research paper topics environment

Research Topics & Ideas: Environment

100+ Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

Research topics and ideas within the environmental sciences

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. Here, we’ll explore a variety research ideas and topic thought-starters related to various environmental science disciplines, including ecology, oceanography, hydrology, geology, soil science, environmental chemistry, environmental economics, and environmental ethics.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the environmental sciences. This is the starting point though. To develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to develop a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Environmental Topics

Ecology /ecological science
Atmospheric science
Oceanography
Soil science
Environmental chemistry
Environmental economics
Environmental ethics
Examples of dissertations and theses

Topics & Ideas: Ecological Science

The impact of land-use change on species diversity and ecosystem functioning in agricultural landscapes
The role of disturbances such as fire and drought in shaping arid ecosystems
The impact of climate change on the distribution of migratory marine species
Investigating the role of mutualistic plant-insect relationships in maintaining ecosystem stability
The effects of invasive plant species on ecosystem structure and function
The impact of habitat fragmentation caused by road construction on species diversity and population dynamics in the tropics
The role of ecosystem services in urban areas and their economic value to a developing nation
The effectiveness of different grassland restoration techniques in degraded ecosystems
The impact of land-use change through agriculture and urbanisation on soil microbial communities in a temperate environment
The role of microbial diversity in ecosystem health and nutrient cycling in an African savannah

Topics & Ideas: Atmospheric Science

The impact of climate change on atmospheric circulation patterns above tropical rainforests
The role of atmospheric aerosols in cloud formation and precipitation above cities with high pollution levels
The impact of agricultural land-use change on global atmospheric composition
Investigating the role of atmospheric convection in severe weather events in the tropics
The impact of urbanisation on regional and global atmospheric ozone levels
The impact of sea surface temperature on atmospheric circulation and tropical cyclones
The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s atmospheric composition
The impact of climate change on atmospheric turbulence and air transportation safety
The impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on atmospheric circulation and climate change
The role of atmospheric rivers in global water supply and sea-ice formation

Topics & Ideas: Oceanography

The impact of ocean acidification on kelp forests and biogeochemical cycles
The role of ocean currents in distributing heat and regulating desert rain
The impact of carbon monoxide pollution on ocean chemistry and biogeochemical cycles
Investigating the role of ocean mixing in regulating coastal climates
The impact of sea level rise on the resource availability of low-income coastal communities
The impact of ocean warming on the distribution and migration patterns of marine mammals
The impact of ocean deoxygenation on biogeochemical cycles in the arctic
The role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in regulating rainfall in arid regions
The impact of ocean eddies on global ocean circulation and plankton distribution
The role of ocean-ice interactions in regulating the Earth’s climate and sea level

Tops & Ideas: Hydrology

The impact of agricultural land-use change on water resources and hydrologic cycles in temperate regions
The impact of agricultural groundwater availability on irrigation practices in the global south
The impact of rising sea-surface temperatures on global precipitation patterns and water availability
Investigating the role of wetlands in regulating water resources for riparian forests
The impact of tropical ranches on river and stream ecosystems and water quality
The impact of urbanisation on regional and local hydrologic cycles and water resources for agriculture
The role of snow cover and mountain hydrology in regulating regional agricultural water resources
The impact of drought on food security in arid and semi-arid regions
The role of groundwater recharge in sustaining water resources in arid and semi-arid environments
The impact of sea level rise on coastal hydrology and the quality of water resources

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

Topics & Ideas: Geology

The impact of tectonic activity on the East African rift valley
The role of mineral deposits in shaping ancient human societies
The impact of sea-level rise on coastal geomorphology and shoreline evolution
Investigating the role of erosion in shaping the landscape and impacting desertification
The impact of mining on soil stability and landslide potential
The impact of volcanic activity on incoming solar radiation and climate
The role of geothermal energy in decarbonising the energy mix of megacities
The impact of Earth’s magnetic field on geological processes and solar wind
The impact of plate tectonics on the evolution of mammals
The role of the distribution of mineral resources in shaping human societies and economies, with emphasis on sustainability

Topics & Ideas: Soil Science

The impact of dam building on soil quality and fertility
The role of soil organic matter in regulating nutrient cycles in agricultural land
The impact of climate change on soil erosion and soil organic carbon storage in peatlands
Investigating the role of above-below-ground interactions in nutrient cycling and soil health
The impact of deforestation on soil degradation and soil fertility
The role of soil texture and structure in regulating water and nutrient availability in boreal forests
The impact of sustainable land management practices on soil health and soil organic matter
The impact of wetland modification on soil structure and function
The role of soil-atmosphere exchange and carbon sequestration in regulating regional and global climate
The impact of salinization on soil health and crop productivity in coastal communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry

The impact of cobalt mining on water quality and the fate of contaminants in the environment
The role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping air quality and climate change
The impact of soil chemistry on nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat monoculture
Investigating the fate and transport of heavy metal contaminants in the environment
The impact of climate change on biochemical cycling in tropical rainforests
The impact of various types of land-use change on biochemical cycling
The role of soil microbes in mediating contaminant degradation in the environment
The impact of chemical and oil spills on freshwater and soil chemistry
The role of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in shaping water and soil chemistry
The impact of over-irrigation on the cycling and fate of persistent organic pollutants in the environment

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Economics

The impact of climate change on the economies of developing nations
The role of market-based mechanisms in promoting sustainable use of forest resources
The impact of environmental regulations on economic growth and competitiveness
Investigating the economic benefits and costs of ecosystem services for African countries
The impact of renewable energy policies on regional and global energy markets
The role of water markets in promoting sustainable water use in southern Africa
The impact of land-use change in rural areas on regional and global economies
The impact of environmental disasters on local and national economies
The role of green technologies and innovation in shaping the zero-carbon transition and the knock-on effects for local economies
The impact of environmental and natural resource policies on income distribution and poverty of rural communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Ethics

The ethical foundations of environmentalism and the environmental movement regarding renewable energy
The role of values and ethics in shaping environmental policy and decision-making in the mining industry
The impact of cultural and religious beliefs on environmental attitudes and behaviours in first world countries
Investigating the ethics of biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species in palm oil plantations
The ethical implications of sea-level rise for future generations and vulnerable coastal populations
The role of ethical considerations in shaping sustainable use of natural forest resources
The impact of environmental justice on marginalized communities and environmental policies in Asia
The ethical implications of environmental risks and decision-making under uncertainty
The role of ethics in shaping the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future for the construction industry
The impact of environmental values on consumer behaviour and the marketplace: a case study of the ‘bring your own shopping bag’ policy

Examples: Real Dissertation & Thesis Topics

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various environmental science-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

The physiology of microorganisms in enhanced biological phosphorous removal (Saunders, 2014)
The influence of the coastal front on heavy rainfall events along the east coast (Henson, 2019)
Forage production and diversification for climate-smart tropical and temperate silvopastures (Dibala, 2019)
Advancing spectral induced polarization for near surface geophysical characterization (Wang, 2021)
Assessment of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Thamnocephalus platyurus as Tools to Monitor Cyanobacterial Bloom Development and Toxicity (Hipsher, 2019)
Evaluating the Removal of Microcystin Variants with Powdered Activated Carbon (Juang, 2020)
The effect of hydrological restoration on nutrient concentrations, macroinvertebrate communities, and amphibian populations in Lake Erie coastal wetlands (Berg, 2019)
Utilizing hydrologic soil grouping to estimate corn nitrogen rate recommendations (Bean, 2019)
Fungal Function in House Dust and Dust from the International Space Station (Bope, 2021)
Assessing Vulnerability and the Potential for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Sudan’s Blue Nile Basin (Mohamed, 2022)
A Microbial Water Quality Analysis of the Recreational Zones in the Los Angeles River of Elysian Valley, CA (Nguyen, 2019)
Dry Season Water Quality Study on Three Recreational Sites in the San Gabriel Mountains (Vallejo, 2019)
Wastewater Treatment Plan for Unix Packaging Adjustment of the Potential Hydrogen (PH) Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity After the Addition of Cycle Disgestase Enzyme (Miessi, 2020)
Laying the Genetic Foundation for the Conservation of Longhorn Fairy Shrimp (Kyle, 2021).

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. To create a top-notch research topic, you will need to be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you’ll need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your environmental science dissertation or research project, be sure to check out our private coaching services below, as well as our Research Topic Kickstarter .

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50 Best Environmental Science Research Topics

May 31, 2023

Environmental science is a varied discipline that encompasses a variety of subjects, including ecology, atmospheric science, and geology among others. Professionals within this field can pursue many occupations from lab technicians and agricultural engineers to park rangers and environmental lawyers. However, what unites these careers is their focus on how the natural world and the human world interact and impact the surrounding environment. There is also one other significant commonality among environmental science careers: virtually all of them either engage in or rely on research on environmental science topics to ensure their work is accurate and up to date.

In this post, we’ll outline some of the best environmental science research topics to help you explore disciplines within environmental science and kickstart your own research. If you are considering majoring in environmental science or perhaps just need help brainstorming for a research paper, this post will give you a broad sense of timely environmental science research topics.

What makes a research topic good?

Before we dive into specific environmental science research topics, let’s first cover the basics: what qualities make for a viable research topic. Research is the process of collecting information to make discoveries and reach new conclusions. We often think of research as something that occurs in academic or scientific settings. However, everyone engages in informal research in everyday life, from reading product reviews to investigating statistics for admitted students at prospective colleges . While we all conduct research in our day-to-day lives, formal academic research is necessary to advance discoveries and scholarly discourses. Therefore, in this setting, good research hinges on a topic in which there are unanswered questions or ongoing debates. In other words, meaningful research focuses on topics where you can say something new.

However, identifying an interesting research topic is only the first step in the research process. Research topics tend to be broad in scope. Strong research is dependent on developing a specific research question, meaning the query your project will seek to answer. While there are no comprehensive guidelines for research questions, most scholars agree that research questions should be:

1) Specific

Research questions need to clearly identify and define the focus of your research. Without sufficient detail, your research will likely be too broad or imprecise in focus to yield meaningful insights. For example, you might initially be interested in addressing this question: How should governments address the effects of climate change? While that is a worthwhile question to investigate, it’s not clear enough to facilitate meaningful research. What level of government is this question referring to? And what specific effects of global warming will this research focus on? You would need to revise this question to provide a clearer focus for your research. A revised version of this question might look like this: How can state government officials in Florida best mitigate the effects of sea-level rise?

Our interest in a given topic often starts quite broad. However, it is difficult to produce meaningful, thorough research on a broad topic. For that reason, it is important that research questions be narrow in scope, focusing on a specific issue or subtopic. For example, one of the more timely environmental science topics is renewable energy. A student who is just learning about this topic might wish to write a research paper on the following question: Which form of renewable energy is best? However, that would be a difficult question to answer in one paper given the various ways in which an energy source could be “best.” Instead, this student might narrow their focus, assessing renewable energy sources through a more specific lens: Which form of renewable energy is best for job creation?

3) Complex

As we previously discussed, good research leads to new discoveries. These lines of inquiry typically require a complicated and open-ended research question. A question that can be answered with just a “yes” or “no” (or a quick Google search) is likely indicative of a topic in which additional research is unnecessary (i.e. there is no ongoing debate) or a topic that is not well defined. For example, the following question would likely be too simple for academic research: What is environmental justice? You can look up a definition of environmental justice online. You would need to ask a more complex question to sustain a meaningful research project. Instead, you might conduct research on the following query: Which environmental issue(s) disproportionately impact impoverished communities in the Pacific Northwest? This question is narrower and more specific, while also requiring more complex thought and analysis to answer.

4) Debatable

Again, strong research provides new answers and information, which means that they must be situated within topics or discourses where there is ongoing debate. If a research question can only lead to one natural conclusion, that may indicate that it has already been sufficiently addressed in prior research or that the question is leading. For example, Are invasive species bad? is not a very debatable question (the answer is in the term “invasive species”!). A paper that focused on this question would essentially define and provide examples of invasive species (i.e. information that is already well documented). Instead, a researcher might investigate the effects of a specific invasive species. For example: How have Burmese pythons impacted ecosystems in the Everglades, and what mitigation strategies are most effective to reduce Burmese python populations?

Therefore, research topics, including environmental science topics, are those about which there are ample questions yet to be definitively answered. Taking time to develop a thoughtful research question will provide the necessary focus and structure to facilitate meaningful research.

10 Great Environmental Science Research Topics (With Explanations!)

Now that we have a basic understanding of what qualities can make or break a research topic, we can return to our focus on environmental science topics. Although “great” research topics are somewhat subjective, we believe the following topics provide excellent foundations for research due to ongoing debates in these areas, as well as the urgency of the challenges they seek to address.

1) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Although climate change is now a well-known concept , there is still much to be learned about how humans can best mitigate and adapt to its effects. Mitigation involves reducing the severity of climate change. However, there are a variety of ways mitigation can occur, from switching to electric vehicles to enforcing carbon taxes on corporations that produce the highest carbon emission levels. Many of these environmental science topics intersect with issues of public policy and economics, making them very nuanced and versatile.

In comparison, climate change adaptation considers how humans can adjust to life in an evolving climate where issues such as food insecurity, floods, droughts, and other severe weather events are more frequent. Research on climate change adaptation is particularly fascinating due to the various levels at which it occurs, from federal down to local governments, to help communities anticipate and adjust to the effects of climate change.

Both climate change mitigation and adaptation represent excellent environmental science research topics as there is still much to be learned to address this issue and its varied effects.

2) Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is another fairly mainstream topic in which there is much to learn and research. Although scientists have identified many forms of sustainable energy, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, questions remain about how to best implement these energy sources. How can politicians, world leaders, and communities advance renewable energy through public policy? What impact will renewable energy have on local and national economies? And how can we minimize the environmental impact of renewable energy technologies? While we have identified alternatives to fossil fuels, questions persist about the best way to utilize these technologies, making renewable energy one of the best environmental science topics to research.

3) Conservation

Conservation is a broad topic within environmental science, focusing on issues such as preserving environments and protecting endangered species. However, conservation efforts are more challenging than ever in the face of a growing world population and climate change. In fact, some scientists theorize that we are currently in the middle of a sixth mass extinction event. While these issues might seem dire, we need scientists to conduct research on conservation efforts for specific species, as well as entire ecosystems, to help combat these challenges and preserve the planet’s biodiversity.

4) Deforestation

The Save the Rainforest movement of the 1980s and 90s introduced many people to the issue of deforestation. Today, the problems associated with deforestation, such as reduced biodiversity and soil erosion, are fairly common knowledge. However, these challenges persist due, in part, to construction and agricultural development projects. While we know the effects of deforestation, it is more difficult to identify and implement feasible solutions. This is particularly true in developing countries where deforestation is often more prevalent due to political, environmental, and economic factors. Environmental science research can help reduce deforestation by identifying strategies to help countries sustainably manage their natural resources.

Environmental Science Topics (Continued)

5) urban ecology.

When we think of “the environment,” our brains often conjure up images of majestic mountain ranges and lush green forests. However, less “natural” environments also warrant study: this is where urban ecology comes in. Urban ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and their environment in urban settings. Through urban ecology, researchers can address topics such as how greenspaces in cities can reduce air pollution, or how local governments can adopt more effective waste management practices. As one of the newer environmental science topics, urban ecology represents an exciting research area that can help humans live more sustainably.

6) Environmental Justice

While environmental issues such as climate change impact people on a global scale, not all communities are affected equally. For example, wealthy nations tend to contribute more to greenhouse-gas emissions. However, less developed nations are disproportionately bearing the brunt of climate change . Studies within the field of environmental justice seek to understand how issues such as race, national origin, and income impact the degree to which people experience hardships from environmental issues. Researchers in this field not only document these inequities, but also identify ways in which environmental justice can be achieved. As a result, their work helps communities have access to clean, safe environments in which they can thrive.

7) Water Management

Water is, of course, necessary for life, which is why water management is so important within environmental science research topics. Water management research ensures that water resources are appropriately identified and maintained to meet demand. However, climate change has heightened the need for water management research, due to the occurrence of more severe droughts and wildfires. As a result, water management research is necessary to ensure water is clean and accessible.

8) Pollution and Bioremediation

Another impact of the increase in human population and development is heightened air, water, and soil pollution. Environmental scientists study pollutants to understand how they work and where they originate. Through their research, they can identify solutions to help address pollution, such as bioremediation, which is the use of microorganisms to consume and break down pollutants. Collectively, research on pollution and bioremediation helps us restore environments so they are sufficient for human, animal, and plant life.

9) Disease Ecology

While environmental science topics impact the health of humans, we don’t always think of this discipline as intersecting with medicine. But, believe it or not, they can sometimes overlap! Disease ecology examines how ecological processes and interactions impact disease evolution. For example, malaria is a disease that is highly dependent on ecological variables, such as temperature and precipitation. Both of these factors can help or hinder the breeding of mosquitoes and, therefore, the transmission of malaria. The risk of infectious diseases is likely to increase due to climate change , making disease ecology an important research topic.

10) Ecosystems Ecology

If nothing else, the aforementioned topics and their related debates showcase just how interconnected the world is. None of us live in a vacuum: our environment affects us just as we affect it. That makes ecosystems ecology, which examines how ecosystems operate and interact, an evergreen research topic within environmental science.

40 More Environmental Science Research Topics

Still haven’t stumbled upon the right environmental science research topic? The following ideas may help spark some inspiration:

The effects of agricultural land use on biodiversity and ecosystems.
The impact of invasive plant species on ecosystems.
How wildfires and droughts shape ecosystems.
The role of fire ecology in addressing wildfire threats.
The impact of coral bleaching on biodiversity.
Ways to minimize the environmental impact of clean energies.
The effects of climate change on ocean currents and migration patterns of marine species.

Environmental Justice and Public Policy

Opportunities to equalize the benefits of greenspaces for impoverished and marginalized communities.
The impact of natural disasters on human migration patterns.
The role of national parks and nature reserves in human health.
How to address inequalities in the impact of air pollution.
How to prevent and address the looming climate refugee crisis.
Environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives to deforestation in less developed countries.
Effects of environmental policies and regulations on impoverished communities.
The role of pollutants in endocrine disruption.
The effects of climate change on the emergence of infectious diseases.

AP Environmental Science Research Topics (Continued)

Soil science.

Effects of climate change on soil erosion.
The role of land management in maintaining soil health.
Agricultural effects of salinization in coastal areas.
The effects of climate change on agriculture.

Urban Ecology

How road construction impacts biodiversity and ecosystems.
The effects of urbanization and city planning on water cycles.
Impacts of noise pollution on human health.
The role of city planning in reducing light pollution.

Pollution and Bioremediation

The role of bioremediation in removing “forever” chemicals from the environment.
Impacts of air pollution on maternal health.
How to improve plastic recycling processes.
Individual measures to reduce consumption and creation of microplastics.
Environmental impacts of and alternatives to fracking.

Environmental Law and Ethics

Ethical implications of human intervention in the preservation of endangered species.
The efficacy and impact of single-use plastic laws.
Effects of religious and cultural values in environmental beliefs.
The ethics of climate change policy for future generations.
Ethical implications of international environmental regulations for less developed countries.
The impact and efficacy of corporate carbon taxes.
Ethical and environmental implications of fast fashion.
The ethics and efficacy of green consumerism.
Impacts of the hospitality and travel industries on pollution and emissions.
The ethical implications of greenwashing in marketing.
Effects of “Right to Repair” laws on pollution.

Final Thoughts: Environmental Science Research Topics

Environmental science is a diverse and very important area of study that impacts all aspects of life on Earth. If you’ve found a topic you’d like to pursue, it’s time to hit the books (or online databases)! Begin reading broadly on your chosen topic so you can define a specific research question. If you’re unsure where to begin, contact a research librarian who can connect you with pertinent resources. As you familiarize yourself with the discourse surrounding your topic, consider what questions spring to mind. Those questions may represent gaps around which you can craft a research question.

Interested in conducting academic research? Check out the following resources for information on research opportunities and programs:

Research Opportunities for High School Students
Colleges with the Best Undergraduate Research Programs
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Emily Smith

Emily earned a BA in English and Communication Studies from UNC Chapel Hill and an MA in English from Wake Forest University. While at UNC and Wake Forest, she served as a tutor and graduate assistant in each school’s writing center, where she worked with undergraduate and graduate students from all academic backgrounds. She also worked as an editorial intern for the Wake Forest University Press as well as a visiting lecturer in the Department of English at WFU, and currently works as a writing center director in western North Carolina.

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Home » 500+ Environmental Research Topics

500+ Environmental Research Topics

Environmental research is a crucial area of study in today’s world, as we face an increasing number of complex and pressing environmental challenges. From climate change to pollution, biodiversity loss to natural resource depletion, there is an urgent need for scientific inquiry and investigation to inform policy, decision-making, and action. Environmental research encompasses a broad range of disciplines, including ecology, biology , geology, chemistry , and physics , among others, and explores a diverse array of topics , from ocean acidification to sustainable agriculture. Through rigorous scientific inquiry and a commitment to generating evidence-based solutions, environmental research plays a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of our planet and its inhabitants. In this article, we will cover some trending Environmental Research Topics.

Environmental Research Topics

Environmental Research Topics are as follows:

Climate change and its impacts on ecosystems and society
The effectiveness of carbon capture and storage technology
The role of biodiversity in maintaining healthy ecosystems
The impact of human activity on soil quality
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life
The effectiveness of renewable energy sources
The impact of deforestation on local communities and wildlife
The relationship between air pollution and human health
The impact of agricultural practices on soil erosion
The effectiveness of conservation measures for endangered species
The impact of overfishing on marine ecosystems
The role of wetlands in mitigating climate change
The impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems
The impact of urbanization on local ecosystems
The impact of climate change on global food security
The effectiveness of water conservation measures
The impact of pesticide use on pollinators
The impact of acid rain on aquatic ecosystems
The impact of sea level rise on coastal communities
The effectiveness of carbon taxes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The impact of habitat destruction on migratory species
The impact of invasive species on native ecosystems
The role of national parks in biodiversity conservation
The impact of climate change on coral reefs
The effectiveness of green roofs in reducing urban heat island effect
The impact of noise pollution on wildlife behavior
The impact of air pollution on crop yields
The effectiveness of composting in reducing organic waste
The impact of climate change on the Arctic ecosystem
The impact of land use change on soil carbon sequestration
The role of mangroves in coastal protection and carbon sequestration
The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems
The impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms
The effectiveness of carbon offsets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The impact of deforestation on climate regulation
The impact of groundwater depletion on agriculture
The impact of climate change on migratory bird populations
The effectiveness of wind turbines in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The impact of urbanization on bird diversity
The impact of climate change on ocean currents
The impact of drought on plant and animal populations
The effectiveness of agroforestry in improving soil quality
The impact of climate change on water availability
The impact of wildfires on carbon storage in forests
The impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems
The effectiveness of green energy subsidies
The impact of nitrogen pollution on aquatic ecosystems
The impact of climate change on forest ecosystems
The effectiveness of community-based conservation initiatives
The impact of climate change on the water cycle
The impact of mining activities on local ecosystems
The impact of wind energy on bird and bat populations
The effectiveness of bioremediation in cleaning up contaminated soil and water
The impact of deforestation on local climate patterns
The impact of climate change on insect populations
The impact of agricultural runoff on freshwater ecosystems
The effectiveness of smart irrigation systems in reducing water use
The impact of ocean currents on marine biodiversity
The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems
The effectiveness of green buildings in reducing energy use
The impact of climate change on glacier retreat and sea level rise
The impact of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife behavior
The impact of climate change on desert ecosystems
The effectiveness of electric vehicles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The impact of ocean pollution on human health
The impact of land use change on water quality
The impact of urbanization on bird populations
The impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems and wildlife
The effectiveness of green energy storage technologies in promoting renewable energy use
The impact of climate change on freshwater availability and water management
The impact of industrial pollution on air quality and human health
The effectiveness of urban green spaces in promoting human health and well-being
The impact of climate change on snow cover and winter tourism
The impact of agricultural land use on biodiversity and ecosystem services
The effectiveness of green incentives in promoting sustainable consumer behavior
The impact of ocean acidification on shellfish and mollusk populations
The impact of climate change on river flow and flooding
The effectiveness of green supply chain management in promoting sustainable production
The impact of noise pollution on avian communication and behavior
The impact of climate change on arctic ecosystems and wildlife
The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable tourism
The impact of microplastics on marine food webs and human health
The impact of climate change on invasive species distributions
The effectiveness of green infrastructure in promoting sustainable urban development
The impact of plastic pollution on human health and food safety
The impact of climate change on soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling
The effectiveness of green technologies in promoting sustainable industrial production
The impact of climate change on permafrost thaw and methane emissions
The impact of deforestation on water quality and quantity
The effectiveness of green certification schemes in promoting sustainable production and consumption
The impact of noise pollution on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife
The impact of climate change on bird migration patterns
The effectiveness of green waste management in promoting sustainable resource use
The impact of climate change on insect populations and ecosystem services
The impact of plastic pollution on human society and culture
The effectiveness of green finance in promoting sustainable development goals
The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity hotspots
The impact of climate change on natural disasters and disaster risk reduction
The effectiveness of green urban planning in promoting sustainable cities and communities
The impact of deforestation on soil carbon storage and climate change
The impact of noise pollution on human communication and behavior
The effectiveness of green energy policy in promoting renewable energy use
The impact of climate change on Arctic sea ice and wildlife
The impact of agricultural practices on soil quality and ecosystem health
The effectiveness of green taxation in promoting sustainable behavior
The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and wildlife
The impact of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions and crop production
The effectiveness of green innovation in promoting sustainable technological advancements
The impact of climate change on ocean currents and marine heatwaves
The impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and cultural practices
The effectiveness of green governance in promoting sustainable development and environmental justice
The effectiveness of wetland restoration in reducing flood risk
The impact of climate change on the spread of vector-borne diseases
The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable consumption
The impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems
The impact of renewable energy development on wildlife habitats
The effectiveness of environmental education programs in promoting pro-environmental behavior
The impact of deforestation on global climate change
The impact of microplastics on freshwater ecosystems
The effectiveness of eco-labeling in promoting sustainable seafood consumption
The impact of climate change on coral reef ecosystems
The impact of air pollution on human health and mortality rates
The effectiveness of eco-tourism in promoting conservation and community development
The impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security
The impact of wind turbine noise on wildlife behavior and populations
The impact of light pollution on nocturnal ecosystems and species
The effectiveness of green energy subsidies in promoting renewable energy use
The impact of invasive species on native ecosystems and biodiversity
The impact of climate change on ocean acidification and marine ecosystems
The effectiveness of green public procurement in promoting sustainable production
The impact of deforestation on soil erosion and nutrient depletion
The impact of noise pollution on human health and well-being
The effectiveness of green building standards in promoting sustainable construction
The impact of climate change on forest fires and wildfire risk
The impact of e-waste on human health and environmental pollution
The impact of climate change on polar ice caps and sea levels
The impact of pharmaceutical pollution on freshwater ecosystems and wildlife
The effectiveness of green transportation policies in reducing carbon emissions
The impact of climate change on glacier retreat and water availability
The impact of pesticide use on pollinator populations and ecosystems
The effectiveness of circular economy models in reducing waste and promoting sustainability
The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems and biodiversity
The impact of plastic waste on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife
The effectiveness of green chemistry in promoting sustainable manufacturing
The impact of climate change on ocean currents and weather patterns
The impact of agricultural runoff on freshwater ecosystems and water quality
The effectiveness of green bonds in financing sustainable infrastructure projects
The impact of climate change on soil moisture and desertification
The impact of noise pollution on marine ecosystems and species
The effectiveness of community-based conservation in promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health
The impact of climate change on permafrost ecosystems and carbon storage
The impact of urbanization on water pollution and quality
The effectiveness of green jobs in promoting sustainable employment
The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems and biodiversity
The impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife
The effectiveness of sustainable fashion in promoting sustainable consumption
The impact of climate change on phenology and seasonal cycles of plants and animals
The impact of ocean pollution on human health and seafood safety
The effectiveness of green procurement policies in promoting sustainable supply chains
The impact of climate change on marine food webs and ecosystems
The impact of agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
The effectiveness of green financing in promoting sustainable investment
The effectiveness of rainwater harvesting systems in reducing water use
The impact of climate change on permafrost ecosystems
The impact of coastal erosion on shoreline ecosystems
The effectiveness of green infrastructure in reducing urban heat island effect
The impact of microorganisms on soil fertility and carbon sequestration
The impact of climate change on snowpack and water availability
The impact of oil and gas drilling on local ecosystems
The effectiveness of carbon labeling in promoting sustainable consumer choices
The impact of marine noise pollution on marine mammals
The impact of climate change on alpine ecosystems
The effectiveness of green supply chain management in reducing environmental impact
The impact of climate change on river ecosystems
The impact of urban sprawl on wildlife habitat fragmentation
The effectiveness of carbon trading in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The impact of ocean warming on marine ecosystems
The impact of agricultural practices on water quality and quantity
The effectiveness of green roofs in improving urban air quality
The impact of climate change on tropical rainforests
The impact of water pollution on human health and livelihoods
The effectiveness of green bonds in financing sustainable projects
The impact of climate change on polar bear populations
The impact of human activity on soil biodiversity
The effectiveness of waste-to-energy systems in reducing waste and emissions
The impact of climate change on Arctic sea ice and marine ecosystems
The impact of sea level rise on low-lying coastal cities and communities
The effectiveness of sustainable tourism in promoting conservation and community development
The impact of deforestation on indigenous peoples and their livelihoods
The impact of climate change on sea turtle populations
The effectiveness of carbon-neutral and carbon-negative technologies
The impact of urbanization on water resources and quality
The impact of climate change on cold-water fish populations
The effectiveness of green entrepreneurship in promoting sustainable innovation
The impact of wildfires on air quality and public health
The impact of climate change on human migration patterns and social systems
The impact of noise pollution on bird communication and behavior in urban environments
The impact of climate change on estuarine ecosystems and biodiversity
The impact of deforestation on water availability and river basin management
The impact of climate change on plant phenology and distribution
The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable consumer behavior
The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity
The impact of climate change on marine plastic debris accumulation and distribution
The effectiveness of green innovation in promoting sustainable technology development
The impact of climate change on crop yields and food security
The impact of noise pollution on human health and well-being in urban environments
The impact of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems and biodiversity
The effectiveness of green transportation infrastructure in promoting sustainable mobility
The impact of deforestation on non-timber forest products and forest-dependent livelihoods
The impact of climate change on wetland carbon sequestration and storage
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtle populations and nesting behavior
The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the Southern Ocean
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable agriculture
The impact of climate change on oceanographic processes and upwelling systems
The impact of noise pollution on terrestrial wildlife communication and behavior
The impact of climate change on coastal erosion and shoreline management
The effectiveness of green finance in promoting sustainable investment
The impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and traditional knowledge systems
The impact of climate change on tropical cyclones and extreme weather events
The effectiveness of green buildings in promoting energy efficiency and carbon reduction
The impact of plastic pollution on marine food webs and trophic interactions
The impact of climate change on algal blooms and harmful algal blooms in marine ecosystems
The effectiveness of green business partnerships in promoting sustainable development goals
The impact of climate change on ocean deoxygenation and its effects on marine life
The impact of noise pollution on human sleep and rest patterns in urban environments
The impact of climate change on freshwater availability and management
The effectiveness of green entrepreneurship in promoting social and environmental justice
The impact of deforestation on wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation
The impact of climate change on the migration patterns and behaviors of birds and mammals
The effectiveness of green urban planning in promoting sustainable and livable cities
The impact of plastic pollution on microplastics and nanoplastics in marine ecosystems
The impact of climate change on marine ecosystem services and their value to society
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable forestry
The impact of climate change on ocean currents and their effects on marine biodiversity
The impact of noise pollution on urban ecosystems and their ecological functions
The impact of climate change on freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
The effectiveness of green policy implementation in promoting sustainable development
The impact of deforestation on soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions
The impact of climate change on marine mammals and their ecosystem roles
The effectiveness of green product labeling in promoting sustainable consumer behavior
The impact of plastic pollution on coral reefs and their resilience to climate change
The impact of climate change on waterborne diseases and public health
The effectiveness of green energy policies in promoting renewable energy adoption
The impact of deforestation on carbon storage and sequestration in peatlands
The impact of climate change on ocean acidification and its effects on marine life
The effectiveness of green supply chain management in promoting circular economy principles
The impact of noise pollution on urban birds and their vocal communication
The impact of climate change on ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests
The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable fashion and textiles
The impact of plastic pollution on deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity
The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities
The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable infrastructure development
The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by agroforestry systems
The impact of climate change on snow and ice cover and their effects on freshwater ecosystems
The effectiveness of green tourism in promoting sustainable tourism practices
The impact of noise pollution on human cognitive performance and productivity
The impact of climate change on forest fires and their effects on ecosystem services
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable seafood consumption
The impact of climate change on insect populations and their ecosystem roles
The impact of plastic pollution on seabird populations and their reproductive success
The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable public sector spending
The impact of deforestation on soil erosion and land degradation
The impact of climate change on riverine ecosystems and their ecosystem services
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable fisheries
The impact of noise pollution on marine mammals and their acoustic communication
The impact of climate change on terrestrial carbon sinks and sources
The effectiveness of green technology transfer in promoting sustainable development
The impact of deforestation on non-timber forest products and their sustainable use
The impact of climate change on marine invasive species and their ecological impacts
The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable private sector spending
The impact of plastic pollution on zooplankton populations and their ecosystem roles
The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems and their services
The effectiveness of green education in promoting sustainable behavior change
The impact of deforestation on watershed management and water quality
The impact of climate change on soil nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning
The effectiveness of green technology innovation in promoting sustainable development
The impact of noise pollution on human health in outdoor recreational settings
The impact of climate change on oceanic nutrient cycling and primary productivity
The effectiveness of green urban design in promoting sustainable and resilient cities
The impact of plastic pollution on marine microbial communities and their functions
The impact of climate change on coral reef bleaching and recovery
The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by community-managed forests
The impact of climate change on freshwater fish populations and their ecosystem roles
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable tourism
The impact of noise pollution on human stress and cardiovascular health
The impact of climate change on glacier retreat and their effects on freshwater ecosystems
The effectiveness of green technology diffusion in promoting sustainable development
The impact of plastic pollution on sea grass beds and their ecosystem services
The impact of climate change on forest phenology and productivity.
The effectiveness of green transportation policies in promoting sustainable mobility
The impact of deforestation on indigenous peoples’ livelihoods and traditional knowledge
The impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems and their biodiversity
The effectiveness of green building standards in promoting sustainable architecture
The impact of noise pollution on nocturnal animals and their behavior
The impact of climate change on migratory bird populations and their breeding success
The effectiveness of green taxation in promoting sustainable consumption and production
The impact of deforestation on wildlife corridors and ecosystem connectivity
The impact of climate change on urban heat islands and their effects on public health
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable forestry practices
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtle populations and their nesting success
The impact of climate change on invasive plant species and their ecological impacts
The effectiveness of green business practices in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship
The impact of noise pollution on urban wildlife and their acoustic communication
The impact of climate change on alpine ecosystems and their services
The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems
The impact of deforestation on soil carbon stocks and their effects on climate change
The impact of climate change on wetland methane emissions and their contribution to greenhouse gas concentrations
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable forestry and timber production
The impact of plastic pollution on marine mammal populations and their health
The impact of climate change on marine fisheries and their sustainable management
The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation
The impact of noise pollution on bat populations and their behavior
The impact of climate change on permafrost thaw and its effects on Arctic ecosystems
The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by sacred groves
The impact of climate change on tropical cyclones and their impacts on coastal ecosystems
The effectiveness of green technology transfer in promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems
The impact of plastic pollution on benthic macroinvertebrate populations and their ecosystem roles
The impact of climate change on freshwater invertebrate populations and their ecosystem roles
The effectiveness of green tourism in promoting sustainable wildlife tourism practices
The impact of noise pollution on amphibian populations and their communication
The impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems
The impact of deforestation on indigenous peoples’ food security and nutrition
The impact of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions and their ecosystem roles
The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and their services
The impact of climate change on oceanic currents and their effects on marine ecosystems
The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure
The impact of noise pollution on human sleep quality and mental health
The impact of climate change on marine viruses and their effects on marine life
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable packaging and waste reduction
The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by riparian forests
The impact of climate change on insect-pollinated crops and their yields
The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable waste management
The impact of plastic pollution on estuarine ecosystems and their services
The impact of climate change on groundwater recharge and aquifer depletion
The effectiveness of green education in promoting sustainable tourism practices
The impact of climate change on coral reefs and their biodiversity
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable clothing and textile production
The impact of deforestation on riverine fish populations and their fishery-dependent communities
The impact of climate change on mountain water resources and their availability
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable tourism accommodations
The impact of plastic pollution on deep-sea ecosystems and their biodiversity
The impact of climate change on sea-level rise and its effects on coastal ecosystems and communities
The effectiveness of green energy policies in promoting renewable energy production
The impact of noise pollution on human cardiovascular health
The impact of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in marine ecosystems
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable personal care and cosmetic products
The impact of deforestation on carbon sequestration and its effects on climate change
The impact of climate change on wildfire frequency and severity
The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable energy-efficient technologies
The impact of plastic pollution on beach ecosystems and their tourism potential
The impact of climate change on marine mammals and their habitat range shifts
The effectiveness of green urban design in promoting sustainable and livable neighborhoods
The impact of noise pollution on urban human and wildlife communities
The impact of climate change on soil microorganisms and their roles in nutrient cycling
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable electronics and e-waste management
The impact of deforestation on watershed services and their effects on downstream ecosystems and communities
The impact of climate change on human migration patterns and their impacts on urbanization
The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable water management and infrastructure
The impact of plastic pollution on seabird populations and their nesting success
The impact of climate change on ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
The impact of noise pollution on terrestrial carnivore populations and their communication
The impact of climate change on snow and ice dynamics in polar regions
The effectiveness of green tourism in promoting sustainable cultural heritage preservation
The impact of deforestation on riverine water quality and their effects on aquatic life
The impact of climate change on forest fires and their ecological effects
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable home appliances and energy use
The impact of plastic pollution on marine invertebrate populations and their ecosystem roles
The impact of climate change on soil erosion and its effects on agricultural productivity
The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable construction materials and waste reduction
The impact of noise pollution on marine mammal populations and their behavior
The impact of climate change on ocean circulation and its effects on marine life
The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable forest management
The impact of deforestation on medicinal plant populations and their traditional uses
The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems and their carbon storage capacity
The effectiveness of green urban planning in promoting sustainable and resilient cities
The impact of plastic pollution on seabed ecosystems and their biodiversity
The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable palm oil production
The impact of noise pollution on bird populations and their communication
The impact of climate change on freshwater quality and its effects on aquatic life
The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable food packaging and waste reduction
The impact of deforestation on streamflow and its effects on downstream

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Understanding The Concept Of Environmental Science

Table of Contents

Environmental science is a multidimensional field that examines relationships between human beings and the environment. It delves into understanding, protecting, and sustaining our planet’s health. Here’s a quick glance.

What is Environmental Science?

Interdisciplinary Study: Environmental science combines elements of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and social sciences to understand environmental issues comprehensively.
Study of Systems: It focuses on ecosystems, examining how various components interact and influence each other within the environment.

Key Components

Biodiversity: Understanding and conserving the variety of life forms on Earth.
Climate Change: Examining the impacts of human activities on the Earth’s climate system.
Pollution: Investigating the sources, effects, and mitigation strategies for air, water, and soil pollution.
Resource Management: Exploring sustainable practices for using and conserving natural resources.

Importance of Environmental Science

Critical Problem-Solving: Addresses pressing issues like habitat loss, water scarcity, and global warming.
Policy Formation: Provides scientific data to guide environmental policies and regulations.
Community Engagement: Educates and involves communities in environmental conservation efforts.

Careers in Environmental Science

Environmental Scientist: Conducts research to identify and solve environmental problems.
Conservation Biologist: Focuses on protecting and managing natural resources.
Environmental Engineer: Designs systems to address environmental challenges.

Future Challenges

Sustainable Development: It includes Balancing economic growth via environmental conservation.
Climate Resilience: Adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Global Cooperation: Addressing environmental issues requires international collaboration.

Environmental science plays a pivotal role in shaping policies, technologies, and behaviors that contribute to a sustainable future. Understanding its significance empowers us to take proactive steps in preserving our planet for generations to come.

Updated 2024: Top 150 Environmental Science Research Topics

Now we are presenting an extensive collection of current and relevant subjects shaping the field. Covering climate change, biodiversity conservation, pollution, renewable energy, and much more, this curated list reflects the latest trends and pressing issues in environmental science. Dive into these topics to explore cutting edge research opportunities and contribute to the solutions that our planet urgently needs.

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Research Paper Topics on Environment: 30+ Ideas for Inspiration

by Antony W

July 6, 2022

Are you looking for the best research paper topics on environment? You’ve come to the right place.

Whether you wish to write a research paper that raises environmental awareness or you want to explore solutions to save the plant and preserve the environment, you’ll find the topic ideas shared in this guide incredibly useful.

Of course, finding the right topic for your paper by brainstorming can take a lot of time. Add the research process involved and you might spend more time on the assignment than you should.

These topic ideas cut the brainstorming time by almost half, so you can spend less time thinking about what to write about and more time exploring a topic you love.

Professional Writing Help

Stuck with your environment research paper assignment and need help to get it done? Hire our research paper writing help for just $19.9.page and get the assignment written fast.

What Are Environmental Research Topics?

Environmental research paper topics are ideas that relate to the biological, chemical, and physical aspect of our ecosystem.

The focus area includes natural landmarks, human activities, weather, and living organisms.

When it comes to writing a research paper on environment, many students will focus primarily on conservation or prevention.

It’s equally important to focus on other areas related to the environment, such as climate change, sustainability, environmental justice, endangered species, paleoecology, and wildlife ecology.

Research Paper Topics on Environment

The following is a list of research paper topics on environment that are worth looking at.

Keep in mind that these are just ideas, which can help you brainstorm and build an interest around environmental conservation.

1. Climate Change Research Paper Topics

What is the relationship between ozone depletion and climate change?
What exactly is the distinction between climate change and global warming?
Investigate the reasons why some people do not believe in climate change.
Which regions are the most affected by increasing sea levels?
Discuss how hydraulic fracturing impacts the environment.
What effect do melting glaciers have on the environment?
Investigate which natural disasters are associated with climate change.
What effect does an overabundance of CO2 have on the environment?
What relationship exists between tree planting and climate change?
How has the weather in your area changed over the last 20 years?
Investigate the impact of deforestation on the climate.
Discuss the primary causes of climate change.
What are the most serious agricultural issues brought on by climate change?

Related: Psychology Research Paper Topic Ideas

2. Ecology Research Paper Topics

What factors influence the number of creatures in a community?
What kinds of interactions may creatures have with their surroundings?
What is the relationship between water management and environmental concerns?
What is the impact of human garbage on marine ecosystems?
What are the most serious environmental threats today?
What can people do to save pandas from becoming extinct?

3. Living Environment Research Paper Topics

What impact will the extermination of honey bees have on the world?
A comparison of photosynthesis in different plants
How germs enter into food that humans eat
What impact do invading species have on the environment?
A comparison of the dust observed in various locations
How amphibians interact with their surroundings
Is the soil composition consistent throughout?
Talk about the variety of trees in your neighborhood.
Discuss the weed diversity in your town.
What is the relationship between the earth and a live organism?
A comparison of the roots of several plants
The role of the environment in asthma attacks

4. Interesting Topics Environmental Research

Will hybrid vehicles aid in the reduction of pollutants in the atmosphere?
Is ocean acidification a major environmental issue?
What effect do rising CO2 concentrations have on the atmosphere?
Describe the connection between industrialization and acid rain.
The truth about global warming and the misconceptions that accompany it
What role do minor water sources play in the environment?
What effects does climate change have on human health?
Why should the world transition from fossil fuels to hydrogen?
What role pesticides and wastes have in soil contamination
Are industrial facilities near water resources a major source of human disease?
What role does paleoecology play in environmental research?

Also Read: Business Research Paper Topics

The Benefits of Conducting a Research on Environment

It’s not the first time you’ve seen environmental preservation campaigns, and it definitely won’t be the last.

There’s a need to enhance sustainability and make the world a better place for the future generation.

The drive to save the planet and make our environments better than it already is makes research study in this area interesting.

Here are some of the reasons why it makes a lot of sense to conduct research studies on environment.

1. Protect the Environment

By engaging in research on environment, you’ll identify safe ideas and practices that can help to reduce or completely eliminate negative effect of human activities on the environment.

For example, learning about the ins and outs of natural phenomenon such as wildfire will enable you to come up with suggestions of preventative measures to optimize the use of natural resource to make the environment as humanly safe as possible.

2. Graduate with a Degree

You have to complete a research paper project to graduate and earn a degree in your area of environmental studies.

As such, you should to take this project seriously by choosing a topic that you find interesting to explore, provided it’s within the scope of your field of study.

3. Contribute to Existing Research

Taking part in studying and giving recommendations for environmental preservation gives you the opportunity to contribute to existing research.

By examining existing research , you can identify the weaknesses (or gaps) in existing studies, and then offer objective contribution that can fill these gaps and make the environment better than it already is.

Now that you have some research paper topics on environment, it shouldn’t take you long to get started with writing.

If you feel like you have a ton of assignments waiting for you, you can take advantage of the research paper writing service by Help for Assessment.

Our team will help you to:

Choose a research paper topic
Conduct research for your paper from relevant sources
Formulate a research issue
Structure your research paper based on current academic standards and
Help you with writing from start to finish

We’ll work within your deadline to help you get the research paper written, proofread, edited, and submitted on time.

About the author

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

2019 Best Papers published in the Environmental Science journals of the Royal Society of Chemistry

In 2019, the Royal Society of Chemistry published 180, 196 and 293 papers in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts , Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology , and Environmental Science: Nano , respectively. These papers covered a wide range of topics in environmental science, from biogeochemical cycling to water reuse to nanomaterial toxicity. And, yes, we also published papers on the topic of the environmental fate, behavior, and inactivation of viruses. 1–10 We are extremely grateful that so many authors have chosen our journals as outlets for publishing their research and are equally delighted at the high quality of the papers that we have had the privilege to publish.

Our Associate Editors, Editorial Boards, and Advisory Boards were enlisted to nominate and select the best papers from 2019. From this list, the three Editors-in-Chief selected an overall best paper from the entire Environmental Science portfolio. It is our pleasure to present the winners of the Best Papers in 2019 to you, our readers.

Overall Best Paper

In this paper, Johansson et al. examine sea spray aerosol as a potential transport vehicle for perfluoroalkyl carboxylic and sulfonic acids. The surfactant properties of these compounds are well known and, in fact, key to many of the technical applications for which they are used. The fact that these compounds are enriched at the air–water interface makes enrichment in sea spray aerosols seem reasonable. Johansson et al. systematically tested various perfluoroalkyl acids enrichment in aerosols under conditions relevant to sea spray formation, finding that longer chain lengths lead to higher aerosol enrichment factors. They augmented their experimental work with a global model, which further bolstered the conclusion that global transport of perfluoroalkyl acids by sea spray aerosol is and will continue to be an important process in determining the global distribution of these compounds.

Journal Best Papers

Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts

First Runner-up Best Paper: Yamakawa, Takami, Takeda, Kato, Kajii, Emerging investigator series: investigation of mercury emission sources using Hg isotopic compositions of atmospheric mercury at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS), Japan , Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts , 2019, 21 , 809–818, DOI: 10.1039/C8EM00590G .

Second Runner-up Best Paper: Avery, Waring, DeCarlo, Seasonal variation in aerosol composition and concentration upon transport from the outdoor to indoor environment , Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts , 2019, 21 , 528–547, DOI: 10.1039/C8EM00471D .

Best Review Article: Cousins, Ng, Wang, Scheringer, Why is high persistence alone a major cause of concern? Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts , 2019, 21 , 781–792, DOI: 10.1039/C8EM00515J .

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

First Runner-up Best Paper: Yang, Lin, Tse, Dong, Yu, Hoffmann, Membrane-separated electrochemical latrine wastewater treatment , Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 51–59, DOI: 10.1039/C8EW00698A .

Second Runner-up Best Paper: Genter, Marks, Clair-Caliot, Mugume, Johnston, Bain, Julian, Evaluation of the novel substrate RUG™ for the detection of Escherichia coli in water from temperate (Zurich, Switzerland) and tropical (Bushenyi, Uganda) field sites , Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1082–1091, DOI: 10.1039/C9EW00138G .

Best Review Article: Okoffo, O’Brien, O’Brien, Tscharke, Thomas, Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate , Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1908–1931, DOI: 10.1039/C9EW00428A .

Environmental Science: Nano

First Runner-up Best Paper: Janković, Plata, Engineered nanomaterials in the context of global element cycles , Environ. Sci.: Nano , 2019, 6 , 2697–2711, DOI: 10.1039/C9EN00322C .

Second Runner-up Best Paper: González-Pleiter, Tamayo-Belda, Pulido-Reyes, Amariei, Leganés, Rosal, Fernández-Piñas, Secondary nanoplastics released from a biodegradable microplastic severely impact freshwater environments , Environ. Sci.: Nano , 2019, 6 , 1382–1392, DOI: 10.1039/C8EN01427B .

Best Review Article: Lv, Christie, Zhang, Uptake, translocation, and transformation of metal-based nanoparticles in plants: recent advances and methodological challenges , Environ. Sci.: Nano , 2019, 6 , 41–59, DOI: 10.1039/C8EN00645H .

Congratulations to the authors of these papers and a hearty thanks to all of our authors. As one can clearly see from the papers listed above, environmental science is a global effort and we are thrilled to have contributions from around the world. In these challenging times, we are proud to publish research that is not only great science, but also relevant to the health of the environment and the public. Finally, we also wish to extend our thanks to our community of editors, reviewers, and readers. We look forward to another outstanding year of Environmental Science , reading the work generated not just from our offices at home, but also from back in our laboratories and the field.

Kris McNeill, Editor-in-Chief

Paige Novak, Editor-in-Chief

Peter Vikesland, Editor-in-Chief

A. B Boehm, Risk-based water quality thresholds for coliphages in surface waters: effect of temperature and contamination aging, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts , 2019, 21 , 2031–2041, 10.1039/C9EM00376B .
L. Cai, C. Liu, G. Fan, C Liu and X. Sun, Preventing viral disease by ZnONPs through directly deactivating TMV and activating plant immunity in Nicotiana benthamiana , Environ. Sci.: Nano , 2019, 6 , 3653–3669, 10.1039/C9EN00850K .
L. W. Gassie, J. D. Englehardt, N. E. Brinkman, J. Garland and M. K. Perera, Ozone-UV net-zero water wash station for remote emergency response healthcare units: design, operation, and results, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1971–1984, 10.1039/C9EW00126C .
L. M. Hornstra, T. Rodrigues da Silva, B. Blankert, L. Heijnen, E. Beerendonk, E. R. Cornelissen and G. Medema, Monitoring the integrity of reverse osmosis membranes using novel indigenous freshwater viruses and bacteriophages, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1535–1544, 10.1039/C9EW00318E .
A. H. Hassaballah, J. Nyitrai, C. H. Hart, N. Dai and L. M. Sassoubre, A pilot-scale study of peracetic acid and ultraviolet light for wastewater disinfection, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1453–1463, 10.1039/C9EW00341J .
W. Khan, J.-Y. Nam, H. Woo, H. Ryu, S. Kim, S. K. Maeng and H.-C. Kim, A proof of concept study for wastewater reuse using bioelectrochemical processes combined with complementary post-treatment technologies, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1489–1498, 10.1039/C9EW00358D .
J. Heffron, B. McDermid and B. K. Mayer, Bacteriophage inactivation as a function of ferrous iron oxidation, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 1309–1317, 10.1039/C9EW00190E .
S. Torii, T. Hashimoto, A. T. Do, H. Furumai and H. Katayama, Impact of repeated pressurization on virus removal by reverse osmosis membranes for household water treatment, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 910–919, 10.1039/C8EW00944A .
J. Miao, H.-J. Jiang, Z.-W. Yang, D.-y. Shi, D. Yang, Z.-Q. Shen, J. Yin, Z.-G. Qiu, H.-R. Wang, J.-W. Li and M. Jin, Assessment of an electropositive granule media filter for concentrating viruses from large volumes of coastal water, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. , 2019, 5 , 325–333, 10.1039/C8EW00699G .
K. L. Nelson, A. B. Boehm, R. J. Davies-Colley, M. C. Dodd, T. Kohn, K. G. Linden, Y. Liu, P. A. Maraccini, K. McNeill, W. A. Mitch, T. H. Nguyen, K. M. Parker, R. A. Rodriguez, L. M. Sassoubre, A. I. Silverman, K. R. Wigginton and R. G. Zepp, Sunlight mediated inactivation of health relevant microorganisms in water: a review of mechanisms and modeling approaches, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts , 2018, 20 , 1089–1122, 10.1039/C8EM00047F .

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Are you looking for environmental research paper topics? With ongoing debates about global warming, air pollution, and other issues, there is no shortage of exciting topics to craft a research paper around. Whether you’re studying ecology, geology, or marine biology, developing the perfect environmental research topic to get your science research assignment off the ground can be challenging. Stop worrying – we got you covered. Continue reading to learn about 235 different ideas on environmental research topics. In this article, we will discuss environmental topics and show you how to choose an interesting research topic for your subject. We will also provide a list of various environmental topics from our research paper services . In addition, we will present you with environmental science research topics, discuss other ideas about the environment for research papers, and offer our final thoughts on these topics for research papers.

What Are Environmental Topics?

Environmental topics provide an analysis of environmental issues and their effect on people, culture, nature, or a particular place, often interdisciplinary, drawing from sciences, politics, economics, sociology, and public policy. Topics about environmental science may include environmental justice, engineering and communication, regulation, economics, and health. Environment research topics may focus on environmental sustainability, impact assessment, management systems, and resources. In addition, these areas for research papers offer a few opportunities to explore our relationship with the environment and consider how human activities influence it through climate change, pollution, or other factors such as natural resource usage as well as biodiversity loss.

What Makes a Good Environmental Research Topic?

When choosing an environmental research topic, it is essential to consider what makes good environmental topics. Below is an expert list outlining what your topic should be like:

It should be interesting and relevant to your study field.
It's essential to consider the topic's potential implications on environment-related policies. Think about the possible positive or negative effects this topic could have when implemented in terms of protecting our environment.
A good topic should be specific enough to provide a focus for your research paper and allow you to explore a particular issue in depth.
The research topic should be feasible and manageable to ensure that you can find the necessary information and resources.
Environmental sciences research topics should be current and relevant to ecological developments.

How to Choose Environmental Science Topics?

When choosing research topics for environmental science, it is essential to research the available information and determine its relevance. It all depends on whether the research topic is feasible and has the potential for exploration. Environmental issue topics should be well-defined and interesting to the researcher. The reason is that the researcher should be able to provide solutions or make suggestions on improvement strategies. You can follow the below steps when choosing environmental science topics for research:

Step 1: Identify topics that are relevant to your research context. Step 2: Develop a list of research areas by extracting critical concepts from the available literature.

Step 3: Select interesting and feasible topics by considering the methods available for analysis.

Step 4: Analyze these topics to identify the gaps in current research and formulate questions for further investigation. Step 5: Review the available literature to gain insights about the chosen topic and develop a research proposal.

Step 6: Consult experts in this field to get feedback and refine the proposed research.

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List of Environment Research Paper Topics

Environmental topics for a research paper can be overwhelming to navigate due to the vast number of issues you can discuss in your article. To help narrow down your research paper search, below is a list of environmental research topics that include climate change, renewable energy, ecology, pollution, sustainability, endangered species, ecosystems, nature, and water management. You can choose one of them as a guide to writing an excellent essay

Environmental Research Topics on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues that humanity is currently facing due to increased temperature levels. Climate change is amongst the most debated environmental research topics among researchers, policymakers, and governments. Here are critical areas related to climate change that you can use for your environmental science research paper topics:

Causes and effects of climate change.
Climate change adaptation strategies.
Climate change impact on rural communities.
Role of renewable energy sources in mitigating climate change.
Carbon dioxide emission policies.
Global warming and its impact on ocean acidification.
Social effects of climate change.
Permafrost melting and its implications.
Role of international organizations in climate change.
Climate change and forest fire: examining the role of climate change on wildfire season, frequency, and burned area.

Environmental Science Research Topics on Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is essential due to its potential to reduce ecological damage from burning fossil fuels and provides valuable topics in environmental science. You can use renewable energy technologies as a cleaner alternative for generating electricity and heating. In addition, renewable energy is crucial for cooling homes and factories in the world. The following are environmental science topics for research paper on renewable energy:

Renewable energy types, sources, and their impact on the environment.
Economic benefits of renewable energy.
Research on new technologies in renewable energy.
Role of renewable energy in protecting businesses from legal actions.
Hydropower and its role in renewable energy.
Chemical batteries for renewable energy storage.
Green microgrids in optimizing renewable energy usage.
Ocean energy and its effects on the environment.
Geothermal drilling and its consequences.
Biomass resources and their use in renewable energy.

Environment Research Topics on Ecology

Ecology studies how living organisms interact with each other and their environment. Also, it is an important area of research for understanding how the environment affects the function of various species and ecosystems. It also gives a background for one of the best environment research paper topics. Below are topics for environmental research paper on ecology:

Biodiversity conservation strategies.
Impact of pollution on ecosystems.
Ecological research on saving endangered species from extinction.
Role of environment in migrations patterns of animals.
Habitat fragmentation effects on the environment.
Ecological implications of climate change.
Ecology and pest control strategies.
Ecological effects of deforestation.
Ecology and conservation of marine life.
Ecological consequences of urbanization.

Research Topics in Environmental Science About Pollution

Pollution is an issue at the forefront of scientific research. As one of the environmental science paper topics, it offers insights into how pollution destroys the environment and its negative impact on human and animal health. Stated below are hot environmental science research topics on pollution which you can use for your article:

Air pollution: causes & effects.
Water pollution and its consequences for people and other living organisms.
Issue of urban & industrial pollution.
Noise pollution and environment-related health risks.
Marine plastic pollution in oceans.
Radiological waste disposal policies.
Nuclear energy, radiation & health impacts.
Sustainable waste management solutions.
Impact of pollution on biodiversity.
Soil pollution and its effects on agriculture.

Environmental Topics for Research Papers on Sustainability

One of the many topics for environmental research papers is sustainability. Sustainability is an important topic to explore, as it involves finding a way for humans to reduce their ecological footprint and ensure that the environment can recover from our activities. Stated below are environmental topics for research paper on sustainability which you can explore:

Strategies for sustainable development.
Renewable energy sources and their effects.
Environmental sustainability and its economic benefits.
Sustainable energy sources and their effects.
Implications of sustainable agriculture on the environment.
Ecological impacts of sustainable forestry.
Social implications of renewable energy use.
Strategies for mitigating ecological impact from unsustainable development.
Psychological effects of ecological awareness on sustainable practices.
Influence of ecological sustainability on economic growth.

Environmental Topics to Write About Endangered Species

Endangered species are one of the environmental topics of great importance to research and find solutions for their conservation. Poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change negatively impact endangered species. Also, human activities have put other species at risk of extinction by competing for resources as well as introducing invasive species. Below is a list of cool environment topics to write about endangered species:

Endangered species conservation.
Causes & effects of habitat fragmentation.
Wildlife conservation strategies.
Climate change impacts on endangered species.
Illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.
Marine protected areas for conserving marine life.
Ecological restoration and reintroduction programs.
Endangered species in developing nations.
Human rights & animal welfare laws .
Captive breeding for conservation purposes.

Environmental Research Paper Topics on Ecosystems

Ecosystems are fascinating to explore in environmental paper topics because they contain a variety of living organisms and are a complex web of interactions between species, the environment, and humans. The subject provides environmental issues topics for research paper essential in exploring the dynamics of ecosystems and their importance. Below is a list of topics for environmental science research paper:

Ecosystem services & their value.
Climate change impacts on ecosystems.
Hydrological cycle & effects on ecosystems.
Ecological restoration & biodiversity conservation.
Invasive species & their impact on native species.
Biodiversity hotspots: areas of high endemism.
Soil degradation & its impact on ecosystems.
Sustainable forestry practices.
Ecological restoration of wetlands.

Environmental Topics About Nature

Nature is a broad topic that includes ecological conservation, protection, and sustainability issues. Environmental research topics about nature allow us to explore areas that focus on preserving and conserving the environment. Research papers about nature can provide insight into utilizing nature as a resource, both from a practical and ecological aspect. Below is a list of environment topics that you can explore in your essays:

Nature conservation & preservation strategies.
Climate change effects on natural environments.
Natural resource management strategies.
Policies for natural resources management.
Impact of human development on wildlands.
Sustainable use of natural resources.
Role of ethics in nature conservation.
De-extinction: pros & cons of bringing back extinct species.
Protected areas & conservation of rare species.

Environmental Issues Topics on Water Management

Water management is an issue that has a significant impact on the environment. Exploring a topic related to water management can provide experts, among others, with insights into environmental science issues and their implications. When it's time to write your project related to water management, you can explore the following topics for environmental issues:

Water pollution & its control.
Groundwater management strategies.
Climate change impact on water resources.
Integrated water resources management.
Wetland conservation & restoration projects.
Industrial effluents role in water pollution.
Desalination technologies for freshwater production.
Urbanization impact on groundwater resources.
Inland & coastal water management strategies.
Wastewater treatment & reuse technologies.

Environmental Science Topics in Different Areas

Environmental science studies ecological processes and their interactions with living organisms. Exploring environmental science related topics can provide valuable insights into environmental science issues, their ecological implications, and conservation efforts. In addition, these topics can also be explored in different areas, providing a comprehensive understanding of how different factors impact the environment. This section delves into various environmental science topics for projects related to law, justice, policy, economics, biology, chemistry, and health science.

Environmental Law Research Topics

Environmental law governs environmental processes and their interactions with living organisms. Delving into environmental law can uncover invaluable information on environment paper topics, ranging from legal matters and their consequences to preservation initiatives. Students can use the following environmental issue topics for research papers for their essays:

Climate change liability & lawsuits.
Strategies for conservation and protection under environmental law.
Consequences of non-compliance with regulations on the environment.
Impact of trade agreements on environment protection.
Regulatory strategies for hazardous waste disposal.
Strategies for enforcement and compliance with environment-related laws.
International environment treaties and their implications.
Effects of climate change legislation on the environment.
Corporate environmental policies and regulations and their effects.
Role of law in mitigating environment-related issues.

Environmental Justice Research Topics

Environmental justice seeks to ensure equitable treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in ecological protection, regardless of their race, sex, or economic status. Environment topics related to justice can provide valuable insights into ecological issues and their impacts. Listed below are justice-related Environmental topics to research:

Implications of unequal access to resources.
Disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.
Consequences of marginalization of marginalized communities from environmental processes.
Links between poverty and environment degradation.
Effects of non-participation in environment-related decision-making.
Policies to ensure access to clean air and water.
Impact of social inequality on environment protection.
Intersection between gender, race, and environment justice.
Ecological consequences of corporate negligence of marginalized communities.
Disproportionate implications of climate change on vulnerable populations.

Environmental Policy Research Paper Topics

Environmental policy is a set of laws, rules, and regulations created to protect the environment as well as its resources. Studying environment-related policies provides an area for students to explore a range of subjects related to the environment, ranging from local to global. Below are potential environmental sciences research topics for your reference.

Environmental policy initiatives' implications on global climate change.
Effectiveness of carbon taxes for air pollution control.
Land use and development impact on the environment.
Water quality in the united states, focusing on natural resource governance.
Educational initiative's impact on public opinion and policy outcomes.
Social aspects of policy making and implementation on the environment.
Promoting sustainability from a global perspective.
Potential for justice initiatives in promoting equitable and effective management.
Rise of green economy its impact.
Environment policies and their potential for success.

Environmental Economics Research Topics

Environmental economics seeks to understand environmental issues from an economic perspective. Examining environmental studies topics can offer insights into ecological conservation and sustainability while connecting protection efforts with economic interests and helping inform policies. The following are creative topics about environmental science related to economics:

Economic impacts of regulating the environment.
Strategies for environmentally sustainable economic growth.
Consequences of non-compliance with environment-related regulations.
Environment conservation and protection using economic incentives.
Taxes and subsidies and their implications on the environment.
Economic implications of climate change legislation.
The private sector role in environment conservation and protection.
Green finance role in mitigating ecological issues.
Economics of pollution control and management.
Conservation and protection of the environment in the face of economic interests.

>> Learn more: Economics Research Topics

Environmental Biology Research Topics

Environmental biology is a field of science that focuses on understanding the interactions between living organisms and their environment. It covers environmental biology topics such as biodiversity, conservation, pollution, management, health, and sustainability. The following are environment research paper topics related to biology:

Biodiversity conservation in managing the environment.
Role of biotechnology in reducing air pollution.
Environment degradation and its consequences on wildlife.
Role of microorganisms in maintaining soil fertility.
Ecological consequences of over-exploitation of natural resources.
Habitat fragmentation and its role in species conservation.
Education's role in environment conservation.
Environment degradation and its effects on food security.
Invasive species and their impacts on ecosystem.

Keep in mind that we have a whole blog on biological topics if you need more ideas in this field.

Environmental Chemistry Research Topics

Environmental chemistry research is a complex interdisciplinary field aiming to understand the behavior of a chemical process within an environment. It involves researching the impact of pollutants in the air, soil, water, and other ecological media. Possible research topics about the environment related to this field include:

Effect of agricultural chemicals on water systems.
Air pollution control strategies and their effectiveness.
Climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Sources and implications of persistent organic pollutants.
Air quality monitoring for urban areas.
Water quality monitoring in coastal areas.
Characterization and fate of toxic compounds in soil and groundwater.
Impact of hazardous chemical waste on the environment.
Monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites.
The roles of environmental chemistry in climate change research.

Need more ideas? There is one more blog with chemistry research topics on our platform.

Environmental Health Science Research Topics

Environmental health is a diverse field focusing on the natural environment as well as its effects on human health. It is an interdisciplinary field that offers environment topics for research, such as environmental epidemiology, toxicology, and ecology, in addition to risk assessment. Provided below is a list of topics for an environmental science project that is suitable for your research paper:

Air pollution effects on human health.
Climate change effects on health.
Water pollution and public health.
Noise pollution effects on well-being.
Mental health effects of environment-related toxins.
Human health effects of natural disasters.
Urbanization's effect on human health.
Sustainable development and public health.
Role of social media in promoting environmental health and awareness.
Biodiversity preservation and its impact on human health.

Other Ideas & Topics About Environment for Research Papers

Ecological crisis is a key issue that has continuously affected planet earth. People are becoming more aware of environmental problems as well as their impact on health, well-being, and quality of life. As such, ecological fields for research are becoming ever more critical. This section will explore interesting environmental topics related to current ecological issues, controversial, interesting topics, easy research questions for projects, as well as unique research areas which students might study. These environmental issue project ideas below will help you develop interesting fields for research papers.

Current Issues in Environmental Science

Current ecological issues are a hot topic that has become increasingly important. They provide outstanding environmental issues to write about due to their impact on the environment and human health. The following are environmental issue topics for paper writing that are currently in discussion:

Global warming and how to prevent its impact.
Sustainable energy and its role in protecting the environment.
Water conservation practices.
Renewable energy role in global ecological protection.
Carbon footprint and climate change.
Ozone layer depletion and its effects on human health.
Plastic pollution and its impact.
Land degradation and soil erosion.
Energy industry activities effects on ecological health.
Air pollution and its impact on human health.
Deforestation and its consequences.
Effect of agricultural practices on ecological health.
Overuse and exploitation of natural resources.
Industrial waste impact on health.
Green technology role in ecological protection.

Controversial Environmental Topics for Research Paper

Environmental controversies constitute a significant challenge facing society today. From climate change to air and water pollution, the effects of human activity on our natural environment are increasingly becoming a focus of public debate and research. Research papers on environmental controversial topics can help inform the public as well as policymakers about the potential impacts of human activities on the environment. The following are examples of environmental controversy topics for research paper:

Climate change: is human activity a primary cause of global warming.
Deforestation: are current logging practices sustainable in the long term.
Air pollution: what are the health impacts of air pollution.
Water pollution: how is water pollution impacting biodiversity and ecosystems.
Geothermal energy: what potential impacts does geothermal energy extraction have on the environment.
Renewable energy: are wind and solar energy carbon-neutral.
Arctic drilling: is drilling for oil in the arctic ocean a viable option given current climate conditions.
Nuclear power: what health risks are associated with nuclear power plants.
Biodiversity loss: what steps can you take to protect biodiversity from human activities.
Endangered species: how protecting endangered species can impact conservation efforts and how they live.
GMO foods: are genetically modified organisms safe for human consumption? how does GMO food affect humans.
Pesticides: how does pesticide use affect our health and the environment.
Ocean acidification: how is ocean acidification impacting marine ecosystems.
Waste management: what are the most effective ways to manage waste and reduce pollution.
Resource exploitation: how does the exploitation of natural resources impact local communities.

Interesting Environmental Research Topics

In the context of environmental subjects, research topics explore the effects of human activities on the environment as well as the potential solutions to the identified problems. In addition to providing insight into ecological protection and conservation, research areas in this category cover social issues related to environmentalism and ecological justice. Below are interesting environmental science topics to consider when looking for a research topic in the future:

Effects of environment-related toxins on human health.
Climate change effects on coastal habitats.
Agricultural activities impacts on the environment.
Groundwater contamination and its effects on water quality.
Pollution from factories and its impact on the environment.
Waste management strategies and their impacts.
Consequences of water contamination on local wildlife.
Impacts of mining.
Deforestation effects on ecosystems and species diversity.
Industrial fishing practices effects.
Sustainable forestry practices and their impact on ecosystems.
Nuclear energy production and its consequences.
Reducing emissions from vehicles and their effects on air quality.
Landfills implications on the environment.
Implications of plastic pollution.

Easy Environmental Research Questions for Projects

When it comes to environmental science topics for project work, there are plenty of easy options. Research projects in this category can explore ecological issues as well as their consequences or potential solutions to these problems. The following is a list of the top fifteen most accessible environment project topics for your research project.

Air pollution levels impact on urban areas.
Agricultural practices effects on the environment.
Developing strategies for sustainable development.
Causes of water contamination.
Factors contributing to global warming.
Natural disasters effects on the environment.
Land use changes effects on the environment.
Energy consumption impacts on the environment.
Climate change effects on the environment.
Industrialization and its consequences.
Impact of plastic pollution.
Health risks associated with air pollution.
Deforestation impacts on the environment.
Soil erosion and its effects on the environment.
Causes and consequences of species extinction.

Unique Environmental Research Topics for Students

As environmental issues become increasingly complex, research fields for students become more varied. Unique environmental research topics for college students can range from local ecological concerns to global ones. The following are fifteen unique environmental science research topics for high school students and college students:

Climate change impact on water quality.
Acid rain and its effects.
Urbanization's effect on biodiversity.
Effects of offshore drilling.
Ocean acidification and its impact.
Impact of privatization on natural resources.
Effectiveness of renewable energy sources.
Relationship between energy consumption and the environment.
Potential impacts regarding genetic engineering on biodiversity.
Toxic waste disposal and its impacts.
Environment-related policies impact on water quality.
Deforestation and its effects on soil quality.
Causes and consequences of ozone layer depletion.
Relationship between pollution and public health issues.

Final Thoughts on Environmental Topics for Research Papers

This article has provided 235 environmental science research topics for research papers as well as project work that high school and college students can use. Topics range from local issues, such as assessing air pollution levels in an urban area, to global concerns, like examining the ecological effects of plastic pollution. Whether its health risks are associated with air pollution in an environment or the impacts of industrialization, research can help shape your understanding of how to protect as well as preserve our planet. It is up to the students to identify good environmental research topics that are interesting and relevant to them and to delve deeper to understand the earth better.

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351 Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Environmental science research topics depend on a vast range of issues pivotal to understanding and safeguarding the natural world. Some themes may dive deep into studies of climate change, assessing its impact on ecosystems and suggesting mitigation strategies. Various topics also explore biodiversity, looking at species conservation and threats to habitats globally. Pollution is another focal area, investigating the sources, effects, and solutions to air, water, and soil contamination. Moreover, sustainable practices focus on renewable energy, green urban planning, and sustainable agriculture. This interdisciplinary field even scrutinizes human behavior, illustrating the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors and environmental health. Thus, environmental science research topics cover exploration, data interpretation, and creative problem-solving, all with the ultimate goal of developing ecologically responsible and sustainable methods for the proper coexistence of people and the natural world.

Hot Environmental Research Topics

Understanding Climate Change and Food Security Nexus
Unveiling Mysteries of Deep Ocean Biodiversity
Exploring Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture
Harnessing Green Energy: Opportunities and Challenges
Rethinking Urban Design for Climate Resilience
Insights Into Ecological Consequences of Deforestation
Green Building Practices: A Comparative Study
Endangered Species and Conservation Efforts: A Comprehensive Review
Examining the Potential of Vertical Farming in Urban Areas
Strategies for Plastic Waste Management: A Global Perspective
Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems: An Unseen Threat
Decoding Links Between Soil Health and Agricultural Productivity
Effective Water Management Strategies in Arid Regions
Emerging Contaminants in Freshwater Bodies: Trends and Solutions
E-Waste Recycling: Technological Advancements and Challenges
Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Human Behavioral Change for Environmental Sustainability
Analyzing the Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health
Biodiversity Hotspots and Their Conservation Significance
Assessing Geoengineering Techniques for Climate Change Mitigation

Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

Easy Environmental Research Topics

Exploration of Solar Energy Advantages
Rainwater Harvesting: A Simple Guide
Why Recycling Matters: A Closer Look
Green Spaces in Urban Planning
Wildlife Conservation in Local Communities
Understanding the Threat of Endangered Species
Eco-Friendly Farming: The Basics
Pollution in Cities: An Overview
Renewable Energy: Current Trends
Conservation of Water: Simple Methods
Sustainable Living: Small Changes, Big Effects
Climate Change: Easy-to-Understand Facts
Rising Sea Levels: Exploring Causes
Greenhouse Gases: A Beginner’s Study
Composting at Home: An Introduction
Biodiversity in Backyards: A Survey
Plastic Waste: The Global Picture
Community Gardens: Environmental and Social Benefits
Forest Fires and Climate Change: A Link

Interesting Environmental Topics

Decoding Coral Reef Bleaching Phenomena
Intricacies of Permaculture Design Principles
Fascinating World of Biofuels: A Deeper Dive
Cryptic Life of Microorganisms in Soil Health Maintenance
Innovative Techniques in Water Purification and Conservation
Ecology of Urban Bees: A Novel Approach
Mysterious Decline of Honeybee Populations
Analysis of Climate Change Predictive Models
Rise of Veganism: Environmental Implications
Bizarre Effects of Light Pollution on Wildlife
Ecosystem Services Provided by Wetlands
Unfolding the Hidden Costs of Fast Fashion
Overpopulation and Strain on Environmental Resources
Wonders of Agroforestry: An Interdisciplinary Investigation
Unraveling the Puzzle of Eutrophication
Curious Case of Invasive Species: Winners or Losers?
Dissecting the Intricacies of Carbon Footprints
A Magnet for Pollution: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Invisible Enemy: Silent Threat of Indoor Air Pollution
Glacial Retreat: A Story of Changing Climates

Environmental Research Topics for High School

Influence of Climate Change on Local Weather Patterns
Renewable Energy Sources: An Overview
Understanding the Process of Composting
Examining the Threat of Endangered Species Locally
Exploring the Concept of Carbon Footprint
Deforestation and Its Consequences: A Closer Look
Greenhouse Effect Simplified: Causes and Consequences
Waste Management: Importance of Recycling and Reusing
Biodiversity in Your Backyard: An Introduction
Diving Into the World of Organic Farming
Air Quality Index and Its Significance
Examining Coral Reefs: Importance and Threats
Water Conservation Techniques for Sustainable Use
Unpacking the Plastic Problem: From Production to Pollution
Agriculture and Its Environmental Effects: An Overview
Urban Heat Islands: Causes and Mitigation Strategies
Natural Disasters: Causes and Preparation Techniques
Exploring the Connection Between Diet and Environment
Invasive Species’ Impact on Native Ecosystems
Sustainability in Action: Everyday Practices for a Greener Future

Environmental Research Topics for College Students

Unraveling the Mystery of Coral Bleaching
Environmental Justice: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Sustainable Transport: A Comparative Study
Diving Into Deep Sea Mining: Pros and Cons
Solar Power Efficiency: Opportunities and Challenges
Biodegradable Plastics: A Solution or a Mirage?
Hydroelectric Power: Evaluating Environmental Trade-offs
Permaculture Principles and Its Real-World Applications
Ecotourism: An Assessment of Environmental and Social Effects
Air Pollution and Public Health: An Interdisciplinary Study
Ecological Footprint: Calculation and Interpretation
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture
Industrial Agriculture vs. Organic Farming: A Comparative Analysis
Urban Planning for Climate Resilience: A Detailed Review
Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
Wetlands: Ecological Importance and Conservation Measures
Ocean Acidification: Causes and Effects on Marine Life
Green Architecture: Innovations and Challenges
Sustainable Waste Management: Technological Innovations and Best Practices

Environmental Research Topics for University

Interconnections Between Forest Fires and Climate Change
Assessing Sustainability in Supply Chain Management
Urban Sprawl and Environmental Degradation: A Case Study
GMO Crops: An Environmental and Social Analysis
Geospatial Techniques in Environmental Conservation
Water Quality in Developing Countries: Comprehensive Study
Marine Pollution: Sources, Consequences, and Mitigation Strategies
Environmental Ethics: Perspectives and Applications
Soil Erosion: Causes, Effects, and Control Measures
Geoengineering Techniques for Climate Change Mitigation
Sustainable Urban Development: New Avenues and Challenges
Nanotechnology in Environmental Remediation: A Critical Review
Climate Policy and International Relations: A Complex Nexus
Sustainable Fashion: Practices, Challenges, and Future Directions
Technological Innovations in Renewable Energy: A Trend Analysis
Green Spaces and Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Review
Trends in Sustainable Aquaculture Practices
Wildlife Trafficking and Environmental Security: A Global Perspective
Analyzing the Health Effects of Air Pollution
Disposal and Management of Hazardous Waste: Current Techniques and Challenges

Topics in Environmental Science Research

Challenges of Sustainable Resource Management
Environmental Epigenetics: A New Frontier
Plant-Based Diets and Sustainability: A Deeper Insight
Unfolding Mysteries of Climate Migration Patterns
Urban Ecology: Interactions of Humans and Nature
Biochar as a Soil Amendment: An Analysis
Threats to Arctic Ecosystems: A Detailed Review
Influence of Mining Activities on Local Environments
Deciphering the Ozone Layer Depletion Puzzle
Flood Risk Management in Changing Climates
Regenerative Agriculture: Practices and Prospects
Methane Emissions From Livestock Farming: A Critical Review
Ecohydrology: Interactions Between Water and Ecosystems
Ecological Restoration of Degraded Landscapes
Exploring the World of Conservation Genetics
Plastic Pollution in Terrestrial Environments: An Emerging Issue
Bioinformatics in Biodiversity Conservation: A Novel Approach
Sustainable Tourism Practices: A Global Overview
Life Cycle Analysis of Consumer Products
Urban Farming Innovations: A Potential Solution for Food Security

Research Topics for Environmental Issues

Deciphering the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Anthropogenic Effects
Climate-Smart Agriculture: Innovation and Adoption Challenges
Environmental Governance: Comparative Analysis of Global Frameworks
Quantifying Biodiversity: Advanced Metrics and Methodologies
Radiative Forcing From Atmospheric Aerosols: A Detailed Study
Advancing Sustainable Urban Development: A Systems Perspective
Environmental Risks of Nanomaterials: A Comprehensive Review
Plant-Microbe Interactions in Phytoremediation: Molecular Mechanisms
Ecological Modelling for Ecosystem Service Valuation
Assessing Future Trajectories of Sea Level Rise
Climate Change Adaptation: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Policy Interventions
Agricultural Practices and Soil Carbon Sequestration: An In-Depth Study
Socioeconomic Determinants of Environmental Behavior: A Cross-Cultural Analysis
Sustainable Water Management in Arid Regions: Novel Approaches
Challenges in Implementing a Circular Economy: A Case Study
Holocene Climate Variability: Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions
Green Chemistry: Emerging Techniques and Environmental Implications
Bioenergy Production: Environmental Trade-Offs and Opportunities
Ecosystem Resilience in the Face of Anthropogenic Disturbances

Environmental Safety and Health Topics for Research

Health Implications of Air Quality: A Comprehensive Study
Assessing Occupational Hazards in the Mining Industry
Water Quality and Public Health: An Interdisciplinary Study
Developing Safety Protocols in the Chemical Industry
Exploring the Nexus Between Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases
Managing Safety and Health in the Construction Industry
Radioactive Pollution: Risks and Mitigation Strategies
Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health
Biosecurity Measures in Agriculture: Policies and Implementation
Assessing Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms to Human Health
Exposure to Heavy Metals: Health Risks and Regulatory Standards
Quantifying Health Impacts of Industrial Pollutants
Food Safety in a Changing Climate: Challenges and Solutions
Indoor Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases: A Detailed Study
Developing Protocols for Hazardous Waste Management
Assessing the Health Effects of Microplastics Exposure
Understanding Health Risks of Pesticide Exposure in Agriculture
Psychosocial Factors and Safety Culture in the Oil and Gas Industry
Health Impact Assessment of Nuclear Energy Facilities

Environmental Engineering Topics for Research

Innovative Techniques in Wastewater Treatment
Biofuel Production: Process Optimization and Scale-Up Challenges
Advancements in Water Desalination Technologies
Novel Materials for Photovoltaic Cells
Harnessing Energy From Tidal and Wave Power: Engineering Challenges
Biodegradable Materials for Sustainable Packaging Solutions
Remediation Techniques for Contaminated Soil
Carbon Capture and Storage: Technological Developments
Improving Efficiency of Wind Turbines: A Technical Review
Sustainable Construction Materials: A Life Cycle Analysis
Geotechnical Considerations for Offshore Wind Farms
Green Synthesis of Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications
Advanced Oxidation Processes for Water Treatment
Modeling and Optimization of Landfill Gas Recovery
Acid Mine Drainage: Mitigation Strategies and Techniques
Environmental Biotechnology: Harnessing Microbes for Pollution Control
Heat Transfer in Energy Efficient Buildings: An Analysis
Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites for Construction Applications
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Developing Energy Efficient Processes in Chemical Industries

Research Topics for Environmental Biology

Unraveling Symbiotic Relationships in Coral Reefs
Genetic Diversity and Conservation: An Interdisciplinary Approach
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Plant Adaptation Strategies to Abiotic Stress Factors
Marine Microbial Ecology: Unseen Life in the Oceans
Metagenomics Approaches in Soil Microbial Ecology
Understanding Invasive Species: Genetic and Ecological Perspectives
Examining Trophic Interactions Under Climate Change
Phylogenetic Analysis of Endangered Species for Conservation Strategies
Genomics of Extremophiles: Survival in Harsh Environments
Investigating Effects of Plastic Pollutants on Aquatic Life
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Analysis of Environmental Impact Assessment Laws Across Countries
Regulating Genetically Modified Organisms: A Comparative Legal Study
Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Legal and Ethical Dimensions
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Exploring Legal Implications of Geoengineering Techniques
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Forest Rights and Conservation: A Legal Analysis
Legal Frameworks for the Protection of Indigenous Environmental Knowledge
Laws Regulating Hazardous Waste Management: A Comparative Study
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Environmental Research Topics About Economics

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Economic Analysis of Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
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Green Growth: Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Countries
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Economic Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation: An Overview
Incorporating Environmental Costs in Product Pricing: A Case Study
Investigating the Economics of Carbon Capture and Storage
Market-Based Instruments for Pollution Control: A Detailed Analysis
Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters: A Global Perspective
Analysis of Cap-and-Trade Systems for Carbon Emissions
Investigating the Effectiveness of Environmental Taxes
Economic Analysis of Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Assessing the Economic Feasibility of Biofuel Production
Economic Implications of Water Scarcity: A Cross-Country Analysis
Transition to a Circular Economy: Economic and Policy Considerations
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Environmental History Research Topics

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Consequences of the Agricultural Revolution on Environment: A Detailed Study
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Green Spaces in Urban Planning: A History of Urban Parks
Global Patterns and Causes of Deforestation: A Historical Overview
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Arctic Exploration and Its Environmental History
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From Fossil Fuels to Renewables: A History of Energy Transition
River Management and Conservation: Historical Perspectives
Lessons for Climate Change Adaptation From The Dust Bowl History
Causes and Consequences of Marine Pollution: A Historical Analysis
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Genetically Modified Crops: Environmental Savior or Biohazard?
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Anthropocene: Valid Geological Epoch or Human Egotism?
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De-extinction and Its Potential Ecological Consequences
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Neonicotinoids and Bee Decline: Assessing the Controversy
Economic Growth vs. Environmental Protection: Reconciling the Dichotomy
Landfilling vs. Zero Waste Approach: A Comparative Study
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Coral Reef Protection: Strategies and Success Stories
Green Building: A Must for Sustainable Urban Development
Incorporation of Environmental Education Into School Curriculum
The Shift From Fast to Slow Fashion: Need of the Hour
Afforestation as a Natural Climate Solution: Examining Its Potential
Promoting Circular Economy: A Way Forward for Waste Reduction
Divestment From Fossil Fuels: An Imperative Climate Action
Supporting Indigenous Knowledge for Biodiversity Conservation
Plant-Based Diet: A Strategy for Reducing Carbon Footprint
Urban Green Spaces: Essential for Human Wellbeing and Biodiversity
Adoption of Electric Vehicles: A Key to Reduce Carbon Emissions
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Argumentative Environmental Research Topics

Dams and Hydroelectric Power: Net Gain or Loss for the Environment?
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Population Control: Necessary Environmental Strategy or Human Rights Violation?
International Trade and Its Environmental Consequences
Arguments Around Carbon Trading and Its Efficacy
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Research Topics for Environmental Debates

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Twenty Key Challenges in Environmental and Resource Economics

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Published: 16 October 2020
Volume 77 , pages 725–750, ( 2020 )

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Lucas Bretschger 1 &
Karen Pittel 2

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Economic and ecological systems are closely interlinked at a global and a regional level, offering a broad variety of important research topics in environmental and resource economics. The successful identification of key challenges for current and future research supports development of novel theories, empirical applications, and appropriate policy designs. It allows establishing a future-oriented research agenda whose ultimate goal is an efficient, equitable, and sustainable use of natural resources. Based on a normative foundation, the paper aims to identify fundamental topics, current trends, and major research gaps to motivate further development of academic work in the field.

Environmental Economics, Climate Change Policy and Beyond: A Tribute to Anil Markandya

Ibon Galarraga, Mikel Gonzalez-Eguino & Dirk T. G. Rübbelke

Environment and Natural Resources

Exploration of Deep-seated Ecological Economic Problems

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

1 Introduction

1.1 research frontier.

The research agenda in environmental and resource economics has always been very broad and dynamic, reflecting the ways our economies interact with the natural environment. While in classical economics of the eighteenth century the factor land played a dominant role, the effects of pollution externalities, resource scarcities, ecosystem services, and sustainability became important in subsequent time periods. These issues have triggered different waves of research with very prominent results, specifically on optimal policies in the presence of externalities (Pigou 1920 ), optimal extraction of non-renewable resources (Hotelling 1931 ), optimal capital accumulation in the presence of resource scarcities (Dasgupta and Heal 1974 ), and sustainable development (Hartwick 1977 ; Pearce et al. 1994 ). Of course, the list of topics has already been very diverse in the past but has increasingly become so with recent global environmental problems challenging the functioning of a world economy which is growing at a high rate and heavily relies on an international division of labour and trade.

In the past, new research challenges emerged and manifested in different ways: Some topical fields became increasingly relevant due to new technological developments, new ecological or societal challenges or new political agendas. Others arose in fields that were already well researched but rose in importance. Not all challenges were of a topical nature. In some fields, we found our methodological tool-kit not equipped to deal with new problems or in need of extension to find new (and better) answers to old questions. At the same time, it has become increasingly clear that we have to reach out to other disciplines to meet new and often immense challenges. In environmental economics it is key to seek a good balance between disciplinary excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and political impact.

Environmental and resource economics is a dynamic field, in which new key topics emerge frequently. So, while the topical and methodological challenges that the paper identifies will be important for some time to come, they will and should also be subject to further development over the next years and decades. The paper aims to identify and address the variety of new complex problems generated by humans when they exploit natural resources and the environment. We specifically identify Twenty Challenges that we feel will be important for environmental and resource economists to address. We are aware that such a list will never be unanimously agreed upon and we do not even lay claim on the list being complete; the next section provides a background to the compilation of the list. Nevertheless, we feel it to be important to (at best) point researchers in directions important to work in in the future or (at least) to launch a new—controversial but productive—discussion on the development of our field. In any case, the paper should support the profession to operate at the research frontier generating novel theories, empirical designs, and workable policies. But, before we turn to the Twenty Challenges , we aim to motivate the framing of research in our field—past, present and future.

1.2 Identification of Research Challenges

To provide a normative foundation for our research agenda we characterize our underlying assumptions and generalized views on the nature of research in the field. This set of basic assumptions motivates the criteria of importance, activeness, and distinction of the selected topics as well as our choices with respect to design, methodology and research methods. Identifying the relevant issues, i.e. the mere choice of what to study in environmental economics imposes specific values on the subjects. In our view, the guiding principle in the normative framework is that environmental economics differs from general economics by its ontology, i.e. the system of belief that reflects the interpretation of what constitutes an important fact. It is a deep and serious concern about the state of the natural environment that drives the economic analysis of ecological processes. Nature is not simply part of the economic system but a different system with its own very complex regularities and dynamics; ecosystem values are not reducible to market exchange values. The task to integrate the ecological and economic systems to a holistic framework in an appropriate manner and to derive valid guidelines for the economy under the restrictions imposed by the environment lies at the heart of our research. Central parts of the ontology are the valuation of ecosystems, the increasing scarcities in natural resources and sinks, the effects of environmental externalities, the long-term orientation of planning, an important role of uncertainty, and the existence of irreversible processes. The anthropocentric view and the use of utilitarianism do not imply that individuals are purely self-centered and narrowly selfish. It highlights the indistinguishable role of human decision making for the future of the planet and aims at decision making that cares for efficiency, equity, and posterity. Based on a broad utilitarian setup, growth is not valued in terms of material consumption but in terms of wellbeing, which includes elements like social preferences, work-life balance, appreciation of nature etc. Posterity reflects our care for future generations, whose welfare should not be harmed by the activities of current generations. Fundamental changes of the economy e.g. the phase-out of fossil fuels, includes policy-induced decrease of activities, a role for technology, substitutability in production and consumption, a decoupling from natural resource use, and internalizing cost to correct market failures. Substantive transitions are very difficult to implement, as important lock-in mechanisms such as habit persistence, built infrastructure, and supporting policies such as subsidies stabilize current practices. To achieve a change of mindset in politics to achieve a transition to a green economy is a difficult task. A fundamental systems change, as discussed by many these days, is undoubtedly much more complex to accomplish; its impacts are uncertain and may delay the necessary steps which are important to rapidly improve the state of our ecosystems.

We acknowledge that one can always challenge an ontological position because it reflects ethical principles. In our research agenda there is no external reality, independent of what we may think or understand it to be. We reduce economic and ecological complexity through our personal system of belief to design our preferred map, which by definition is not the territory. In his survey of ecological research issues for the economists, Ehrlich ( 2008 ) refers to his ”own mental meta-analysis” to motivate his choices and to alert us to the importance of research on big issues like the meaning of life, mortality, and death. At the same time, he acknowledges that the emergence of pervasive new environmental problems, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, requires to flexibly adjust research programs to societal demand. Adjustments of the agenda may also be supply driven, when new methods allow for more effective engagement with important issues like risk and uncertainty or assessment of empirical regularities with superior estimation methods.

1.3 Forming a Research Agenda

Environmental economics is closely linked to general economics in its epistemology, i.e. the validity, scope and methods of acquiring knowledge by using models, distinguishing between positive and normative models, and testing hypotheses with empirical methods and experiments. An important cornerstone for economic research has always been the analysis of economic efficiency. Since the early days of environmental economics research, this has also held for our field whether it concerned the efficiency in the use of natural resources or the design of policies. Although research in our field has become much more interdisciplinary and policy-oriented, this still constitutes common ground. It is still a prime duty of the economist to point at the potentially vast allocative inefficiencies of the use of natural resources in pure market economies. Efficiency is a necessary condition for optimal states of the economic-ecological system and the foundation for policies maximizing social welfare.

The pursuit of optimality has to be complemented by a requirement to take care of equity and posterity enabling sustainability of development. In this long-run perspective, economics has to highlight the substitution effect as a powerful mechanism establishing consistency between humanity and its natural environment. Substitution comes in many guises, e.g. as substitution between clean and dirty production, renewable and exhaustible resources, extractive and conservationist attitude, pollution intensive and extensive consumption, etc. This dynamic analysis is crucial in many respects. It has recently been included at all levels of research in the fields. The same holds for the issue of risk and uncertainty, a pervasive topic when dealing with the environment.

In many cases, there has been a significant discrepancy between the theoretical derivation of social optima in academia and the attempts to foster their implementation under realistic policy conditions. As a consequence, policies dealing with environmental issues have been of very different quality and effectiveness. The reduction of acid rains, the protection of the ozone layer, and cutbacks of particulate matter emissions in many world regions were among the prominent successes. Global warming, extraction of rare earth elements, and loss of biodiversity are not yet addressed in a comprehensive manner. Political resistance against the protection of nature often refers to the economic costs of policies, including the concerns of growth reduction, employment loss, and adverse effect on income distribution. The lack of success in many policy areas has led to reformulation and extension of the research agenda. In the future, research should focus more on strengthening the links between theory and policy.

Our selection of the Twenty Challenges is also based on the potential of research in these areas to contribute and leverage social welfare and sustainable development. We specifically look for areas that are either inherently new to the research agenda in environmental and resource economics or in which research stagnates. We present the challenges in a specific order and like to highlight the links between them before we enter into the details. The aim of net zero carbon emission by the mid of the century dominates current policy debates and unites basically all important elements of our discipline; it thus constitutes a good starting point. Decarbonization necessarily involves a deep understanding of systems dynamics and of risk and resilience, which are presented next. An important and not sufficiently addressed research issue is the emergence of disruptive development during a substantive transition, the next challenge for our research. Extending the scope, we then address human and government behaviour. In the context of environmental policy, the popular and sometimes underrated request of an equitable use of the environment has emerged as a dominant topic, a next issue for further research. As natural capital involves many more elements than the climate, biodiversity and general ecosystem services are included in the sequence. Broadening the scope to the big problems of human behaviour with natural resources we then turn to political conflicts, population development and conflicting land use. Shifting the focus on induced movements of the labour force we go on by dealing with environmental migration and urbanization. These affect welfare of the individuals in a major way, like health and the epidemiological environment as a next research challenge. In terms of the reorganization of the transition to a green economy we highlight the central role of finance and the implementation of new measures in the dominant energy sector. The final three research challenges are motivated by advances in the methodology. Big data and machine learning offer new perspectives in sustainability research, refined methods and increasing experience improve our simulation models and structural assessment modelling, which forms the last three challenges of our list.

1.4 Links to Current Research

In order to put our agenda into a broader perspective and to concretize the selected challenges, we believe it is important to show the relationship between our research agenda and the priorities in current literature and policy debates. We have considered three main links. First, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative literature review and analyzed current research as presented at international conferences (World Conference of Environmental and Resource Economics in 2018, the SURED conference in 2018, Meetings of the American, European, and Asian Associations of Environmental and Resource Economics in 2019). The aim of this analysis was to see where our profession moves and which of the currently hotly debated topics offers a high potential for future research. Second, we took the discussions in interdisciplinary research fora into consideration to identify further fields that are of high importance for future resource use, sustainable development and environmental outcomes but have so far not been adequately addressed from an economics perspective. Information on this research was gained through interdisciplinary research initiatives (for example The Belmont Forum, Future Earth and National Research Funding Activities). Involvement in interdisciplinary and globally oriented research councils provided further access to the discussions in other disciplines. Third, we draw conclusions from current policies and news as well as our involvement in the policy arena. The authors are involved in a number of institutionalized policy-oriented activities on the regional, national and international level (Regional Climate Councils, National Climate Policy Platforms as well as the UN climate negotiations).

The paper relates to similar contributions in recent literature. Based on citation data Auffhammer ( 2009 ) identifies important topics and scholars and provides a brief historical overview of the discipline from exhaustible and renewable resources to sustainability, pollution control, development, international trade, climate change, international agreements, and non-market valuation. Polyakov et al. ( 2018 ) analyze authorship patterns using text analysis for classification of articles in Environmental and Resource Economics. Based on 1630 articles published in the Journal from 1991 to 2015 they document the importance of applied and policy-oriented content in the field. They identify non-market valuation, recreation and amenity, and conservation, as popular topics and growing when measured by both number of articles and citations. Costanza et al. ( 2016 ) investigate the most influential publications of Ecological Economics in terms of citation counts both within the journal itself and elsewhere. Important topics turn out to be social aspects of environmental economics and policy, valuation of environmental policy, governance, technical change, happiness and poverty, and ecosystem services. A contemporary analysis of how research issues have developed in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management in the time of its existence is provided by Kubea et al. ( 2018 ). These authors show that the sample of topics has broadened from the core issues of non-market valuation, cost-benefit analysis, natural resource economics, and environmental policy instruments to a more diversified array of research areas, with climate change and energy issues finding their way into the journal. In addition, increasing methodological plurality becomes apparent. They conclude that energy, development, and health are on the rise and that natural resources, instrument choice, and non-market valuation will endure; multidisciplinary work will be increasingly important. An excellent survey on research in the central field of sustainable development is provided in Polasky et al. ( 2019 ), which explicitly shows where the collaboration between economists and the other disciplines is currently insufficient and how it should be intensified in the future.

Regarding the literature that we connect our Twenty Challenges to, we naturally face the problem that some challenges have so far not been addressed adequately in the (economics) literature. In these cases we also reference papers from other disciplines. We, however, also take basic literature and recent research in environmental and resource economics into account. As we often deal with emerging topics, we cite some of this work even when not yet published. In other cases, where future research can build on or learn from past research, we also go back in time and reference older papers. Ultimately, neither our list of challenges nor the literature we base our analysis on will be satisfying to everybody. Our selection cannot be comprehensive and does not claim to be. But the specific task to identify future-oriented topics ultimately lasts on a subjective individual assessment of the authors. Nevertheless, hopefully it imparts impulses for future research in the different subfields of environmental and resource economics.

2 Twenty Challenges

The ordering of the following challenges should not be understood to perfectly reflect their individual importance (beyond what we explained in the previous sections). Also, many of the fields discussed are inherently related, creating some unavoidable overlap. We feel that efforts to bring the challenges into some complete ’natural order’ are not only doomed to fail but also would not do them justice as they relate to very different areas and can/should not be weighed against each other. Also, attempting to show their interrelations would result in a 20-by-20 matrix that would not provide more clarity.

Deep decarbonization and climate neutrality To limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius, a state of net zero greenhouse gas emissions—i.e. climate neutrality—should be reached by the mid of the century (IPCC 2018 ). The directly following and unprecedented challenge is to decarbonize the global economy in very a narrow time window (Hainsch et al. 2018 ). This holds especially as the threshold for 1.5 degrees is expected to be passed around 2040 (IPCC 2018 ). Countries must increase their NDC ambitions of the Paris Agreement more than fivefold to achieve the 1.5 degree goal (UN - United Nations 2019 ). The time window for necessary decisions is closing fast. Infrastructure that is installed today often has a life span that reaches until and beyond 2050. Decisions on investments today therefore affect the ability to reach climate targets not only in 2030 but also 2050 and beyond. And while the necessity of reaching net zero emissions by mid century is reflected by, e.g., the European Commission’ Green Deal, much uncertainty remains regarding its implementation. This holds to an even larger extent with respect to other countries and regions. The fundamental challenge is to better understand economically viable deep decarbonization paths and then to implement incentives for input substitution, technology development, and structural change. More specifically, the vision of these policies has to be long-term and reach beyond phasing out coal and increasing energy efficiency. However, despite recent research efforts in climate economics, many issues around decarbonization, negative emissions and economic development are still controversial or insufficiently understood by economists. Specifically, industry applications for which alternative technologies are not available yet as well as agricultural emissions will have to be addressed. Also, the later greenhouse gas emissions start to fall, the faster their decline will have to ultimately be in order not to overshoot temperature targets (Agliardi and Xepapadeas 2018 ), leading to an increased need for negative emissions. However, potential trade-offs and synergies in the use of land for negative emission technologies, food production and biodiversity are still underresearched. Identifying technologies today that are the most promising in the very long run is subject to high uncertainty. Yet, while investing too early might be costly, delaying investment might cost even more or might lead to a weakening of future climate targets (Gerlagh and Michielsen 2015 ). Also, transition processes may involve strong scale effects implying nonlinear development of abatement cost. Once certain thresholds are reached, lower abatement cost or even disruptive development completely altering the production process could emerge in a later phase of decarbonization. Given the dramatic increase needed in mitigation efforts to reach the 1.5 or even 2 degree target, more attention also has to be devoted to the question of adaptation. Until today, the focus of research as well as policy has been primarily on mitigation rather than adaptation, partially because of expected substitution effects between mitigation and adaptation and partially because adaptation was taken to be automatic (Fankhauser 2017 ). However, as Fankhauser lays out “knowledge gaps, behavioral barriers, and market failures that hold back effective adaptation and require policy intervention”. All of these topics present a wide scope for substantial further research.

Dynamics of the economic-ecological system Depletion of exhaustible resources, harvesting of renewable resources, recycling of raw materials, and accumulation of pollution stocks require basic societal decisions which are of an inherently dynamic nature. Whether the world society will be able to enjoy constant or increasing living standards under such dynamic natural constraints depends on another dynamic process, which is the accumulation of man-made capital. To derive the precise laws of motion in all the stock variables is challenging because general solutions of dynamic systems with several states are usually hard to obtain. An adequate procedure to obtain closed-form solutions may be to link several stocks in a reasonable way, e.g. when simultaneously dealing with resource, pollution, and capital stocks (Peretto 2017 ; Bretschger 2017b ). The specific challenge is then to find the best possible economic justification to motivate the links. One may also focus on a few stocks which are considered the main drivers of economic development and sustainable growth on a global scale (Marin and Vona 2019 ; Borissov et al. 2019 ). When resorting to numerical simulation methods it is a main challenge to provide basic economic results which are sufficiently robust and supported by ample economic intuition. Social-ecological systems are increasingly understood as complex adaptive systems. Essential features of these systems - such as nonlinear feedbacks, strategic interactions, individual and spatial heterogeneity, and varying time scales—pose another set of substantial challenges for modeling in a dynamic framework. A main challenge is the characterization and selection of dynamic paths with multiple equilibria and the overall tractablility of the models, given the diversity of interlinkages and nonlinear relationships. The complexity of economic-ecological systems lead to a main challenge for designing effective policies is taking account of network effects, strategic interaction, sectoral change, path dependencies, varying time lags, and nonlinear feedbacks have to be considered as well as different regional and temporal scales, interdependencies between ecosystems, institutional restrictions and distributional implications (see, e.g., Engel et al. 2008 ; Levin et al. 2013 ; Vatn 2010 ). Optimal policies should also acknowledge the balance between the preservation of the ecology and the development of the economy especially for countries growing out of poverty. Setting a price for ecosystem services and natural capital via policy is important for preventing innovation incentives from being skewed against maintaining natural capital and ecosystem services.

Risk, uncertainty, and resilience The vast majority of contributions in environmental economics use models with a purely deterministic structure. However, large negative environmental events require a completely different framework, which poses specific challenges for modelling. Heatwaves, floods, droughts, and hurricanes are shocks that are very uncertain, arriving at irregular times and with varying intensity. Also, risk and uncertainty about socio-economic impacts and technological development affect the optimal design of policies (see, e.g., Jensen and Traeger 2014 ). Moreover, uncertainty changes the political economy of climate policy and, finally, regulatory and policy uncertainty might create obstacles to reach climate targets through, for example, distortions of investment decisions (Pommeret and Schubert 2018 ; Bretschger and Soretz 2018 ). Stern ( 2016 ) argued forcefully that climate economics research needs to better integrate risk and uncertainty. Bigger disasters or so-called ”tipping points” such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, the collapse of Atlantic thermohaline circulation, and the dieback of Amazon rainforest involve an even higher level of uncertainty (Lenton and Ciscar 2013 ) with implications for optimal policy design and capital accumulation (Van der Ploeg and de Zeeuw 2018 ). Understanding the implications of tipping points is further complicated as the different tipping points are not independent of each other (Cai et al. 2016 ). The Economy and the Earth system both form non-deterministic systems; combining the two in an overarching framework and adding institutions for decision making multiplies the degree of complexity for adequate modelling and methods (Athanassoglou and Xepapadeas 2012 ). It is thus a main challenge for further research to provide analytic foundations and policy rules for rational societal decision-making under the conditions of risk and uncertainty up to deep uncertainty (Brock and Xepapadeas 1903 ; Baumgärtner and Engler 2018 ). Future work on policy design under deep uncertainty can build on a wide range of literature ranging from the assessment of the precautionary principle in this context to the fundamental contributions by Hansen and Sargent ( 2001 ) and Klibanoff et al. ( 2005 ) as well as on more recent analyses in the context of environmental and resource economics, e.g. Manoussi et al. ( 2018 ). An important challenge of the environmental discipline is to provide a framework for the global economy providing the conditions for resilience against major shocks and negative environmental events (Bretschger and Vinogradova 2018 ). With deep uncertainty one has to generate rules for deep resilience. Including uncertainty is especially important when environmental events do not occur constantly but cause the crossing of tipping points involving large and sudden shifts. Economic modeling needs to increasingly incorporate tipping points and the value of resilience in theory and to generate and use data supporting the empirical validity. The combination of uncertainty and potential irreversible outcomes (e.g., species extinction) is another big challenge for research.

Disruptive development and path dependencies Substantial and sometimes disruptive changes in behavioral patterns, economic structure and technologies will be required if net zero GHG emissions and the UN sustainable development goals are to be reached. On the bright side, development may exhibit favorable disruptions. Consumers’ preferences and political pressure coupled with new technology achievements may alter certain sectors in a short period of time. Similar to the communication industry which has completely changed, transportation and heat generation could and mst probably will undergo fundamental changes in the near future. The research challenge here is to provide adequate models predicting and adequately analyzing such important transitions and to highlight resisting forces at the same time. In fact, the change of trajectories in development is often hampered by technological, economic and behavioral lock-ins, resulting in path dependencies and inertia. In such situations, history influences current development through, for example, past investment in R&D, the size of established markets, increasing returns or habits acquired (Aghion et al. 2016 ; Barnes et al. 2004 ; Arthur 1989 ). Behavioral path dependencies affect acceptance and adoption of new technologies, hinder social innovation and might render policies aimed at marginal changes ineffective. They can thus postpone the transition to a low-carbon economy, harm efforts in biodiversity conservation and prolong unsustainable resource use patterns and lifestyles, even if they are welfare enhancing in the long-run (e.g. Acemoglu et al. 2012 ; Kalkuhl et al. 2012 ). Inertia and lock-ins may also be policy driven with, for example, political or economics elites trying to block change (Acemoglu and Robinson 2006 ) or clean energy support schemes fostering new technology lock-ins. Whether disruption or a lock-in emerges depends, for example, on expectations determining the steady state of an economy (Bretschger and Schaefer 2017 ). This requires nonlinearities e.g. in capital return, generating overlap regions in which the growth path is indeterminate and could be either driven by history or by expectations. The challenge is to add more substantial research into system dynamics and the political economy of change, to gain a better understanding of the different mechanisms responsible for inertia and disruptive change. So far, the role of path dependencies has often been neglected in empirical as well as theoretical analyses (Calel and Dechezlepretre 2016 ). Also, understanding the triggers or tipping points for disruptive change can help to identify policies that have a big environmental impact with moderate costs in terms of environmental policy.

Behavioral environmental economics Traditionally, economics focuses predominantly on the supply side when analyzing potentials and challenges for environmental policies. Preferences of individuals are mostly assumed to be given with economic analysis confining itself to studying the effects of changing incentives and altering constraints. The change and development of preferences over time plays only a comparative minor role for economic research. Also, the follow-up question whether policies should be allowed to tamper with preferences is rarely discussed with nudging being one big exception to this rule (e.g. Strassheim and Beck 2019 ). While the traditional, supply-side oriented analysis has provided powerful results in positive analysis, it proves to be limited in a field which inherently includes normative conclusions like environmental economics. The path toward sustainable development requires behavioral changes and political actions changing our relationship to the environment. Ultimately, environmental policies have to be decided by the same people overusing the environment in the absence of a policy. In situations where outcomes are inefficient because individuals and political actors follow their own self-interest and ignore external costs and benefits of their actions, it is clearly not sufficient for economists to advocate the implementation of environmental policies. It is crucial to understand under what conditions preferences change and agents support green policies (Casari and Luini 2009 ). So, the challenge to economic research is to better understand the evolution of green attitudes, the emergence of preferences for a clean environment, and expectations in the case of multiple equilibria (Cerda Planas 2018 ). The formation and development of preferences is also not independent from cultural, regional and community aspects. Research that ignores heterogeneity among actors or the role of social and group dynamics and only relies on the traditional, isolated analysis of individual preferences is likely to lead to an incomplete understanding of preference dynamics. As the example of discounting shows, the social context has an impact on myopic attitudes and the motivation to undertake sacrifices for a cleaner future (Galor and Özak 2016 ). Also, attention to behavioral details, that economists might find rather uninteresting from a research perspective, might influence effectiveness of policies tremendously (Duflo 2017 ). Especially with the natural environment, the choice and guise of policy instruments should take these mechanisms into account.

Institutional analysis of environmental policy Virtually every contribution to the environmental and resource economics literature culminates in one or several policy conclusions. However, these results are often received with skepticism from industry and public. Therefore, a continuing key challenge for our profession is a thorough understanding of environmental policy institutions, processes and decision-making; this task has become even more important given the enormous scale and global nature of future policies. Research in this area has, however, the advantage of already looking back on a long tradition (see e.g. the body of work by Daniel Bromley, e.g. Bromley 1989 ). Well-designed institutions support and create incentives to drive development toward a welfare-improving state. Absent, weak, inefficient, or even corrupt governments and institutions are detrimental to successful environmental policy (Pellegrini and Gerlagh 2008 ; Dasgupta and De Cian 2016 ) or might lead to detrimental effects of resource wealth (see Badeeb et al. 2017 for an overview of the related literature). To effectively increase social welfare by, for example, conservation of ecological services, one has to design policies in a way that allow implementation under realistic policy conditions (Rodrik 2008 ). Pure reference to the construct of a social planner is not sufficient. For increasing efficiency in problem solving, the ex-post evaluation of policies has to be expanded and improved. Policy evaluation should not only analyze if regulatory objectives have been reached but also which side-effects arise (OECD 2017 ). Moreover, the comparison with alternative measures and a continuous international exchange of best practices have to be supported by science. A proactive environmental policy analysis should furthermore include studying vested interests, lobbying, political power, policy communication, and voting behavior. Especially insights from behavioral economics may add to our understanding of a proper design of environmental institutions. On the international level, the adequate institutional design for global environmental policy still poses great challenges. Beyond traditional research fields like international environmental agreements in specific areas like climate change, the multi-dimensionality of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and potential trade-offs between different goals need to be explored further. This holds especially given the vast differences in income, vulnerability, and resilience between countries, as well as the need for unanimity and voluntary contributions on the UN level. Relating national to international policies has the potential to be especially rewarding in this context given the SDGs relevance for and acceptance in national as well as international politics. Insights from the analysis of institutions in traditional economic sectors (e.g. on the efficiency of capital markets) should be transferred and applied to the global level (e.g. with respect to investment in the world’s natural capital stock).

Equitable use of the environment We place equity and fairness in dealing with the natural environment on the priority list of our challenges because first and foremost equity is a central requirement for sustainability of development. By definition, sustainable development seeks an equitable treatment across different generations as well as agents living today. We also believe that for successful environmental policies, equity and fairness are crucial complements to the dominant efficiency requirement (Sterner 2011 ). It is a specific challenge of our field to study equity in an economic context and to demonstrate its importance for sustainability to mainstream economics and the public. The first aspect of the problem is the aforementioned unequal vulnerability of countries to environmental changes such as global warming. If vulnerability is higher in less developed countries, the equity perspective is especially striking. As a matter of fact, most of the climate vulnerable countries have a low average income. Global environmental policy is then motivated not only by efficiency but also by the aim of preventing increasing inequalities (Bretschger 2017a ). Global efforts are also indicated to avoid adverse feedback effects of induced inequalities like environmental migration. The second aspect is that acceptance of public policies sharply increases with the perceived fairness of the measure (Pittel and Rübbelke 2011 ; IPCC 2018 ). In the past, economists have often underestimated political resistance against efficient environmental protection, which was mostly related to negative impacts on income distribution. Take carbon pricing and emission regulation as a current example. Although evidence from cross-country studies suggests that regressivity of carbon pricing is much less frequent than often assumed in the public (Parry 2015 ), the perceived distributional impact is often very different (Beck et al. 2016 ). Therefore the impact of environmental policies on income groups, regions, and countries should be better integrated in our analysis and policy recommendations. Where efficient policies are regressive, economists have to evaluate and propose alternative or complementary policy designs. Benefits and costs need to be disaggregated by group (country) with a special attention on the poorest members of society (countries). Internationally, equity concerns need to be addressed especially in situations where the entire world benefits from the protection of natural capital and ecosystem services in poor countries (e.g., of carbon sinks and biodiversity hubs like tropical rain forests). The experience with the REDD+ process shows the complexity of designing such international approaches to incentivize and enable developing countries to protect these global public goods. More economic analysis is needed on all of the above aspects, giving rise to a rich research agenda in theory and applied work.

Loss of biodiversity and natural capital The rate of species extinction today is estimated to be up to 1000 times higher than without human interference (Rockstrom 2009 ). Human activities impact biodiversity through land use change, pollution, habit fragmentation and the introduction of non-native species but also increasingly through climate change and its interaction with already existing drivers of biodiversity change (IPCC 2002 ). In view of this, biodiversity conservation has long been a focus of politics. In 1992, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity main objectives were stated as ”the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” (UN - United Nations 1992 ). Yet, although economists have developed conceptual and theoretical frameworks addressing the valuation of biodiversity (Weitzman 1998 ; Brock and Xepapadeas 2003 ) and despite data on valuation having become increasingly available (see, e.g. TEEB 2020 ), Weitzman ( 2014 ) points out, that an objective or even widely agreed measure of biodiversity and its value is still missing. The same holds for an underlying theory framework and a comprehensive measure of natural capital that not only includes biodiversity but also its links to regulating services (e.g., pollution abatement, land protection), material provisioning services (e.g., food, energy, materials), and nonmaterial services (e.g., aesthetics, experience, learning, physical and mental health, recreation). How biodiversity and natural capital should be measured, which societal, political and economic values underlie different measures and valuation and how ecological and economical trade-offs should be dealt with are big challenges left for future research. In order to address these issues, not only do we need to develop appropriate assessment methods, but we also need to disclose the theoretical basics of this assessment and which trade-offs go hand in hand with different assessments (Brei et al. 2020 ; Antoci et al. 2019 ; Drupp 2018 ). Completely new issues for the valuation of biodiversity and natural capital arise with the development of new technologies. Take DSI (digital sequence information), for example. DSI are digital images of genetic resources (DNA) that can be stored in databases. This gives rise not only to new challenges regarding their valuation but also about the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of these resources.

Valuing and paying for ecosystem services Related to the question of biodiversity valuation is the market and non-market valuation of ecosystem services in general and the adequate design of payment for ecosystem services (PES). Overall, research on ecosystem services valuation has made significant progress in the last decades. Nevertheless, challenges remain even in traditional valuation fields (for example, valuation of non-use or interconnected ecosystems). Other, so far underresearched areas that constitute promising fields for future research are health-related valuation aspects (Bratman et al. 2019 ) and nonmaterial ecosystem services, such as amenities of landscapes or cultural ecosystem services (Small et al. 2017 ; James 2015 ). Also, data availability remains a problem in many valuation areas. Although digitized observation and information systems offer large potentials for previously unknown data access, they also raise a whole slew of new ethical, privacy as well as economic questions, especially in areas like health. While a lot of progress has been made in the valuation of ecosystem services, their impact on decision making still lags behind. One factor contributing to this disconnect are prevalent mismatches between regional and temporal scales of economic, institutional and ecological systems that make valuation and policy design complex (Schirpke et al. 2019 ). The challenge is to develop combined natural science-economic models that allow better insights into how changes in economic systems lead to changes in the flows of ecosystem services and vice versa (Verburg et al. 2016 ). This requires a deep understanding of ecological and economic systems as well as other aspects like technologies, regional heterogeneity and system boundaries, i.e. catastrophic events. It also raises classic economic problems, such as choosing an appropriate discount rate and degree of risk aversion. Regarding tools to include ecosystem services in economic decision making, PES are a, by now, well-established (Salzman et al. 2018 ) and also quite well-researched approach for promoting environmental outcomes. Still, the literature has identified a number of aspects to be addressed in the design of PES to make them more effective as well as efficient and to simultaneously improve social outcomes (Wunder et al. 2018 ; Chan et al. 2017 ). A promising area of research rarely addressed are PES to preserve transboundary or global ecosystem services through international payment schemes (for example, in tropical forest preservation). While some work has been done on the conceptual level (e.g. Harstad 2012 ), the REDD+ process (Maniatis et al. 2019 ) and the failure of the Yasuni initiative (Sovacool and Scarpaci 2016 ) show the complexity of such approaches for which a thorough economics analysis is still missing.

Conflicts over natural resources Climate change and decarbonization transform regional and global geopolitical landscapes and might give rise to future domestic as well as international conflicts (Mach et al. 2019 ; Carleton and Hsiang 2016 ). First, decarbonization changes the role of resources and of resource- and energy-related infrastructures. Climate policies affect the rent allocation between different fossil fuels like, for example, coal and natural gas, but might also change the overall rent level (Kalkuhl and Brecha 2013 ). Asset stranding can endanger stability in resource (rent) dependent countries. Conflicts may also arise over materials critical to new, low-carbon energy technologies like rare earth elements but also over access to sustainable energy (Goldthau et al. 2019 ; O’Sullivan et al. 2017 ). Further research is needed to design policies that are better equipped to reduce the vulnerability of economies to changes in resource availability and resource rents. This opens up challenges for future research, especially as restrictions from very diverse institutional capacities have to be considered to render policies efficient and effective. Second, climate change will affect the ability to meet basic human needs through food, land and water. Sulemanaa et al. ( 2019 ) find a positive effect of the occurrence of temperature extremes on conflict incidence. They stress the need for more advanced spatial econometric models to identify effects that are transmitted across space. More research is also needed on the role of institutions and interaction with other phenomena like population dynamics, migration, and environmental degradation. Currently, the role of climate for conflict is still small compared to other causes, many linkages between conflicts and climate change as well as other factors promoting conflict are still uncertain (Mach et al. 2019 ). The challenge to economic research is to get early insights into the nexus of historical and cultural factors, vested interests, population dynamics and climate change in order to help to prevent resource-related conflicts.

Population development and use of the environment Already since antiquity, demographic analysis has been a central topic of human thinking. With the Malthusian predictions of catastrophes caused by population growth, the topic is firmly related to the natural environment and the limits of planet Earth. While limited food production was the dominant topic in the 18th century, the impact of world population on global commons, availability of renewable and exhaustible resources, and ecosystem services have been dominant topics in the last decades. Still, while it is often argued in the public and in natural sciences that world population size should be a concern because of ecological constraints, economics has largely left the topic on the side; the few exceptions (Peretto and Valente 2015 ) and (Bretschger 2013 , 2020 ) point in a different direction, namely the compatibility of population growth and sustainable development under very general conditions. Current trends of demographic transition show significant signs of population degrowth for leading economies while trends for developing countries vary substantially (UN - United Nations 2019 ). Population is forecasted to expand especially in Africa, accounting for more than half of the world’s population growth over the coming decades, raising questions about the effect of this population increase on fragile ecosystems, resource use and ultimately the potential for sustainable growth (African Development Bank 2015 ). Population growth will also promote further urbanization and migration triggered by environmental and resource depletion but also giving rise to new environmental problems (Awumbila 2017 ). Challenges from population development and environment are thus closely linked to the other research topics highlighted in this article. However, population growth is not exogenously given but determined by economic, social as well as environmental factors. Education and income or economic development have long been established as crucial for fertility (see e.g. the reviews of the literature provided by Kan and Lee 2018 ; Fox et al. 2019 ). To integrate these findings into a holistic approach is a mediating challenge for future research. Climate change might affect these channels in different ways, potentially exacerbating global inequality (Casey et al. 2019 ). However, population development, fertility, and mortality are not only affected by climate change but also by other environmental stresses like air pollution (Conforti et al. 2018 ). A successful combination of endogenous fertility and mortality with natural resource scarcity, agricultural production, and pollution accumulation as well as capital and knowledge build-up in a comprehensive framework is a respectable challenge for an economic modeller; we suggest that in the future it should be considered by economists more intensively.

Land use and soil degradation The terrestrial biosphere with its products, functions and ecosystem services is the foundation of human existence, not only for food security but far beyond. Currently, about a quarter of ice-free land area is degraded by human impacts (IPCC 2019 ). The optimal use of scarce land resources becomes an even more urgent topic in the face of the biodiversity crisis and the onset of climate change. This holds especially as the physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food is the basic precondition for human existence. Climate change challenges this access on different levels. On the one hand, climate change increases the pressure on productive land areas (due to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, forest fires or the shifting of climatic zones). On the other hand, land plays a major role in many climate protection scenarios by reducing emissions from land use and land use change, protecting carbon stocks in soils and ecosystems, and conserving and expanding natural carbon sinks. Also, the capture and storage of CO 2 through carbon dioxide removal technologies plays an increasing role for reaching the Paris climate goals (IPCC 2018 ). The induced increase in the demand for the different services from land inevitably implies trade-offs. However, neither the trade-offs nor the potentials for synergic uses are, as of now, comprehensively understood from an economic point of view and thus pose a challenge for future research. While there is a growing literature on negative emission technologies, their costs, potentials and side effects (Fuss et al. 2019 and references within) as well as on the interaction between climate goals and other SGDs on the global level (von Stechow et al. 2016 ), many research questions still remain to be addressed (Minx et al. 2018 ). This concerns especially a better understanding of opportunity costs, governance requirements, regional and distributional effects as well as of acceptance and ethical considerations. With respect to land degradation and land use for food production, changing climate and weather conditions as well as regional population pressure may raise the rate of land degradation (Fezzi and Bateman 2015 ), hurting food security and calling for preservation policies (Brausmann and Bretschger 2018 ). The overuse of ecosystems like forests and water, which protect and complement land, can accelerate the risk of adverse shocks and thus lower soil fertility, which reveals the close link between the different research subjects. However, much of the agricultural research in this field is still quite distant from mainstream environmental economics which can harm research productivity substantially. It remains a challenge to integrate agricultural and environmental research better, for example by bringing together food production, population, and the environment into a macrodynamic framework (Lanz et al. 2017 ).

Environmental migration Migration in times of climate change is an extraordinarily complex, multicausal and controversial challenge (Adger et al. 2014 ). Heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, and rising sea levels are likely to motivate or even force a growing number of people to leave their homes moving to presumably safer places. Climate-related migration can take a variety of different forms (Warner 2011) from voluntary to involuntary, from short- to long-distance and from temporary to permanent. Migration decisions are usually based on different motives and personal circumstances (climatically, politically, economically, socially), leading to heterogeneous reactions to climate events and making it often problematic to identify and delineate climate-induced migration. Due to these and other methodological difficulties and the small number of studies so far, no globally reliable forecasts for climate induced migration exist (WBGU - German Advisory Council on Global Change 2018a , b ). At present, the forecasted magnitude of the phenomenon ranges from 25 million up to 1 billion people by 2050 (Ionesco et al. 2017 ). Much of this migration can be expected to take place within countries, for example, from rural to urban areas or from drylands to coastal zones (Henderson et al. 2014 ) with environmental migration being one possible adaptation and survivor strategy in the face of climate change (Millock 2015 ). Given the uncertainty in future migration projections, the challenge is to improve migration models (Cattaneo et al. 2019 ) which includes a better understanding and integration of the microfoundation of agents’ migration decisions. Migration, and especially mass-migration, can have a profound impact on the environment of the new as well as the old settlement location and on their economic structure. Labor and commodities markets will be affected the most, with challenges arising also for education and health systems, government budgets and public spending. By affecting public institutions and the skill-mix of the labor force, migration alters economic development both in the sending and in the receiving countries or regions. More research is needed on these impacts. The influx of environmental migrants to new settlement locations may also trigger hostile attitudes and lead to clashes and even armed conflicts. The migrants may be perceived as rivals for scarce resources (land, clean water) or jobs. The situation may be aggravated by lack of political stability and poor-quality political institutions. Dealing with these aspects gives rise to new challenges in environment and resource economics. Traditional analysis of economic costs and benefits of migration have to be complemented by behavioral economic and political economy analyses.

Urbanization as a key for environmental development In the last 70 years, the urban population has increased fivefold with more than half of the world’s population living in cities today and forecasts projecting the share of urban population to rise to almost 70% in 2050 (UN - United Nations 2018 ). Cities are responsible for about 70% of the world energy use and global CO $_{2}$ -emissions (Seto et al. 2014 ) and ecological footprints are positively correlated to the degree of urbanization (WBGU - German Advisory Council on Global Change 2016 ). In 2014, about 880 million people were living in slums (UN - United Nations 2016 ) elucidating the problems to make urban development environmentally as well as economically and socially sustainable. The speed of urbanization is projected to be the fastest in low and middle income countries, especially in Africa and Asia (UN - United Nations 2018 ), leading to new challenges for the provision of infrastructure, housing, energy supply, transport and even health care. Climate change can be expected to not only foster urbanization trends (Henderson et al. 2017 ) but also increase the magnitude of urbanization-related challenges. Urban areas are often located close to the coast or rivers basins, making them susceptible to rising sea levels and impacts of extreme weather events. Risks can be expected to be higher for poor households due to settlement in less safe areas and poorer housing (Barata et al. 2011 ), potentially perpetuating existing inequalities. On the other hand, cities might offer more efficient adaptation potentials. To date the consequences of climate change for cities and urbanization are still to be determined in detail but depend heavily on factors like location, size and level of development as well as governance capacities. Making cities, their population and their infrastructure resilient to climate change will be decisive for future development. The main challenge here is to better connect the research fields of environmental and urban economics to understand the drivers and dynamic effects of climate change on urbanization and resulting economic development, on adaptation costs and benefits and on the role of institutions. Insights from regional, political and behavioral economics can help shape effective governance to enhance resilience of cities to climate change.

Health and epidemiological environment Environmental degradation can have profound implications for human health. These implications lead to direct as well as indirect challenges for economic decision making, economic development and thus economic research. While many of these challenges might not be new per se, they can be severely exacerbated by, for example, climate change. Economic implications of long-term increases in vector-borne diseases and heat stress as well as pandemics like the COVID-19 and ozone formation still remain to be analyzed in depth, as do the costs and benefits of adaptation measures dedicated to mitigating these effects (Mendelsohn 2012 ). Climate change also affects human health indirectly through impacts on economic development, land use, and biodiversity - and vice versa. Failed emission reductions and bad environmental management especially impact developing countries negatively through direct effects on health but also through health effects of delayed poverty reduction (Fankhauser and Stern 2020 ). Exposure to diseases or epidemics can increase the risk of civil conflicts and violence (Cervellati et al. 2016 , 2018 ). While research has addressed effects of life-expectancy, diseases and premature mortality on long-run economic development (e.g. Ebenstein et al. 2015 ; Acemoglu and Johnson 2007 ), a thorough analysis of the climate-health-development nexus is still missing. Overall, most research carried out on the interaction between environment, climate and human health has focused on physical health and mortality. The effects of air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels or agriculture on premature deaths, cardiac conditions and respiratory diseases, for example, received not only renewed interest in the wake of recent scandals (see e.g. Alexander and Schwandt 2019 ) but have been an active field of research for a number of years (Schlenker and Walker 2016 ; Tschofen et al. 2019 ). Mental health implications like stress, anxiety or depression on the other hand have received much less attention although, for example, Chen et al. ( 2018 ) in a study on air pollution in China estimate these effects to be on a similar scale to costs arising from impacts on physical health. Also, Danzer and Danzer ( 2016 ) find substantial effects of a large energy-related disaster (the Chernobyl catastrophe) on subjective well-being and mental health. Economic research should take up the challenge and put more effort into the economic evaluation of mental health related effects of climate change and environmental degradation in general. Potential to analyze these and other health-related questions have risen substantially in the last years, method-wise as well as topical, with new large data sets becoming available. Big data from insurance companies, satellite imagery on pollution dispersion and effects of draughts, for example, can provide new insights into the dynamics between environmental changes and health. But digital technologies themselves also generate new research questions addressing, for example, risks, costs and benefits of these new technologies.

Carbon exposure and green finance The impact of climate change and of climate policy on the financial system is a topic of increasing public concern. The transition to a low-carbon economy poses a lot of challenges not only from physical risks and damages but also from transition risks. These accrue in such different areas as climate-related policy making, altered market behavior, changes in international trade patterns, technology development, and consumer behavior. To support a safe and gradual transition to a low-carbon economy, the financial sector needs to evaluate and eventually address the new risks associated with climate change and decarbonization in an efficient manner. There is widespread concern that financial markets currently lack sufficient information about the carbon exposure of assets, resulting in risks from climate change and climate policy for investments (Karydas and Xepapadeas 2018 ). If not anticipated by the markets, climate shocks also cause asset stranding, i.e. unanticipated and premature capital write-offs, downward revaluations, and conversion of assets to liabilities (Rozenberg et al. 2020 ; Bretschger and Soretz 2018 ). The same holds true for climate policies which are not or cannot be correctly anticipated by investors (Dietz et al. 2016 ; Stolbova et al. 2018 ; Sen and von Schickfus 2020 ). The growing awareness of these risks is reflected in the attention that policy makers have devoted to the development of transparency improving information systems and indicators in recent years. However, challenges related the design of these systems and indicators, e.g. with respect to an accurate and encompassing risk assessment, still remain. The importance of addressing these challenges is excerbated by prevalent network effects and counterparty risks that transmit climate-induced financial shocks from individual firms to the broad public holding their capital in stocks of fossil-fuel-related firms, investment funds, and pension funds, which all could suffer from stranded assets (Battiston et al. 2017 ). Divestment campaigns, shareholder engagement, and mandatory disclosure of climate-relevant financial information by companies and investors warrant further theoretical and empirical analysis. Also, a better understanding of the economics behind financing instruments like green bonds is only recently emerging (Agliardi and Agliardi 2019 ). Despite some early studies there is a knowledge gap with respect to the extent of climate and policy risks for central banks and regarding the potential significance of different channels connecting the risks in the real economy with monetary policy. Given the environmental and international policy perspective of the climate problem, the specific contribution of the financial sector and the central banks in the architecture of global climate policy has to be subject to further investigation.

Energy system transformation The transition from a fossil-based to a green economy is needed to combat climate change but requires a thorough transformation of energy systems (Pommeret and Schubert 2019 ) in developed as well as in developing countries. In industrialized countries, challenges arise from the structural transformation of highly complex energy systems and their linkage with other economic sectors. While one hundred years ago, it was the rapid dissemination of fossil-based industrial processes, transportation, and heating that resulted in wide-spread sectoral change, similar adjustments can be expected with the increasing importance of electricity for decarbonization. However, changing the use of energy technologies in practice involves decisions on different levels and constitutes a highly nonlinear process. Future power generation in many countries will increasingly rely on renewable energies like wind and solar energy. To offset intermittent power generation, more and better storage capacities of batteries or pumped hydropower will be needed (Ambec and Crampes 2019 ). Synthetic fuels, heat pumps, fuel cells and e-mobility will increasingly use electricity to replace fossil fuels not only in the power sector but also in traffic and heat generation. While the adoption of renewable technologies like wind and solar was often much faster than predicted in the past, the critical mass of market penetration has still to be reached in other areas to benefit from potential scale effects and cost decreases. Shape and speed of the energy transition are, however, highly dependent on a political process which is hard to predict for market participants. Policy and ecological risks, together with the long-run character of the energy and related infrastructure investments, pose a big challenge for research and practice. In this context, it is especially the economic potential of green hydrogen and/or synthetic fuels that is controversially discussed at present. As production costs are expected to fall (Glenk and Reichelstein 2019 ), interest in hydrogen is increasing sharply (IEA 2019 ) and new research questions arise. For developing countries, clean and decentralized renewable energy technologies offer big potentials for electrification and economic development. However, despite the potential for decarbonization and the reduction of other externalities and health hazards and despite the fact that more than 90% of the annual increase in power generation comes from emerging economies, research on the development and adoption of clean energy technologies still focuses mainly on the developed world. More research on the barriers and challenges for adoption in developing countries is needed, including sustainable financing, institutional framing and the design of regionally tailored policies.

Sustainability perspective on digitalization Digitalization and artificial intelligence are often seen as opportunities for enhancing the efficiency of energy and resource use. They offer new opportunities for circular economy, agriculture, monitoring of ecosystems and biodiversity, sustainable finance and decarbonization (see WBGU 2019 and literature within). However, they may also accelerate energy and resource use, increase inequality between regions and income groups and endanger sustainable development. Digitalization offers new access to markets, impacts market forms and shapes consumer behavior all of which can have extensive implications for the ecological, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. Digitalization is a cross-cutting theme that reaches across spatial scales (from regional development to globalization) as well as temporal scales (from short-run impacts on energy systems to long-run adaptation to climate change). So far, the potentials and challenges for sustainable development that are associated with digital technologies have mostly been addressed outside of environmental and resource economics. The focus has been on topics such as data security and privacy or, for example, on the implications of the ”fourth industrial revolution” on employment and labor markets. Costs and benefits of digitization, the design and effectiveness of policies in industrialized as well as developing countries have garnered much less attention in the context of environmental, resource, energy and climate economics. Also, impacts of digitization on the behavior of economic agents resulting in, for example, rebound effects or changes in consumption patterns and environmental awareness, have not been addressed comprehensively (Gossar 2015 ). In all of these areas, our limited knowledge base creates opportunities and challenges for future research in the field. But, digitalization not only creates new research questions, it also provides new means to answer them. It has led to new developments in data science, big data analysis, machine learning and artificial intelligence that allow new insights into, for example, material flows, emission patterns and technology diffusion as well as the optimal design, implementation and effectiveness of regulation (Fowlie et al. 2019 ; Weersink et al. 2018 ; Graziano and Gillingham 2015 ).

Quantitative analysis of environmental use Recently, there has been a significant shift in the empirical methods used in economics from traditional regression analysis to random assignment and quasi-experiments. Arguably this can improve the capturing of causal relationships and reduce the biases of traditional study designs. In environmental economics, experimental and quasi-experimental approaches have been applied mainly for capturing individuals’ or firms’ decisions on the use of land, water, resources, and energy (e.g. Allcott 2011 ; Duflo et al. 2013 ; Deschenes et al. 2017 ). Wider applications of these rigorous methods in environmental economics and well-suited empirical designs are desirable but certainly challenging e.g. when assessing aggregate environmental costs from climate change or biodiversity loss. An important but underrated field in applied environmental economics is the ex-post empirical assessment of environmental policies. The challenge is not only to identify environmental externalities, causalities, and impact intensities but also to provide an accurate valuation of the cost of policies, because they vary widely especially in environmental economics. The traditional empirical methods remain to be important and are not simply replaced. The same holds true for empirical designs in a time, cross-country, or panel structure. The increasing availability of large or very large datasets with observations varying widely across time and space offers a different set of options to provide evidence on the impact of environmental damages or policies to abate them (e.g. Currie and Walker 2011 ; Martin et al. 2014 ; Zhang et al. 2018 ). Fast-growing computational power and machine learning provide even more avenues for fruitful applications in environmental economics (see e.g. Abrell et al. 2019 ) but the challenge to use computer power wisely and to derive results which are sufficiently robust remains demanding .

Structural assessment modelling and modelling transparency In an effort to better understand the ramifications of political decisions and technological developments on climate change, energy supply and resource extraction (to name but a few examples), increasingly sophisticated numerical models have been developed in recent decades. It is evident that quantitative economics analysis is important for policy advice. Yet despite their complexity, these models usually still adopt some very simplifying and sometimes ad-hoc assumptions. In particular assumptions used in integrated valuation models have come under heavy criticism in recent years (Stern 2013 ; Pindyck 2013 ). Simplifications concern market structures and market failures, the integration of risk and uncertainty as well as societal, institutional and cultural detail. Also, manifestations of climate change and damages come at very different regional and temporal scales, making a truly integrated assessment of the climate-ecosystem-economy nexus next to impossible. We see it as a major challenge for future research to provide more accurate foundations for integrated assessment models. While simplifications are needed to reduce computational complexity, they raise the question to which extent the results obtained render reliable insights into future developments. Asking for models that are detailed in every dimension and can answer every question resembles of course the search for the holy grail. However, the need for a better understanding of the model dynamics has already led to the development of a new generation of models which have a stronger foundation in theory (Golosov et al. 2014 , Bretschger and Karydas 2019 ). A better understanding of the limits of models and of the questions specific models can and cannot address is still needed as well as transparency in model development. More applied studies, assessments of global environmental trends under different economic assumptions often use ”scenarios” to describe future trajectories. The scenarios are mostly based on expert opinion and do not rely on estimates about the likelihood that such a trajectory will occur. It is also critical that the economics behind the scenarios is often neglected. Prominently, per capita income can be projected using endogenous growth theory, while population development can be evaluated using state-of-the-art theories on fertility and morbidity.

3 Conclusions

This article set out to highlight a number of challenges that are highly relevant for future research in the field of environmental and resource economics. The focus was mainly, although not exclusively, on topical issues. We only briefly touched upon on some methodological advancements that might have the power to further parts of our field. Big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence hold high promise in this regard but their limits and potentials for environment, climate and resource economics have yet to be fully understood.

It should have become clear, that a number of the challenges presented can only be addressed adequately by interdisciplinary research teams with relevant disciplines ranging from climate science, (computer) engineering, sociology, virology to soil sciences. In many cases, economists’ analysis and the derivation of sound policy recommendations require the knowledge available in these fields. However, such research cooperations are by no means one-way streets: Other disciplines need the input of economists in order to assess future development scenarios and implementability of solutions. The knowledge and data required for economics analysis does not always exist yet, but interdisciplinary cooperation can help to identify and close these gaps. Overall, the less economists have already worked on specific challenges, the harder it is to assess best research strategies and the potential for success. Take the digitization-sustainable-development-nexus as an example: best research strategies and success are extremely difficult to predict as not only is the related economics research still in its infancy but also the field itself is extremely dynamic.

As already pointed out in the beginning: We are aware that our selection is bound to create discontent and disagreement. Having said this, it should also be stated that we expect some of our challenges to be more or less universally agreed upon. This holds especially for the broader topics: for example, how to accomplish deep decarbonization; how to deal with risk and uncertainty; or how to assess the role of disruptive development. One reason for this lies in the encompassing nature of these topics. They are relevant for many of the other fields that we have pointed out: For behavioral analyses, the capacity to deal with disruptive change in the face of risk and uncertainty are essential. Loss of biodiversity and natural capital, land degradation, conflicts over resources and migration are exacerbated by climate change. The potential of digitization for sustainable development constitutes disruptive change in itself. Yet, all of these fields are not merely subfields of the more overarching themes, they raise important research questions in their own right.

Nevertheless, it is to be expected that it will be the more specific fields over which disagreement will arise: Are ‘land use and soil degradation’ more important than ‘fisheries’? Is the ‘institutional analysis of environmental policies’ of higher relevance than the ‘development of alternative welfare concepts’ (to pick out some random examples). Of course, there are more fields that could have been included and also, of course, there is no objective criterion for the inclusion or exclusion of fields. The selection of the challenges is based on the analysis and criteria presented in the first section but it is ultimately ours; we are happy if this paper contributes to a lively and constructive discussion about the future of our field.

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Bretschger, L., Pittel, K. Twenty Key Challenges in Environmental and Resource Economics. Environ Resource Econ 77 , 725–750 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-020-00516-y

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What really matters for successful research environments? A realist synthesis

Rola ajjawi.

1 Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Paul E S Crampton

2 Research Department of Medical Education, University College London, London, UK

3 Monash Centre for Scholarship in Health Education (MCSHE), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

Charlotte E Rees

Associated data.

Table S2. MeSH terms and a selection of key terms utilised in the database searches.

Table S3. Inclusion and exclusion criteria with respect to topic, recentness and type of article.

Table S4. Refined inclusion and exclusion criteria to include contextual parameters.

Table S5. Studies by type: qualitative, quantitative and mixed‐methods.

Research environments, or cultures, are thought to be the most influential predictors of research productivity. Although several narrative and systematic reviews have begun to identify the characteristics of research‐favourable environments, these reviews have ignored the contextual complexities and multiplicity of environmental characteristics.

The current synthesis adopts a realist approach to explore what interventions work for whom and under what circumstances.

We conducted a realist synthesis of the international literature in medical education, education and medicine from 1992 to 2016, following five stages: (i) clarifying the scope; (ii) searching for evidence; (iii) assessing quality; (iv) extracting data, and (v) synthesising data.

We identified numerous interventions relating to research strategy, people, income, infrastructure and facilities (IIF), and collaboration. These interventions resulted in positive or negative outcomes depending on the context and mechanisms fired. We identified diverse contexts at the individual and institutional levels, but found that disciplinary contexts were less influential. There were a multiplicity of positive and negative mechanisms, along with three cross‐cutting mechanisms that regularly intersected: time; identity, and relationships. Outcomes varied widely and included both positive and negative outcomes across subjective (e.g. researcher identity) and objective (e.g. research quantity and quality) domains.

Conclusions

The interplay among mechanisms and contexts is central to understanding the outcomes of specific interventions, bringing novel insights to the literature. Researchers, research leaders and research organisations should prioritise the protection of time for research, enculturate researcher identities, and develop collaborative relationships to better foster successful research environments. Future research should further explore the interplay among time, identity and relationships.

Short abstract

This realist review shows when and why interventions related to research strategy; people; income, infrastructure and facilities; and collaboration result in positive or negative research environments. Findings indicate that protected time, researcher identities and collaborative relationships are important for fostering successful research environments.

Introduction

Research environments matter. Environmental considerations such as robust cultures of research quality and support for researchers are thought to be the most influential predictors of research productivity. 1 , 2 Over 25 years ago, Bland and Ruffin 1 identified 12 characteristics of research‐favourable environments in the international academic medicine literature spanning the period from the mid‐1960s to 1990 (Box 1 ). Although these characteristics are aspirational in flavour, how they interplay to influence research productivity within increasingly complex institutional structures is not yet known. Indeed, although existing reviews have begun to help us better understand what makes for successful research environments, this research has typically ignored the contextual complexities and multiplicity of environmental characteristics 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 and has focused on narrow markers of productivity such as the quantity of research outputs (e.g. ref. 7 ) The current realist synthesis, therefore, aims to address this gap in the research literature by reviewing more recent literature ( 1992–2016 ) and exploring the features of successful research environments in terms of which interventions work, for whom, how and in what circumstances.

Characteristics of successful research environments 1

Clear organisational research goals
Research productivity as a priority and at least equal priority to other activities
A robust research culture with shared research values
A positive group climate
Participative governance structures
Non‐hierarchical and decentralised structures
Good communication and professionally meaningful relationships between team members
Decent resources such as people, funding, research facilities and time
Larger group size, moderately established teams and diversity
Rewards for research success
Recruitment and selection of talented researchers
Research‐oriented leaders with research expertise and skill

The contextual background for understanding successful research environments

Against a backdrop of the mass production of education, reduced government funding for research and ‘new managerialist’ cultures in higher education, 8 , 9 increased scrutiny of the quantity and quality of research, the research environments in which research is produced and the impacts of research has become inevitable. 10 Indeed, in higher education institutions (HEIs) globally, research productivity is being measured as part of individual researcher and research group key performance indicators. 7 In many countries, such as Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the UK, 11 HEI research is measured on a national scale through government‐led research assessments. Such research measurement has contributed to the allocation of funding to universities and differentiation of universities in the competitive marketplace, with some solidifying their institutional identities as ‘research‐intensive’ and others emphasising their relative ‘newcomer‐to‐research’ status (e.g. previously ‘teaching‐intensive’ universities). 9 , 12 , 13 Such institutional differentiation also parallels that of individual academics within universities, who are increasingly encouraged to take either ‘research‐active’ or ‘education‐focused’ career pathways. 8 , 9 It is these broader national and institutional constraints that inevitably impact on research environments at the level of units, centres, departments and schools within universities (the level of ‘research environment’ that we focus on in this paper). Table S1 provides definitions of key terms.

Key features of research environments identified in previous reviews

Evans defines a research environment as including: ‘shared values, assumptions, beliefs, rituals and other forms of behaviour whose central focus is the acceptance and recognition of research practice and output as valued, worthwhile and pre‐eminent activity.’ 14 Previous reviews have tended to focus on interventions aimed at individual researchers, such as research capacity building, 4 , 5 , 7 and with individual‐level outcomes, such as increased numbers of grants or publications. 4 , 5 , 7 These reviews have typically concluded that research capacity‐building interventions lead to positive research outcomes. 4 , 5 , 7 Furthermore, the reviews have identified both individual and institutional enablers to research. Individual enablers included researchers’ intrinsic motivation to conduct research. 6 , 7 Institutional enablers included peer support, encouragement and review, 7 mentoring and collaboration, 4 , 5 research leadership, 5 , 6 institutional structures, processes and systems supporting research, such as clear strategy, 5 , 6 protected time and financial support. 5 Although these reviews have begun to shed light on the features of successful research environments, they have significant limitations: (i) they either include studies of low to moderate quality 4 , 5 or fail to check the quality of studies included, 7 and (ii) they do not explore what works for whom and under what circumstances, but instead focus on what works and ignore the influence of the context in which interventions are implemented and ‘how’ outcomes come about. Indeed, Mazmanian et al. 4 concluded in their review: ‘…little is known about what works best and in what situations.’

Conceptual framework: a realist approach

Given the gaps in the research literature and the importance of promoting successful research environments for individuals’ careers, institutional prestige and the knowledge base of the community, we thought a realist synthesis would be most likely to elucidate how multiple complex interventions can influence success. Realism assumes the existence of an external reality (a real world), but one that is filtered (i.e. perceived, interpreted and responded to) through human senses, volitions, language and culture. 15 A realist approach enables the development and testing of theory for why interventions may or may not work, for whom and under what circumstances. 16 It does this through recognising that interventions do not directly cause outcomes; instead, participants’ reactions and responses to the opportunities provided by the intervention trigger outcomes. This approach can allow researchers to identify causal links in complex situations, such as those between interventions and the contexts in which they work, how they work (mechanisms) and their outcomes. 17 Although the context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) approach is not necessarily linear, it can help to provide explanations that privilege contextual variability. 18

Aligned with the goals of realist research, this synthesis aims to address the following research question: What are the features of successful research environments, for whom, how and in what circumstances?

We followed five stages of realist synthesis: (i) clarifying scope; (ii) searching for evidence; (iii) assessing quality; (iv) extracting data, and (v) synthesising data. 19 Our methods also follow the RAMESES ( r ealist a nd m eta‐narrative e vidence s ynthesis: e volving s tandards) reporting guidelines. 20

Clarifying the scope

We first clarified the scope of our realist synthesis by identifying relevant interventions based on the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 environment assessment criteria. The REF is a national exercise assessing the quality of research produced by UK HEIs, its impact beyond academia, and the environment that supports research. The assessment criteria indicated in the REF2014 environment template included the unit's research strategy , its people (including staffing strategy, staff development and research students), its income, infrastructure and facilities (IIF), as well as features of collaboration . 21 These guided our search terms (see stage 2 below). We chose to use these quality markers as they informed the UK national assessment exercise, upon which other national exercises are often based. In addition, these criteria were explicit, considered and implementable, and were developed through consensus. Like other realist syntheses, 18 , 22 , 23 ours considered a multiplicity of different interventions rather than just one and some of the papers we reviewed combined multiple interventions.

Based on previous reviews, 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 our initial programme theory speculated that interventions aligned to having an explicit research strategy, staff development opportunities, funding and establishing research networks would be effective for creating successful research environments (Fig. (Fig.1 1 gives further details of our initial programme theory).

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Initial programme theory

Searching for empirical evidence

We devised search terms as a team and refined these iteratively with the help of a health librarian experienced in searching. We split the research question into three key concepts: (i) research environment; (ii) discipline, and (iii) research indicator (i.e. positive or negative). We then used variations of these terms to search the most relevant databases including MEDLINE, ProQuest, Scopus, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) and Web of Science. Table S2 illustrates the MeSH terms and provides a selection of key terms utilised in the database searches.

We were interested in comparing research cultures across the disciplines of medical education, education and medicine for two key reasons. Firstly, the discipline of medical education consists of a rich tapestry of epistemological approaches including biomedical sciences, social sciences and education, and medicine. 24 , 25 Secondly, there have been disciplinary arguments in the literature about whether medical education should be constructed as medicine or social science. 24 , 26

We agreed various inclusion and exclusion criteria with respect to topic, recentness and type of article (Table S3 ), as well as refined criteria to include contextual parameters (Table S4 ). We chose 1992 as the start date for our search period as 1992 saw the first published literature review about productive research environments in the academic medicine literature. 1

Study selection

The first top‐level search elicited 8527 journal articles across all databases. Once duplicate results had been removed, and ‘topic’ and ‘recentness’ study parameters reinforced, 420 articles remained. The searching and selection process is summarised in a PRISMA ( p referred r eporting i tems for s ystematic reviews and m eta‐ a nalyses) diagram (Fig. (Fig.2). 2 ). Three research assistants and one of the authors (PESC) initially assessed relevance by reviewing abstracts using preliminary inclusion criteria. If any ambiguities were found by any of the reviewers, abstracts were checked by one of the other two researchers (RA and CER). Where divergent views existed, researchers discussed the reasons why and agreed on whether to include or exclude. A 10% sample of these 420 abstracts were double‐checked by an additional two researchers, including a number of articles previously excluded, for quality control purposes.

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Object name is MEDU-52-936-g002.jpg

PRISMA flow diagram of the selection process

Assessment of quality

We assessed the journal articles for relevance and rigour. 20 We defined an article's relevance according to ‘whether it can contribute to theory building and/or testing’. 20 Following the relevance check and ‘type’ exclusions to original research papers, 100 articles remained, which were then assessed for rigour. Although we chose to narrow down to original research, we kept relevant articles such as systematic reviews and opinion pieces to inform the introduction and discussion sections of this paper.

We defined rigour as determining ‘whether the method used to generate the particular piece of data is credible and trustworthy’. 20 We used two pre‐validated tools to assess study quality: the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) to assess the quality of quantitative research, 27 , 28 and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative checklist for qualitative and mixed‐method studies. 29 Both tools are used to consider the rigour of study design, sampling, type of data, data analysis and outcomes/findings, and have been employed in previous reviews. 23 , 30

Following the quality assessment, 47 articles remained and were then subjected to data extraction and synthesis. Five papers were excluded as they did not contribute to our theory building or lacked CMO configurations (CMOCs). We kept notes of the reasons for excluding studies and resolved doubts through discussion (Fig. (Fig.2 2 ).

Data extraction

Two data‐rich articles containing multiple CMOCs were inductively and deductively (based on the initial programme theory) coded by all of us to ensure consistency. We then discussed any similarities and differences in our coding. As is inherent in the challenges of realist approaches, we found differences in our identifications of CMOCs, which often related to how one particular component (e.g. time) could be an outcome at one moment and a mechanism the next. This alerted us to overlapping constructs, which we then explored as we coded remaining papers. To collect data across all remaining papers, we extracted information relating to: study design, methods and sample size; study setting; intervention focus; contexts of the intervention; mechanisms generated in the results, and outcomes. The key CMOCs in all 42 articles were identified primarily from the results sections of the papers. The process of data extraction and analysis was iterative with repeated discussion among the researchers of the demi‐regularities (i.e. patterns of CMOCs) in relation to the initial programme theory and negotiations of any differences of opinion.

Data synthesis

Finally, we interrogated our data extraction to look for patterns across our data/papers. We used an interpretative approach to consider how our data compared with our initial programme theory in order to develop our modified programme theory.

Characteristics of the studies

The 42 papers represented the following disciplines: medical education ( n = 4, 10%); 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 education ( n = 18, 43%), 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 and medicine ( n = 20, 48%). 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 There were 26 (62%) qualitative studies, 11 (26%) quantitative studies and five (12%) mixed‐methods studies (Table S5 ). The studies were from countries across the globe, including Australia ( n = 10, 24%), the USA ( n = 7, 17%), the UK ( n = 6, 14%), Canada ( n = 4, 10%), South Africa ( n = 4, 10%), Denmark ( n = 2, 5%), Turkey ( n = 2, 5%) and others ( n = 7, 17%) (e.g. Belgium, China, Germany, New Zealand and the Philippines). The research designs varied but common approaches included qualitative interviews, surveys, documentary/bibliographic analysis, case studies and mixed‐methods studies. Study participants included academics, teachers, health care professionals, senior directors, PhD students, early‐career researchers (ECRs) and senior researchers. Table S6 lists the individual contexts, interventions, mechanisms and outcomes identified from individual papers.

Extending our initial programme theory

A key finding from our realist synthesis was that the same interventions fired either positive or negative mechanisms leading to positive or negative outcomes, respectively, depending on context. Surprisingly, the CMOCs were mostly consistent across the three disciplines (i.e. medical education, education and medicine) with local contexts seemingly interplaying more strongly with outcomes. Therefore, we present these disciplinary contexts here as merged, but we highlight any differences by disciplinary context where relevant.

Having a research strategy promoted a successful research environment when it enabled appropriate resources (including time) and valuing of research; however, it had negative consequences when it too narrowly focused on outputs, incentives and rewards. In terms of people , individual researchers needed to be internally motivated and to have a sense of belonging, and protected time and access to capacity‐building activities in order to produce research. Lack of knowledge, researcher identity, networks and time, plus limited leadership support, acted as mechanisms leading to negative research outcomes. The presence of IIF was overwhelmingly indicated as necessary for successful research environments and their absence was typically detrimental. Interestingly, a few papers reported that external funding could have negative consequences because short‐term contracts, reduced job security and the use of temporary junior staff can lead to weak research environments. 40 , 67 , 71 Finally, collaboration was crucial for successful research mediated through trusting respectful relationships, supportive leadership and belongingness. Poor communication and competitive cultures, however, worked to undermine collaboration, leading to isolation and low self‐esteem, plus decreased research engagement and productivity. Table Table1 1 highlights illustrative CMOCs for each intervention extending our initial programme theory.

Positive and negative context–mechanism–outcome configurations (CMOCs) for each intervention

CMOCs indicated in bold highlight the three cross‐cutting themes of time, identity and relationships.

ECRs = early‐career researchers.

Key cross‐cutting mechanisms: time, identity and relationships

As Table Table1 1 shows, the same intervention can lead to positive or negative outcomes depending on the particular contexts and mechanisms triggered. This highlights greater complexity than is evident at first glance. Cross‐cutting these four interventions were three mechanisms that were regularly identified as critical to the success (or not) of a research environment: time; researcher identities, and relationships. We now present key findings for each of these cross‐cutting mechanisms and discuss how their inter‐relations lead to our modified programme theory (Fig. (Fig.3). 3 ). Note that although we have tried to separate these three mechanisms for ease of reading, they were often messily entangled. Table Table2 2 presents quotes illustrating the way in which each mechanism mediates outcomes within particular circumstances.

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Modified programme theory. ECR = early‐career researcher

Time, identity and relationships as cross‐cutting mechanisms mediating successful research environments

Time was identified as an important mechanism for mobilising research outcomes across our three disciplines. Time was conceptualised severally including as: protected time; workload pressures influencing time available; efficient use of time; flexible use of time; making time, and time in career. The two most commonly considered aspects were protected time and workload implications. Protected time was largely talked about in the negative across a variety of contexts and disciplines, with lack of protected time leading to lack of researcher engagement or inactivity and reduced research productivity. 32 , 35 , 37 , 41 , 44 , 47 , 49 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 67 Also across a variety of contexts and disciplines, and acting as a positive mechanism, available protected time was found to lead to increased research productivity and active research engagement. 31 , 36 , 40 , 48 , 49 , 63 , 65 With regard to workload, limitations on the time available for research imposed by excessive other workloads led to reduced research activity, lower research productivity, poor‐quality research and reduced opportunity to attend research training. 40 , 41 , 47 , 49 , 60 , 67 Juggling of multiple responsibilities, such as clinical, teaching, administrative and leadership roles, also inhibited research productivity by diminishing the time available for research. 35 , 40 , 49 The alignment of research with other non‐research work was described as driving efficiencies in the use of time leading to greater research productivity (Table (Table2, 2 , quote 1).

Identity was also an important mechanism for mobilising research outcomes across our three disciplines. Interpretations included personal identities (e.g. gender), professional identity (e.g. as a primary practitioner or a primary researcher), and social identity (e.g. sense of belongingness). Researcher identity was often referred to in relation to first‐career practitioners (and therefore second‐career researchers). Sharp et al. 48 defined these as participants recruited into higher education not directly from doctoral study but on the basis of their extensive ‘first‐order’ knowledge and pedagogical expertise. These were also practitioners conducting research in schools or hospitals. Identities were also referenced in relation to early, mid‐career or senior researchers. Academic staff working in academic institutions needed to develop a sense of researcher identity, belongingness, self‐efficacy for research and autonomy to increase their satisfaction, competence and research activity. 39 , 40 , 44 , 46 , 51 , 67 For first‐career practitioners (i.e. teachers, doctors), the research needed to be highly relevant and aligned to their primary identity work in order to motivate them. 53 , 59 , 62 , 65 This alignment was described as having a strong research–teaching nexus. 40 , 48 Linked to this concept was the need for first‐career practitioners to see the impact of research in relation to their primary work (e.g. patient‐ or student‐oriented) to facilitate motivation and to develop a researcher identity (Table (Table2, 2 , quote 2). 36 , 37 , 41 , 49 , 53 , 54 , 67 Where research was seen as irrelevant to primary identity work (e.g. English language teaching, general practice), there was research disengagement. 37 , 48 , 52 , 59 , 67

Relationships

For all researchers and across our three disciplines, relationships were important in the mediating of successful research environments. 31 , 34 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 44 , 57 , 60 , 66 , 67 Positive research relationships were characterised by mutual trust and respect, 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 54 , 66 , 72 whereas others described them as friendships that take time to develop. 51 Mutually supportive relationships seemed to be particularly relevant to ECRs in terms of developing confidence, self‐esteem and research capacity and making identity transitions. 35 , 43 , 48 , 58 , 67 Relationships in the form of networks were considered to improve the quality of research through multicentre research and improved collaboration. 33 , 60 Supportive leadership as a particular form of relationship was an important mechanism in promoting a successful research environment. Supportive leaders needed to monitor workloads, set the vision, raise awareness of the value of research, and provide positive role‐modelling, thereby leading to increased productivity, promoting researcher identities and creating thriving research environments (Table (Table2, 2 , quote 3). 31 , 34 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 53 , 55 , 62 Research leadership, however, could be influenced negatively by the context of compliance and counting in current university cultures damaging relationships, creating a loss of motivation, and raising feelings of devalue. Indeed, the failure of leaders to recognise researcher identities led to negative research productivity. 36 , 37 , 38 , 43 , 46 , 48 , 49

Intersections between time, identity and relationships within successful research environments

Time and identity.

Time and identity intersected in interesting ways. Firstly, time was a necessary enabler for the development of a researcher identity. 37 , 38 , 41 , 48 , 49 , 54 , 59 , 61 , 63 , 65 , 67 , 69 Secondly, those who identified as researchers (thus holding primary researcher identities) used their time efficiently to favour research activity outcomes despite a lack of protected time. 35 , 43 Conversely, for other professors who lacked personal determination and resilience for research, having protected time did not lead to better research activity. 43 This highlights the fact that time alone is insufficient to support a successful research environment, and that it is how time is utilised and prioritised by researchers that really matters (Table (Table2, 2 , quote 4).

Identity and relationships

Interventions aimed at developing researcher identity consistently focused on relationship building across the three disciplines. The interventions that supported identity transitions into research included formal research training, 44 , 48 , 52 , 68 mentoring, 41 , 48 , 57 , 65 , 72 writing groups, 72 and collaboration with peers and other researchers, 39 , 41 , 43 operating through multiple mechanisms including relationships. The mechanisms included self‐esteem/confidence, increased networks, external recognition as a researcher, belongingness, and self‐efficacy. 35 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 52 , 57 Furthermore, our data suggest that leadership can be an enabler to the development of a researcher identity. In particular, leadership enabled research autonomy, recognition and empowerment, and fostered supportive mentoring environments, leading to researcher identity development and research productivity (Table (Table2, 2 , quote 5). 34 , 38 , 46 , 48

Time and relationships

Relationships were developed and sustained over time (Table (Table2, 2 , quote 6). Across the three disciplines, the role of leaders (managers, directors, deans) was to acknowledge and raise awareness of research, and then to prioritise time for research against competing demands, leading to effective research networks, cohesion and collaboration. 31 , 34 , 38 , 43 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 53 , 55 , 70 Second‐career PhD students who did not invest time in establishing relationships with researchers in their new disciplines (as they already had strong supportive networks in their original disciplines) found that they had limited research networks following graduation. 48

Summary of key findings

Our initial programme theory was based on previous literature reviews 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 and on the REF2014 criteria. 10 , 21 However, we were able to develop a modified programme theory on the basis of our realist synthesis, which highlights novel findings in terms of what really matters for successful research environments. Firstly, we found that key interventions led to both positive (subjective and objective) and negative (subjective and objective) outcomes in various contexts. Interestingly, we did not identify any outcomes relating to research impact despite impact nowadays being considered a prominent marker of research success, alongside quantitative metrics such as number of publications, grant income and h‐indices. 21 Secondly, we found that disciplinary contexts appeared to be less influential than individual, local and institutional contexts. Finally, our modified programme theory demonstrates a complex interplay among three cross‐cutting mechanisms (time, researcher identity and relationships) as mechanisms underpinning both successful and unsuccessful research environments.

Key findings and comparisons with the existing literature

Our research supports the findings of earlier reviews 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 regarding the importance of having a clear research strategy, an organisation that values research, research‐oriented leadership, access to resources (such as people, funding, research facilities and time), and meaningful relationships. However, our research extends these findings considerably by flagging up the indication that a clear linear relationship, whereby the presence of these interventions will necessarily result in a successful research environment, does not exist. For example, instituting a research strategy can have negative effects if the indicators are seen as overly narrow in focus or output‐oriented. 38 , 40 , 46 , 47 , 64 Similarly, project money can lead to the employment of more part‐time staff on fixed‐term contracts, which results in instability, turnover and lack of research team expertise. 40 , 67 , 71

Our findings indicate that the interplays among time, identity and relationships are important considerations when implementing interventions promoting research environments. Although time was identified as an important mechanism affecting research outcomes within the majority of papers, researcher identity positively affected research outcomes even in time‐poor situations. Indeed, we found that identity acted as a mechanism for research productivity that could overcome limited time through individuals efficiently finding time to prioritise research through their motivation and resilience. 35 , 43 Time was therefore more than just time spent doing research, but also included investment in developing a researcher identity and relationships with other researchers over time. 37 , 38 , 41 , 48 , 49 , 54 , 59 , 61 , 63 , 67 , 69 Relationship‐building interventions were also found to be effective in supporting difficult identity transitions into research faced by ECRs and those with first‐career practitioner backgrounds. Supportive leadership, as a particular form of relationship, could be seen as an enabler to the provision of protected time and a reasonable workload, allowing time for research and for researcher identity formation. 34 , 38 , 46 , 48 Indeed, our realist synthesis findings highlight the central importance of researcher identity and thus offer a novel explanation for why research environments may not flourish even in the presence of a research strategy, resources (e.g. time) and valuing of research.

Researcher identity is complex and intersects with other identities such as those of practitioner, teacher, leader and so on. Brew et al. 39 , 73 , 74 explored researcher identification and productivity by asking researchers if they considered themselves to be ‘research‐active’ and part of a research team. Those who identified as researchers prioritised their work differently: those who were highly productive prioritised research, whereas those in the low‐productivity group prioritised teaching. 73 Interestingly, highly productive researchers tended to view research as a social phenomenon with publications, presentations and grants being ‘traded’ in academic networks. Brew et al. 39 explain that: ‘…the trading view relates to a self‐generating researcher identity. Researcher identity develops in the act of publication, networks, collaborations and peer review. These activities support a person's identification as a researcher. They also, in turn, influence performance measures and metrics.’ Although the relationships among identity, identification and productivity are clearly complex, we explored a broader range of metrics in our realist synthesis than just productivity.

Methodological strengths and limitations

This is the first study to explore this important topic using realist synthesis to better understand the influence of context and how particular interventions lead to outcomes. We followed RAMESES 20 guidelines and adopted a rigorous team‐based approach to each analytic stage, conducting regular quality checks. The search was not exhaustive as we could have ‘exploded’ the interventions and performed a comprehensive review of each in its own right (e.g. mentoring). However, for pragmatic reasons and to answer our broad research questions, we chose not to do this, as suggested by Wong et al. 20 Although all members of the team had been involved in realist syntheses previously, the process remained messy as we dealt with complex phenomena. The messiness often lies in untangling CMOCs and identifying recurrent patterns in the large amounts of literature reviewed.

Implications for education and research

Our findings suggest that interventions related to research strategy, people, IIF and collaboration are supported under the ‘right’ conditions. We need to focus on time, identity and relationships (including leadership) in order to better mobilise the interventions to promote successful research environments.

Individuals need to reflect on how and why they identify as researchers, including their conceptions of research and their working towards the development of a researcher identity such that research is internally motivated rather than just externally driven. Those who are second‐career researchers or those with significant teaching or practitioner roles could seek to align research with their practice while they establish wider research networks.

We recommend that research leaders support individuals to develop their researcher identity, be seen to value research, recognise that research takes time, and provide access to opportunities promoting research capacity building, strong relationships and collaboration. Leaders, for example, may introduce interventions that promote researcher identities and build research relationships (e.g. collaborations, networking, mentoring, research groups etc.), paying attention to the ways in which competitive or collaborative cultures are fostered. Browne et al. 75 recently recommended discussions around four categories for promoting identity transition: reflection on self (values, experiences and expectations); consideration of the situation (circumstances, concerns); support (what is available and what is needed), and strategies (personal strategies to cope with change and thrive). With the professionalisation of medical education, 76 research units are increasingly likely to contain a mixture of first‐ and second‐career researchers, and our review suggests that discussions about conceptions of research and researcher identity would be valuable.

Finally, organisations need to value research and provide access to resources and research capacity‐building activities. Within the managerialist cultures of HEIs, compliance and counting have already become dominant discourses in terms of promotion and success. Policymakers should therefore consider ways in which HEIs recognise, incentivise and reward research in all its forms (including subjective and objective measures of quantity, quality and impact) to determine the full effects of their policies on research environments.

Future research would benefit from further exploration of the interplay among time, identities and relationships (including leadership) in different contexts using realist evaluation. 77 Specifically, as part of realist approaches, longitudinal audio‐diaries 78 could be employed to explore researcher identity transitions over time, particularly for first‐career practitioners transitioning into second‐career researchers.

Contributors

RA and CER were responsible for the conception of the synthesis. All authors contributed to the protocol development. RA and PESC carried out the database searches. All authors sifted for relevance and rigour, analysed the papers and contributed to the writing of the article. All authors approved the final manuscript for publication.

Conflicts of interest

Ethical approval.

not required.

Supporting information

Table S1. Definitions of key terms.

Table S6. Contexts, interventions, mechanisms and outcomes identified in individual studies.

Acknowledgements

we thank Andy Jackson, Learning and Teaching Librarian, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK, for his advice and help in developing our literature searches. We also thank Laura McDonald, Paul McLean and Eilidh Dear, who were medical students at the University of Dundee, for their help with database searches and with sifting papers for relevance and rigour. We would also like to thank Chau Khuong, Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, for her work in designing Figs Figs1 1 and and3 3 .

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

This article is part of the research topic.

Greenhouse Gas Emission (GHG) Reduction and Economic Structural Transformation

Environmental Regulation Effects from the Perspective on the Industrial Chain : Evidence from Energy Enterprises in China Provisionally Accepted

1 ZheJiang Economic and Trade Polytechnic, China
2 School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

More attention has been paid to environmental regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy industry under the transformation of industrial structure. This paper takes microdata of Chinese energy enterprises from 1998 to 2012 as a sample to build a duty-sharing model, analyzes the effect of environmental regulations on the industrial chain, and explains the "double growth" phenomenon that occurred in China, which is nothing short of miraculous in terms of the environment and economy. In the industrial chain, the environmental obligations and responsibilities will be shared between upstream and downstream enterprises due to trade linkages. This paper finds that environmental responsibilities will move forward through the industrial chain when environmental regulations are strengthened. Downstream companies will loosen "relative" control constraints, thereby expanding output but increasing demand for upstream products. Different from the existing research, we claim that, since environmental regulation has a differential effect on the industrial chain, it will promote the growth of output in the entire chain, in contrast to the theory of "cost compliance", which claims that environmental regulation will inevitably lead to the output. Based on this research, this paper puts forward some suggestions and insights on how the government implements environmental regulations.

Keywords: environmental regulation, Industrial chain, energy industry, Relative Deregulation, DID model

Received: 05 Mar 2024; Accepted: 10 Apr 2024.

Copyright: © 2024 Zhang, Yan and Huang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Mx. Xin Huang, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, School of Economics, Hangzhou, China

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Environmental History Research Paper Topics

This page presents an extensive resource on environmental history research paper topics , catering to students navigating the fascinating and ever-evolving field of environmental history. Environmental history encompasses the study of human interaction with the environment over time, and it has emerged as an essential discipline, mirroring our growing understanding of our relationship with the natural world. These research topics, divided into multiple categories, range from early agricultural practices and their impact on societies to the analysis of modern environmental policies and their global implications. This invaluable compilation serves as a starting point for students aiming to delve into detailed research in this vital area of historical study. The page also provides guidelines for choosing appropriate topics and crafting well-written papers, while outlining the unique services offered by iResearchNet, including custom research papers written by subject-matter experts. Students are thus provided with comprehensive support throughout their academic journey in environmental history.

100 Environmental History Research Paper Topics

Environmental history encompasses a wide range of topics that explore the complex relationship between human societies and the natural environment throughout history. This comprehensive list of environmental history research paper topics is designed to provide students with a diverse array of options to choose from. Divided into 10 categories, each with 10 topics, this list aims to inspire and guide students in their exploration of environmental history research. From examining environmental impacts to analyzing conservation efforts, these topics offer rich opportunities for investigation and critical analysis.

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Environmental Impacts:

The Industrial Revolution and its Environmental Consequences
The Impact of Mining Activities on Local Environments
Deforestation and its Effects on Ecosystems
Urbanization and the Transformation of Natural Landscapes
Environmental Consequences of Colonial Expansion
Agricultural Practices and their Environmental Implications
Pollution and the Rise of Industrialized Societies
The Effects of Dam Construction on River Ecosystems
The Ecological Impact of Nuclear Energy Development
Climate Change and its Historical Context

Conservation and Preservation:

The Origins of National Parks and their Significance
The Role of Environmental Activism in Shaping Conservation Policies
Preservation of Indigenous Lands and Cultural Heritage
The Evolution of Wildlife Conservation Efforts
The Impact of the Green Revolution on Agricultural Sustainability
Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Development
Environmental Ethics and the Preservation of Biodiversity
Case Studies in Successful Environmental Conservation Projects
Historical Perspectives on Wilderness Protection
The Role of Government Policies in Environmental Preservation

Environmental Justice:

Environmental Racism and Inequality in Resource Distribution
Indigenous Perspectives on Land Rights and Environmental Justice
Environmental Movements and Grassroots Activism
Environmental Justice and Urban Planning
Historical Disparities in Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
Environmental Justice in the Context of Colonialism
Gender and Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice and the Labor Movement
Environmental Health and Social Inequalities
Environmental Justice and Climate Change Vulnerability

Technological Advancements:

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Technology and the Environment
The Development of Renewable Energy Sources
Technological Innovations in Waste Management
Transportation and its Environmental Impacts
Agricultural Innovations and Environmental Sustainability
The Role of Technology in Water Resource Management
Technological Advances in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
The Relationship between Technology and Pollution Control
Historical Perspectives on Technological Disasters and Environmental Consequences
Technological Solutions to Environmental Challenges

Environmental Thought and Philosophy:

Historical Perspectives on Human-Nature Relationships
Environmentalism in Literature and the Arts
Ecological Wisdom in Indigenous Cultures
The Influence of Romanticism on Environmental Thought
Environmental Philosophy and Ethics
Deep Ecology and its Historical Origins
Historical Perspectives on Conservation Ideologies
Nature Writing and its Impact on Environmental Consciousness
The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Shaping Environmental Values
Environmental Education and Awareness Campaigns

Environmental Policy and Governance:

Historical Development of Environmental Legislation
International Agreements and Environmental Cooperation
The Role of Government Agencies in Environmental Protection
The Influence of Lobbying and Interest Groups on Environmental Policy
Environmental Impact Assessment and its Historical Evolution
Historical Case Studies in Environmental Policy Successes and Failures
Local Environmental Governance and Community Participation
Environmental Diplomacy and Negotiations
The Relationship between Science and Environmental Policy
Historical Perspectives on Environmental Regulation in Different Countries

Historical Perspectives on Natural Disasters:

Case Studies in Historical Natural Disasters and their Impacts
The Role of Human Activity in Natural Disaster Occurrences
Historical Responses to Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters and Societal Resilience
The Influence of Climate Change on Natural Disasters
Historical Perspectives on Pandemics and their Environmental Consequences
Natural Disasters and Economic Consequences
The Impact of Natural Disasters on Indigenous Communities
Environmental Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
Lessons from History: Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters

Urbanization and the Environment:

The Rise of Industrial Cities and their Environmental Challenges
Historical Perspectives on Urban Planning and Environmental Sustainability
Urbanization and Public Health
The Impact of Urbanization on Natural Ecosystems
Historical Case Studies in Urban Environmental Revitalization
Urban Waste Management and Pollution Control
Historical Perspectives on Urban Transportation and its Environmental Effects
Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems
Urban Heat Islands and the Effects of Urbanization on Climate
Historical Analysis of Urban Environmental Movements

Historical Perspectives on Resource Extraction:

The History of Mining and its Environmental Consequences
Logging and the Transformation of Forest Landscapes
Historical Perspectives on Water Resource Management
The Environmental Impact of Fossil Fuel Extraction
Historical Analysis of Fisheries and Marine Resource Exploitation
Agriculture and the Transformation of Landscapes
Historical Perspectives on Land Enclosure and Agricultural Intensification
The Impact of Colonial Resource Extraction on Local Environments
Historical Case Studies on the Exploitation of Natural Resources
Conservation and Sustainable Resource Management

Global Environmental History:

Environmental Consequences of Global Trade and Colonialism
The Historical Evolution of Environmental Globalization
Historical Perspectives on Transboundary Pollution
Climate Change and its Global Implications
Global Environmental Governance and Cooperation
Historical Perspectives on International Environmental Conferences
Historical Analysis of Environmental Migration and Displacement
Global Environmental Movements and Activism
Historical Perspectives on Environmental Inequalities between Nations
The Role of Global Institutions in Addressing Environmental Challenges

This comprehensive list of environmental history research paper topics provides students with a wealth of options to explore and investigate. From examining environmental impacts to analyzing conservation efforts and studying historical perspectives on natural disasters, these topics offer a diverse range of opportunities for research and analysis. Whether students are interested in the ecological consequences of industrialization, environmental justice issues, or the development of environmental policy, this list offers a solid foundation for selecting a research topic in the field of environmental history.

Environmental History: Exploring the Range of Research Paper Topics

Environmental history is a captivating field of study that examines the intricate relationship between human societies and the natural environment throughout time. It offers a unique lens through which to understand the impact of human actions on the environment and how these interactions have shaped historical events and shaped the world we live in today. The diverse range of research paper topics within environmental history provides students with ample opportunities to explore and analyze various aspects of human-environment relationships. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of environmental history and highlight the breadth of research paper topics it encompasses.

Understanding Ecological Transformations : One prominent area of research within environmental history focuses on ecological transformations. This category explores how human activities have influenced ecosystems, altered landscapes, and impacted biodiversity. It examines the consequences of practices such as agriculture, deforestation, industrialization, and the introduction of invasive species. By studying ecological transformations, students can gain insights into the environmental impacts of human activities throughout history and understand the long-term consequences of these changes.
Unveiling Environmental Disasters : Environmental disasters provide another critical dimension of environmental history research. These events offer valuable lessons on the consequences of human actions and the vulnerabilities of natural systems. By studying environmental disasters, students can explore topics such as major industrial accidents, natural calamities, nuclear accidents, oil spills, and the interplay between climate change and natural disasters. Analyzing these events from a historical perspective can help us learn from past mistakes and develop strategies for preventing future catastrophes.
Exploring Environmental Movements and Activism : The study of environmental movements and activism is an integral part of environmental history. This category examines the efforts of individuals and communities to advocate for environmental conservation and social justice. It delves into the historical development of environmentalism, the role of grassroots movements, the impact of indigenous communities, and the fight against environmental racism. By exploring environmental movements and activism, students can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by environmental advocates and the strategies they employ to bring about change.
Resource Exploitation and its Consequences : The history of resource exploitation is another compelling area of study within environmental history. It investigates the social, economic, and environmental impacts of activities such as mining, fossil fuel extraction, overfishing, and water management. By examining resource exploitation, students can analyze the tensions between resource extraction and sustainability, explore the historical contexts of resource conflicts, and identify lessons for responsible resource management in the present and future.
Environmental Thought and Philosophy : Environmental history encompasses not only the study of human actions but also the examination of environmental thought and philosophy. This category explores the cultural, religious, and intellectual dimensions of human-environment relationships. It delves into topics such as indigenous environmental philosophies, the influence of philosophical movements on environmental thought, environmental ethics, and the representation of nature in art and literature throughout history. By exploring environmental thought and philosophy, students can gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse ways in which humans have perceived and interacted with the natural world.
Examining Urbanization and its Environmental Impacts : The rapid growth of urban areas poses significant challenges to environmental sustainability. The category of urbanization and the environment explores the historical development of urban planning, the impact of industrialization on urban pollution and public health, waste management challenges in urban environments, the effects of urbanization on local ecosystems and biodiversity, and the history of sustainable urban development practices. By studying urbanization and its environmental impacts, students can understand the complex relationship between cities and the environment and explore strategies for creating more sustainable urban spaces.
Climate Change and Historical Perspectives : As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing global issue, studying its historical context is crucial. This category delves into the historical record of climate change, including natural causes and the role of human activities in exacerbating the phenomenon. It examines historical examples of societies adapting to climate change, analyzes the impact of climate change on agriculture, economies, and societies, and traces the evolution of climate change awareness and policy. By exploring climate change from a historical perspective, students can gain a comprehensive understanding of the long-term implications of climate change and the importance of historical knowledge in addressing this global challenge.

Environmental history offers a rich tapestry of research paper topics that allow students to explore the complex relationship between human societies and the natural environment. From ecological transformations and environmental disasters to environmental movements, resource exploitation, environmental thought, urbanization, and climate change, the field of environmental history provides endless avenues for investigation. By engaging with these topics, students can deepen their understanding of human-environment interactions, develop critical thinking skills, and contribute to the collective effort of addressing environmental challenges we face today. Through the lens of history, we can learn from the past to shape a more sustainable and resilient future.

Choosing Environmental History Research Paper Topics

Choosing the right research paper topic is crucial for a successful study in environmental history. It not only determines the direction and focus of your research but also plays a significant role in maintaining your interest and motivation throughout the process. In this section, we will provide expert advice on how to choose compelling and impactful environmental history research paper topics.

Identify Your Interests : Start by identifying your specific interests within the broad field of environmental history. Consider the aspects of human-environment relationships that intrigue you the most. Are you passionate about climate change, resource exploitation, urbanization, environmental movements, or ecological transformations? By narrowing down your interests, you can focus your research on topics that truly engage and inspire you.
Consider Timeliness and Relevance : Take into account the timeliness and relevance of your research topic. Look for emerging environmental issues or ongoing debates that require further investigation. Consider how your research can contribute to current discussions and provide valuable insights. By choosing a topic that is timely and relevant, you increase the potential impact of your research.
Delve into Untapped Areas : Explore untapped areas within environmental history. Look for gaps in the existing literature where limited research has been conducted. By delving into unexplored territories, you have the opportunity to contribute original ideas and expand the knowledge base in environmental history. Consider niche topics or underrepresented regions that offer new perspectives and avenues for investigation.
Balance Specificity and Scope : Strive for a balance between specificity and scope in your research topic. A topic that is too broad may lack focus, while one that is too narrow may limit your access to relevant sources and data. Find a middle ground where your topic is specific enough to provide depth and originality, but broad enough to allow for comprehensive research and analysis.
Engage with Primary Sources : To enhance the authenticity and rigor of your research, seek topics that allow you to engage with primary sources. Primary sources provide firsthand accounts and original data that enrich your analysis and strengthen your arguments. Explore archival collections, historical documents, diaries, newspapers, and other relevant sources that can provide valuable insights into the environmental history you are studying.
Collaborate with Scholars and Experts : Engage with scholars and experts in the field of environmental history. Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars where you can interact with professionals who can guide and support your research endeavors. Seek their advice on potential research topics and gain insights from their expertise. Collaborating with scholars not only enhances the quality of your work but also opens doors to new research opportunities.
Consider Multi-disciplinary Approaches : Environmental history is an interdisciplinary field that draws from various disciplines such as history, ecology, geography, sociology, and more. Consider incorporating multi-disciplinary approaches into your research topic. Explore how concepts and methodologies from different fields can enrich your analysis and provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental issues you are studying.
Analyze Long-term Trends and Patterns : Environmental history offers the opportunity to analyze long-term trends and patterns. Consider topics that allow you to explore changes and continuities in human-environment relationships over extended periods. By examining historical trajectories, you can gain valuable insights into the complex dynamics between societies and their environments.
Connect Local and Global Perspectives : Look for topics that bridge local and global perspectives. Environmental history encompasses a wide range of scales, from local case studies to global phenomena. Consider how local environmental issues connect to broader global contexts and vice versa. By examining the interplay between local and global perspectives, you can uncover the interconnectedness of environmental processes and their historical significance.
Seek Guidance from Your Advisor : Lastly, seek guidance from your advisor or instructor. They can provide valuable insights, suggestions, and feedback on potential research topics. Share your interests and ideas with them, and discuss how to refine and narrow down your topic to align with your research goals and academic requirements.

Choosing a compelling and impactful environmental history research paper topic requires careful consideration and exploration. By identifying your interests, considering timeliness and relevance, delving into untapped areas, balancing specificity and scope, engaging with primary sources, collaborating with scholars, embracing multi-disciplinary approaches, analyzing long-term trends, connecting local and global perspectives, and seeking guidance from your advisor, you can select a topic that captivates your curiosity and contributes to the scholarly conversation in environmental history. Remember, the right research topic is the foundation for a successful and fulfilling research journey.

How to Write an Environmental History Research Paper

Writing an environmental history research paper requires careful planning, thorough research, and effective organization. In this section, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to write a compelling and well-structured environmental history research paper.

Define Your Research Question : Start by defining a clear and focused research question. Your research question should be specific, concise, and address an important aspect of environmental history. It will serve as the guiding framework for your research and help you stay focused throughout the writing process.
Conduct In-Depth Research : Thoroughly research your topic by consulting a variety of sources. Utilize academic journals, books, reputable websites, primary sources, and other relevant materials. Take comprehensive notes and organize your research findings to ensure easy retrieval and proper citation later on.
Develop an Outline : Create a detailed outline for your research paper. An outline helps you structure your ideas, establish a logical flow of information, and maintain coherence throughout your writing. Divide your paper into sections and subsections, each addressing a specific aspect of your research question.
Craft a Strong Thesis Statement : Develop a strong and arguable thesis statement that encapsulates the main argument or perspective of your research paper. Your thesis statement should be clear, concise, and provide a roadmap for your entire paper. It will guide your analysis and help you stay focused on your main objective.
Provide Historical Context : Situate your research within its historical context. Provide background information on the time period, geographical location, and relevant events or developments that shaped the environmental history you are studying. This contextualization will help readers understand the significance and relevance of your research.
Analyze Primary and Secondary Sources : Engage critically with both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources provide firsthand accounts or original data related to your research topic, while secondary sources offer interpretations and analyses of primary materials. Analyze and evaluate these sources to support your arguments and provide evidence for your claims.
Use a Variety of Methodologies : Utilize a range of methodologies in your research. Environmental history draws from various approaches, including archival research, oral history interviews, quantitative analysis, and spatial analysis. Consider the methodologies that best suit your research question and use them to enrich your analysis.
Structure Your Paper : Organize your research paper into clear sections, including an introduction, literature review, methodology, analysis, and conclusion. Each section should flow logically and contribute to the overall argument of your research. Use appropriate headings and subheadings to guide readers through your paper.
Engage with Existing Scholarship : Demonstrate your knowledge of the existing scholarship in environmental history. Engage with relevant theories, concepts, and debates in the field. Discuss how your research contributes to or challenges existing literature, and highlight the significance of your findings within the broader academic discourse.
Revise and Edit : Allocate ample time for revising and editing your research paper. Review your content for clarity, coherence, and logical progression of ideas. Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure that your citations and references follow the appropriate style guide, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Writing an environmental history research paper requires careful planning, diligent research, and effective communication of your findings. By defining a clear research question, conducting in-depth research, developing a strong thesis statement, providing historical context, analyzing primary and secondary sources, utilizing a variety of methodologies, structuring your paper, engaging with existing scholarship, and revising and editing thoroughly, you can produce a compelling and well-crafted environmental history research paper. Remember to stay focused, remain critical in your analysis, and let your passion for the subject shine through in your writing.

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A pair of hands holds a small pile of white pellets above a drum half-full of pellets.

There’s an Explosion of Plastic Waste. Big Companies Say ‘We’ve Got This.’

Big brands like Procter & Gamble and Nestlé say a new generation of plants will help them meet environmental goals, but the technology is struggling to deliver.

Recycled polypropylene pellets at a PureCycle Technologies plant in Ironton, Ohio. Credit... Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

Supported by

By Hiroko Tabuchi

Published April 5, 2024 Updated April 8, 2024

By 2025, Nestle promises not to use any plastic in its products that isn’t recyclable. By that same year, L’Oreal says all of its packaging will be “refillable, reusable, recyclable or compostable.”

And by 2030, Procter & Gamble pledges that it will halve its use of virgin plastic resin made from petroleum.

To get there, these companies and others are promoting a new generation of recycling plants, called “advanced” or “chemical” recycling, that promise to recycle many more products than can be recycled today.

So far, advanced recycling is struggling to deliver on its promise. Nevertheless, the new technology is being hailed by the plastics industry as a solution to an exploding global waste problem.

The traditional approach to recycling is to simply grind up and melt plastic waste. The new, advanced-recycling operators say they can break down the plastic much further, into more basic molecular building blocks, and transform it into new plastic.

PureCycle Technologies, a company that features prominently in Nestlé, L’Oréal, and Procter & Gamble’s plastics commitments, runs one such facility, a $500 million plant in Ironton, Ohio. The plant was originally to start operating in 2020 , with the capacity to process as much as 182 tons of discarded polypropylene, a hard-to-recycle plastic used widely in single-use cups, yogurt tubs, coffee pods and clothing fibers, every day.

Bales of crushed plastic are piled in neat rows on a concrete floor inside a white-walled warehouse.

But PureCycle’s recent months have instead been filled with setbacks: technical issues at the plant, shareholder lawsuits, questions over the technology and a startling report from contrarian investors who make money when a stock price falls. They said that they had flown a drone over the facility that showed that the plant was far from being able to make much new plastic.

PureCycle, based in Orlando, Fla., said it remained on track. “We’re ramping up production,” its chief executive, Dustin Olson, said during a recent tour of the plant, a constellation of pipes, storage tanks and cooling towers in Ironton, near the Ohio River. “We believe in this technology. We’ve seen it work,” he said. “We’re making leaps and bounds.”

Nestlé, Procter & Gamble and L’Oréal have also expressed confidence in PureCycle. L’Oréal said PureCycle was one of many partners developing a range of recycling technologies. P.&G. said it hoped to use the recycled plastic for “numerous packaging applications as they scale up production.” Nestlé didn’t respond to requests for comment, but has said it is collaborating with PureCycle on “groundbreaking recycling technologies.”

PureCycle’s woes are emblematic of broad trouble faced by a new generation of recycling plants that have struggled to keep up with the growing tide of global plastic production, which scientists say could almost quadruple by midcentury .

A chemical-recycling facility in Tigard, Ore., a joint venture between Agilyx and Americas Styrenics, is in the process of shutting down after millions of dollars in losses. A plant in Ashley, Ind., that had aimed to recycle 100,000 tons of plastic a year by 2021 had processed only 2,000 tons in total as of late 2023, after fires, oil spills and worker safety complaints.

At the same time, many of the new generation of recycling facilities are turning plastic into fuel, something the Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t consider to be recycling, though industry groups say some of that fuel can be turned into new plastic .

Overall, the advanced recycling plants are struggling to make a dent in the roughly 36 million tons of plastic Americans discard each year, which is more than any other country. Even if the 10 remaining chemical-recycling plants in America were to operate at full capacity, they would together process some 456,000 tons of plastic waste, according to a recent tally by Beyond Plastics , a nonprofit group that advocates stricter controls on plastics production. That’s perhaps enough to raise the plastic recycling rate — which has languished below 10 percent for decades — by a single percentage point.

For households, that has meant that much of the plastic they put out for recycling doesn’t get recycled at all, but ends up in landfills. Figuring out which plastics are recyclable and which aren’t has turned into, essentially, a guessing game . That confusion has led to a stream of non-recyclable trash contaminating the recycling process, gumming up the system.

“The industry is trying to say they have a solution,” said Terrence J. Collins, a professor of chemistry and sustainability science at Carnegie Mellon University. “It’s a non-solution.”

‘Molecular washing machine’

It was a long-awaited day last June at PureCycle’s Ironton facility: The company had just produced its first batch of what it describes as “ultra-pure” recycled polypropylene pellets.

That milestone came several years late and with more than $350 million in cost overruns. Still, the company appeared to have finally made it. “Nobody else can do this,” Jeff Kramer, the plant manager, told a local news crew .

PureCycle had done it by licensing a game-changing method — developed by Procter & Gamble researchers in the mid-2010s, but unproven at scale — that uses solvent to dissolve and purify the plastic to make it new again. “It’s like a molecular washing machine,” Mr. Olson said.

There’s a reason Procter & Gamble, Nestlé and L’Oréal, some of the world’s biggest users of plastic, are excited about the technology. Many of their products are made from polypropylene, a plastic that they transform into a plethora of products using dyes and fillers. P.&G. has said it uses more polypropylene than any other plastic, more than a half-million tons a year.

But those additives make recycling polypropylene more difficult.

The E.P.A. estimates that 2.7 percent of polypropylene packaging is reprocessed. But PureCycle was promising to take any polypropylene — disposable beer cups, car bumpers, even campaign signs — and remove the colors, odors, and contaminants to transform it into new plastic.

Soon after the June milestone, trouble hit.

On Sept. 13, PureCycle disclosed that its plant had suffered a power failure the previous month that had halted operations and caused a vital seal to fail. That meant the company would be unable to meet key milestones, it told lenders.

Then in November, Bleecker Street Research — a New York-based short-seller, an investment strategy that involves betting that a company’s stock price will fall — published a report asserting that the white pellets that had rolled off PureCycle’s line in June weren’t recycled from plastic waste. The short-sellers instead claimed that the company had simply run virgin polypropylene through the system as part of a demonstration run.

Mr. Olson said PureCycle hadn’t used consumer waste in the June 2023 run, but it hadn’t used virgin plastic, either. Instead it had used scrap known as “post industrial,” which is what’s left over from the manufacturing process and would otherwise go to a landfill, he said.

Bleecker Street also said it had flown heat-sensing drones over the facility and said it found few signs of commercial-scale activity. The firm also raised questions about the solvent PureCycle was using to break down the plastic, calling it “a nightmare concoction” that was difficult to manage.

PureCycle is now being sued by other investors who accuse the company of making false statements and misleading investors about its setbacks.

Mr. Olson declined to describe the solvent. Regulatory filings reviewed by The New York Times indicate that it is butane, a highly flammable gas, stored under pressure. The company’s filing described the risks of explosion, citing a “worst case scenario” that could cause second-degree burns a half-mile away, and said that to mitigate the risk the plant was equipped with sprinklers, gas detectors and alarms.

Chasing the ‘circular economy’

It isn’t unusual, of course, for any new technology or facility to experience hiccups. The plastics industry says these projects, once they get going, will bring the world closer to a “circular” economy, where things are reused again and again.

Plastics-industry lobbying groups are promoting chemical recycling. At a hearing in New York late last year, industry lobbyists pointed to the promise of advanced recycling in opposing a packaging-reduction bill that would eventually mandate a 50 percent reduction in plastic packaging. And at negotiations for a global plastics treaty , lobby groups are urging nations to consider expanding chemical recycling instead of taking steps like restricting plastic production or banning plastic bags.

A spokeswoman for the American Chemistry Council, which represents plastics makers as well as oil and gas companies that produce the building blocks of plastic, said that chemical recycling potentially “complements mechanical recycling, taking the harder-to-recycle plastics that mechanical often cannot.”

Environmental groups say the companies are using a timeworn strategy of promoting recycling as a way to justify selling more plastic, even though the new recycling technology isn’t ready for prime time. Meanwhile, they say, plastic waste chokes rivers and streams, piles up in landfills or is exported .

“These large consumer brand companies, they’re out over their skis,” said Judith Enck, the president of Beyond Plastics and a former regional E.P.A. administrator. “Look behind the curtain, and these facilities aren’t operating at scale, and they aren’t environmentally sustainable,” she said.

The better solution, she said, would be, “We need to make less plastic.”

Touring the plant

Mr. Olson recently strolled through a cavernous warehouse at PureCycle’s Ironton site, built at a former Dow Chemical plant. Since January, he said, PureCycle has been processing mainly consumer plastic waste and has produced about 1.3 million pounds of recycled polypropylene, or about 1 percent of its annual production target.

“This is a bag that would hold dog food,” he said, pointing to a bale of woven plastic bags. “And these are fruit carts that you’d see in street markets. We can recycle all of that, which is pretty cool.”

The plant was dealing with a faulty valve discovered the day before, so no pellets were rolling off the line. Mr. Olson pulled out a cellphone to show a photo of a valve with a dark line ringing its interior. “It’s not supposed to look like that,” he said.

The company later sent video of Mr. Olson next to white pellets once again streaming out of its production line.

PureCycle says every kilogram of polypropylene it recycles emits about 1.54 kilograms of planet-warming carbon dioxide. That’s on par with a commonly used industry measure of emissions for virgin polypropylene. PureCycle said that it was improving on that measure.

Nestlé, L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble continue to say they’re optimistic about the technology. In November, Nestlé said it had invested in a British company that would more easily separate out polypropylene from other plastic waste.

It was “just one of the many steps we are taking on our journey to ensure our packaging doesn’t end up as waste,” the company said.

Hiroko Tabuchi covers the intersection of business and climate for The Times. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years in Tokyo and New York. More about Hiroko Tabuchi

Learn More About Climate Change

Have questions about climate change? Our F.A.Q. will tackle your climate questions, big and small .

“Buying Time,” a new series from The New York Times, looks at the risky ways humans are starting to manipulate nature to fight climate change.

Big brands like Procter & Gamble and Nestlé say a new generation of recycling plants will help them meet environmental goals, but the technology is struggling to deliver .

The Italian energy giant Eni sees future profits from collecting carbon dioxide and pumping it into natural gas fields that have been exhausted.

New satellite-based research reveals how land along the East Coast is slumping into the ocean, compounding the danger from global sea level rise . A major culprit: the overpumping of groundwater.

Did you know the ♻ symbol doesn’t mean something is actually recyclable ? Read on about how we got here, and what can be done.

Why Do We Dislike Inflation?

This paper provides new evidence on a long-standing question asked by Shiller (1997): Why do we dislike inflation? I conducted two surveys on representative samples of the US population to elicit people’s perceptions about the impacts of inflation and their reactions to it. The predominant reason for people’s aversion to inflation is the widespread belief that it diminishes their buying power, as neither personal nor general wage increases seem to match the pace of rising prices. As a result, respondents report having to make costly adjustments in their budgets and behaviors, especially among lower-income groups. Inflation also provokes stress, emotional responses, and a sense of inequity, as the wages of high-income individuals are perceived to grow more rapidly amidst inflation. Many respondents believe that firms have considerable discretion in setting wages, opting not to raise them in order to boost profits, rather than being compelled by market dynamics. The potential positive associations of inflation, such as with reduced unemployment or enhanced economic activity, are typically not recognized by respondents. Inflation ranks high in priority among various economic and social issues, with respondents blaming the government and businesses for it. I also highlight a substantial polarization in attitudes towards inflation along partisan lines, as well as across income groups.

This is an earlier version of the paper prepared for the Spring 2024 Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (BPEA) conference and the final version of this paper will be published in the Spring 2024 BPEA issue. I thank Carola Binder, Janice Eberly, Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Francesco Nuzzi, and Jon Steinsson for helpful comments and feedback. I am deeply grateful to Alberto Binetti, Filippo Giorgis, and Alfonso Merendino for excellent research assistance. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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Urban Ecology

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500+ Environmental Research Topics

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Updated 2024: Top 150 Environmental Science Research Topics

Top 10 Research Topics On Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Top 10 Research Topics On Biodiversity Conservation

Top 10 Environmental Science Research Topics On Renewable Energy Sources

Top 10 Research Topics On Pollution Control And Mitigation

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Top 10 Research Topics On Ecosystem Restoration

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Top 10 Research Topics On Green Technology Innovations

Top 10 Environmental Science Research Topics On Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

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