Nature Sustainability

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01924-6 Hunting wildlife for food and trade purposes (for example, pets, ornaments) can contribute to species extinctions, warranting informed policy and interventions to curb overexploitation. Towards such goals, the authors here estimate the spatial footprint of hunting probability across the global tropics.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01877-w Arctic transit routes offer economic gains from shorter voyages but increase regional black carbon deposition on snow and ice. A study now models the economic benefits and climate impacts of Arctic transit shipping through 2050, exploring the trade-offs of different policies.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 12 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01926-4 Author Correction: Biodiversity recovery is slow following clear-cut harvest of boreal forests

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01878-9 Shipping remains almost entirely reliant on fossil fuels, and identifying viable fuel transition pathways under evolving regulations is a key challenge. A study now evaluates 13 alternative marine fuels for the Asia–Europe corridor, revealing phased transitions shaped by policy design and timing.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 13 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01916-6 Practical application of perovskite solar cells requires scalable fabrication in ambient environments. Here the authors introduce PNCC, a hole-transport co-polymer that enables ambient-fabricated devices to achieve certified efficiencies of 33.0% in tandem cells and 23.2% in modules.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01907-7 Along the Asia–Europe shipping corridor, biofuels offer the strongest near-term option, potentially cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 31–47%, while electrofuels become more competitive after 2040 under the International Maritime Organization Net-Zero Framework. Policymakers could therefore adopt a phased str…

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01891-y Maritime shipping is a leading vector for marine bioinvasions, and ballast water regulations now apply to all international ships. A study now shows that growth in shipping traffic could amplify the global invasion risk to 94–900% of the 2018 baseline by 2100, even under widespread treatment compliance.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 18 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01919-3 Technological progress can help address the environmental impacts of shipping, but implementing solutions remains slow and problematic. Understanding shipping as a complex physical, economic and governance system is the key to accelerating a sustainable transition.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 28 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01874-z Indigenous Lands are critical for protecting Indigenous Peoples and the Amazon. Yet, they are increasingly exposed to socio-environmental frontiers, bringing violence, illegal resource extraction and deforestation. Urgent action is required to prevent irreversible harm to both people and forests, particularly in…

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 27 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01902-y Algal blooms severely threaten water safety, but conventional algae elimination methods are chemical-intense. This study presents a zero-valent copper microporous filter capable of removing algal cells and other harmful pollutants from aquaculture water without chemical input.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01899-4 Developing indicators, and the methodologies behind them, should make space for participatory approaches if we are to shape interventions equitably and effectively, argues Dilek Fraisl.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01889-6 Post-growth debates largely ignore China, despite its key position in the world economy, leaving a gap in sustainability discourse. This Perspective examines China’s role in a post-growth transition, comparing post-growth principles with China’s development model.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01903-x Absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) — child diapers, adult incontinence products and period products — are a major source of plastic waste. This Perspective highlights the materials and societal complexity of AHP waste and identifies opportunities for scientists to help address the unfolding AHP crisis.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 30 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01908-6 Although corporate net-zero pledges have become popular, evidence suggests they are not having real-world impacts, most probably because they lack a scientific foundation to ensure credibility and integrity. This Perspective presents a scientific framework to address the issue.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01909-5 The human consequences of armed conflict and climate change are often studied separately despite frequent co-occurrence of those events in fragile regions. A study now reveals a compounding effect of drought on post-traumatic stress from war, underlining the need for mental health services as a component of adap…

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 27 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01906-8 The uncontrolled production and release of human-made substances, or novel entities, has substantial environmental consequences. Here the authors propose a framework for assessing the long-term safety and environmental impacts of these novel entities that accounts for their vast number, diversity and complex int…

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 10 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01904-w Author Correction: Strong and recyclable bio-derived poly(ester amide) hot-melt adhesive

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01866-z Interfacial electrochemical reaction kinetics are crucial to fast charging and low-temperature operation of batteries. We now reveal that solvent exchange dynamics of solvated ions are intrinsically coupled with their interfacial electrochemical reaction kinetics. An electrolyte designed using this insight enabl…

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 10 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01896-7 Climate change is expected to intensify river flooding, yet small rivers are often overlooked in large-scale risk assessments. A study now projects that residents along small rivers in the USA face the highest future flood risk and the largest defence-investment needs by 2050.

Nature Sustainability, Published online: 26 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41893-026-01883-y Enormous consumption of concrete is straining planetary boundaries, yet it remains unclear how to reduce resource burdens while sustaining human development. A study now finds that concrete demand in rapidly developing economies has driven increased resource use over the past three decades, and production improv…