Policy & Ethics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Sep-2025 22:11 ET (16-Sep-2025 02:11 GMT/UTC)

6-Aug-2025

Growing shade trees can cut chocolate’s environmental impact

University of Queensland
Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Queensland research shows emissions from the global chocolate industry could be reduced by growing more shade trees over farms in the region that supplies 60 per cent of the world’s cocoa.

Journal

Nature Sustainability

Funder

Lindt Cocoa Foundation, Swiss National Science Foundation, Joint Cocoa Research Fund of CAOBISCO and ECA, Women’s Research Assistance Program

6-Aug-2025

Could the timing of food assistance payments affect crime rates?

Wiley
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Based on more than a decade’s worth of data across 36 U.S. states, a study in Contemporary Economic Policy finds that spreading out food assistance payments over more days reduces financially motivated crimes—especially robberies.

Journal

Contemporary Economic Policy

6-Aug-2025

Experts urge shift in heatwave strategy to save lives

University of Sydney
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Hot air is just one contributor to heat stress. Health experts say we need a radical rethink to prevent more deaths during heatwaves.

Journal

Nature

5-Aug-2025

Green AI helps Pakistani SMEs go greener — but leadership, investment, and policy still fall short

Bentham Science Publishers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Green Artificial Intelligence (Green AI) holds the potential to revolutionize sustainability efforts in emerging economies—but new research shows that without committed leadership, targeted investment, and stronger institutions, adoption may remain limited to a few early adopters.

Journal

Sustainable Futures

5-Aug-2025

Stronger policy, improved recovery: Closing gaps in stroke rehabilitation improves lives

American Heart Association
Business Announcement

New policy statement from the American Heart Association calls for patient-centered stroke rehabilitation, better data and the need to reduce disparities and improve recovery outcomes

5-Aug-2025

Just rise: Study finds frequent standing may boost heart health after menopause

University of California - San Diego
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The simple daily habit of standing up more often may impact heart health for postmenopausal women, according to a new study from University of California San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.

Journal

Circulation

Funder

NIH/National Institute on Aging, NIH/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

4-Aug-2025

Publicly available OSHA data offers unprecedented insight into workplace injury in the United States

American Public Health Association

Although US workers face considerable risks of job-related injuries, reliable estimates remain elusive due to longstanding data limitations. A recent article suggests that publicly available data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) could significantly enhance research on workplace injuries. Improved injury surveillance using OSHA data may help develop more effective prevention strategies and inform policy decisions across various high-risk industries.

Journal

American Journal of Public Health

Funder

McElhattan Foundation, Health Action Alliance