Emerging low-cloud feedback and adjustment in global satellite observations, Ceppi et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics
From mid-2003 to mid-2024, a global decrease in low-cloud amount enhanced the absorption of solar radiation by 0.22±0.07 W m−2 per decade (±1σ range), accelerating the energy imbalance trend during that period (0.44 W m−2 per decade). Through controlling factor analysis, here we show that the low-cloud trend is due to a combination of cloud feedback and adjustments to greenhouse gases and aerosols (respectively 0.09±0.02, 0.05±0.03, and 0.03±0.03 W m−2 per decade), which jointly account for 74 % of the trend. The contribution of natural climate variability is weak but uncertain (0.01±0.08 W m−2 per decade), owing to a poorly constrained trend in boundary-layer inversion strength. Importantly, the observed low-cloud radiative trend lies well within the range of values simulated by contemporary global climate models under conditions close to present day. Any systematic model error in the representation of present-day global energy imbalance trends is thus likely to originate in processes unrelated to low clouds.
When Thunderstorms Reach the Stratosphere: Why Storm Structure May Matter for Climate, Cairo, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmosphere
Deep convection that overshoots the tropopause provides one of the fastest pathways for exchanging air between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Using extensive in situ observations from the dynamics and chemistry of the summer stratosphere (DCOTSS) campaign, Shepherd et al. (2026, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JD045514) showed how storm-scale characteristics and environmental conditions shape the magnitude, depth, and pathways of stratosphere-troposphere exchange in the midlatitudes. Their analysis indicates that storms producing above-anvil cirrus plumes, as well as large mesoscale convective systems, are associated with disproportionately strong stratospheric perturbations, particularly in water vapor. This Commentary places these results in a broader context, highlights the main conceptual advances enabled by DCOTSS, and discusses remaining uncertainties while outlining priorities for future work. In particular, it argues that the main significance of these results lies not in resolving the large-scale stratospheric water vapor budget, which remains uncertain, but in helping identify which storm classes and physical pathways are most likely to matter if such impacts are to be quantified more robustly.
Record-Breaking Marine Heatwaves Across Global Coral Reefs in 2024, Yao & Wang, Geophysical Research Letters
The record-breaking annual mean global sea surface temperature in 2024 fueled extensive marine heatwaves (MHWs) across global coral reef zones, yet their spatiotemporal characteristics have not been comprehensively quantified. Here, we show that during the 2024 warm-season, MHW total days and cumulative intensity exceeded the historical mean by more than 3 standard deviations. Widespread and persistent MHWs occurred across major coral reef regions, particularly in the Red Sea, Coral Triangle, Fiji, the Caribbean, and Brazil. Most coral biogeographic provinces experienced significant increases in the frequency of Moderate, Strong, and Severe MHW categories relative to the 1985–2024 climatology. These extreme events were associated with substantial accumulation of ocean heat content in the Indo-Pacific warm pool and tropical Atlantic following the transition from the triple-dip La Niña (2020–2023) to the 2023–2024 El Niño. Regional oceanographic conditions further modulated the intensity and drivers of warm-season MHWs in 2024.
Beyond post-truth: Projecting the future trajectory of climate misinformation, Rice, PLOS Climate
Climate misinformation represents one of the most significant barriers to effective climate action in the 21st century. Building upon Yotam Ophir’s comprehensive framework in Misinformation & Society, this essay examines the evolving landscape of climate misinformation and projects its future trajectory. Ophir’s interdisciplinary approach, which integrates historical, psychological, and technological perspectives, provides crucial insights into how climate misinformation operates within broader systems of information disorder. This paper extends Ophir’s arguments by examining critical dimensions of his work, including the shift from outright denial to more sophisticated delay and deflection tactics, the role of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence in amplifying misinformation spread, and the political economy of climate misinformation characterized by asymmetric epistemic relationships. Drawing on recent research, I project that climate misinformation will increasingly manifest through narratives of technological futurism and transformation, the pretense of economic crisis through environmental catastrophe, and the social implications of international weaponized uncertainty inflamed by misinformation. The essay concludes by proposing an integrated intervention framework that reviews proposed solutions including psychological inoculation, systemic media literacy, and structural reforms to digital and online platform governance. Understanding these trajectories is essential for developing resilient communication strategies that can withstand the evolving tactics of climate action obstruction.
European State of the Climate – Report 2025, Emerton et al., World Meteorological Organization and European Union, represented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Rapid warming in Europe is reducing snow and ice cover, while dangerously high air temperatures, drought, heatwaves and record ocean temperatures are affecting regions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Europe, along with many other regions of the globe, is exposed to increasing impacts – from record heatwaves on land and at sea, to devastating wildfires, and continuing biodiversity loss – with consequences for societies and ecosystems across Europe.
Climate Change in Central Finland), Kühn et al., Finnish Meteorological Institute
Climate change is progressing in Finland faster than the global average, and its impacts are already clearly observable in Central Finland. The authors examines the current state of the climate in Central Finland and the Jyväskylä region, observed changes, and the projected development of the climate throughout the current century. The assessments are based on long?term observational datasets, the latest climate model simulations, and SSP emission scenarios.
PwC’s Third Annual State of Decarbonization Report, PwC
The authors draw on AI-enabled insights of millions of data points from across thousands of corporate disclosures and related documents. Many companies changed how they talk about sustainability, but not what they do about it. Commitments were persistent even as the ground shifted beneath them. Eight in ten (82%) companies held steady or accelerated the timeline they needed for achieving their ambitions. More companies are increasing ambitions (23%) compared to those decreasing (18%). Progress held, with more organizations on track to meet their targets than in prior years.
Physical science of climate change, effects
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation slowdown modulates atmospheric rivers in a warmer climate, Mimi et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-72555-w
Emerging low-cloud feedback and adjustment in global satellite observations, Ceppi et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics Open Access 10.5194/acp-26-4153-2026
Stratospheric polar vortex shapes Arctic surface climate via a radiative pathway, Xia et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-72698-w
When Thunderstorms Reach the Stratosphere: Why Storm Structure May Matter for Climate, Cairo, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2026jd046663
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Drivers and mechanisms of heatwaves in South West India, Climate Dynamics, 10.1007/s00382-024-07242-x 16 cites.
Observations of climate change, effects
Climate-driven upward spread of forest fires in European mountain regions, Beloiu et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72551-0
Quantitative attribution of climate change effects on the 2023 North China heatwave, WAN et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2026.04.016
Spatial and temporal variability of snow in the Andes using MODIS snow product 2000–2025, Saavedra et al., Frontiers in Earth Science Open Access 10.3389/feart.2026.1564035
Strengthening of the out-of-phase relationship between Eurasian winter and summer temperature anomalies since the early 1990s, Zhu et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109057
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Increasing Fire Activity in African Tropical Forests Is Associated With Deforestation and Climate Change, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2023gl106240 36 cites.
Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects
Dynamically-Informed Extreme Event Attribution Using Circulation Imprints, Dorrington & Messori, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl116869
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Towards Energy-Balance Closure with a Model of Dispersive Heat Fluxes, Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 10.1007/s10546-024-00868-8 13 cites.
Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation slowdown modulates atmospheric rivers in a warmer climate, Mimi et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-72555-w
Future heatwave hotspots in India from climate projections, Lakshman et al., Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 10.1002/qj.70220
Increased shallower tropical cyclones under extreme warm climates, Zhang et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72386-9
Robust Responses of Tropical and Post-tropical Cyclones to Climate Warming in WRF and CAM Storyline Ensembles, Li et al., Weather and Climate Extremes Open Access 10.1016/j.wace.2026.100909
Storyline-Based Climate Attribution Reveals Strong Intensification of 2018–2022 Multi-Year Droughts in Europe, Kettaren et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef007547
The pace of meeting carbon emission targets alters regional climate risks, Park et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aec4566
The Role of Tropical Cyclone—Ocean Interactions in Future Changes in Hurricane Katrina, Forbis et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl122126
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
High-resolution modelling identifies the Bering Strait’s role in amplified Arctic warming, Nature Climate Change, 10.1038/s41558-024-02008-z 17 cites.
Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection
A Sea-Ice-Enhanced KPP Parameterization: Impacts on AMOC Simulation and Physical Pathways, Tseng & Wang, Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans 10.1029/2025jc023767
Attributing Upper-Tropospheric Warm Biases in CMIP6 Models to Ice Cloud-Radiation Interaction Deficiencies Over Tropical Oceans, Li et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl120130
Heavy precipitation simulation in non-hydrostatic CESM modeling over the Western US, Huang & Medeiros, Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109058
Sources of Uncertainty in Ocean Net Primary Productivity Projections Under Climate Change, Grix & Tagliabue, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl119652
Uncertain dynamic response of mid-latitude winter precipitation, Gu et al., Nature 10.1038/s41586-026-10474-y
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Understanding the Cascade: Removing GCM Biases Improves Dynamically Downscaled Climate Projections, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2023gl106264 36 cites.
Cryosphere & climate change
Comprehensive Assessment of Six Snow Depth Products and Trends across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Li et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0263.1
Global glacier-free topography reveals a large potential for future lakes in presently ice-covered terrain, Frank et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72548-9
Spatial and temporal variability of snow in the Andes using MODIS snow product 2000–2025, Saavedra et al., Frontiers in Earth Science Open Access 10.3389/feart.2026.1564035
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
An Intercomparison of Snow Mass Budget over Arctic Sea Ice Simulated by CMIP6 Models, Journal of Climate, 10.1175/jcli-d-22-0539.1 2 cites.
Sea level & climate change
Climate-driven depopulation and adaptation realities in America’s coastal ground zero, Törnqvist et al., Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-026-01820-z
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Determining sea-level rise in the Caribbean: A shift from temperature to mass control, Scientific Reports, 10.1038/s41598-024-60201-8 7 cites.
Paleoclimate & paleogeochemistry
Mid-Holocene retreat of the Greenland Ice Sheet indicated by subglacial methane release, Hatton et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access 10.1038/s41561-026-01976-5
Temperature-Driven Silicate Weathering Feedbacks Terminated the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, Ma et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl121765
Tight regulation of Earth’s long-term temperature over Phanerozoic time, Zheng et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-72672-6
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
High-frequency climate forcing causes prolonged cold periods in the Holocene, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01380-0 26 cites.
Biology & climate change, related geochemistry
A few key species drive community thermophilization under experimental warming, Dobson et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences pdf 10.1073/pnas.2533434123
A Functional Trait-Based Approach to Mapping Climate-Driven Changes in Temperature-Dependent Feeding Suitability, Marchessaux et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73623
Climate Change Alters Elevational Distribution Patterns of Cormus domestica Habitat, Li et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73602
Climate Change Shapes Suitable Habitat and Ecological Niche Overlap Between Hyphantria cunea and Its Parasitoid Chouioia cunea in China, Ouyang et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73469
Climate-Driven Habitat Suitability Modeling for the Vulnerable Species Euryops pinifolius A. Rich in Ethiopia: Implications for Conservation, Birhanu et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73566
Coral Reefs in the Indonesian Seas Threatened by Heat and Cold Stress, Watanabe et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl121003
Geographical differences in marine heatwaves across global coral reef zones, YAO & WANG, Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2026.04.015
Hemisphere-Level Comparison of Climate-Driven Humpback Whale Breeding Migrations to the Eastern Pacific Off Costa Rica, Pelayo-González et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73594
PondNet – towards a global network of experiments on the effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, Matias et al., Ecography Open Access 10.1002/ecog.07450
Potential Geographic Distribution of the Rare and Endangered Plant Sauvagesia rhodoleuca in China Under Climate Change Scenarios, Wei et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73295
Prevalent Greening Conceals the Forgone Ecological Potential of Forest Loss in Southeast Asia, Zhao et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl121593
Projected Future of African Marine Ecosystems Under Climate Change and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection, Awo et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans Open Access 10.1029/2025jc022687
Record-Breaking Marine Heatwaves Across Global Coral Reefs in 2024, Yao & Wang, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl122086
Sources of Uncertainty in Ocean Net Primary Productivity Projections Under Climate Change, Grix & Tagliabue, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl119652
Spatial Distribution of Topmouth Gudgeonis Pseudorasbora parva Under Climate Change by Ensemble Models, Li et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73612
Warming climate amplifies vapor pressure deficit limits on gross primary productivity, Xu et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72549-8
Warming temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns may exacerbate pest damage in North American forests, Clipp et al., Nature Ecology & Evolution 10.1038/s41559-026-03039-9
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Coastal ecological disasters triggered by an extreme rainfall event thousands of kilometers inland, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01418-3 31 cites.
GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry
A Global Comparison of Direct and Legacy Effects of Drought on Ecosystem Productivity, Liu et al., Ecology Letters Open Access 10.1111/ele.70390
Atmospheric oxygen constraints on Southern Ocean productivity and drivers of carbon uptake, Jin et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access 10.1038/s41561-026-01944-z
Current understanding of viral contributions to soil carbon cycling, Mei & Balcázar, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 10.1038/s43017-026-00774-2
Ecosystem-Scale Methane Emissions From Peatlands of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Bieniada & Humphreys, Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences Open Access 10.1029/2025jg009439
Incorporating methane isotopologues alters tropical and subtropical methane emission estimates, Yu et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-72668-2
Methane intensity and emissions across major oil and gas basins and individual jurisdictions using MethaneSAT observations, Williams et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics Open Access 10.5194/acp-26-5961-2026
Mid-Holocene retreat of the Greenland Ice Sheet indicated by subglacial methane release, Hatton et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access 10.1038/s41561-026-01976-5
Nitrogen Release From Permafrost Thaw May Partially Offset Future Soil Carbon Losses, Gaillard et al., PubMed pmid:42068065
Phytoplankton and Temperature Control Seasonal Dynamics of Greenhouse Gases in a Large River, Koschorreck et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences Open Access 10.1029/2025jg009300
Soil microbes are the tiny bioengineers running Earth’s underground factory, Hassan-Dalléac et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03544-6
Soil pH Amelioration Fosters Persistent Carbon Sinks Through Mineral Stabilization and Aggregate Protection, Dong et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.70896
Tree diversity reduces the temperature sensitivity of soil carbon release, Yan et al., Journal of Ecology 10.1111/1365-2745.70333
Warming climate amplifies vapor pressure deficit limits on gross primary productivity, Xu et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72549-8
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The Total Carbon Column Observing Network's GGG2020 data version, Earth system science data, 10.5194/essd-16-2197-2024 94 cites.
CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering
Articulating conditions for geological carbon storage: Conditional acceptance in three European communities, Oltra et al., Energy Research & Social Science 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104739
Managed rainforests support higher carbon density and sequestration in the Congo Basin, Sagang et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72399-4
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The carbon dioxide removal gap, Nature Climate Change, 10.1038/s41558-024-01984-6 75 cites.
Decarbonization
A multi-criteria assessment of decarbonization pathways for heavy-duty trucks, ?ahin & Özekinci, Environmental Research Infrastructure and Sustainability Open Access 10.1088/2634-4505/ae62a1
A multi-dimensional framework for comparing zero-carbon energy sources in the energy transition, Park, Energy Research & Social Science 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104721
Integrated planning of net-zero power systems for all, Zhu et al., Nature Energy 10.1038/s41560-026-02054-1
Photovoltaic Modelling Within the Pan-European Climate Database v4.2: Capturing PV Diversity for a Climate-Resilient European Grid, Silva et al., Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research Open Access 10.1002/aesr.202500387
The electrifying moment? Electric vehicles and the rural-urban divide in Germany and the U.S., Gabehart & Stefes, Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115356
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Evaluating microgrid business models for rural electrification: A novel framework and three cases in Southeast Asia, Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development, 10.1016/j.esd.2024.101443 21 cites.
Geoengineering climate
Projected Future of African Marine Ecosystems Under Climate Change and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection, Awo et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans Open Access 10.1029/2025jc022687
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Dependency of the impacts of geoengineering on the stratospheric sulfur injection strategy – Part 2: How changes in the hydrological cycle depend on the injection rate and model used, Earth System Dynamics, 10.5194/esd-15-405-2024 11 cites.
Aerosols
Atmospheric warming contributions from airborne microplastics and nanoplastics, Liu et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02620-1
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Impacts of spatial heterogeneity of anthropogenic aerosol emissions in a regionally refined global aerosol–climate model, Geoscientific model development, 10.5194/gmd-17-3507-2024 2 cites.
Climate change communications & cognition
Beyond post-truth: Projecting the future trajectory of climate misinformation, Rice, PLOS Climate Open Access 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000916
Climate dissonance: Examining the relationship between climate beliefs and attitudes toward fossil fuel activities in Norway, Nadeau et al., Energy Research & Social Science 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104750
Identifying Flawed Reasoning in Contrarian Claims about Climate Change, Flack et al., Environmental Communication 10.1080/17524032.2026.2663476
Polarizing figures in polarized times: presidential involvement and public opinion on climate policy, Childree, Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2026.2666997
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Scientists’ identities shape engagement with environmental activism, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01412-9 22 cites.
Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change
Improved management reduces carbon losses in semi-arid grasslands: An analysis of upscaled CO? fluxes from portable chambers, Carrascosa et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Open Access 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111215
Locally led climate adaptation: Business unusual for agricultural research, Hellin et al., PLOS Climate Open Access 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000910
Low Climate Benefit of Nordic Coastal Marshes: Site Conditions Outweigh Grazing Effects and Shape Trade-Offs Between Carbon Storage and Its Stability, Leiva-Dueñas et al., PubMed pmid:42068073
Managed rainforests support higher carbon density and sequestration in the Congo Basin, Sagang et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-72399-4
Rainfall Dynamics in Sri Lanka Over Five Decades (1970–2023): Implications for Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change, Abeysingha et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70415
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Crop rotational diversity can mitigate climate?induced grain yield losses, Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.17298 41 cites.
Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change
Are Changes in Seasonal and Annual Precipitation in the Balkan Peninsula Driven by Increases in Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases or by Teleconnection Variability?, Buri?, Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-25-0184.1
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation slowdown modulates atmospheric rivers in a warmer climate, Mimi et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-72555-w
Projected runoff responses to climate and vegetation changes on the Tibetan Plateau, FENG et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109024
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Hidden delta degradation due to fluvial sediment decline and intensified marine storms, Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.adk1698 38 cites.
Climate change economics
Climate finance challenges and solutions for global climate change, Park, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences Open Access pdf 10.1007/s13412-021-00715-z
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Empirical testing of the environmental Kuznets curve: evidence from 182 countries of the world, Environment Development and Sustainability, 10.1007/s10668-024-04890-1 17 cites.
Climate change mitigation public policy research
Beyond technical and financial feasibility: The role of collaborative governance in renewable energy adoption at municipal wastewater treatment plants in the United States, Gupta et al., Energy Research & Social Science 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104729
The politics and governance of phase-out: a framework for empirical research, Rinscheid et al., Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2026.2666995
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The differential impact of climate interventions along the political divide in 60 countries, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-48112-8 77 cites.
Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research
Climate change-related migration and displacement: addressing the adaptation gap, Marcus, The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101462
Decision to stay in climate-risk areas: cognitive biases and preferences in coastal Bangladesh, Vollan et al., Figshare Open Access 10.6084/m9.figshare.32168527.v1
“Global significant trends and countermeasures pertaining to climate change adaptation: Translating ambition into action post-COP29”, Liu et al., Environmental Science & Policy 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104391
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Wildfire risk management in the era of climate change, PNAS Nexus, 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae151 43 cites.
Climate change impacts on human health
Climate health: an emerging transdisciplinary field, Rifai, Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1837784
Future age-specific exposure to heavy rainfall disasters under climate and demographic change, Matsuura et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2026.100817
Reclassifying lethal heat, Rouse et al., Apollo Open Access 10.17863/cam.128895
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Effects of climate vulnerability on household sanitation access, functionality, and practices in rural Cambodia, Environment Development and Sustainability, 10.1007/s10668-024-04881-2 6 cites.
Climate change & geopolitics
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
China at COP27: CBDR, national sovereignty, and climate justice, Climate and Development, 10.1080/17565529.2024.2349652 1 citation.
Other
Evolving Fire Frequency in the Western United States and Its Links to Human Influence, Madakumbura et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef007077
Transient tracer observations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence reveal shift from younger to older inflow waters, Gerke et al., Ocean science Open Access 10.5194/os-22-1391-2026
2026 Value of Water Index, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, and New Bridge Strategy
Half of voters say they have been impacted by a major weather event, e.g., wildfire, flooding, a hurricane, a deep freeze, or drought, in the last five years. Roughly one in five say that they lost water service after a major weather event.
2030 Climate Action Plan, City of Boston, Environment Department, City of Boston
The plan is grounded in two core and interconnected areas of work: mitigation and resilience – which frame every strategy and action included. Mitigation efforts focus on rapidly reducing emissions from the sectors that contribute most to Boston’s carbon footprint, particularly buildings, transportation, and energy. Resilience strategies are designed to protect people, infrastructure including new, existing, and historic assets, open space, and neighborhoods from the growing impacts of climate change, while strengthening the City’s ability to adapt over time and creating pathways to good green jobs that support resilience and mitigation investments. In addition to tracking progress on mitigation and resilience, we acknowledge the broader impacts of climate work across three deeply interconnected areas: public health outcomes, climate justice, and the intersection of mitigation and resilience benefits. This approach recognizes that effective climate action must deliver healthier living and working environments, address historic inequities, and maximize co-benefits, ensuring that investments reduce emissions while also protecting communities most exposed to climate risks. Climate justice is embedded throughout the plan, recognizing that the impacts of climate change will not affect neighborhoods equally and that climate action presents an opportunity to correct past harms. Communities that have been and will be adversely affected by climate change must be prioritized in both decision-making and investment.
Where rising climate risks and insurance costs will hit hardest, Manann Donoghoe, The Brookings Institution
One concept to help understand how climate-related risks could differentially affect households across the U.S. is adaptive capacity, or the ability of a household or community to plan for and respond to the impacts of climate change. By analyzing adaptive capacity in relation to instability in the homeowners insurance market, the author identifies which regions and demographic groups that instability is likely to adversely affect. Drawing on data from the U.S. Treasury Department on homeowners insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index, and Census Bureau demographic data on wealth, race, and ethnicity, the author shows the insurance premium increases and nonrenewal rates (the proportion of policies that an insurer decides not to extend at term’s end) that different demographic groups and regions faced between 2018 and 2022.
Critical Minerals, Water Insecurity and Injustice, Nunbogu et al., United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health
The investigation finds that systemic global failures are allowing the costs of critical minerals extraction to fall disproportionately on some of the world's most vulnerable communities, while the benefits accumulate elsewhere in the form of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The authors do not question the need for clean energy systems or the digital infrastructure underpinning them. Instead, it asks who is paying for and benefitting from humanity’s progress in those areas, and finds a deeply unjust answer.
European State of the Climate – Report 2025, Emerton et al., World Meteorological Organization and European Union, represented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
Rapid warming in Europe is reducing snow and ice cover, while dangerously high air temperatures, drought, heatwaves and record ocean temperatures are affecting regions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. Europe, along with many other regions of the globe, is exposed to increasing impacts – from record heatwaves on land and at sea, to devastating wildfires, and continuing biodiversity loss – with consequences for societies and ecosystems across Europe.
Climate Change in Central Finland), Kühn et al., Finnish Meteorological Institute
Climate change is progressing in Finland faster than the global average, and its impacts are already clearly observable in Central Finland. The authors examines the current state of the climate in Central Finland and the Jyväskylä region, observed changes, and the projected development of the climate throughout the current century. The assessments are based on long?term observational datasets, the latest climate model simulations, and SSP emission scenarios.
PwC’s Third Annual State of Decarbonization Report, PwC
The authors draw on AI-enabled insights of millions of data points from across thousands of corporate disclosures and related documents. Many companies changed how they talk about sustainability, but not what they do about it. Commitments were persistent even as the ground shifted beneath them. Eight in ten (82%) companies held steady or accelerated the timeline they needed for achieving their ambitions. More companies are increasing ambitions (23%) compared to those decreasing (18%). Progress held, with more organizations on track to meet their targets than in prior years.
France's Roadmap for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, Climate Interminsterial Team, Government of France
Since 2017, France has committed to a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels, mobilizing a broad range of ecological planning tools. The 2017 Climate Plan introduced a legislation to phase out hydrocarbon production in France by 2040, notably by ending the granting of new exploration permits and by not renewing existing exploitation concessions. This plan has also led to a significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption in buildings which fell by 42% between 2017 and 2022. It further aimed at accelerate the electrification of the transport sector in order to reduce its dependence on oil, by setting a end-of-sale target for thermal passenger vehicles by 2040. France will also address five environmental challenges including mitigation of global warming, adaptation to the inevitable consequences of climate change, preservation and restoration of biodiversity, conservation of resources, and reduction of pollution that impacts health.
How import rules can cut global methane emissions, Anna Kanduth and Claudio Forner, Climate Analytics
Methane is one of the quickest levers available to slow warming in the near term, yet current policies are nowhere near enough to deliver the cuts needed by 2030. As governments look for ways to narrow that gap, methane import standards are emerging as a powerful new tool. This briefing explores how the European Union’s new rules for imported oil, gas, and coal could drive emissions cuts far beyond its borders – and how, if other major importers follow, they could help close more than 40% of the gap to a 1.5°C-consistent methane pathway. At current trade levels, an EU standard of 0.2% methane intensity could reduce emissions by more than 3 Mt CH? annually from its imports alone. Wider adoption by six other major importers could cut global methane emissions by over 10 Mt CH?, driven in particular by Russia and the United States, which have the largest excess methane emissions relative to a 0.2% intensity standard.
Water Supply Systems, Fire, and Finance: A Workshop Synthesis Report, Pierce et al., UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
A new UCLA-led convening highlights how wildfire risk could reshape water system planning and finance. Water systems were designed to provide drinking water and fight structure fires — not urban wildfires. Expanding system capacity to fight extreme events creates tradeoffs with water quality and affordability. Fire-related water use is often not fully paid for, straining system finances. Coordination between water and fire agencies is inconsistent and often informal. Recovery of wildfire-related costs raises equity concerns for ratepayers.
Massachusetts Carbon Dioxide Removal Study, Mittelman et al., Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
The authors build on Massachusetts’ prior planning to assess which carbon dioxide removal (CDR) pathways are most feasible and scalable in the state’s policy, economic, and natural resource context. The outcomes of this effort will inform future iterations of the state’s Clean Energy and Climate Plans (CECPs), which are the flagship climate planning documents, to provide an assessment of best practices and policy options that Massachusetts should consider when responsibly integrating CDR into its net-zero strategy. The authors describe and assess 23 CDR and storage pathways across several characteristics, analyzing their suitability for deployment and research and development (R&D) leadership in Massachusetts.
Diesel Reduction Progress II, Bledsoe et al., Pembina Institute
Clean electricity projects in remote communities grew 20 times faster between 2016 and 2026 than the previous decade, with most of this progress (about 92%) occurring between 2020 and 2025. Roughly three quarters of community-scale clean electricity projects built in remote communities are wholly or majority Indigenous-owned. Altogether, remote communities have added more than 65 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity capacity over the past decade, and now produce over 126 GWh clean energy annually, with 35% from wind, 33% from hydro, and 30% from solar. Remote renewable electricity generating projects have reduced annual diesel consumption by more than 31 million liters, and now account for 7% of total electricity supply in remote communities. Since 2016 these projects have displaced over 142 million liters of diesel, more diesel than all three territories use to generate electricity in an entire year.
Credit Where Credit is Due. Strengthening carbon markets to protect Ontario steel and mobilize low-carbon investment, Chloe McElhone and Richard Mullin, Clean Prosperity
In order to protect Ontario’s steel sector and signal to other industries that Ontario is open for business, the authors recommend strengthening Ontario’s carbon market in the following ways; recognize real emissions reductions from fuel-switching investments in the steel sector; award carbon credits to clearly signal that the Ontario carbon market recognizes and values real emissions reductions achieved through low-carbon investments; support predictable and stable credit values by redistributing credit revenues among all regulated emitters and opening the market to third-party investors; and publish market data frequently and create a centralized marketplace to build investor confidence and incentivize investment.
2026 State of the Water Industry, American Water Works Association
The industry survey respondents reveal a sector facing growing pressure across infrastructure, financing, and long-term water supply reliability. While overall sector health remains stable, the five-year outlook has declined to its lowest level in nearly a decade, signaling growing concern about the future. Aging infrastructure remains the most pressing challenge, closely followed by the need for sustainable funding and long-term water supply reliability. Many utilities are struggling to fully recover costs through rates and fees, creating a widening gap between revenues and rising expenses. External pressures, including economic uncertainty, political dynamics, natural hazards, and supply chain disruptions, are compounding these financial challenges and complicating long-term planning.
Oil Fund Vote Watch: Climate 2025. Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) voting at fossil fuel AGMs, Lucy Brooks, Framtiden i våre hender / Future in Our Hands
The author evaluates Norges Bank Investment Management's (NBIM) 2025 active ownership activities at 12 priority portfolio companies. These firms were selected because they are the world’s largest investor-owned upstream oil and gas developers currently expanding production in defiance of scientific pathways to net-zero. The author examines whether NBIM used its voting power and escalation tools to signal accountability for these firms' climate failings. Despite NBIM’s stated position that "climate risk is fundamental financial risk," the fund’s actions in 2025 at these high-priority firms reveal a significant implementation gap. Of the 23 priority votes analyzed across 12 companies, NBIM signaled disapproval of management in only three instances—with just one potentially linked to climate concerns.
Stop Greed, Build Green. A Working Class Climate Agenda, Climate and Community Institute
The climate crisis is a core driver of the cost-of-living crisis and instability we see across the economy. Electricity and gas bills are the highest drivers of inflation, rent gouging and skyrocketing insurance premiums are making housing unaffordable, extreme weather is driving food prices up, and the last three summers have been the three hottest on record. And while prices go up, the quality of our health care, goods, and homes is getting worse. Amidst all of this, billionaires are becoming richer, Big Tech firms are spending trillions on energy-hungry data centers, and a majority of U.S. residents are profoundly disillusioned with the political system. A Working Class Climate Agenda would quickly relieve the cost-of-living crisis and transform the economy to stem future climate-fueled affordability crises. More importantly, it puts the majority of voters in the driver’s seat of economic and climate transformation
The Reuse Dividend: Unlocking Economic Growth from Britain's Existing Buildings, Nelson et al., Don't Waste Buildings
The authors analyzed financial incentives used across eight developed economies — including France, Germany, the United States and Ireland — and found a proven blueprint that Britain has failed to adopt. The authors recommends four complementary measures to address building reuse including levelling the value added tax playing field, tax credits or relief, such as introducing capital gains tax relief and stamp duty discounts for bringing vacant buildings back into use while meeting sustainability quality measures, creating targeted grants for struggling high streets and derelict buildings; and subsidized finance by establishing long-term low-interest loans with repayment grants for deep reuse projects through the National Wealth Fund, or a similar institution
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Posted by Doug Bostrom on Thursday, 7 May, 2026
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