Key Highlights
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A study of Spain finds that as households get smaller and the population ages, overall energy consumption tends to increase, challenging the assumption that fewer people automatically means less energy use. This highlights a critical social trend that policymakers must address to meet future energy and climate goals.
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Research into political upheavals in Mao-era China reveals that strong social networks and authoritarian structures can be surprisingly vulnerable, as mass mobilization often splintered groups and undermined the state’s interests instead of strengthening them. This reframes our understanding of how seemingly powerful dictatorships can be weakened from within by their own systems.
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An analysis of the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations identifies a powerful “petrochemical historical bloc” of industry and state actors working to maintain control over plastic production. This exposes the significant political and economic forces that must be overcome to achieve meaningful global environmental agreements.
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