The emerging human fingerprint on global extreme fire weather, Turco et al., Science Advances
Extreme fire weather (hot, dry, and windy conditions) has intensified globally, yet formally attributing this trend to anthropogenic climate change remains challenging. Here, we analyze global trends in extreme fire weather days (FWI95d, annual count of days with Fire Weather Index above the 95th percentile) over 1980–2023, using climate model ensembles, observational data, and fingerprint detection techniques. We find that the observed increase in extreme fire weather bears a clear externally forced signal, detectable at 99% confidence above natural variability and attributable to human-induced climate change. This emerging human-induced fingerprint on extreme fire weather highlights a benchmark for climate science and underscores the urgency of integrating these insights into wildfire risk management and adaptation strategies.
An increase in the spatial extent of European floods over the last 70 years, Fang et al., Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Floods regularly cause substantial damage worldwide. Changing flood characteristics, e.g., due to climate change, pose challenges to flood risk management. The spatial extent of floods is an important indicator of potential impacts, as consequences of widespread floods are particularly difficult to mitigate. The highly uneven station distribution in space and time, however, limits the ability to quantify flood characteristics and, in particular, changes in flood extents over large regions. Here, we use observation-driven routed runoff simulations over the last 70 years in Europe from a state-of-the-art hydrological model (the mesoscale Hydrologic Model – mHM) to identify large spatiotemporally connected flood events. Our identified spatiotemporal flood events compare well against an independent flood impact database. We find that flood extents increase by 11.3 % on average across Europe. This increase occurs over most of Europe, except for parts of eastern and southwestern Europe. Over northern Europe, the increase in flood extent is mainly driven by the overall increase in flood magnitude caused by increasing precipitation and snowmelt. In contrast, the increasing trend in flood extent over central Europe can be attributed to an increase in the spatial extent of heavy precipitation. Overall, our study illustrates the opportunities to combine long-term consistent regional runoff simulations with a spatiotemporal flood detection algorithm to identify large-scale trends in key flood characteristics and their drivers. The detected change in flood extent should be considered in risk assessments as it may challenge flood control and water resource management.
Global record-shattering breadbasket droughts emerge from moderately extreme regional events, Li et al., Nature Communications
Simultaneous droughts across multiple maize-producing regions can strike record-shattering portions of the global maize agricultural area, threatening global food security as the system is poorly adapted to large shocks. Yet the future probability of such global droughts remains unknown. Here, we close this gap by analyzing surface soil moisture data from large ensemble climate models under future emission scenarios. During 2026-2099, the chance of at least one such event is 52% (32–80%, range across models) under an intermediate emission scenario and 60% (32–100%) under high emissions, about seven to eleven times higher than expected if there were no long-term trends in soil moisture. These elevated probabilities are primarily driven by long-term drying in Brazil, Europe, and the USA. Interestingly, global record-shattering droughts do not emerge from simultaneous regional record-shattering events, but they mostly occur when several regions simultaneously face moderately extreme droughts relative to the new climate. These results demonstrate a high potential for an upcoming global record-shattering drought in crop-producing areas, an under-recognized risk for food security.
The future of direct air capture in Canada: A systematic scenario-based exploration of barriers and possibilities, Motlaghzadeh & Schweizer, Energy Research & Social Science
Integrated assessment models often overlook the interdependencies of socio-political factors shaping the deployment direct air capture (DAC), leading to projections that may be overly optimistic. To address this gap, we systematically explore the conditions under which DAC may (or not) emerge as a competitive carbon dioxide removal (CDR) option in Canada using the system-theoretical scenario method cross-impact balances (CIB), which accommodates both qualitative and quantitative scenario factors. Based on the literature, we identified 10 key factors affecting DAC deployment such as interjurisdictional regulations, public perception, and clean electricity availability. Their interrelationships were assessed by 27 experts to develop an expert-informed CIB model that identified 15 internally consistent scenarios. Results reveal inter-related constraints that DAC must overcome to become competitive with other CDR methods. The cost of DAC remains a significant barrier; unless technological breakthroughs or economies of scale push costs down, DAC is unlikely to play a major future role. Even with cost improvements, public perception remains key—strong societal opposition, particularly around CO? transport and storage infrastructure—can delay or block projects. Additionally, interjurisdictional policy coherence matters to advance DAC deployment. From a domestic decision-maker perspective, some of these barriers—such as DAC cost—are influenced largely by global deployment and may be outside their control. However, others—such as policy coherence—can be shaped by domestic policy action. By integrating expert knowledge of qualitative factors using systematic scenario analysis, this study highlights how different institutional and socio-political configurations condition the feasibility of large-scale DAC deployment in Canada.
From committed to dismissive: how conspiracy mentality and trust in the democratic (political) system shape climate policy perspectives in Germany, Lütkes et al., Climate Policy
The implementation of new policy measures to mitigate climate often leads to public backlash, undermining their political feasibility, especially in democracies. To understand public opinion and the various positions within the polarized climate policy debate, our study draws on a representative survey conducted in Germany in 2022. We found strong evidence for four distinct groups, which we label as being ‘committed’ to, ‘worried’ about or ‘indifferent’ to climate policy initiatives, or being outright ‘dismissive’ of such policies. Distrust of democratic institutions, processes, politicians and norms as well as a tendency towards a conspiracy mentality play a crucial role in explaining the cleavage between these groups, particularly between the committed and the dismissive. The committed are a rather West German, female, democracy appreciating, urban and educated social group without a conspiracy mentality. In contrast, the dismissive group exhibits a conspiracy mentality and is sceptical of the political elite. This reflects a West German green and an East German right-wing populist milieu. The worried, who are concerned about losing their jobs, increasing social conflict and falling living standards as a result of climate policy, and the largest group of the indifferent are less well explained by the socio-demographic, attitudinal covariates and require further research. The results of the segmentation can be used to design effective climate communication and develop target group-orientated approaches.
U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters in 2025, Adam Smith, Climate Central
Research by Climate Central shows that during 2025, there were 23 individual weather and climate disasters with at least $1 billion in damages. This was the third-highest count of billion-dollar disasters (inflation-adjusted to 2025 dollars) since 1980, trailing only 2023 and 2024, with 28 and 27 events, respectively. The total, direct cost of these 23 events in 2025 was approximately $115.0 billion, with 276 direct and indirect fatalities. The author summarizes the costliest events of 2025 and puts them in the context of historical trends in billion-dollar disasters since 1980. He also explore the influence of our growing exposure, vulnerability, and climate change on the increasing trend of these expensive and deadly disasters.
Toxic Accounts. From Greenwashing to Gaslighting, Nayantara Dutta, Clean Creatives
In a first-of-its-kind research project, the author has decoded the narrative shifts in fossil fuel campaigns between 2020 and 2024, detailing how narrative strategy in oil and gas companies' advertising and public relations campaigns has shifted. The evidence documents how, between 2020 and 2024, oil and gas campaigns shifted from setting climate targets and saying “we’re part of the solution” to emphasizing fossil fuel dependence and convincing people “you can’t live without us.” In parallel, the author saw shareholders follow suit and move from supporting climate action to prioritizing fossil fuel profitability. Oil majors have always been preoccupied with social license, but now, the fossil fuel industry is radicalizing. Companies like BP and Shell, which have a history of greenwashing and made net zero pledges in 2020. Now they are going all in on fossil fuels. They are advertising false solutions like carbon capture and storage, natural gas and biofuels, which increase fossil fuel dependence.
Physical science of climate change, effects
Drivers of Marine Heat Waves in the North Pacific Ocean, Cai et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0308.1
Arctic Sea Ice Meltwater as a Forcing and Feedback on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, Hankel et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0254.1
Observations of climate change, effects
The emerging human fingerprint on global extreme fire weather, Turco et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adx9845
The Emergence of a Climate Change Signal in Ireland's Rainfall Extremes, Fordham & Murphy, International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70346
Observed Changes in Canada’s Snowfall as Inferred from Precipitation and Daily Mean Temperatures, Qian et al., Atmosphere 10.1080/07055900.2025.2586566
Interior Antarctica is undergoing marked climate change, Bromwich et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03384-4
Changes of diurnal temperature range in different climatic regions in Europe between 1971 and 2024, Kis & Pongrácz, Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108938
Attribution and Projection of Anthropogenic Suppression on Frost Extremes in China, Wang et al., Weather and Climate Extremes Open Access 10.1016/j.wace.2026.100882
Analysis of trends and projected changes in summer and very hot days in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Trbic et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1762709
Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects
Toward a Climate OSSE Framework for Satellite Mission Design, Fridlind et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 10.1175/bams-d-24-0242.1
Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects
Threats of Declining Diurnal Temperature Range Over India: Deep Learning–Driven Downscaling of CMIP6 Climate Data and Emerging Hotspots, Chaturvedi et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70337
Impact of climate change on persistent cold-air pools in an alpine valley during the 21st century, Bacer et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.5194/wcd-5-211-2024
Global record-shattering breadbasket droughts emerge from moderately extreme regional events, Li et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-70700-z
Future projections of aridity change across Africa's climatic regions, Dioha et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108916
Compound North American Cold and European Wind Extremes in ERA5 and CMIP6 Historical and Future Simulations. Part 2: Dynamical Pathways, Leeding & Messori, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2025jd044939
Compound North American Cold and European Wind Extremes in ERA5 and CMIP6 Historical and Future Simulations. Part 1: Surface Extremes, Leeding & Messori, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2025jd044938
African Easterly Jets and Surface Thermal Heating Responses to Climate Change Over Central Africa in CMIP6 Models, Kuete et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 10.1029/2025jd044780
Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection
Mitigating Uncertainties in CMIP6 Sea-Level Simulations From Internal Variability Using the Semi-Empirical Bayesian Ensemble, Du et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70348
Forecasting the Future With Yesterday's Climate: Temperature Bias in AI Weather and Climate Models, Landsberg & Barnes, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl119740
Correction of Climate Model Winds With Preserved Spatio-Temporal and Directional Consistency, Kusumastuti et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl119796
Comparative analysis of high-resolution GCMs and RCMs ensembles in simulating and projecting compound extreme events in China, Chen et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108917
Cryosphere & climate change
What Do Latest CMIP6 Global Climate Models Say About Future Arctic Sea Ice Coverage Changes?, Matthews et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70347
Regional Analysis of Snow Presence Trends in the Northern Hemisphere, Woody et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-25-0061.1
Observed Changes in Canada’s Snowfall as Inferred from Precipitation and Daily Mean Temperatures, Qian et al., Atmosphere 10.1080/07055900.2025.2586566
Sea level & climate change
HIDRA-D: deep-learning model for dense sea level forecasting using sparse altimetry and tide gauge data, Rus et al., Geoscientific Model Development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-2177-2026
Paleoclimate
The end of gas, Svensen et al., Earth and Planetary Science Letters 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.11.015
Biology & climate change, related geochemistry
Thermal specialization limits evolutionary responses to climate warming in lizards, Poblete Ahumada et al., Biology Letters Open Access 10.1098/rsbl.2025.0593
Thermal Limits and Decline of Synechococcus Under Accelerated Warming and Marine Heatwaves, Azizah et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70791
Divergent and habitat-specific responses of benthic communities to environmental and climate change in a twenty-year time series (2004–2023) in the Northern Adriatic, Lezzi & Mazziotti, Marine Environmental Research 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.107989
Climate warming exacerbates moisture limitations of tree growth in water-limited forests and for drought-adapted tree species, Song et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111119
GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry
Unprecedented Burning in Tropical Peatlands During the 20th Century Compared to the Previous Two Millennia, Wang et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70717
The Increasing Impact of Seasonality Biases on Model-Based Estimates of the Ocean Carbon Sink, Arroyo et al., Global Biogeochemical Cycles Open Access 10.1029/2025gb008713
Reduced carbon outflow from a Floridian mangrove estuary up to two years after a hurricane, Stegehuis et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03249-w
Phosphate scarcity governs methane production in the global open ocean, Wang et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2521235123
Much Larger Whole-Profile Soil Organic Carbon Stocks on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Than Previously Reported, Mao et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.70808
Long-Term Effects of Freeze–Thaw Events on Ecosystem Carbon Exchange, Xu et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73222
Dynamics of short-term ecosystem carbon fluxes induced by precipitation events in a semiarid grassland, Delgado-Balbuena et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-20-2369-2023
Drought amplifies warming-induced soil carbon loss in a decade-long experiment, Guo et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02584-2
Deep Coring Shows That Mangrove Sediments in Matang (Malaysia) Store up to Five Times More Carbon Than Previously Estimated, Wolswijk et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.70773
A systematic bias in float pH leads to overestimation of derived pCO2 and underestimation of carbon uptake by the Southern Ocean, Zhang et al., Scientific Reports Open Access 10.1038/s41598-026-43863-4
A Radiocarbon-Based Framework to Assess Soil Organic Carbon Persistence and Vulnerability Across Land-Use Types, Minich et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70799
CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering
The future of direct air capture in Canada: A systematic scenario-based exploration of barriers and possibilities, Motlaghzadeh & Schweizer, Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104640
Reply to Sun: Real-world bulk density changes support high carbon sequestration potential of biochar, Yang et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access pdf 10.1073/pnas.2533070123
Decarbonization
The end of gas, Svensen et al., Earth and Planetary Science Letters 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.11.015
Technological advances mitigate the impact of climate change on electric vehicle battery lifetimes, , Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02581-5
Recycling fossil infrastructure for cleaner energy transitions, Schlesier et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-70777-6
Molecular solar thermal energy storage in Dewar pyrimidone beyond 1.6 MJ/kg, Nguyen et al., Science 10.1126/science.aec6413
Feasibility assessment and prioritization of large-scale floating solar farms on reservoirs in semi-arid regions as an emerging clean energy solution, Anbaran et al., Energy for Sustainable Development 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101975
Economic Viability of Photovoltaic Systems Providing Frequency Containment Reserve, Petkovski et al., Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research Open Access pdf 10.1002/aesr.202500295
Breaking the cycle: A systemic analysis of socio-technical barriers and policy priorities for biomass technology in an emerging economy, Erol et al., Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115237
Adaptation to broken climate change mitigation: Exploring social and economic impacts of solar mini-grid electrification in Colombian island communities, Edsand et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104636
Geoengineering climate
Impact of Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering on Sea Surface Temperature in the Angolan Upwelling System, Mekonou-Tamko et al., Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans 10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2026.101664
Climate change communications & cognition
The role of policy appraisals and second-order beliefs in public support for climate policies in the UK, Poortinga, Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2539977
The Role of Emotion in Climate Change Communication, Salama & Aboukoura, Climate Change Management 10.1007/978-3-319-69838-0_9
Silencing Greta: Exploring Digital Environmental Discourses of Gen Z on Tiktok, Causa, Environmental Communication 10.1080/17524032.2026.2642135
Positive Images of Heat Waves Reduce the Effects of Messages About Extreme Heat among U.S. Adults, Mosallaei et al., Environmental Communication 10.1080/17524032.2026.2623479
Navigating climate knowledge and anxiety in Ghana: insights from urban and peri-urban Greater Accra, Bawakyillenuo et al., Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2026.2642093
Information needs and methods of accessing climate information by urban children and youth in Bangladesh: a policy-practice agenda, Hossain et al., Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2509628
From committed to dismissive: how conspiracy mentality and trust in the democratic (political) system shape climate policy perspectives in Germany, Lütkes et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2522828
Emotionally aligned and structurally sorted: How opinion groups divide on climate and asylum, Dametto et al., PNAS Nexus Open Access 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag051
Association between Political Ideology and Climate Change Risk Perception in Anglo-Saxon Countries: Does Perceived Extreme Weather Experience Matter?, Ai et al., Weather, Climate, and Society 10.1175/wcas-d-25-0119.1
Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change
Should public institutions adopt plant-based diets? Climate duties and shared leadership, Bell et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2604728
Reclaiming abandoned croplands to adapt wheat production to a warmer world, He et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03386-2
Plant adaptation intelligence: lessons from extreme environments for resilient crop systems, Taye, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.3389/fevo.2026.1772986
Landowners’ attitudes toward agrivoltaic adoption: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment in Southern Italy, Sardaro et al., Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115248
Global record-shattering breadbasket droughts emerge from moderately extreme regional events, Li et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-70700-z
Determinants of GHG mitigation measures adoption among farmers in Europe and selected non-EU countries: a systematic review, Shahabi Ahangarkolaee et al., Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2598522
Climate Change Can Generate Enemy-Free Space for Crop-Feeding Herbivores, Wyckhuys et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70775
Carbon emissions reduction of cropland management is substantially greater than carbon sequestrations of cropland abandonment in the North China Plain, Shi et al., Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2542339
Assessing rice yield responses to climate change scenarios using a crop simulation model, Baydar, PeerJ Open Access 10.7717/peerj.20965
Adding value to the voluntary carbon market through small-scale agroforestry, Shin et al., Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2025.2574074
Adaptive capacity of agricultural institutions to climate change and the barriers: a comparative study from Turkey, Gören, Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2526674
Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change
Uncertainty Representation and Propagation in Flood Risk Modeling Under Climate Change: A Systematic Review, Mik?Meyer et al., WIREs Climate Change Open Access 10.1002/wcc.70045
Predicting and Projecting Extreme Precipitation in Coastal Cities with High-Resolution Modeling, Prein et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 10.1175/bams-d-25-0347.1
An increase in the spatial extent of European floods over the last 70 years, Fang et al., Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Open Access 10.5194/hess-28-3755-2024
Climate change economics
Unintended emissions: the carbon leakage effects of the third-phase EU ETS tightening on trade-exposed Chinese firms, Ying et al., Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2545325
Sovereign green bonds in practice: effectiveness as a climate finance instrument in emerging economies, Owusu-Mante et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2586572
Carbon tax assets for carbon tax liabilities: using CBAM to increase climate finance, Sandler & Schrag, Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2543096
Addressing the challenge of stabilization clauses in resolving international energy investment disputes under climate change, Fan & Huang, Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2525464
Climate change mitigation public policy research
“What we can do is contribute to EU goals”: Latvia’s strategic narrative challenges in pursuing climate neutrality, Kleinberga et al., Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2026.2637307
Understanding UK public preferences and attitudes to a decarbonized heating system, , Nature Energy 10.1038/s41560-026-01978-y
Transitioning the European maritime industry to hydrogen: a system's perspective for policy making, Bianchi et al., Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115259
Transformative transparency in the EU and UNFCCC? Assessing the perceived influence of reporting and review on climate policy in Finland, Pietarila et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2581129
Policy-driven growth of technologies to accelerate climate action, Jewell et al., Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 10.1038/s43017-026-00765-3
Pathways for including non-carbon dioxide aviation climate effects in the European Emission Trading System, Grewe et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03265-w
Cross-national comparative assessment of synergies and conflicts in climate policy mixes, Wu et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02574-4
Closing the ambition gap: Germany's energy transition in line with a 1.5ˆC carbon budget, Jürgens et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2506610
Climate policy synergy: a tripartite evolutionary game analysis of ESG compliance and tax incentives on corporate carbon governance, Qin et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1561025
Between a rock and a hard place: unpacking India’s engagement in UNFCCC transparency arrangements, van Deursen et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2524512
Barriers to limiting fossil fuel supply in UNFCCC negotiations: insights from Bangladesh, Saha, Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2521119
Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research
Unpacking Political Contestations in Tracking Climate Change Adaptation, Broek et al., WIREs Climate Change Open Access 10.1002/wcc.70048
Uncovering the climate vulnerability of China’s poverty alleviation frontiers, Zhao et al., Global Environmental Change 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2026.103140
The neglect of climate change-induced displacement in policy instruments: interrogating Nepal’s climate change policies and adaptation plans, Bishwokarma & Sunam, Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2025.2511258
The evidence gap index: mapping evidence where it matters for climate change impacts, Lück et al., Climate and Development Open Access 10.1080/17565529.2025.2479005
Latin American NGOs’ perceptions of cross-scale and cross-actor interactions in polycentric climate governance, Tosun et al., Climate and Development Open Access 10.1080/17565529.2025.2564740
Household-level climate vulnerability of buffalo-rearing communities in northern and western India: a composite index approach, Aiswarya et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1768137
Fostering Climate Change Education for Effective Locally-Led and Community-Led Adaptation, Imran et al., Climate Resilience and Sustainability Open Access 10.1002/cli2.70041
Dynamic linkages between climate-related policy uncertainty and knowledge systems: implications for climate resilience and sustainable development, Ali & Naz, Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2025.2602136
Assessing the barriers to climate change adaptation: evidence from Western Himalayan Region of India, Fazal Choudhary et al., Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2025.2506754
Addressing APEC’s Climate Challenges: Complexity of Climate Change Adaptation and the Way Forward, Jeon et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 10.1175/bams-d-26-0023.1
Adaptation bricolage: centering community agency in climate adaptation agendas, Totin et al., Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2025.2558659
Climate change impacts on human health
Effect of climate-driven childhood sleep erosion on potential regional economic inequality, Chu et al., Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-026-01779-x
Between a rock and a hard place: exploring the lived experience of disability and climate injustice, Eriksen et al., Climate and Development Open Access 10.1080/17565529.2025.2592263
Climate change impacts on human culture
“Artificial Anthropocene”: Impact of artificial intelligence on climate and the Earth, Kumar, The Holocene 10.1177/09596836261422217
Other
Who cares about gender? A comparison of parties’ commitment to gender equality in the UN climate regime, Dominguez Britos & Stevenson, Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2026.2616987
Unraveling Sundarbans’ erosion: how machine learning maps climate change impacts, Biswas & Maiti, npj Climate Action Open Access 10.1038/s44168-026-00336-8
Connecting on climate: Perceived similarity to a climate victim increases the likelihood of donation, Miniard & Attari, Journal of Environmental Psychology 10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102996
Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives
Plan to break up iconic U.S. climate lab moves ahead, Voosen, Science 10.1126/science.aeh1090
Moving beyond a climate politics of justice with no peace, Thomas & Rhiney, Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2024.2444329
Data Centers and California Electricity Policy, Little Hoover Commission
The authors assess how the state should address the significant energy demand from new data centers through updated rates, financing mechanisms, regulatory approaches, and related policy tools. California should strive to develop a stable regulatory framework for data centers that balances economic growth with clean, efficient, affordable, and reliable electricity provision. It should make certain that costs associated with new large-load development are fairly allocated and do not shift onto existing ratepayers. California should lead the nation on data-center energy regulation by grounding its policies in the best ideas from researchers, state agencies, utilities, developers, and other jurisdictions (state, federal, international). California should enable regulators to confidentially access essential facility-level electricity use data from large data centers, supported by structured data-sharing among agencies, to improve planning, assess localized impacts, and ensure fair cost responsibility while protecting sensitive business information.
Review of NERC’s 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, Brooks et al., GridStrategies
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)’s latest Long-Term Reliability Assessment (LTRA), released in January 2026, showed intensifying resource reliability risks in regions across the U.S. over the next decade. While the LTRA raises some important concerns about reliability in this new era of surging demand growth, the authors' analysis demonstrates that the severity of the risk may be less than assessed. With this analysis, the authors provide a more comprehensive picture of adequacy risks that account for likely-to-connect generation, the value of both firm and non-firm interregional transmission, and limitations in load forecasting that can overestimate large loads. Although this re-assessment demonstrates a reduced reliability risk given different—and more comprehensive—underlying assumptions, the fact remains that delays to interconnecting new generation and a lack of investment in interregional transmission are two of the foremost factors creating reliability risk. With a clearer vision of the future and rapid action, the grid could be even more reliable in five years than it is today.
Diesel Generators at Data Centers. Status, Impacts, and Protective Practices, Catherine Casomar and John Bangsund, Better Data Center Project
Diesel generators are by far the most common type of backup power for data centers, with more than 50 GW already permitted in the US. With increasing use for non-emergency applications, including demand response, public health and environmental impacts will grow. This report was prepared in response to questions from communities, state and local governments, and Tribes about the impacts of diesel generators and ways to limit harm. We summarize the current status of diesel use for data centers in the US—including a case study quantifying trends in Virginia—examine impacts, and propose practices to reduce harm.
Energy Storage Signals Shift to Renewable Grids, Ye Huang, Global Energy Monitor
Global Energy Monitor (GEM) data from the 2026 release of the Global Wind and Solar Power trackers show that the combined global installed capacity of wind and solar has reached 3,222 gigawatts alternating current (GWac). Wind and solar accounted for more than 70% of all new electricity capacity growth globally in the past five years, underscoring the central role of these power sources in system growth worldwide. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) account for the majority of new storage additions because of their strong integration with wind and solar power, as well as technological improvements. From 2010 to 2024, battery storage costs declined by 93%, which has enabled the rapid scaling of BESS deployment. In response to the uptake of energy storage, GEM has begun tracking the presence of storage associated with wind and solar power plants when data are readily available. At present, GEM is tracking 2,144 utility-scale solar farms and 822 wind farms globally with associated storage systems. China, Greece, and Australia are planning the most storage projects associated with wind and solar farms. China dominates the refinement and processing of battery raw materials, making it the primary hub of the global battery supply chain.
Supplementary analysis of the Seventh Carbon Budget, Pinchbeck et al., Climate Change Committee
For every pound spent on Net Zero, the benefits outweigh this by 2.2 to 4.1 times. Avoiding climate damages is the most significant benefit of the transition. This saving is estimated between £40 billion and £130 billion in 2050. Energy losses are halved compared to today. Losses in a Net Zero system are valued at £30 billion per year, compared to £60 billion a year in today’s energy system. The transition is set to deliver far greater health and wellbeing co-benefits than costs. Cleaner air, warmer homes, more active travel and healthier diets strongly outweigh downsides like extra public transport time or potential congestion from increased EV use.
Winning the AI Race: Tapping into Pumped Storage Hydropower, National Hydropower Association
If the United States intends to win the race to power artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, it must first win the race to build reliable power. The central question is no longer whether the grid can produce enough electricity, but whether it can do so reliably, at the right locations, and on timelines that align with private investment. The authors highlight how the 60,000+ megawatts of proposed new pumped storage hydropower can help achieve American AI dominance. Eighty projects are currently pending in the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing pipeline, 85% of which are located in the West where the power is needed most. Policies that unlock this proven yet often-overlooked technology are necessary to ensure that the nation has the 24/7 reliable power to win the AI race.
U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters in 2025, Adam Smith, Climate Central
Research by Climate Central shows that during 2025, there were 23 individual weather and climate disasters with at least $1 billion in damages. This was the third-highest count of billion-dollar disasters (inflation-adjusted to 2025 dollars) since 1980, trailing only 2023 and 2024, with 28 and 27 events, respectively. The total, direct cost of these 23 events in 2025 was approximately $115.0 billion, with 276 direct and indirect fatalities. The author summarizes the costliest events of 2025 and puts them in the context of historical trends in billion-dollar disasters since 1980. He also explore the influence of our growing exposure, vulnerability, and climate change on the increasing trend of these expensive and deadly disasters.
New threats and new tools: reinventing energy security for an era of instability, Daisy Powell-Chandler and Margaret Ryan, RenewableUK
The authors examine how the changing character of conflict is reshaping threats to the UK’s energy system, and what that implies for energy security as an element of national security. The authors draw on a literature review, expert interviews and a tabletop wargame run with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) to stress-test UK resilience under three plausible winter-time energy crisis scenarios, before providing six recommendations for Government that will help us deploy the new tools we need to meet the threats of this age.
The Evolving Politics of Climate Change in China, Neil Thomas and Guoguang Wu, Asia Society Policy Institute
The authors investigate how clean-energy sectors have become a core pillar of China’s growth model, industrial policy and international engagement. The authors explain why mounting economic pressures, intensifying technological competition, and rising geopolitical tensions are reshaping Beijing’s priorities, and how climate diplomacy is becoming increasingly intertwined with trade and industrial strategy. The findings carry important implications for governments, businesses, and international institutions navigating the energy transition. Understanding China’s evolving approach is essential to assessing the future trajectory of global decarbonization and the risks and opportunities it presents.
Defragmenting European Union climate policy, Pahle et al., Bruegel
There is broad agreement that the European Union’s post-2030 climate policy architecture – the framework of rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – needs to be simpler and more flexible, with market actors less constrained in how they mitigate emissions. However, simplification should not compromise the EU’s climate goals and changing the architecture is politically contentious. Ringfencing of established climate compliance mechanisms and any delay in containing the emissions of lagging sectors could result in even more fragmentation in an already-fragmented climate-policy architecture. The cost of maintaining this fragmentation will rise, making the system even more inefficient. Higher costs and limited control over emissions in some sectors will undermine the EU’s ability to credibly signal commitment to its climate target, undermining the confidence of investors and international partners. To avoid these risks, simplicity and flexibility must mean the application of a carbon price across all parts of the EU climate architecture, with prices converging gradually. This can be achieved by linking the different systems through exchange rates that guide convergence towards a common carbon price, with the EU emissions trading system as the central hub.
Gulf Energy Transition Through Renewable Energy Development, Salem Alhajraf, Rice University's Baker Institute
The author evaluates the progress of renewable energy development in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which currently have more than 100 projects at various stages of development. The author examines the economic, financial, technical, and regulatory challenges that the sector faces and assesses their impact on overall energy transition strategies. The author focuses specifically on the Saudi Arabian market, which aims to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2030. The author highlights the number and scale of projects underway, including 52 projects in solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind technologies. Additionally, the author provides an in-depth examination of 30 solar PV projects already awarded in Saudi Arabia, discussing key project factors, including project size, capital costs, and the levelized cost of electricity.
State Energy Storage Policy Trends for 2026, Mark Lazaroff and Maggie Curran, Morgan Lewis
State procurement mandates remain the most powerful driver of large-scale storage deployment. Integrated resource planning reforms are increasingly incorporating storage as a core resource. Demonstration programs and incentive structures continue to expand market access. Distributed energy resource aggregation and virtual power plant initiatives are accelerating.
State of the Market Report for PJM. Volume 2: Detailed Analysis, Monitoring Analytics
The PJM markets work, even if not perfectly. The results of PJM markets were reliable in 2025. The results of the energy market were competitive in 2025. The results of the 2025/2026, 2026/2027, and 2027/2028 capacity markets were not competitive. The PJM markets bring customers the benefits of competition when the market rules allow competition to work and prevent the exercise of market power. There are clear warning signs for the capacity market and for PJM reliability. The capacity market was short of meeting its reliability objective in the most recent capacity auctions. Data center load growth is the primary reason for recent and expected capacity market conditions, including total forecast load growth, the tight supply and demand balance, and high prices.
Breakneck Speed: Summer of Climate Whiplash, Climate Council of Australia Limited
This summer Australia’s climate flipped between extremes at accelerating speed - a phenomenon scientists call climate whiplash. Climate pollution is now overpowering natural climate cycles like El Niño and La Niña. Record ocean heat is intensifying rainfall, floods and tropical cyclones with compounding damage across regions. Australians are paying a high price for failure to reign in climate pollution as disasters become more frequent, damaging and expensive. Australia must deeply cut climate pollution, and prepare every Australian for worsening disasters.
Offshore Renewable Energy Development on the U.S. West Coast: Understanding Effects on Shipping, Fisheries, and Maritime Activities, National Academies
Floating offshore wind technology is nearing commercial-scale deployment along the U.S. west coast. At the same time, these waters support commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries; domestic and international shipping; port operations; and U.S. Coast Guard missions. The authors find that the region’s early stage of development presents an opportunity to proactively address interactions among ocean uses through coordinated planning, engagement, and risk mitigation.
Toxic Accounts. From Greenwashing to Gaslighting, Nayantara Dutta, Clean Creatives
In a first-of-its-kind research project, the author has decoded the narrative shifts in fossil fuel campaigns between 2020 and 2024, detailing how narrative strategy in oil and gas companies' advertising and public relations campaigns has shifted. The evidence documents how, between 2020 and 2024, oil and gas campaigns shifted from setting climate targets and saying “we’re part of the solution” to emphasizing fossil fuel dependence and convincing people “you can’t live without us.” In parallel, the author saw shareholders follow suit and move from supporting climate action to prioritizing fossil fuel profitability. Oil majors have always been preoccupied with social license, but now, the fossil fuel industry is radicalizing. Companies like BP and Shell, which have a history of greenwashing and made net zero pledges in 2020. Now they are going all in on fossil fuels. They are advertising false solutions like carbon capture and storage, natural gas and biofuels, which increase fossil fuel dependence.
Minnesota climate adaptation and resilience cost study, Industrial Economics, University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, Consensus Building Institute, and Two Degrees Adapt, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
The authors show that climate change is expensive for Minnesotans. They find that without additional adaptation efforts, Minnesota can expect to see more than $20 billion worth of climate change impacts per year under a high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenario. By the end of the century, if global GHG emissions continue to rise and no adaptation actions in Minnesota are taken, estimated annual costs of climate change are more than $50 billion. These impacts cross economic sectors and affect the day-to-day lives of Minnesotans. For example, climate change makes air quality worse, leading to more asthma attacks and more early deaths. Larger rain events driven by climate change – mean more buildings and infrastructure will be affected by overland flooding.
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Posted by Doug Bostrom on Thursday, 19 March, 2026
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