Centuries of global heating from Carbon Majors: Dependence on future emissions pathways, Frierson & Henrie, PLOS Climate
We perform simulations that attribute the amount of global warming due to corporations, governments and other entities into the future. We utilize the Finite Amplitude Impulse Response (FaIR) model run until 2500, and the Carbon Majors dataset, a database with the emissions history associated with the top 178 oil, gas, coal, and cement producers. We perform counterfactual experiments to calculate the warming attributable to the emissions associated with these entities, using several different future emissions scenarios. The future atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) anomaly attributable to a company’s past emissions is smaller with less ensemble spread in a lower emissions future than it is in a high emissions future. This is due to smaller carbon cycle feedbacks with lower emissions. However, the temperature change from past emissions is larger in a lower emissions future, even with the smaller change in CO2. This is due primarily to the logarithmic sensitivity of CO2 radiative forcing to concentration. Methane concentration post-2080 experiences a negative anomaly, due to a decrease in methane lifetime from elevated temperature, which is a small negative feedback. For any future emissions scenario, the historical emissions from oil, gas, coal, and cement producers affect many aspects of the climate system, including CO2 in the atmosphere and other parts of the carbon cycle, methane, ozone, and stratospheric water vapor. The total radiative forcing induced by these elements stays positive throughout all simulations, which in turn causes positive temperature perturbations. Thus in addition to the damages that have already occurred, we expect the Carbon Majors to be responsible for calculable climate damages for many centuries into the future.
Global Emissions Since the Paris Agreement Have Intensified Europe's Recent Heatwaves, Trok et al., Geophysical Research Letters
Understanding the consequences of continued greenhouse-gas emissions requires determining whether recent emissions can be robustly linked to changes in extreme weather events. However, current approaches have a limited ability to quantify changes in extreme weather caused by small subsets of anthropogenic emissions, particularly for individual events. To address these limitations, we train a generative machine-learning model to predict spatially-explicit changes in daily surface temperature at different levels of cumulative emissions, conditional on the event's observed meteorological conditions. Using this approach, we find strong evidence (>95% probability) that the combined effects of anthropogenic emissions released since the 2015 UN Paris Agreement have increased the intensity of Europe's summer temperature extremes since 2021. Additionally, our results suggest >99% probability that regional-mean temperature during Europe's high-impact June 2025 heatwave would have been lower (median estimate of 0.34°C) if the same large-scale meteorological conditions had occurred under 2015 levels of cumulative emissions.
Permafrost-Thaw Driven Acid-Rock Drainage Threatens Arctic Aquatic Ecosystems, Skierszkan, AGU Advances
A new study in this issue of AGU Advances (Evinger et al., 2026) documents abrupt onset of acid-rock drainage from thawing permafrost in Alaska's Brooks Range. Similar findings emerged from a publication in Science earlier this year (Skierszkan et al., 2026a, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aea2898). This Viewpoint provides a broader regional context of the phenomenon, highlighting widespread acid-rock drainage within northwestern North America's permafrost zone. Acid-rock drainage is accelerating release of metals and acidity at toxic concentrations in thousands of seepages in regions undergoing permafrost thaw. As such, it may be of the most consequential recently recognized environmental hazards caused by cryosphere loss. This widespread outcome of global warming presents a major risk to water resources and aquatic ecosystems.
Abrupt Onset and Persistent Downstream Effects of Acid Rock Drainage on Rivers Across Northwest Arctic Alaska, Evinger et al., AGU Advances
Warming in the Arctic is accelerating permafrost thaw, leading to changes in the water quality of streams and rivers that provide important ecosystem services to rural communities. In Arctic Alaska, a growing concern is the increasing number of rivers affected by natural acid rock drainage, a process that occurs when certain minerals are exposed to air and water, releasing acid, sulfate, and a mixture of major and trace metals. Here, we examined the effects of acid rock drainage on river chemistry across six watersheds in Alaska's Brooks Range. Acid rock drainage inputs were extremely acidic, with concentrations of nickel, zinc, and cadmium similar to those observed in mine-impacted rivers outside the region. Acidic, metal-rich inputs to rivers raised metal levels downstream by up to 70 times, with the potential for long range transport (>100 km). We used long-term water quality records to constrain the timing of onset to 2019–2020, which coincided with warm, snowy conditions of the preceding winters. Collectively, our findings document the recent and abrupt onset of acid rock drainage that releases toxic metals to Arctic rivers, with implications for wildlife and humans.
Understanding the Gateway: Unpacking the Mechanisms, Boundaries, and Outcomes of Climate Consensus Messaging, Göbel et al., Journal of Environmental Psycholog
Communicating the scientific consensus on climate change acts as a gateway to increasing climate beliefs, a process described by the Gateway Belief Model (GBM). Although the effectiveness of this approach is well-documented, critical gaps in the literature persist. Few studies have scrutinized the risks of low-consensus messages and their correctability, the potential for consensus messaging to have an impact beyond self-reported measures, or the cognitive mechanisms driving belief updates. This study addresses these three critical areas in a German sample (N = 941). First, we demonstrate the powerful adverse effect of a low-consensus message on the perceived scientific consensus (PSC) and show that this effect can be corrected through subsequent accurate messaging. Second, we introduce learning as a novel cognitive outcome, finding that high-consensus messaging can act as a gateway to knowledge acquisition. Third, we explore initial confidence as a key psychological moderator, revealing that it influences belief updating under certain conditions.
Planetary Health Check 2026, Caesar et al., Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
The Planetary Health Check (PHC) provides an annual assessment of the state of the Planet. It is structured around the Planetary Boundaries: the nine critical processes that regulate stability, resilience, and the conditions that support life on Earth. For each boundary, one or two indicators, known as control variables, are used to assess its status. These show whether conditions remain within the Safe Operating Space – the range in which the risk of destabilizing the Planet remains low. Beyond a boundary lies the Zone of Increasing Risk, followed by the High-Risk Zone, where the risk of large-scale and potentially irreversible changes becomes high. The 2026 Planetary Health Check finds that seven of the nine Planetary Boundaries are transgressed, and trends for all seven continue to point in the wrong direction, indicating further deterioration in the conditions that support long-term planetary stability.
The Billion Dollar Deal: How the Fossil Fuel Industry Bought the Trump Administration, Cashed In, and Left Americans to Pay the Price, Senate Democrats Anti-Corruption Initiative, Senate Environment & Public Works Committee
The authors trace the massive fossil fuel and polluting industry donations to President Trump and Republican campaigns during the 2024 election cycle and demonstrates how the industries unlocked power over executive branch agencies in the form of personnel and policy decisions. Senate Democratic investigators found over the course of 19 investigations into Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory rollbacks, 13 investigations into nine other agencies, and another 13 investigations into 88 separate polluters, backed by original analyses of campaign finance filings, corporate earnings, and investor communications. The near-total refusal of the Trump Administration—and the fossil fuel administration that runs it—to cooperate with legitimate Congressional oversight complicated the investigations, but truth has a way of finding the light, and some corruption casts a shadow too unmistakable to conceal.
Physical science of climate change, effects
AMOC Discrepancies across Reanalyses and Models Limit Dynamical Understanding, Raganato et al., Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0618.1
Contrasting aerosol–cloud feedbacks across a warming Arctic, Chua et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41561-026-02114-x
Exploring the Genesis and Climatic Drivers of Marine Heatwaves in the Indonesian Maritime Continent: Insights from South Java and Karimata Strait, Iskandar et al., Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans 10.1016/j.dynatmoce.2026.101709
Iceberg Freshwater Transport Alleviates Future Weakening of Antarctic Bottom Water Formation, Shi & Li, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.20710821
Reassessing the Role of the Antarctic Slope Current in Poleward Ocean Heat Transport, Aguiar et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans Open Access 10.1029/2025jc023934
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
A climate change signal in the tropical Pacific emerges from decadal variability, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-52731-6 20 cites.
Observations of climate change, effects
A country-level storyline attribution of global warming on heat-related extremes in South America, León-FonFay et al., Weather and Climate Extremes Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.wace.2026.100961
Climatic and Hydrological Changes Drive Contemporary Fire Regime Transitions in the World's Largest Wetland, Barros-Rosa et al., Global Change Biology Open Access pdf 10.1111/gcb.71089
Decreasing Translation Speed of Rapid Expansion Tropical Cyclones Over the Western North Pacific, Li & Tang, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl125625
Earlier and faster heatwave onset on land under a warming climate, Xu et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02762-2
Long-term temperature, oxygen and water clarity trends in Swiss lakes, Bärenbold et al., Earth system science data Open Access pdf 10.5194/essd-18-6527-2026
Nighttime warming dominates the thermal evolution of lakes across China, Chen et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-78114-7
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
South America is becoming warmer, drier, and more flammable, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01654-7 75 cites.
Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects
A 30-year synthetic climatological normal dataset for Ghana generated using the CDSim framework, Osei et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1798088
Capability of Planet Dove for monitoring the world's coastlines, Cavanaugh et al., Remote Sensing of Environment Open Access 10.1016/j.rse.2026.115630
GloSVeT: a global 0.05° monthly mean surface soil and vegetation component temperature dataset (2003–2023), Liu et al., Earth system science data Open Access 10.5194/essd-18-6885-2026
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Accuracy of daily extreme air temperatures under natural variations in thermometer screen ventilation, Atmospheric Science Letters, 10.1002/asl.1256 7 cites.
Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects
Assessing Taiwan's Future Climate: High Resolution Projections and Regional Impacts From Statistical Downscaling of CMIP6 Data, Chen et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70431
Centuries of global heating from Carbon Majors: Dependence on future emissions pathways, Frierson & Henrie, PLOS Climate Open Access pdf 10.1371/journal.pclm.0001036
Changing Antecedent Land-Surface Conditions Can Amplify Future Heat Extremes Across New Zealand, Debsharma et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl124647
Climate change is projected to widen global inequalities in ocean-derived wellbeing, Zhang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-04070-1
Global Emissions Since the Paris Agreement Have Intensified Europe's Recent Heatwaves, Trok et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl125079
Mediterranean cyclones from pre-industrial to future climate: changes in extreme wind, precipitation and compound precipitation–wind events, Doensen et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.5194/wcd-7-1899-2026
One History, Many Futures: Exploring Climate-Driven Changes in Estuarine Water Temperature and Salinity (Sado Estuary Case Study), Biguino et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef007408
Projected Future Changes of Australian Boundary Currents—Insights From Dynamical Downscaling Simulations, Jin et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026jc024251
Reduced Asian monsoon influence on Mediterranean summers in a warmer climate, Yu et al., Nature Geoscience 10.1038/s41561-026-02091-1
Volcanic Aerosol Forcing Suppresses Tropical African Rainfall: Mechanisms and Modulation by a Warmer Climate, Yu et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 10.1029/2026jd046721
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Arctic Amplification of marine heatwaves under global warming, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-52760-1 25 cites.
Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection
Atmospheric nudging in weather and climate modeling: Bias reduction, mechanism isolation, and attribution, Orbe et al., Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 10.1002/qj.70300
CMIP6 data usage: lessons learned from more than 200 million downloads, Lavoie et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-8977-2026
Fifteen years of regional climate downscaling in CORDEX-Australasia, Evans et al., PLOS Climate Open Access pdf 10.1371/journal.pclm.0001066
Impact of Model Resolution on Antarctic Bottom Water Representation in Coupled Climate Models, Shu et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans Open Access 10.1029/2025jc023640
Simulation of Coastal El Niño Events in CMIP6 Models and Its Relationship to Mean-State and ENSO Biases, Tello & Karamperidou, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2025gl120974
Systematic Overestimation of Global Peak Runoff Synchronization in CMIP6 Models, Yang et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl122766
The NASA-GISS ModelE2.1-CC2 ESM: development and evaluation, Romanou et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-19-9131-2026
The North American CORDEX-CMIP6 WRF evaluation run: comparing historical simulations from 25 km to convection-permitting scales, Stuivenvolt-Allen et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-19-8995-2026
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
AI-empowered next-generation multiscale climate modelling for mitigation and adaptation, Nature Geoscience, 10.1038/s41561-024-01527-w 88 cites.
Cryosphere & climate change
A comprehensive rock glacier inventory for the Peruvian Andes (PRoGI): dataset, characterization and topoclimatic attributes, Medina et al., Earth system science data Open Access 10.5194/essd-18-345-2026
Dynamic thinning and grounding line retreat in Porpoise Bay, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica, Weatherley et al., cryosphere Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc-20-5509-2026
Impact of climate forcing time step in an ice-sheet firn model, Aker et al., cryosphere Open Access pdf 10.5194/tc-20-5475-2026
Listening to Tsunami Waves Induced by Glacier Calving, G?owacki et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl125399
Permafrost Detachment Slides: A Distinct High-Magnitude Permafrost Mass Wasting Process, Young et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl124103
Permafrost-Thaw Driven Acid-Rock Drainage Threatens Arctic Aquatic Ecosystems, Skierszkan, AGU Advances Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026av002822
Sea level & climate change
North Atlantic sea level budget revisited, Song et al., Ocean science Open Access pdf 10.5194/os-22-2903-2026
Warming and Sea-Level Rise Transform Intertidal Sediment Thermal Dynamics, Liu et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026ef008924
Paleoclimate & paleogeochemistry
Coupled increases in pelagic fish productivity and export productivity during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Zhou et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-77863-9
Dead Sea Warming and the Origin of Salt Giants, Guillerm et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124167
Palaeocene climate warming as a catalyst for wildfire intensification, Theurer et al., Scientific Reports Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41598-026-72676-8
Reconstructing Climate From Coral Skeletal Banding: Statistical Effects of Replicating Cores and Observers, Hedger et al., Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026pa005546
Biology & climate change, related geochemistry
Abrupt Onset and Persistent Downstream Effects of Acid Rock Drainage on Rivers Across Northwest Arctic Alaska, Evinger et al., AGU Advances Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026av002407
Abrupt pH changes overestimate the responses of Chaetoceros muelleri to ocean acidification, Zhao et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-77753-0
Changes in Potential Suitable Habitats, Species Turnover, and Conservation Gaps of Wild Plants in the Tarim Basin, China, Chen et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.74393
Climate Change Impacts on the Distribution Patterns and Habitat Suitability of the Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana) in China: Implications for the “30 × 30” Conservation Targets, Chen et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access pdf 10.1002/ece3.74424
Climate mitigation contributes more to population persistence than evolutionary adaptation in a long-lived seabird, Jenouvrier et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2620362123
Climate-Driven Hydraulic Traits Shift in Natural and Planted Forests: Patterns, Drivers, and Future Acclimation, Bai et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2025ef006678
Climate-Driven Shifts in Flowering Phenology of Wild Tropical Plants Uncovered by Century-Long Herbarium and Photographic Records, Xue et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.71130
Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Five Ulmus pumila Cultivars: Comparative Analysis, Evolutionary Dynamics, and Germplasm Authentication Implications, Wang et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.74352
Economic incentives for conifers may limit broadleaf expansion in climate-adaptive European forests, Djahangard et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-04087-6
Natural disturbances from bark beetle outbreaks and windthrow increasingly affect Europe's most mature and carbon-rich forests, Besnard et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-23-5983-2026
Ocean dynamics amplify remote warming effects of reforestation, Banville et al., Earth System Dynamics Open Access 10.5194/esd-17-1315-2026
Ocean warming and acidification reveal transcriptional plasticity in the gastropod Hexaplex trunculus, Sarropoulou et al., Marine Environmental Research Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108426
Permafrost-Thaw Driven Acid-Rock Drainage Threatens Arctic Aquatic Ecosystems, Skierszkan, AGU Advances Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026av002822
Projecting Impacts of Marine Heatwaves and Their Effects on Long-Term Changes in Marine Ecosystems Over the 21st Century, Luzinais et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.71123
The Future of Native Bees in Australia Under Environmental and Anthropogenic Change, Howard & Prendergast, Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.74363
Unprecedented Warming and Increased Herbivory Drive Collapse of Japan's Kelp Forests, Harvey et al., Global Change Biology Open Access pdf 10.1111/gcb.71106
We Are Dying to Eat You: Cannibalism and Disease Transmission Under Global Climate Change, Rougeau & Elderd, Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.74403
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Climate change and deer in boreal and temperate regions: From physiology to population dynamics and species distributions, Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.17505 26 cites.
GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry
A 7-Year Eddy Covariance Dataset of the Energy, Water Vapour and Carbon Dioxide Fluxes Observed in a Siberian Dwarf Pine Ecosystem, Iwata et al., Geoscience Data Journal Open Access pdf 10.1002/gdj3.70101
A Global Database of Soil Methane uptake (SMUD), Jiang et al., Earth system science data Open Access pdf 10.5194/essd-18-6783-2026
An assessment of a CO2 transport model simulations using surface, aircraft and satellite data (2015–2021), Das et al., Atmospheric Environment 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2025.121754
Assessment of CO2 storage potential in global marine sediments based on machine learning methods, Zhang et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.105210
C-PEAT's Global Peatland Carbon Database (v.2025), Loisel et al., Earth system science data Open Access pdf 10.5194/essd-18-6485-2026
Examining challenges and uncertainties associated with using water table management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from grassland peat soils, Pierce et al., Environmental Science & Policy Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104495
Global carbon dioxide flux into the surface ocean intensified by rain-induced dilution, Witte et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41561-026-02112-z
Global dispersal of macroalgae-derived recalcitrant DOC may substantially contribute to deep-ocean carbon storage, Feng et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aeg3815
Methane emissions from penguin colonies reshape the natural greenhouse gas budget, Román et al., npj Climate and Atmospheric Science Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41612-026-01556-9
Methane oxidation in African lakes increases with phytoplankton and outweighs photosynthesis-driven oxic methane production, Borges et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-78255-9
Minimal impact of recent decline in C4 vegetation abundance on atmospheric carbon isotopic composition, Lavergne et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-025-03102-6
Natural disturbances from bark beetle outbreaks and windthrow increasingly affect Europe's most mature and carbon-rich forests, Besnard et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-23-5983-2026
Natural methane emissions feedbacks in MAGICC v. 7.6, Sloughter et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-9063-2026
Optimized wetland rewetting strategies can control methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen responses to water table fluctuations, Zhao et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-025-03163-7
Pelagic sea cucumbers in the Galapagos: Midwater grazers that short-circuit deep-sea carbon flux, Robison, Ecology Open Access pdf 10.1002/ecy.70536
Responses of Soil Organic Matter and Minerals to Winter and Growing Season Climate Change, Goebel et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.71110
Simulation and analysis of CO2 concentration in China from 2009 to 2021 based on the WRF-Chem model, Liu et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108732
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Inland water greenhouse gas emissions offset the terrestrial carbon sink in the northern cryosphere, Science Advances, 10.1126/sciadv.adp0024 40 cites.
CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering
Assessing Earth system responses in mitigation scenarios with activity-driven simulation of carbon dioxide removal, Schwinger et al., Earth System Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.5194/esd-17-1341-2026
Fast and selective CO2 capture from outdoor air by covalent organic frameworks, Zhou et al., Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-025-01735-1
Land use sequestration potential and uncertainties in India’s net-zero pathway, Rajbanshi et al., Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.21853095
Pathways for biochar carbon removal: A national foresight study, Campion et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104988
The Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group: Sealing the UK's net zero future, Mcevoy et al., Earth-Science Reviews Open Access 10.1016/j.earscirev.2026.105678
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Carbon sequestration potential of tree planting in China, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-52785-6 101 cites.
Decarbonization
Regional dynamics of agrivoltaics adoption: Stakeholder perceptions and barriers in Maryland, USA, Morash & Pavao-Zuckerman, Energy Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.115066
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Solar transpiration–powered lithium extraction and storage, Science, 10.1126/science.adm7034 244 cites.
Geoengineering climate
Biogeochemical and Carbonate Chemistry Response to Natural and Anthropogenic Mineral-Based Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, Mehta et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences 10.1029/2026jg009697
Constraints on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement: Limited Olivine Dissolution and Secondary Precipitation During Periclase Addition to Seawater, Mehta et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026jg009977
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Next steps for assessing ocean iron fertilization for marine carbon dioxide removal, Frontiers in Climate, 10.3389/fclim.2024.1430957 17 cites.
Black carbon
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Microplastic and Associated Black Particles From Road-Tire Wear: Implications for Radiative Effects Across the Cryosphere and in the Atmosphere, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 10.1029/2024jd041116 26 cites.
Aerosols
Climate impact of contrail cirrus from hydrogen combustion aircraft, Pettersson et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-26-13485-2026
Volcanic Aerosol Forcing Suppresses Tropical African Rainfall: Mechanisms and Modulation by a Warmer Climate, Yu et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 10.1029/2026jd046721
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
A machine learning paradigm for necessary observations to reduce uncertainties in aerosol climate forcing, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-52747-y 27 cites.
Climate change communications & cognition
Information on public opinion has lasting effects on second-order climate beliefs, but minimal and ephemeral effects on first-order beliefs, Barnfield et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology Open Access 10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102901
Strategic Frame Differentiation in Environmental Communication: Evidence from China Daily's Bilingual Climate Change Reporting, Yang et al., Environmental Communication 10.1080/17524032.2026.2674274
The Importance of Accounting for Stakeholder Values, Power Relationships and Language in Constructing Relevant and Trustworthy Climate Information, Maraun et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2024ef005618
Understanding the Gateway: Unpacking the Mechanisms, Boundaries, and Outcomes of Climate Consensus Messaging, Göbel et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology Open Access 10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.102913
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Understanding ecological grief as a response to climate change-induced loss in Ghana, Climate and Development, 10.1080/17565529.2024.2407342 17 cites.
Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change
Agricultural liming is a carbon sink in the Mississippi River Basin, Suhrhoff et al., Nature Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41586-026-11040-2
Association between climate variability adaptation practices and household food security in three agro-ecological zones of northwestern Ethiopia, Nega et al., Discover Sustainability Open Access 10.1007/s43621-026-04827-w
Comparative analysis of methane flux measurement methods under continuous flooding and alternate wetting and drying in Arkansas rice fields, Ranniku et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Open Access 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111488
Evaluating farmers' adaptation strategies amid rising heat and climatic extremes in San Diego County, California, Bross et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.crm.2026.100880
Manure to insect farming for feed mitigates nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions, Cheng et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2604870123
Modeling the agricultural suitability of key crops under climate change scenarios in british columbia using spatial machine learning, Vakhshoori et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Open Access 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111492
Multi-Decadal Analysis on the Impact of Climate Change, Genetic Gain, Cultivar Type, and Harvest Timing on Main and Ratoon Rice Yield and Quality, Wilson et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70679
Regional dynamics of agrivoltaics adoption: Stakeholder perceptions and barriers in Maryland, USA, Morash & Pavao-Zuckerman, Energy Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.115066
The carbon footprint of the farming of edible brown alga Sargassum naozhouense, Sun et al., Marine Environmental Research 10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107738
The impact of climate risk on forestry ecological total factor productivity: evidence from double machine learning, Wang et al., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change Open Access pdf 10.3389/ffgc.2026.1930608
[Personal View] Promoting climate-resilient agriculture and food security through school feeding, Singh et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101414
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Inventory of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from freshwater aquaculture in China, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01699-8 32 cites.
Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change
Anthropogenic warming is projected to divert atmospheric rivers toward densely populated Asia, Liang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-04075-w
Characterizing meso-level organizations engaged in climate change adaptation work in Africa: A configurational analysis, Ma et al., Environmental Science & Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104503
Climate change integrated intensity-duration-frequency analysis for the coastal cities of Kochi and Kozhikode, India, Drissia & Radhakrishnan, Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103163
Decreasing Translation Speed of Rapid Expansion Tropical Cyclones Over the Western North Pacific, Li & Tang, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl125625
Emerging Hydroclimatic Risks in Pakistan: Regional Projections of Precipitation Characteristics Under CMIP6 Scenarios, Khan, International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70577
Evaluation and Projection of Northwest China's Extreme Precipitation Using Statistically Downscaled CMIP6 Models, Zhang et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70237
Observed Decreases in Seasonal Drought across the Northeastern United States, Wargo et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-25-0103.1
Reversed variation of September and October rainfall over West China and its enhanced linkage to Arctic Sea ice in the Pacific sector since the early 1990s, Wang et al., Atmospheric Research Open Access 10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.109364
Tree-ring δ18O reveals a consistent decrease in April precipitation in southeastern China since the 1950s and its linkage to global climate phenomena, Wang et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.105249
Volcanic Aerosol Forcing Suppresses Tropical African Rainfall: Mechanisms and Modulation by a Warmer Climate, Yu et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 10.1029/2026jd046721
Water Storage Capacity Dynamics in Drained Boreal Peatlands: Responses to Rewetting and Climate Change, Salimi et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124233
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Dynamic assessment of the impact of compound dry-hot conditions on global terrestrial water storage, Remote Sensing of Environment, 10.1016/j.rse.2024.114428 20 cites.
Climate change economics
Climate- and nature-related transition risks in Brazil: capital stranding and financial vulnerability, Scala et al., Figshare Open Access 10.6084/m9.figshare.33980207.v1
Measuring the compound flood risk from economic growth, sea-level rise and land subsidence on insurance affordability in China's coastal cities, Lin et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2026.100877
New labour and agricultural damages improve climate cost estimates, Moore et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02749-z
The impact of financing cost differences on global energy and industry decarbonization, Waidelich et al., Nature Climate Change Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41558-026-02756-0
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Reducing the cost of capital to finance the energy transition in developing countries, Nature Energy, 10.1038/s41560-024-01606-7 116 cites.
Climate change mitigation public policy research
A critical political economy of climate obstruction: forests, fossils, and foundations of developmentalism in Indonesia, Fünfgeld, Climate and Development Open Access 10.1080/17565529.2025.2609768
Carbon pricing and clean energy markets: Policy effectiveness in an era of trade wars, Jiang, Energy Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115624
Institutional betrayal in climate action: Youth experiences and future pathways, Nosek et al., Environmental Science & Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104497
Policy, trade, and opinion dynamics in the transition to electric vehicles in Canada, Khajehdehi et al., Environmental Research Infrastructure and Sustainability Open Access pdf 10.1088/2634-4505/aea89b
Resistance as climate change mitigation: Contested emissions from Japan's anti-coal movement, Thiri et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104976
Time–frequency and distributional heterogeneity in the drivers of consumption-based carbon emissions across the E7 emerging economies, Fakhrullah et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1933128
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Green hydrogen transitions deepen socioecological risks and extractivist patterns: evidence from 28 prospective exporting countries in the Global South, Energy Research & Social Science, 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103731 70 cites.
Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research
From awareness to action: Climate change knowledge, perceived impacts, and adaptation responses in coastal Keta, Ghana, Agyemang & Nunekpeku, Environmental Science & Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104502
From Policy to Participation: How Trust and Communication Shape Climate Resilience in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Badu et al., Environmental Communication Open Access 10.1080/17524032.2026.2734419
Heat, water, and hillsides: An integrated diagnosis of compounded climate risks for coastal adaptation in Brazil, Torres et al., Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103164
Resolving the fire governance paradox in an increasingly fire-prone world, Devenish et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-04090-x
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Urban water infrastructure: A critical review on climate change impacts and adaptation strategies, Urban Climate, 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102132 98 cites.
Climate change impacts on human health
An open-access workflow combining climate model projections with epidemiological frameworks to assess air quality mortality, Wells et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1847091
Our lands, our minds: research and action agenda on Indigenous mental health in a changing climate, Hill et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1724441
[Articles] Projecting and valuing climate change impacts on anxiety and depression in the contiguous USA: a damage function approach, Belova et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101426
[Comment] Framing climate change, migration, and health as a syndemic, Schwerdtle et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101443
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Temperature-Driven Dengue Transmission in a Changing Climate: Patterns, Trends, and Future Projections, GeoHealth, 10.1029/2024gh001059 19 cites.
Climate change & geopolitics
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
“We rather not connect trade to politics, let alone geopolitics” – The changing role of Russia as a landscape pressure for zero-carbon energy transitions, Energy Research & Social Science, 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103775 12 cites.
Climate change impacts on human culture
Impact of climate change on ski tourism and its adaptation research: Progress and prospects, YANG et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.accre.2026.09.013
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Hajj pilgrims suffer from climate extremes, Science, 10.1126/science.adr2696 3 cites.
Other
Artificial Intelligence and Climate Risk Shocks, Chen et al., Risk Analysis Open Access pdf 10.1111/risa.70371
Women, cuckoos, and new generations among darkening peaks: temporalities of climate crisis in the Himalayas and beyond, Diemberger, Apollo (University of Cambridge) Open Access pmh:oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/408385
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The Evolution of the Hunga Hydration in a Moistening Stratosphere, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2024gl110841 18 cites.
Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives
Addressing Epistemic Risk in Actionable Earth System Science, Emard et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society Open Access pdf 10.1175/bams-d-24-0218.1
Carbon removal projects need to get justice right, Fritz et al., Nature Climate Change Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41558-026-02739-1
COP29 at the climate crossroads: achievements, gaps, and implications for a warming world, Khan et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2025.1685999
[Personal View] Leave no one behind: a call to include people with disabilities in climate change and health research, Kim et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101440
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Diversity in IPCC author’s composition does not equate to inclusion, Nature Climate Change, 10.1038/s41558-024-02150-8 9 cites.
Book reviews
Climate unrest comes to a fictionalized France, Dames, UNC Libraries Open Access 10.17615/z3vg-n281
Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness
The authors focus on practical measures that States and other stakeholders can take now to identify and protect stateless persons, and to reduce and prevent statelessness in climate-vulnerable contexts. The recommendations are intended to support practical action to prevent new cases of statelessness, reduce existing statelessness, and protect those whose rights are at risk in the context of climate change. They can be advanced through international, regional, national and local measures, including by integrating safeguards into nationality laws, and by informing efforts to strengthen civil registration and identity systems, human mobility frameworks, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response, and climate adaptation planning.
Software Developers on Climate Change, AI, and Sustainable Software: A survey of GitHub users, Summer 2026, Vorreuter et al., Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
This report is based on findings from a survey of GitHub users conducted between June 30 – August 9, 2026. 1,039 GitHub users were interviewed (18+) in the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. All questions were administered online in English using the Qualtrics platform. Portions of this survey use validated items from Climate Change in the American Mind (CCAM), a nationally representative U.S. survey. These shared items make it possible to compare GitHub users’ responses to estimates from the U.S. general population, with the sampling caveats described in the Survey Method appendix. The purpose of the survey is to establish a baseline measure of software developers’ climate change beliefs and risk perceptions, their views on AI’s environmental impact, their perceptions of software efficiency as a lever for sustainability, and their expectations for employers, cloud providers, governments, and GitHub in addressing environmental effect. More than eight in ten respondents (86%) say global warming is happening, while 7% say it is not happening, and 6% say they do not know. A majority of respondents (53%) say global warming is caused mostly by human activities, and an additional 31% say it is caused by a combination of human activities and natural changes. About 1 in 10 (9%) say it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.
Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2026, Abraham et al., Climate Policy Initiative
Continued growth in turbulent times is led by private finance in domestic markets. Energy security is becoming more affordable per climate dollar. However, the rate of finance growth must increase dramatically to meet needs. Retreating international public flows create opportunity for domestic and catalytic solutions in Emerging Market and Developing Economies. Increased adaptation spending can sustain development gains.
Warming temperatures fueled evaporation, which, combined with low levels of rainfall, led to the agricultural drought this summer (Ireland), Bergin et al., ICARUS Climate Research Centre, Maynooth University, Met Éireann, and Teagasc
A new rapid attribution study shows that increased temperatures and evaporation levels directly linked to climate change will make for drier farming and land conditions. Human-caused warming has already increased the likelihood of extreme July Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) by approximately 8-fold and the intensity by 7% in Ireland. As global temperatures increase, the authors expect the likelihood and intensity of future July PET events to further increase, with a nearly 6% increase in PET on present levels expected at 3°C of warming globally. Really dry Julys in terms of low precipitation levels, like those experienced this summer, are becoming rarer. However, when these exceptionally dry Julys do occur, they are expected to bring even less rainfall. The evidence indicates that it was the PET which exacerbated the effects of the low rainfall conditions and therefore exacerbated the drought conditions experienced across Ireland in July 2026. In general, drying in July is being driven by rising temperatures, which leads to more evaporation, rather than changes in precipitation. Maximum and minimum summer temperatures are following the expected trend and it is becoming not only more likely to have warm summers, as experienced this year, but future summers are also set to become warmer, not just during the day but also at night.
451,000 at Risk, Greenstone et al., Climate Impact Lab
Scientists project that global land temperatures will be 1.2°C/2.1° F above normal in the coming months due in large part to the current “Super El Niño” that began in June and is expected to last through Northern Hemisphere spring. These anomalously warm conditions will resemble the higher temperatures that climate change is projected to deliver 20 years in the future and will lead to 44% more extremely hot days than expected in a normal year. El Niño is effectively pushing the world into the future – exposing people to temperatures that will not be the norm for another two decades – before people have time to adapt and protect ourselves. As a result, a projected 451,000 lives will be lost due to heat the first nine months (June-February) of El Niño, compared to a normal year. This is about 65 times larger than the 6,800 people believed to be dead or missing from the recent Nepal flash flood. In just the next 6 months, this includes 239,000 ± 11,000 deaths across the globe. With current forecasts suggesting El Niño will remain in place through spring 2027, all these numbers may grow even higher, particularly as effects such as higher-than-average temperatures and heat-related deaths will linger into June and July.
Germany’s Roadmap for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, German Government
The roadmap lays out the policy framework and the key strategies Germany will be pursuing in the various sectors in order to achieve its goal of climate neutrality and thus transition away from the use of fossil fuels no later than 2045. The scientific reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that ambitious climate action is urgently needed to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and secure prosperity for future generations. In spite of the progress being made, unceasing efforts are still needed. It is not only in Germany that climate policy faces massive challenges in view of the constantly shifting geopolitical and geoeconomic parameters. International cooperation on climate action and transitioning away from fossil-fuel-generated energy is absolutely critical in this regard.
Supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz stress test Southeast Asia's gas buildout, Warda Ajaz, GEM
Southeast Asia’s gas buildout shifts at the edges, but more than 100 GW of power remains in development. The author identified more than 100 GW of gas power capacity in development in May 2024, compared with roughly 106 GW still planned. Over that period, individual projects have moved into and out of development, but the overall scale of planned gas power capacity has remained above 100 GW. The region has planned more liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity even as the risks of reliance on LNG have become harder to ignore. LNG import capacity in development has risen from about 47 million tons per annum (mtpa) in 2024 to roughly 70 mtpa today, even as the Hormuz disruption tightened supply and drove up LNG prices in Asian markets. The continued expansion of LNG import infrastructure risks deepening exposure to the same supply disruptions and price volatility the crisis has brought to the fore. Domestic gas may cushion the shock in some countries, but it will not remove the region’s growing exposure to imported LNG. The author identifies at least 20 fields that could add around 62 bcm/y of production capacity by 2035, but new supply takes years to develop and may not even supply domestic power markets. The short-term pursuit of domestic gas offers no quick or assured fallback for countries exposed to tightening global LNG markets.
Americans’ views of data centers have turned more negative, Brian Kennedy, Pew Research Center
Americans have grown more negative toward the possible environmental and economic effects of data centers since the beginning of the year. And a majority say they’d be uncomfortable if a new data center started operating in their area. More than half of Americans (54%) now say data centers are mostly bad for the environment, up from 39% in January. Half say they are mostly bad for home energy costs, up from 38%. And 49% say they are mostly bad for people’s quality of life nearby, up from 30%. The new survey was conducted from July 20 to Aug. 9 among 10,548 U.S. adults. Just 4% of Americans think data centers have a mostly good effect in each of these areas.
Soybean: A Producers Guide to Drought Preparation and Recovery in the Southeastern United States, Plumblee et al., US. Department of Agriculture, Southeast Climate Hub
Drought is a natural part of the Southeastern United States climate and a threat to agricultural productivity and profitability. Whether slow developing or rapid onset, droughts can have negative effects on agricultural crops and livestock, depending on timing, severity, and length. Droughts are expected to become increasingly common in the Southeast due to increasing temperatures, longer dry periods between rain events, and growing water demand across the region.
Planetary Health Check 2026, Caesar et al., Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
The Planetary Health Check (PHC) provides an annual assessment of the state of the Planet. It is structured around the Planetary Boundaries: the nine critical processes that regulate stability, resilience, and the conditions that support life on Earth. For each boundary, one or two indicators, known as control variables, are used to assess its status. These show whether conditions remain within the Safe Operating Space – the range in which the risk of destabilizing the Planet remains low. Beyond a boundary lies the Zone of Increasing Risk, followed by the High-Risk Zone, where the risk of large-scale and potentially irreversible changes becomes high. The 2026 Planetary Health Check finds that seven of the nine Planetary Boundaries are transgressed, and trends for all seven continue to point in the wrong direction, indicating further deterioration in the conditions that support long-term planetary stability.
The U.S. Green Bank 50’s inaugural Impact Report is based on an analysis of a robust survey with responses from 48 Green Banks financing clean energy projects across the country, supplemented by more than 200 case studies, independent market research, and dozens of conversations with Green Bank executive leadership teams. The authors analyze the economic, energy, and environmental effects Green Banks have delivered to date; describes emerging strategic partnerships that pair aligned capital from new allies, such as Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, with the origination capacity of the Green Banks; discusses strategies to open secondary markets and promote the securitization of quality Green Bank loans; and provides recommendations for how Green Banks can bring community-focused clean energy lending to scale.
The Billion Dollar Deal: How the Fossil Fuel Industry Bought the Trump Administration, Cashed In, and Left Americans to Pay the Price, Senate Democrats Anti-Corruption Initiative, Senate Environment & Public Works Committee
The authors trace the massive fossil fuel and polluting industry donations to President Trump and Republican campaigns during the 2024 election cycle and demonstrates how the industries unlocked power over executive branch agencies in the form of personnel and policy decisions. Senate Democratic investigators found over the course of 19 investigations into Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory rollbacks, 13 investigations into nine other agencies, and another 13 investigations into 88 separate polluters, backed by original analyses of campaign finance filings, corporate earnings, and investor communications. The near-total refusal of the Trump Administration—and the fossil fuel administration that runs it—to cooperate with legitimate Congressional oversight complicated the investigations, but truth has a way of finding the light, and some corruption casts a shadow too unmistakable to conceal.
U.S. Hydropower Market Report (2026 edition), Uría-Martínez et al., Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The authors describe the steady growth for one of America’s most affordable and reliable sources of domestic energy. They analyze the latest data from public and commercial sources, as well as findings from other Department of Energy research and development projects, to provide a comprehensive overview of the American hydropower and pumped storage hydropower (PSH) fleet and industry trends. The authors show that from 2010 to 2025, the U.S. hydropower fleet grew to include 2,258 hydropower plants and a total generating capacity of 80.55 gigawatts (GW), adding 2.1 GW to the national energy mix—enough to power 1.6 million American homes. This amounts to 5.6% of total electricity across the country. In addition, the 41-plant PSH fleet grew to a total generating capacity of 22.23 GW and storage capacity of 553 GWh or 82.1% of all utility-scale energy storage capacity, adding 1.7 GW through facility upgrades.
Developing Water Reuse Regulations: A State-Level Guide, Gerringer et al., The WateReuse Association
Each state has different drivers, regulatory landscapes, and rulemaking processes that affect how and why utilities and industry pursue water reuse. The guide provides entry points at the state level for readers to understand their local context and suggestions for how to navigate and engage in the rulemaking process in a way that protects public health and the environment.
State-Level Climate Security: Ohio, Madelyn MacMurray and Caroline Mallory, Council on Strategic Risks
Ohio faces escalating exposure to extreme precipitation, flooding, heat, and drought. In the first six months of 2026, the state accrued between $2 and $5 billion in natural disaster costs, ten times higher than the $250-$500 million in damages usually amassed by June. Aging infrastructure, legacy industrial pollution, and rapidly expanding energy demand from data centers compound these hazards, straining the systems that protect Ohioans from a changing climate.
Security, Integration and Industrial Policy: China’s 15th Energy Five-Year Plan, Michal Meidan and Anders Hove, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP; 2026–2030) arrives at a pivotal moment for the country’s energy system. It is the final full planning cycle before China’s 2030 carbon-peaking deadline, but it comes also in the context of a difficult external environment, weaker domestic demand in parts of the traditional economy, and a growing imperative to secure the technologies, materials and infrastructure required for China’s industrial development. The resulting energy agenda seeks to reconcile three objectives: energy security, industrial and technological leadership, and China’s climate commitments.
Carbon without borders: Building Europe’s CO2 market, Alevtyna Prykhodko, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
As Europe moves from carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) ambition towards large-scale deployment, the challenge is no longer simply how much infrastructure to build, but how to create a functioning carbon management market. The author examines how the coordination of CO? demand, transport and storage can shape CCS development, and why expanding individual parts of the value chain in isolation may not be enough to unlock deployment. Drawing on scenario, corridor and financial analysis alongside stakeholder interviews, the author explores how infrastructure choices can influence both the scale and geography of Europe’s emerging CCS market. The author highlights the role of industrial clusters and cross-border corridors, the potential of emerging storage regions in Central and Eastern Europe, and the policy choices that could determine which regions participate in, and benefit from, Europe’s future CO? network.
Will There Be an African Energy Revolution? That Depends on Who Funds What, Charles Kenny, Center for Global Development
The reach of electricity in Africa is rapidly extending, not least thanks to an explosion in imports of solar panels. This is good news for the quality of life of people in the region and is the primary route to sustainably extend electricity access, but it imposes some challenges on the utility sector. Most of the panels are being used domestically and at small scale. This worsens what were already considerable financial challenges for utility scale private provision. And it suggests a vital role for publicly funded electricity infrastructure to ensure high-quality, financially sustainable power provision, especially to industry
A Framework on Implementing a Compliance Solution Under the EU Methane Emissions Regulation, Rabbani et al., The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies
The European Commission (EC) has introduced the concept of Compliance Solutions as a mechanism for complying with the Monitoring, Reporting and Veri?cation (MRV) requirements of the European Union Methane Emissions Regulation (EU MER) for imports of LNG/gas/oil from Producers in exporting countries. The goal of this paper is to provide stakeholders a framework to design and evaluate Compliance Solutions that are consistent with the EU MER and the EC Recommendations on Compliance Solutions. The authors introduce key concepts, framework principles, and design requirements to implement Certification and Trace and Claim Compliance Solutions for Producers, intermediaries, and Importers in complex supply chains aligned with the EC’s Recommendations and internationally recognized standards on verification schemes and chain of custody programs where additional prescription is warranted. As a case study, the authors assess the potential for the U.N. Environment Program’s International Methane Emissions Observatory/Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (IMEO/OGMP) to establish an independent entity that could serve as a Compliance Solution Provider against the framework presented.
A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration 2026, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The report is part of an ongoing effort to evaluate marine carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches and identify research priorities needed to inform future decision making. The authors examine marine CDR approaches using a common framework that considers scientific readiness, carbon removal performance, scalability, environmental and social impacts, governance readiness, and justice considerations.
Accelerating Climate Progress with AI: From Science to Action: Proceedings of a Workshop (2026), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
A workshop was held on January 13-14, 2026 to discuss the innovative ways AI can enhance climate science and foster resilience, with a focus on decision making and adaptation measures. The workshop brought together experts from government, nonprofits, the private sector, and academia to explore cross-sectoral engagement, identify critical applications where AI can help support climate decision making at speed and scale, and consider how AI's broader societal impacts affect approaches to addressing climate change. The publication presents a summary of the presentations and discussions from the workshop.
Beyond the blue line: Tackling climate, peace, and security challenges in Abyei, Andrew Yaw Tchie and Katongo Seyuba, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Abyei, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, faces interconnected climate, peace and security challenges that affect local communities and the operating environment of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Drawing on the experiences of UNISFA, the authors examine existing responses to climate, peace and security challenges and opportunities to strengthen them. They recommend greater integration of climate, peace and security considerations into mission planning, training, early warning and preparedness, alongside support for community-level adaptation and social cohesion.
Considerations for Federal Leasing of Onshore Energy: Oil and Gas and Geothermal Power, McPherron et al., Congressional Research Service
Both oil and gas (O&G) and geothermal power are long-standing energy sectors for the United States. The two sectors have many similar characteristics, including use of subsurface resources, ability to provide baseload electricity production, development timelines, drilling technologies and processes, and types of environmental impacts. The technologies also have significant differences. O&G is a more mature sector, with more investment potential and more potential for competitive leasing, but it depends on finite, carbon-intensive resources. Geothermal power has growth potential due to developing technologies like enhanced geothermal systems and the potential to deliver lower-carbon electricity. Geothermal power also has challenges to greater deployment, including high capital costs, difficult operating conditions, lower profit margins on electricity compared to fossil fuels, and other market challenges. These similarities and differences influence how current onshore federal leasing and permitting laws and regulations impact each sector and can inform what changes might be relevant for the future management and development of federal lands and resources.
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: Overview and Considerations for Congress, Kathryn Kynett, Congressional Research Service
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) in 2009 in response to a congressional directive mandating economy-wide reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. EPA described the program's purpose as gathering comprehensive emissions data to inform the development of future climate change policies. The GHGRP requires reporting from three broad groups of covered entities. Direct-emitting facilities in covered source categories report the GHG emissions released directly from their on-site processes and fuel combustion. Suppliers of fuels and industrial gases report the potential emissions associated with their products if combusted, released, or oxidized. Facilities that inject carbon dioxide (CO2) underground must report the quantities of CO2 injected or sequestered underground. Reporting is generally subject to emissions thresholds for both direct-emitting facilities and suppliers, primarily a threshold of 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MTCO2e) per year, although certain source categories are required to report regardless of their emissions levels. There is no threshold for CO2 injection facilities, which must report all quantities of CO2 sequestered or injected underground. Beginning in 2025, EPA initiated a series of actions to reconsider the scope and requirements of the GHGRP. In its 2025 proposed rule, EPA asserts that Section 114 does not authorize continued economy-wide data collection, that the data are not needed to carry out the CAA, and that eliminating most reporting requirements would relieve reporting entities of compliance costs. EPA estimates the proposal would produce significant cost savings for reporting entities. Stakeholder positions on EPA's proposal reflect a range of views.
U.S. Satellite Capabilities for Tracking the Wildfire Life Cycle, Keating-Bitonti et al., Congressional Research Service
Satellite capabilities support virtually every stage of the wildfire life cycle: characterizing the prefire environment (e.g., seasonal climate predictions, vegetation); detecting and monitoring wildfires and smoke; and assessing postfire hazards (e.g., debris flows, flash floods) and ecosystem recovery. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that certain satellites provide "information about the location, duration, size, temperature, and power output of those fires that would otherwise be unavailable" through ground-based sensors, aerial drones, or aircraft. These approaches may provide complementary data to satellites, particularly when satellite data are limited in spatial and/or temporal (i.e., the time between observations of the same area) resolution and given the money and time to develop and deploy new satellites.
Midterm Battleground State Poll: Political Priorities & Opinions on the Clean Energy Transition, Beacon Research, Environmental Voter Project
The authors present key findings from a survey of 5,014 likely midterm voters across eight US Senate battleground states. The survey was conducted via online panel from August 28 – September 11, 2026. With large, balanced samples in each of the eight states surveyed — Alaska (460), Iowa (506), Maine (512), Michigan (708), Georgia (713), North Carolina (707), Ohio (507), and Texas (901) — these are functionally eight state-specific polls that can also be viewed as one larger, multi-state survey. The data relating to “climate hushing” is particularly revealing, showing that — by large margins — battleground state voters (a) want politicians to spend more time talking about climate change (not less), and (b) are more likely to vote for candidates who make transitioning away from fossil fuels a top priority if elected.
How Durable are Used Electric Vehicles?, New AutoMotive, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association
High-mileage electric cars are less likely to fail an Ministry of Transport (MOT) than equivalent petrol cars. Analysis of 47.4 million MOT tests found relatively little difference between electric and petrol cars at lower mileages once age and mileage are taken into account. From around 60,000 miles, however, the picture begins to change. Electric Vehicle (EV) MOT failure rates level off at approximately 16%, while those for petrol and diesel cars continue to climb. Among vehicles aged three to eight years with 90,000–120,000 miles on the clock, 16.5% of EVs failed their MOT compared with 22.1% of petrol cars. The authors also found no evidence that the additional weight of EVs results in more suspension problems, although EVs recorded more tire defects. Battery health is not assessed as part of an MOT and is therefore outside the scope of the study.
The Hidden Health Costs of AI Data Centers: More Power, More Pollution, Fewer Federal Protections, Environmental Protection Network
As AI data centers drive enormous new demand for electricity the authors find that federal policy is moving in the wrong direction for health, weakening pollution safeguards, accelerating approvals, reducing public information and participation, and diminishing the science and enforcement capacity needed to understand and control pollution. The authors document at least 30 federal actions since January 2025 that, taken together, increase pollution-related health risks as data centers expand. Those risks extend well beyond the data-center fence line, including pollution from on-site generators and turbines and from power plants supplying enormous new electricity loads many miles away.
Beyond indicators. Unpacking the greening agriculture agenda in the Near East and North Africa region, Tutundjian et al., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
The authors present a Near East and North Africa (NENA)-specific analysis within the broader global framework for greening agriculture, examining progress, persistent gaps and the particular conditions shaping agricultural transformation across the region. They combine Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and environmental indicators with an assessment of policy, governance and institutional frameworks to provide a more comprehensive picture of greening agriculture in Near East and North Africa (NENA). The analysis highlights structural challenges related to water scarcity, soil and land degradation, biodiversity, climate change and inefficient resource use, while demonstrating how global and headline indicators may not fully capture country- and region-specific realities. The authors examine the extent to which enabling policy and institutional frameworks are supporting the transition towards more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.
New Data for Africa’s Changing Climate: Mapping Risks, Readiness and Policy Action, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Global Green Growth Institute, and the World Bank
The African continent is highly vulnerable to climate-related risks. At the same time, Africa contributes only 4% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Policymakers need foundational data on key climate indicators to point the way towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient path. Yet these data remain limited for most African countries. The authors aim to fill the gap in foundational data. First, they show how African countries and cities are exposed to major climate-related hazards, such as extreme heat, and assesses countries’ adaptation readiness. Second, they describe the climate mitigation policy landscape in African countries along with key policy trends. In doing so, they break new ground by building on novel datasets that use robust methods developed by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) and the World Bank, covering 28 African countries that jointly account for around 73% of African GHG emissions.
Recharged: Repowering America's Solar Fleet with Storage for a New Era of Demand, Price et al., Crux and Foundry-Logic
America's first generation of solar plants is aging out at the exact moment the grid can least afford to lose the capacity. What owners do with aging solar plants — retire them or reinvest to rebuild them — is an increasingly significant question for the solar market and the nation’s electricity system. The authors attempt to define an emerging market opportunity. They size the technical potential of U.S. solar repowering — the capacity it could unlock and the investment it would represent — using a bottom-up model of the installed fleet by installation year and segment. They also set out the variables including interconnection and permitting, capital sources, and tax credits and equipment rules, that owners and market participants will need to work through as they approach the opportunity.
Second-hand EVs retain their value better than industry claims, Transportation and Environment
Electric cars are retaining their value better than the leasing industry claims. This has major implications for potential buyers and the pricing of leasing deals and puts pressure on leasing companies, carmakers and governments to accelerate the EV shift. The discrepancy stems from how the value loss is calculated. The industry commonly relies on used-car transaction estimates for leasing and financing deals. In the four largest EU markets – Germany, France, Italy, and Spain – 2025 data on used transactions shows a 12.9 percentage point depreciation gap between combustion and electric cars. However, The authors' analysis reveals five key variables are omitted from these calculations. Adjusting for them reduces the gap by 80% to just 2.6 percentage points.
Renewing renewables: The next chapter in the energy transition, Lassen et al., Wood Mackenzie
As the first great wave of turbines and modules reach the end of their design life, owners are having to decide whether to abandon their sites, invest in extending their lifespans or renew them. The authors forecast that more than 2.5 terawatts of wind and solar projects will face this decision in the 2040s. As the transition to a new era of renewal occurs, repowering old sites with new equipment will become as important a driver of installations and output growth as opening new ones. The authors quantify the coming wave of decommissioning and repowering and show why, for many markets, this overlooked issue will be one of the most important factors shaping future growth.
Utilize Coalition white paper: A practical framework for measuring grid utilization, Noah Goldmann and Molly Knoll, Utilize Coalition
As states begin putting grid use into law and regulation, the authors offer a framework to measure how infrastructure is used over time, interpret that information in context, and use it to achieve better outcomes for customers. The authors provide a practical framework for utilities, regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders working to understand and apply grid use. Used alongside existing planning metrics and processes, use can help decision-makers distinguish where existing infrastructure can do more, where targeted solutions can address constraints, and where new investment is needed.
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Posted by Doug Bostrom on Thursday, 1 October, 2026
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