Biosphere

Turning the tide on ecosystem degradation

Four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address the land- and water-based aspects of the biosphere we live in, and which we need to survive. These SDGs also address the importance of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Many of these SDGs interconnect and overlap, both with each other and with those in the Economy and Society groups of SDGs.

UN SDG 6

Logo for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, which is 'Clean water and sanitation'

UN SDG 13

Logo for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 13, which is 'Climate action'

UN SDG 14

Logo for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 14, which is 'Life below water'

UN SDG 15

Logo for the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 15, which is 'Life on land'

How many more people die from overheating in a warming world

Dr Ariana Zeka and colleagues estimated the burden of heat-related mortality attributable to recent climate change caused by humans, with more than a third of deaths accounted for

INTCATCH

Developing drone boats to health-check Europe's lakes and rivers

The effect of man-made chemicals on birds, fish and amphibians

Brunel scientists, led by Dr Olwenn Martin, developed European guidance on measuring, reporting on and evaluating the hormonal effect of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in these animals

Catching a Wave

Towards more sustainable oceans and coasts, spurred by art and science

Making production and consumption policies sustainable in the long term

Europe's likely food production pinchpoints highlighted by Dr Abiy Kabede and colleagues' assessment of how food, water, land and ecosystems interact in climate scenarios

Worldwide attention for the perils of plastic pollution

A Plastic Ocean, a 2016 documentary exposing the extent and impact of plastic pollution in our seas and oceans, featured Prof Susan Jobling, who was also a science advisor

River health

In partnership with the Environment Agency, we work to support the River Pinn's health

Reducing emissions

We are reducing our carbon emissions by 30% from a 2009/10 baseline

Our Environmental management programmes

We offer water management and conservation training through water sampling experiments from field classes, work placement in the Environment Agency, and research. Our MSc programme has a Professional Development work placement accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM).