Skeptical Science New Research for Week #35 2026

Open access notables

A desk piled high with research reports

Carbon emissions exacerbating the Western US water crisis, Williams et al., Communications Earth & Environmen

In the western US, limited water supply and high demand--accentuated by anthropogenic climate change--have resulted in overallocated water resources and rapidly depleting groundwater. Simultaneously, legal and policy mechanisms are being pursued regarding the contributions of large emitting entities (“Carbon Majors”) to such impacts. Here, we quantify impacts on western US water resources attributable to the Carbon Majors, and compare results with a simpler-to-use (‘proportional’) approach. Anthropogenic climate change has driven large decreases in water supply (snowpack and streamflow) and increases in water demand (irrigation demand), with roughly half attributable to the Carbon Majors. These changes have led to a widening seasonal gap between water supply and demand, and with Carbon Majors emissions accounting for ~1/3 of observed, climatically-driven groundwater loss in the Central Valley during 2003-2024. Though both approaches yield similar results, consistent over- and underestimations are present in each variable, suggesting caution is needed when using the proportional approach.

Evolution of Global Sea-Level Rise Projections and Their Uncertainty, Garner et al., Earth's Future

For more than 40 years, scientists have projected future sea-level change. Documenting how sea-level projections have evolved is vital for tracking progress, uncertainties, and future research needs. Here, we update and analyze a database of global-mean sea level (GMSL) projections dating from 1982 to 2025, identifying five key findings. First, GMSL projection generation has been concentrated in a small number of developed countries, with 95% of projections produced in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, or Australia. Second, while GMSL projections for 2050 and 2100 have been published regularly since the early 1980s, only 30 of 103 studies have produced projections extending beyond 2100; all but one of these 30 studies postdates 2010. Third, among studies providing multiple estimates, the range of highest GMSL projections for 2100 has broadened since 2007, reaching 0.6–2.0 m across publications since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Fourth, GMSL projections from the IPCC have historically been conservative compared to projections from individual studies. Prior to AR6, ∼66% of 2100 projections at the upper end of uncertainty intervals from individual studies exceeded the corresponding upper projections from IPCC reports. However, the inclusion of “low-confidence” GMSL projections in AR6 to assess higher amounts of GMSL change of poorly known likelihood reduces this problem: the 83rd percentile of these low-confidence projections is exceeded by <25% of upper estimates from individual studies. Finally, analyses suggest that the arrival time of key GMSL milestones are often similar for projections spanning multiple eras and using various methodologies.

Equatorial Extreme Convective Storms Are Expanding and Becoming More Persistent, Zhuang et al., AGU Advance

Extreme rainfall is projected to intensify with climate warming, yet changes in the spatiotemporal structure of extreme-producing storms remain poorly understood in the tropics, as the most convectively active regions of the world are also the most data-scarce. We here leverage the first long-term, sub-kilometer, sub-hourly observational network in equatorial Singapore (730 k?m2), with 122 rain gauges reporting 5 min intensities for 2020–2024 and 82 stations with hourly accumulations for 1980–2024, combined with X-band radar (5 min, 100 m) to produce a high-resolution gridded rainfall reanalysis. Our findings indicate that extreme rainfall in Singapore is becoming larger and more persistent, with intensification resulting in higher storm rainfall volumes while rainfall peak intensities remain largely unchanged. Furthermore, extreme rainfall storms are strikingly compact, with spatial and temporal correlations halving over just 2 km and 4 min, decaying faster than previously recognized and observed elsewhere. This suggests that analyses based on coarse data sets or single stations may have misrepresented rainfall intensification under warming.

From this week's government/NGO section:

Survey reveals gap between climate change concern and actual news coverage, Climate News Tracker/Kantar

A survey of journalists and production staff across UK public service media concluded climate reporting needs new approaches. Broadcast journalists in Britain say they rank climate change and environmental issues above many of the traditional pillars of news coverage – including the National Health Service, international conflict and immigration – yet this is not reflected in what audiences actually see and hear. More than 80% of respondents said crowded news agendas and packed running orders hinder climate coverage. Program editors and channel schedulers may be willing to extend a bulletin for a dramatic, unexpected and consequential story, but the climate crisis rarely meets the threshold for such immediate editorial prioritization. The planet heating up is a slow-burning story whose significance has developed over years rather than hours, making it harder to compete with the urgency of daily news. Journalists also highlighted the difficulty of finding strong editorial “pegs” for climate stories outside major weather events or political announcements. Some 65% said climate stories do not always have a clear or timely news peg.

Climate change is driving unprecedented European ocean temperatures, with severe impacts for marine life, Bergin et al., World Weather Attribution

Researchers from Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom collaborated to assess the extent to which human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of the extreme sea surface temperature (SSTs) conditions along the European coasts in July 2026. This year’s high SSTs have been remarkable not only in their intensity, but also in how early in the year they were reached. To assess whether all of the observed warming is attributable to human-induced climate change, we combine observations and climate models. In the Celtic region, climate models and observations show very similar trends, while in all other regions the observed trends are much stronger than those simulated by climate models. Despite this, the authors found that in the two Mediterranean regions, the increase in warming attributable to human-induced climate change is about 2°C, substantially surpassing the level of global warming, even under this conservative estimate.

121 articles in 54 journals by 866 contributing authors

Physical science of climate change, effects

Disturbance characteristics and forest properties regulate surface warming and recovery across Europe, Su et al., Nature Geoscience 10.1038/s41561-026-02071-5

Strengthening impact of Indian Ocean Basin Mode on ENSO under greenhouse warming, Zhao et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105688

Transient Global Overturning Following the Shutdown of North Atlantic Deep Water Formation, Sun & Thompson, AGU Advances Open Access 10.1029/2026av002462


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Understanding the role of contrails and contrail cirrus in climate change: a global perspective, Atmospheric chemistry and physics, 10.5194/acp-24-9219-2024 25 cites.

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Observations of climate change, effects

A Subtle Atmospheric Shift Is Redefining Winter Hydrology on the Tibetan Plateau, Chen et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl121477

Attribution of Summer Warming Trends in the North China Plain during 1968–2023, Li et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-25-0102.1

Carbon emissions exacerbating the Western US water crisis, Williams et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03900-6

Equatorial Extreme Convective Storms Are Expanding and Becoming More Persistent, Zhuang et al., AGU Advances Open Access 10.1029/2026av002370

Evolution of Climate Extremes Over the Indian Subcontinent Using a Revised CEI, Thota et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70467

Recent Warming Amplification in the Yangtze River Basin Compared to the Global Land, Liu et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 10.1029/2026jd046491

State of the UK Climate in 2025, Kendon et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70470

Synoptic drivers of the August 2024 record-breaking rainfall in the Chadian Sahara: dynamics, thermodynamics, and socio-economic consequences, Tchinda et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.5194/wcd-7-1425-2026

Widespread coral bleaching across subtropical and temperate Japan under record marine heat stress, Kurihara et al., Scientific Reports Open Access 10.1038/s41598-026-65095-2


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season in Canada, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-51154-7 295 cites.

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Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects

A Guide to Single Changepoint Tests for the Climate Researcher, Lund & Shi, Journal of Climate Open Access pdf 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0681.1

Application of spatial statistics for climate-sensitive natural hazard management, Reinprecht et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.crm.2026.100873

Historical cold biases exaggerate future elevation-dependent warming over the Tibetan Plateau, Deng et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109288

Sensitivity to climate Delta selection in Pseudo-global warming simulations of mesoscale convective systems: case study of the august 2022 event in northern Japan, Tahara & Hiraga, Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1921704


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Tipping point detection and early warnings in climate, ecological, and human systems, Earth System Dynamics, 10.5194/esd-15-1117-2024 92 cites.

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Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects

100 m resolution projection of future urban heat Island of a tropical Coastal City, Chen et al., Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103100

CMIP6 Historical Evaluation and Future Changes of Climate Extreme Indices at Regional Scale From the US-Mexico Border Region to Central America, Ramos-Esteban et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70536

Disentangling Anthropogenic Effects on Southern Hemisphere Circulation and Surface Climate: A Multi-Model Large Ensemble Approach, Diaz et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2025jd046229

Projection and Uncertainty of Midsummer Precipitation in the Northern China Monsoon Region by CMIP6 Models, Yang et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70438

Regional Temperature Trends and Future Warming Risks in Pakistan Using Bias-Corrected CMIP6 Ensembles and Machine Learning Techniques, Ullah et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70497


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
IMO2020 Regulations Accelerate Global Warming by up to 3 Years in UKESM1, Earth s Future, 10.1029/2024ef005011 22 cites.

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Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection

A sea ice free Arctic: CMIP7 Assessment Fast Track abrupt-127k experimental protocol and motivation, Sime et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-5881-2026

Drought forecasting across multiple temporal scales using CMIP6 projections and hybrid deep learning models for Central Anatolia, Türkiye, Citakoglu et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109271

Evaluating North American Winter Extreme Precipitation Variability and Its Drivers in CMIP6 Models, Jeong et al., Weather and Climate Extremes Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.wace.2026.100948

Evaluation of Downscaled CMIP6 Performance for Rainfall and Wind Over the Maritime Continent, Alifdini et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70476

Evaluation of the ALARO1-SFX (CY43T2) regional climate model over Belgium across different resolutions, Dewettinck et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-19-7911-2026

GCAM-Europe v7.2.0: enhancing policy-relevant climate modelling through spatial and sectoral detail, Sampedro et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-7741-2026

How Observation-Based Data Influence Uncertainty in Local Climate Projections, Taylor et al., Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 10.1175/jamc-d-25-0146.1

Representation of Long-Term Observed UK Winter Precipitation Trends and Variability in UKCP18 Global Climate Models, Carruthers et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70540

The CMIP6-downscaled CORDEX-Southeast Asia (SEA) ensemble: evaluation and benchmarking for megacities of SEA, Nguyen et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-19-7653-2026


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Pushing the frontiers in climate modelling and analysis with machine learning, Nature Climate Change, 10.1038/s41558-024-02095-y 157 cites.

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Cryosphere & climate change

Enhanced interannual variability of early-winter snowfall in northern Xinjiang since the 1990s and its relationship with Arctic sea ice, Han et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105684

Event-driven atmospheric forcing and meltwater lake response in maritime antarctic, Shah et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1916729

Fate of heat approaching the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf mediated by continental shelf eddies, Stewart et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aec8232

Historical and Projected Antarctic Sea Ice Trends Across High-Resolution Coupled Model Hierarchies, Bushuk et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124043

Multiyear tropical warm pool warming drives slowdown in Antarctic mass loss, Wang et al., Nature Open Access 10.1038/s41586-026-10912-x

Reconsidering the drivers of ice-shelf collapse, Arthur et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-76772-1

Relationships between Arctic sea-ice concentration, temperature, and specific humidity in the lower troposphere during 1980–2021, Uhlíková et al., cryosphere Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc-20-4585-2026

The multilayer ocean circulation melting the 79N Glacier ice tongue, Reinert et al., cryosphere Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc-20-4563-2026

What SAR Labels Hide About a Changing Arctic, Mahmud, Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2026ef008828


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet may not be vulnerable to marine ice cliff instability during the 21st century, Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.ado7794 38 cites.

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Sea level & climate change

Addendum: Sea level much higher than assumed in most coastal hazard assessments, Seeger & Minderhoud, Nature Open Access 10.1038/s41586-026-11017-1

Evolution of Global Sea-Level Rise Projections and Their Uncertainty, Garner et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef007836


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Tropical Cyclone Storm Surge-Based Flood Risk Assessment Under Combined Scenarios of High Tides and Sea-Level Rise: A Case Study of Hainan Island, China, Earth s Future, 10.1029/2023ef004236 16 cites.

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Paleoclimate & paleogeochemistry

Asian summer monsoon orbital variability directly paced by CO2 and precession, not eccentricity, Millot-Weil et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-76856-y


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Dry hydroclimates in the late Palaeocene-early Eocene hothouse world, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-51430-6 10 cites.

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Biology & climate change, related geochemistry

Arctic and Tibetan Plateau Tundra Show Divergent Temperature and Precipitation Thresholds Under Climate Change, Zhu et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124727

Breaking Boundaries: Multidirectional Responses of Malagasy Bats to Unmitigated Future Climate Change, Stewart-Roberts et al., Diversity and Distributions Open Access 10.1111/ddi.70254

Brood Chamber Carbonate Chemistry in the oyster Ostrea edulis Is Dynamically Shaped by Warming, Acidification, and Ventilation, Gray et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.71007

Carbon emissions exacerbating the Western US water crisis, Williams et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03900-6

Climate Controls Cold- But Not Warm-Adapted Sphagnum Distribution and Carbon Sink Capacity, Wang et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.71006

Climate warming drives thermal shocks and accelerated freshwater habitat fragmentation, Wang et al., Nature Climate Change Open Access 10.1038/s41558-026-02731-9

CO2 physiological forcing mitigates climate-driven water limitation on vegetation growth and carbon uptake, Kang et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-76835-3

Comparative Distribution Projections of Hydrophilic and Xerophytic Invasive Species in Turkey Under CMIP6 Climate Scenarios, Tursun et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access pdf 10.1002/ece3.74172

Distribution Shifts of Vaccinium Berry Wild Relatives in China Under Climate and Land-Use Changes, Pang et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.74154

High elevation shrubification in the subarctic during the Holocene Thermal Maximum and 21st century, Harning et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03965-3

Hot temperature during development alters iridescence in Morpho butterflies, Rubin et al., PNAS Nexus Open Access 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag243

Impacts of Climate Change on Alpha and Beta Diversity Patterns of Cerrado anurans, Sabino et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73983

Increasing CO2 levels fertilize C4 grass production, Simpson et al., Nature Open Access 10.1038/s41586-026-10935-4

Limits on the capacity of an ectotherm to buffer temperature extremes through the construction of a central refuge, Ord & Blazek, Oecologia Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00442-026-05959-6

Modeling the effects of climate risk on primates globally: New perspectives on conservation priorities, Teng et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aeg0031

Population Structure of a Living Fossil, the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, and Its Vulnerability in the Face of Imminent Climate Change, Luo et al., Diversity and Distributions Open Access 10.1111/ddi.70256

Post-heatwave immune challenge reshapes selection on heatwave responses, Salo et al., Royal Society Open Science Open Access 10.1098/rsos.260674

Prediction of the Potential Distribution of Cirsium vulgare in China Under Climate Change Scenarios Based on Its First Recorded Occurrences in Southern China, Hu et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.74028

Projected Effects of Climate-induced Changes in Phytoplankton biomass in the Southern South China Sea, Kiel et al., Biogeosciences Open Access 10.5194/bg-23-5827-2026

Responses of Antarctic seabird populations to past climate change, Ng et al., Ecography Open Access 10.1002/ecog.08322

Soil Warming Shifts Seasonal and Soil Depth-Related Root Growth Dynamics in Subarctic Grasslands, Bhattarai et al., Global Change Biology pdf 10.1111/gcb.71055

The giant Antarctic amphipod Paraceradocus miersi will not fare well if freshening continues in the Southern Ocean, Spicer et al., Marine Environmental Research Open Access 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108368

The policy relevance of climate-change scenarios for biodiversity research, Schoeman et al., Nature Reviews Biodiversity 10.1038/s44358-026-00193-7

The ‘Lifeboat Hypothesis’: Aquatic Microplastics in a Warming World—Climate-Resilient Refugia for Bacterial Pathogens, Quilliam & Ormsby, Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.71078

Thermophilization: Concepts, Methods, and Implications of Changes in Community Composition due to Global Warming, Feeley et al., Global Change Biology pdf 10.1111/gcb.71063

Widespread coral bleaching across subtropical and temperate Japan under record marine heat stress, Kurihara et al., Scientific Reports Open Access 10.1038/s41598-026-65095-2


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Impacts of marine heatwaves in coastal ecosystems depend on local environmental conditions, Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.17469 37 cites.

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GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry

A global atmospheric methane record from a tropical ice core, Lamantia et al., Nature Open Access 10.1038/s41586-026-10938-1

Analysis of the temporal variability of CO2, CH4 and CO concentrations at Lamto, West Africa, Tiemoko et al., Tellus B Open Access pdf 10.1080/16000889.2020.1863707

Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from plants and peat soil in a Cyperus papyrus wetland in Uganda, Farmer et al., Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences Open Access 10.1098/rstb.2025.0048

Decorrelating carbon and water fluxes in the Amazon Basin, Worden et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-75526-3

Environmental controls over greenhouse gas dynamics of tropical peatlands of the Central Congo Basin, Girkin et al., PubMed pmid:42619525

Experimental warming alters iron–carbon interactions and CO2 and CH4 emissions in pristine mangrove soils, Molitor et al., Atmospheric Environment Open Access 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.122315

Extensive parasite transmission and variation in a functional receptor associated with drug resistance in endemic Schistosoma mansoni, Berger et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adt3721

Hydrological controls on dissolved carbon export from permafrost peatland catchments of northeastern China, Wang et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1915601

Lakes Amplify Carbon Emissions Relative to Downstream Export in Aquatic Networks, Alriksson et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl120340

Land-use change causes rapid carbon losses in Congo Basin peatlands across climate scenarios, whereas the effects of climate change alone are uncertain, Young et al., Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences Open Access 10.1098/rstb.2024.0486

Limited blue carbon potential of intertidal seagrass meadows in the Wadden Sea – a case study in a tidal basin, Mohr et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-23-5715-2026

Mesenchymal stem cells receive adaptive islet–derived miR-151–containing sEVs to promote β cell compensation in obesity, Guo et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adu4196

Methane Emissions From U.S. Lakes Dominated by Ebullition, Shallow Zones, and Anthropogenic Drivers, Shen & Raymond, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124792

Precipitation-dependent nonlinear accumulation of soil organic carbon in response to warming via microbial residues, Chen et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03941-x

Quantifying climatic drivers and identifying spatial risks of vegetation carbon sink instability: a case study of central–western Inner Mongolia, Liu et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1819623

Shaping of developmental gradients through selection on multiple loci in Antirrhinum, Bradley et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adx2011

Soil disturbance in wetlands by feral pigs increases greenhouse gas emissions, Adame et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-23-5781-2026

Strategic design of methane observation networks to improve emission estimates: A case study in Africa, Li et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-26-11893-2026

Surface-water carbon exchange from mangroves and responses to global warming, Ouyang et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-77058-2

The Fragile Sink: Reconceptualizing Soil Carbon Stabilization and Its Vulnerability Under Global Change, Iqbal et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.71071


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
A large net carbon loss attributed to anthropogenic and natural disturbances in the Amazon Arc of Deforestation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 10.1073/pnas.2310157121 41 cites.

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CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering

Bamboo carbon pathways: sustainable approach to climate change mitigation, TK & S, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Open Access pdf 10.3389/fevo.2026.1876587

ForestERW: a spatially explicit carbon dioxide removal model for practical enhanced rock weathering applications in United States forests, McDonnell et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1855001


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Non-aqueous alkoxide-mediated electrochemical carbon capture, Nature Energy, 10.1038/s41560-024-01614-7 27 cites.

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Decarbonization

Multi-Scenario Carbon Peak Prediction for Aviation Logistics Based on an Extended STIRPAT Model: Empirical Analysis From Guangxi, China, Zhang et al., Geoscience Data Journal Open Access pdf 10.1002/gdj3.70089

National hydrogen policy inequality in aviation: a hidden barrier to climate mitigation, Rostami et al., Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2026.2713870


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Future hydrogen economies imply environmental trade-offs and a supply-demand mismatch, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-51251-7 180 cites.

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Geoengineering climate

Mapping the future of ocean carbon dioxide removal in Australia: site suitability for electrochemical ocean alkalinity enhancement, Benjamin et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1854445


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Technical note: Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Pelagic Impact Intercomparison Project (OAEPIIP), Biogeosciences, 10.5194/bg-21-3665-2024 9 cites.

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Black carbon

Warming potential of atmospheric black carbon modulated by particulate matter, Liu et al., Nature Geoscience 10.1038/s41561-026-02068-0

Aerosols

Future projections of surface dust concentrations in major dust source regions of the Mesopotamian plains, Abadi et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109282

Particle Size as a Key Remaining Uncertainty in Dust Direct Radiative Effect After EMIT: An Earth System Model Study, Li et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl121571


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Has Reducing Ship Emissions Brought Forward Global Warming?, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2024gl109077 73 cites.

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Climate change communications & cognition

A caution on climate hope, Blakey & Hudson, Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2026.2721047


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
A 27-country test of communicating the scientific consensus on climate change, Nature Human Behaviour, 10.1038/s41562-024-01928-2 47 cites.

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Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change

Circular nutrient recycling via Juncus effusus-derived biochar: impacts on soil properties, sorghum yield, and GHG fluxes, Wilson et al., ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH Open Access 10.1186/s40068-026-00496-w

Climate-Induced Severe Water Scarcity Events as Harbingers of Global Wheat Price, Trnka et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef006095

Modeling agricultural water deficit risk in finland under CMIP6 climate scenarios, Jahromi et al., Scientific Reports Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41598-026-65956-w

Overcoming barriers to achieving a Net Zero agri-food sector: Challenges and solutions, McGuire et al., Environmental Science & Policy Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104469

Research on the impact mechanism of climate risks on financial vulnerability of farmers in typical ecologically fragile regions of Northwestern China, Liu et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1892381

Social network structure and climate change adaptation information diffusion among dairy farmers: evidence from northern Tunisia, Gara et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1848645


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Optimistic growth of marginal region plantations under climate warming: Assessing divergent drought resilience, Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.17459 36 cites.

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Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change

A Subtle Atmospheric Shift Is Redefining Winter Hydrology on the Tibetan Plateau, Chen et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl121477

Carbon emissions exacerbating the Western US water crisis, Williams et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03900-6

Equatorial Extreme Convective Storms Are Expanding and Becoming More Persistent, Zhuang et al., AGU Advances Open Access 10.1029/2026av002370

Synoptic drivers of the August 2024 record-breaking rainfall in the Chadian Sahara: dynamics, thermodynamics, and socio-economic consequences, Tchinda et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.5194/wcd-7-1425-2026

Time Series Analysis of Temperature and Precipitation Dynamics Using CETA and MCETA Methods, Gul et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70484

Warming-driven rise in soil moisture entropy signals growing instability risk in the Asian Water Tower, Xie et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-76955-w

Yellow River sediment sinks exhibit divergent decadal responses to anthropogenic and climatic forcing, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03969-z


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Declining Reservoir Reliability and Increasing Reservoir Vulnerability: Long-Term Observations Reveal Longer and More Severe Periods of Low Reservoir Storage for Major United States Reservoirs, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2024gl109476 26 cites.

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Climate change economics

Developing double materiality for climate-related financial policy, Stiroh, Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02725-7

Extreme temperatures and low-income household finance: evidence from payday loans, Xie et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-76945-y


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Equity weighting increases the social cost of carbon, Science, 10.1126/science.adn1488 25 cites.

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Climate change mitigation public policy research

Fast Today, Fair Tomorrow: Competing Priorities Shaping EU Climate Law and Policy, Accogli et al., Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change Open Access 10.1002/wcc.70081


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Climate policies that achieved major emission reductions: Global evidence from two decades, Science, 10.1126/science.adl6547 303 cites.

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Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research

AQUA v1.0.0: The Application for QUality Assessment for the Climate Change Adaptation Digital Twin – the core engine, Nurisso et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-7725-2026

Climate change adaptation strategies of rural women-headed households in southwestern Ethiopia, Sherif et al., Discover Sustainability Open Access 10.1007/s43621-026-04230-5

Ethical and governance frontiers in big data for climate resilience, Pokharel & AlQahtani, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.cosust.2026.101723

Incident Risk Prediction for Global Maritime Networks Under a Changing Climate, Azadnia & Miller-Hooks, Risk Analysis Open Access pdf 10.1111/risa.70340

Leveraging social capital for climate change adaptation in the Mara River Basin, Kenya, Omondi, Environmental Sociology 10.1080/23251042.2026.2721649

Thermal justice in urban climate change adaptation, Gobatti et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02727-5


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Lessons from a decade of adaptive pathways studies for climate adaptation, Global Environmental Change, 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102907 114 cites.

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Climate change impacts on human health

Climate change and hypertension: global trends, temporal patterns, and regional insights, Ye et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1703142

From climate hazards to early warning: Salmonella as a sentinel for the Climate–AMR–WASH nexus, Tang et al., PLOS Climate Open Access pdf 10.1371/journal.pclm.0001040

Global analysis of sub-daily urban impacts on atmospheric variables and thermal comfort in a climate change scenario, Hoffmann et al., Urban Climate 10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103079

Marine heatwaves and undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries, Gray et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2528506123


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Integrating effects of overheating on human health into buildings’ life cycle assessment, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 10.1007/s11367-024-02353-3 11 cites.

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Other

Ecological regime shifts decouple organic carbon sequestration from nutrient-driven productivity in Anthropocene shallow lakes, Huang et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105686

Gender, power, and tokenism in nature-based solutions to climate change, Yamoah & Nyantakyi-Frimpong, Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2026.2712491

Perfluoroalkyl substance release in permafrost surface waters is projected to increase under global warming, Yu et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03946-6


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The history and future of IPCC special reports: A dual role of politicisation and normalisation, Climatic Change, 10.1007/s10584-024-03788-1 13 cites.

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Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives

Future Projections of Burned Area in Europe Highlight the Importance of Human Action, Billing et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.71043


Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Bring digital twins back to Earth, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change, 10.1002/wcc.915 29 cites.

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Articles/Reports from Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Aspects of Climate Change

Unlocking California's Flexible Load: A Durable Blueprint for Affordability and Reliability, Cutter et al., GridLab, Kevala, and Energy and Environmental Economics

Realizing the full potential of flexible load requires consolidating California’s fragmented landscape into a clear set of complementary pathways anchored by three core principles: compensating below verified avoided costs, paying exclusively for measured performance, and building on standardized, interoperable program architecture. Time-of-use (TOU) and dynamic rate structures can drive persistent behavior shifts without counterfactual baselines or aggregator overhead, but they are unlikely to fully deliver the benefits that many hope for. Only by advancing rate design and programmatic pathways together can California fully unlock the state’s load flexibility potential. To capture the value rates leave behind, load-serving entities (LSEs) should deploy three standardized mechanisms:- Retail Pay-for-Performance: Accessible, non-firm, as-available load reduction compensated against verified individual-level regression baselines. - Firm Capacity: Contracted, predictable load shift carrying Resource Adequacy (RA) value and clear performance accountability.- Wholesale Market Access: Streamlined direct California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market participation tailored for large commercial loads and sophisticated aggregations. Locationally targeted dispatch specifically tailored to defer infrastructure upgrades at high-value, constrained distribution nodes.

Evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of heat action plans, Sobhaninia et al., Red Cross Red Crescent Global Disaster Preparedness Center

The authors analyzed the content of Heat Action Plans (HAPs) from different regions of the world, interviewed local officials involved in HAP development and implementation to understand their impact then developed and piloted an actionable HAP Implementation and Effectiveness (HAPIE) Tool that can help cities to track the implementation and effectiveness of HAPs.

Advancing policy coherence for agrifood systems transformation, Bedeau et al., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The authors examine how policy coherence is being advanced in practice to enable agrifood systems transformation, drawing on experiences from 10 countries. It explores the continuous and iterative processes that countries are following to align agriculture, climate, biodiversity, nutrition and equity agendas and translate shared goals into policy processes, institutional arrangements and coordinated action across sectors and levels of governance. By focusing on implementation rather than policy design alone, the authors highlight enabling factors, common challenges and practical entry points to move beyond siloed approaches. The publication is intended for policymakers, practitioners and development partners seeking actionable insights to advance multiple agrifood systems outcomes in complex national contexts.

Climate change is driving unprecedented European ocean temperatures, with severe impacts for marine life, Bergin et al., World Weather Attribution

Researchers from Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom collaborated to assess the extent to which human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of the extreme sea surface temperature (SSTs) conditions along the European coasts in July 2026. This year’s high SSTs have been remarkable not only in their intensity, but also in how early in the year they were reached. To assess whether all of the observed warming is attributable to human-induced climate change, we combine observations and climate models. In the Celtic region, climate models and observations show very similar trends, while in all other regions the observed trends are much stronger than those simulated by climate models. Despite this, the authors found that in the two Mediterranean regions, the increase in warming attributable to human-induced climate change is about 2°C, substantially surpassing the level of global warming, even under this conservative estimate.

Water Reuse Energy Demands and Water Quality Metrics, Shurtliff et al., Idaho National Laboratory

The authors discuss strategies for enhancing water resilience in energy production by advancing water reuse and reclamation technologies, particularly for thermoelectric power plants and data centers. The focus is on efficiently closing the water loop by processing discharged cooling water to recover valuable minerals, thereby reducing energy-intensive water sourcing and management. This approach aims to alleviate water scarcity issues, especially in arid regions, while also promoting operational sustainability.

Water Availability for Cooling Systems: Assessing Demands, Constraints, and Alternative Sources for Thermoelectric Plants and Data Centers, Bastidas Pacheco et al., Idaho National Laboratory

The authors address Water-for-Energy by focusing on improving water management to provide additional cooling water to further thermoelectric energy production and support data center deployments. They assessed existing demands and constraints on cooling water and identified alternative sources of water to meet growing needs of large-scale water and energy users.

All hazards operational guidance: responding to climate disruption, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

The authors provide guidance to help local highway authorities (LHAs) design, implement, and test their operational response to disruption to their networks caused by extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and other hazards. Leaders must ensure that an operational framework is in place that allows the authority to act quickly when faced with credible risks from such events, prioritize interventions where consequences for communities are greatest, and make available suitably qualified, experienced, and empowered professionals to take timely, defensible decisions under conditions of uncertainty. The operational framework should facilitate coordinated action across the organization and with partners, supported by “good enough” information, sound governance arrangements, and effective communication. It should also ensure that decisions are recorded and used after the event to inform future planning and investment.

Climate Resilience as Strategy: Scaling Corporate Action on Physical Risks from Climate Change, Radulovic et al., Systemiq and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Most companies now acknowledge growing physical risk and have begun strengthening business continuity. But maturity still lags exposure. Many adaptation plans push implementation far into the future — and only 25% of corporate adaptation measures are genuinely strategic in nature. A key gap is valuation — the ability to quantify avoided losses in ways finance teams trust. Without this, resilience falls down the priority list against nearer-term initiatives. The mismatch between capital planning cycles and multi-decade physical risk trajectories compounds the problem. Guidance is expanding quickly, and strongest on risk assessment and disclosure. But it remains fragmented and uneven on the elements that convert insight into action: valuing resilience, building financeable pipelines of interventions, and enabling ecosystem collaboration.

Survey reveals gap between climate change concern and actual news coverage, Climate News Tracker/Kantar

A survey of journalists and production staff across UK public service media concluded climate reporting needs new approaches. Broadcast journalists in Britain say they rank climate change and environmental issues above many of the traditional pillars of news coverage – including the National Health Service, international conflict and immigration – yet this is not reflected in what audiences actually see and hear. More than 80% of respondents said crowded news agendas and packed running orders hinder climate coverage. Program editors and channel schedulers may be willing to extend a bulletin for a dramatic, unexpected and consequential story, but the climate crisis rarely meets the threshold for such immediate editorial prioritization. The planet heating up is a slow-burning story whose significance has developed over years rather than hours, making it harder to compete with the urgency of daily news. Journalists also highlighted the difficulty of finding strong editorial “pegs” for climate stories outside major weather events or political announcements. Some 65% said climate stories do not always have a clear or timely news peg. That is disappointing.

Current Best Practices on Wildfire Risk Reduction for Electric Transmission and Distribution Systems, Coleman et al., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

To help utilities, states, and municipalities address growing wildfire risks, the authors prepared a comprehensive report outlining current best practices for wildfire planning, prevention, response, and recovery. They highlight utility-led strategies for mitigating wildfire risks from electric transmission and distribution systems. This work underscores the urgent need for proactive investment in resilience as wildfire threats intensify across the nation.

Managing construction in a changing climate, Suzanne Davenport, NHBC Foundation

The authors explore how climate change is affecting construction across the UK, the effects of extreme weather on construction quality, programs, materials and costs, the risks to worker health, safety and wellbeing, practical guidance and checklists for site managers to prepare for extreme weather, and, resilient construction solutions, technologies and techniques to improve climate adaptation on site.

U.S. gas power proposals tied to data centers nearly double in six months, Jenny Martos, GEM

Driven by rapid data center expansion, U.S. gas-fired power capacity in development jumped 50% to 378 GW, with Texas leading the push and developers pivoting to faster-to-install engines to skip supply backlogs. However, severe turbine supply constraints, project delays, local moratoriums, and mounting public opposition leave the true scale of this US$647 billion gas buildout highly uncertain.

Evaluation of ARPA-E's Mission and Goals, Marchant et al., National Academies of Science

The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) was established in 2009 to address barriers to developing transformational science and technology solutions for the nation's energy and environmental challenges. The authors evaluate ARPA-E's operations and assesses the effects of its' programs to date. The authors also explore the agency's future challenges and opportunities, recommending ways ARPA-E can build on its' early successes to respond effectively to emerging energy needs. Key recommendations address funding and leadership stability, strategic planning and evaluation, risk and failure management, process innovation and experimentation, and transparency and public communication.

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Posted by Doug Bostrom on Thursday, 27 August, 2026


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