Recent changes in climate change coverage in college biology textbooks have been minor and focus on the impacts rather than solutions. The analysis of 57 college biology textbooks since 1970 shows that coverage has continually expanded, but the proportion of text dedicated to actionable solutions has decreased over time.
Researchers found that biology textbooks published between 1970 and 2019 provided insufficient climate change information, with median sentence counts decreasing over time. Climate coverage has varied substantially, but actionable solutions decreased significantly since the 1990s.
A QUT study found that climate change believing southeast Queensland residents are more divided by socio-economic factors than political views. Climate change deniers predominantly have right-wing perspectives and are older and less educated.
A study published in Nature Climate Change found that climate scepticism is growing rapidly on social media, with sceptic tweets shared 16 times more during COP26 than COP21. This increase is attributed to growing 'right-wing activity' opposing climate action, which may be a backlash against climate activist groups.
The USC Annenberg School's new Center for Climate Journalism and Communication provides critical training to professionals across media and communication sectors. The center's programs aim to enhance the impact of climate storytelling, supporting action that preserves the planet's health.
Climate change is exacerbating health crises among migrant workers in the US agriculture sector, with extreme heat and chemical exposure posing significant risks. The Lancet report highlights the unequal burdens of climate change, particularly on vulnerable populations.
A University of California, Davis study reveals that air temperature and cloud cover are influenced by the buoyancy effect of water vapor, which is currently neglected in some leading global climate models. This effect can lead to an error of up to 50% in low cloud cover predictions, impacting the planet's energy balance.
A study in 28 countries found that young people's climate anxiety can motivate pro-environmental actions, with Finland showing the strongest connection. In Finland, anxiety is linked to environmental activism and influencing others' attitudes.
The ForestPaths project will co-design, quantify and evaluate forest-based solutions to meet the EU’s Climate Targets for 2030 and 2050. The project will work with practitioners, policymakers, and regional authorities to determine climate- and biodiversity-smart forest management options.
A new study led by PSU researchers finds that climate models can accurately simulate large-scale weather patterns over the Pacific Northwest. The study uses data from the state-of-the-art CMIP6 model and machine learning techniques to compare model outputs with historical observed data, finding a strong match between the two.
The Earth System Grid Federation is upgrading its climate projection data system to improve access and curation, with the goal of enabling scientists to make the best guess about the future trajectory of our climate. The new system will provide faster download speeds and enable previously infeasible data analyses.
Researchers used machine learning algorithms to optimize climate models, increasing their accuracy and detail. By applying Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to climate simulations, the team was able to improve the models' ability to represent extreme precipitation events.
The project aims to improve climate change predictions for cities, including strategies for adapting to and mitigating changes. Penn State brings expertise in measurement and modeling of the urban atmospheric boundary layer and the interplay among buildings, climate, and human health.
The Penn State-led $25M project will study climate change impacts in Baltimore, Chicago, and Austin, focusing on measurement and modeling of the urban atmospheric boundary layer. The team aims to improve climate predictions for cities, help them create strategies for adapting to and mitigating changes.
Researchers emphasize the importance of understanding climate tipping points, which can occur abruptly in response to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. They recommend a special report on tipping points by the IPCC and improved monitoring of critical chokepoints, such as ice sheets and tropical systems.
New research warns that climate change is putting the availability of biomass fuels and technologies at risk, as temperatures rise and crop yields decrease. The study highlights the need for urgent action to reduce fossil fuels in favour of bioenergy and other renewables to avoid severe food shortages and accelerated climate change.
A new statistical modeling approach helps analyze teleconnections' impact on seasonal rainfall variability in southern Africa. The study aims to improve climate modeling by gaining a better understanding of climate processes on synoptic and global scales.
A new study suggests that climate anxiety is a significant driver of climate action, particularly among younger people and those with higher generalized anxiety. Media exposure, rather than direct experiences, predicts climate anxiety, which can motivate individuals to make environmentally friendly lifestyle changes.
A University of Kentucky-led project aims to understand how aquatic biodiversity in the Great Rift Valley is affected by climate change. The five-year study, funded by $2.5 million from the NSF, will assess scenarios of climate change and its effects on lake ecosystems using high-resolution geological records and genetic tools.
A new study finds that adapting to climate change will require more energy than previously estimated, leading to higher energy investments and costs. Ambitious mitigation policies can cut the increase in energy system costs induced by adaptation, resulting in net gains.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that climate change will have little effect on breadfruit cultivation, making it a promising crop for areas with high food insecurity. The starchy tree fruit is resilient to predicted climate change and can thrive in areas with high levels of humidity.
The article highlights six strategies for addressing climate-related health inequities, including adopting standards for sociopolitical constructs and centering marginalized community voices. Researchers emphasize the importance of dismantling structural racism, environmental justice efforts, and effective communication strategies.
A new study from the University of Miami found that Miami's history of environmental injustice is a key factor in understanding why different groups are talking at cross-purposes about climate change. The research highlights how community histories, such as experiences of privilege or dispossession, shape opinions on climate change.
At least 30 out of 114 North American bird species have become less well-adjusted to their climate over the last 30 years, according to a recent study. Climate decoupling, where species distributions and abundances diverge from climate conditions, is particularly prominent among habitat specialists.
New research highlights how climate change enhances wildfire risk globally, but human actions and policies can mitigate regional impacts. The study assesses 500 previous papers and examines future fire weather trends to provide insight into the success or failure of climate policies.
A new study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that romantic partners can significantly influence each other's views on climate change, with only 38% alignment in climate beliefs and 31% alignment in behaviors. The study suggests that conversations about climate change can help shift public support and increase e...
A team of experts presents a new framework for understanding the complex relationship between AI and climate change, suggesting ways to better align AI with climate goals. The study highlights the need for holistic evaluation of AI's impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study suggests that science reporting on climate change can lead to more accurate beliefs and support government action, but these effects are short-lived. Researchers found that factually accurate science reporting changed people's factual understanding and moved their political preferences towards supporting climate action.
Researchers at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that climate policies can change people's preferences, leading to increased environmental protection and health benefits. This knowledge can inform the development of demand-side measures to curb carbon emissions and produce better climate policies.
The study uses a global climate system model to simulate large ensemble experiments, which capture internal variabilities' impact on surface air temperature and land precipitation. The research helps improve understanding of forced climate changes and provides guidance for policymakers.
A study analyzing long-term monitoring data for 1,478 species in Finland reveals that climate change has led to shifting between 'good', 'ideal', and 'worse' parts of their climatic niches. This impacts biodiversity, with some species benefiting from warmer temperatures while others decline as conditions become too warm.
A new 'climate cardiology' specialty is needed to tackle the growing links between climate change and cardiovascular health. Experts warn that the healthcare sector contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
A new study reveals climate change is causing winter storms to intensify faster than predicted, with implications for societies in the Southern Hemisphere. The research suggests that human activity may have a greater impact on this region than previously estimated, requiring rapid intervention to halt climate damage.
New computer simulations predict that farmland and suburban moths are struggling to move across landscapes due to landscape features such as rugged hills. Habitat restoration in these areas could help species adapt to climate change by shifting their ranges across the country.
A new study predicts mass extinction in oceans if climate change is not curbed, threatening marine species with extinction. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions could reduce extinction risks by up to 70%, saving ocean life as we know it
The new report highlights the pivotal impact of microbes on climate change, with major drivers being producers and consumers of greenhouse gases. The report provides recommendations for researchers, policymakers, and regulators to harness the power of microbes in tackling climate change.
A new study by an international team of scientists links early human habitats to past climate shifts using a supercomputer model and fossil records. The research suggests that climate change played a central role in determining where different hominin groups lived and their remains were found.
A team of researchers from UCI used climate models and satellite data to quantify the impact of deforestation on regional climate. They found that avoiding deforestation yields carbon benefits in nearby regions due to climate feedbacks, with potential knock-on effects for policy decisions.
A new study found that climate change and drought can lead to increased rates of HIV treatment non-adherence in Africa. The review highlights the complex interactions between social, economic, and environmental factors that exacerbate this issue.
Research led by Dr. Petra Holden from the University of Cape Town found that catchment restoration through alien tree management can reduce climate change's impact on drought streamflow. The study shows that clearing moderate levels of invasion can result in a 3-16% amelioration of human-derived climate change impact.
Researchers are developing new methods to predict extreme weather events, including building a 'weather dictionary' using word search technology and AI physics. By analyzing patterns and motifs in weather data, scientists aim to better understand the impact of climate change on extreme weather events.
A study of 22 large cities across 14 countries reveals that more than one-quarter did not involve public health agencies in their climate change plans. Despite this, 73% reported having a public health department on their climate-plan teams. The researchers recommend enhancing public health agency involvement to target activities to th...
A study from the University of California, Davis, simulated 100,000 future policy and emissions trajectories to identify relevant variables that impact climate change. The results indicate that public perceptions, technological improvements, and political institution responsiveness are crucial determinants of future emissions.
New research from the University of East Anglia and partner institutions highlights the need for locally led research and equitable funding to address the loss and damage of heritage from climate change. The study suggests that decolonial approaches can strengthen adaptation action globally and recognize the breadth of heritage.
The study analyzes the costs and effectiveness of climate change adaptation measures in agriculture, highlighting integration of different techniques as a key factor. Climate smart agriculture and conservation agriculture can provide benefits in terms of both adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
A new study highlights the need for a coordinated approach to climate change policies to reduce unintended consequences for African river basins. The research shows that fragmented policies between developed and developing countries can increase vulnerabilities in these regions.
The Columbia Climate School has established the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellows program, creating two full tuition fellowships to make the program accessible to high-achieving students. The fellowships aim to train a new generation of students who can address the impacts of climate change on human society.
A study by University of Arizona researcher Sabrina Helm identified two prevailing climate change coping profiles: adaptive approach coping and maladaptive avoidance coping. The adaptive approach group tends to engage in pro-environmental behaviors and express concern about climate change, while the maladaptive avoidance group is less ...
A new study by the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance found that climate change weather events, such as last summer's Western North American heat dome, significantly increased anxiety levels among British Columbians. The researchers used a validated measurement tool to explore the impacts of extreme heat on mental health in Canada.
Climate change sentiments were overwhelmingly pro-human activity action, while vaccine sentiments showed a significant gap between pro and neutral views. The study analyzed 87 million tweets from 2007 to 2016 and found less interaction among users with opposing views on vaccines compared to climate change.
A new study reveals that climate change causes a mismatch between above- and belowground plant phenology, with woody plants responding more strongly to warming in their roots. This finding highlights the importance of plant root phenology and its impact on ecosystem functioning.
Current climate models underestimate species extinction rates by neglecting the complexities of ecosystems. Researchers used piñon pine data to model how climate affects tree populations and distribution, finding indirect effects that cannot be captured by climate-only models.
The study found that 29% of younger Germans eat a flexitarian diet and 17% follow a meat-free diet, demonstrating high levels of climate awareness. The results highlight the need for effective communication to promote climate-conscious eating habits among the undecided group.
A UCLA-led study found that human-caused climate change is the main cause of increasing fire weather in the western United States. The study used artificial intelligence to analyze climate and fire data, estimating that 68% of the increase in vapor pressure deficit between 1979 and 2020 was likely due to human-induced global warming.
A NASA study published in Nature Food projects that climate change will affect crop yields as early as 2030. Maize yields are projected to decline by 24%, while wheat yields could increase by 17%. The changes are due to rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations.
The AP-PLAT website provides online tools such as ClimoCast, Climate Impact Viewer, and ClimoKit for climate projections, impact assessments, and capacity development. The platform aims to support regional climate change adaptation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.
A Boston University researcher found that while many climate deniers are receptive to disinformation, some are also open to the science. Her study suggests that engaging with individuals most vulnerable to climate disinformation is crucial in stopping its spread.
A study has created a massive database of academic papers documenting global adaptation actions to climate change. The research found that people are taking action, but these efforts tend to be fragmented and may not be enough to deal with the expected effects of climate change.
The CriticalEarth project is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network preparing 15 PhD students for studying critical transitions and tipping points in the Earth system. The network aims to investigate how complex mathematics can be used to predict and avoid irreversible climate change.
Researchers used ancient climate reconstructions to improve understanding of climate system thresholds and predict abrupt changes. By applying paleoclimate information to Earth System models, they demonstrated improved accuracy in simulating past abrupt climate events.