis data. The life cycle assessment indicates that MSW-based SAF can reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 80–90% compared with conventional jet fuel, with gasification being the primary technical challenge. Incorporating green hydrogen further enhances mitigation, reducing emissions by up to 50% and enabling a reduction of over 170 kg of CO2 per tonne of processed MSW. Globally, MSW-based SAF production could exceed 50 Mt yr−1 (62.5 billion litres), offering a 16% reduction in aviation greenhouse gas emissions. In Europe, the estimated 5.4 Mt yr−1 SAF capacity from this study exceeds the European Union blending mandate and complies with its restriction to non-food and feed feedstocks. Economic analysis indicates that using SAF to meet Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) targets can lead to substantial cost savings, particularly when subsidies are available. Municipal solid waste (MSW) could power sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), but costs and technical hurdles such as gasification hinder its adoption. A study now shows that MSW can be turned into SAF with 80–90% lower lifecycle emissions while offering a 16% reduction in aviation greenhouse gas emissions.","PeriodicalId":19056,"journal":{"name":"Nature Sustainability","volume":"8 12","pages":"1480-1490"},"PeriodicalIF":27.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145772830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：