Many wild Vanilla species are dependent on insects that pollinate them. But what happens if plants and insects are forced into different habitats? Researchers have examined if shifts in species’ geographic ranges could lead to future mismatches. They found that climate change may lead to reduced overlap in suitable habitats for wild vanilla and their pollinators. This could negatively affect the survival chances of these wild species, especially those dependent on specific pollinators, but also threaten the future of the vanilla crop and global vanilla supply.

A new analysis suggests that reductions in U.S. military spending could result in significant decreases in energy consumption by the Department of Defense, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Ryan Thombs of Penn State University, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Climate on July 2.

Fuelled by climate change and relentless pressure on land and water resources, some of the most widespread and damaging drought events in recorded history have taken place since 2023, according to a UN-backed report launched today.  The report provides a comprehensive account of how droughts compound poverty, hunger, energy insecurity, and ecosystem collapse.

A Chinese research team has shown how a climate shift from wet to sub-humid conditions 167 million years ago reshaped East Asia’s landscapes, driving an increase in biodiversity in the Yanliao Biota. Published in National Science Review, the study highlights how varied habitats drove the evolution of early mammals, dinosaurs, and insects in the North China Craton.