Businesses are increasingly required to assess their vulnerability to climate change, but complex climate models pose a challenge for risk assessment and decision-making. A paradigm shift is needed to elevate climate modeling to operational weather forecasting level, providing tangible value to businesses.
A recent study predicts that climate change in South Africa will lead to a 20% decrease in per capita GDP by the end of the century. The researchers analyzed data on temperature changes and labor availability, finding that low-skilled workers are disproportionately affected, leading to a closing wage gap but reduced overall output.
The report reveals growing risk factors including permafrost emissions, weakening carbon uptake, and climate change impacts on freshwater and mental health. It also highlights the untapped potential of green COVID-19 recovery packages and the need for a new social contract to cope with transboundary risks.
Reducing short-lived climate-forcing pollutants (SLCPs) can mitigate climate change, human health issues, and food insecurity by slowing down near-term climate warming and improving crop yields.
A study led by Penn State researchers found that climate change poses a significant threat to wild bee communities due to rising temperatures and precipitation patterns. The team's analysis of 14-year data sets revealed that temperature and precipitation were the most critical factors influencing wild bee abundance and species diversity.
The CriticalEarth programme aims to develop climate scientists skilled in advanced mathematical theories and the physics of Earth systems. The project addresses two key challenges: abrupt climate shifts and uncertainty in temperature rise predictions.
Researchers developed a framework to evaluate climate change adaptations for water and energy systems, finding that conserving water can alleviate electricity grid stress. The study applied this framework to California, highlighting two possible adaptation pathways: one energy-intensive and another that saves both water and energy.
Researchers propose a framework to evaluate climate change impacts on California's water-energy nexus. The framework identifies key stressors and adaptations, revealing potential synergies in mitigating climate change.
A new data-driven global climate model projects significant urban heat stress and reduced relative humidity in cities by the end of this century. The study's findings emphasize the need for local urban climate projections to support city planners' adaptation strategies, such as green infrastructure interventions.
A new study projects that empowering women and eradicating gender inequalities can improve societies' adaptive capacity to climate change impacts. Projections of future socioeconomic dynamics and gender inequality show that faster progress in areas like education can benefit millions of girls worldwide by 2030.
Scientists have shown that abrupt climate change in the past was closely linked to rapid sea ice decline. The study documents how sudden warming of the climate occurred when sea ice cover changed from year-round to seasonal ice cover in Nordic seas.
The Lancet Global Countdown on Health and Climate Change highlights the devastating impact of climate change on human health, with key trends worsening unless urgent action is taken. Experts from institutions worldwide, including Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, contribute to the report's findings.
Researchers found unprecedented magnitude of summer heatwaves and droughts in inner East Asia, tightly coupled by anthropogenic climate change. Tree-ring data suggests abrupt shift to hotter and drier climate over the past two decades.
A study found that nearly half of the global population lacks knowledge about climate change's effect on infectious diseases. The survey revealed marked differences in awareness among nationality and educational background. Knowledge of climate change is unrelated to educational level, indicating a need for increased public awareness.
The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis assessed the climate change scenario framework, which combines alternative futures of climate and society. The study found that the framework has been widely applied in over 1,400 studies, enabling research on combined impacts of socioeconomic and climate changes.
A study found that European climate change counter movement think tanks have a neoliberal ideological stance, repeating messages similar to those used by American denialists. The research, published in the journal Climatic Change, documents for the first time an organized climate change counter movement in Europe.
New research suggests that a 2°C warming would release 230 billion tonnes of carbon from the world's soil, more than four times China's total emissions over 100 years. This 'positive feedback' effect contributes to further climate change.
Climate change is expected to increase cooling demand and decrease heating demand globally, while also affecting energy infrastructure efficiency and reliability. Regional differences in climate change impacts are observed, with South Asia and Latin America being the most vulnerable regions.
A study published in Science Communication found that watching high-quality, engaging media programs on climate change can reduce political polarization among Democrats and Republicans. Participants who were most engaged with the program showed greater perceptions of climate change risk and efficacy in taking action.
A study published in Nature Communications found that climate models differ largely because of varying projections regarding polar ice loss and atmospheric water vapor. Climate scientists are working to improve the accuracy of their models by reconciling these discrepancies.
A new report by the University of Cincinnati suggests that large majorities of American news audiences care about climate change and want more information on the topic. The study found that fewer than 20% of Americans in these news audiences feel 'very well informed' about climate change.
A new study examines the effects of future climate change on over 137,000 nature reserves worldwide, revealing severe local impacts, especially in tropical countries. The research highlights the importance of informed management to mitigate climate change effects and preserve biodiversity.
Climate security discussion is scarce in Japan, with overlooked risks including indirect economic losses and potential refugee influxes. The country's approach to addressing climate change should consider long-term irreversible planetary changes and short-term abrupt risks to individuals.
Michael E. Mann, a leading climate researcher, has received the 2020 World Sustainability Award for his groundbreaking work on climate change and sustainability. He is recognized for his contributions to understanding human impact on climate change and advancing climate modeling and statistical methods.
A new version of China's climate system model shows significant improvements in simulating ocean and sea ice trends. The model outperforms previous versions in terms of climate element representation, including long-term trends and climatological patterns.
A new study reveals that abrupt climate warming events in Greenland during the last glacial period were synchronous with other rapid climate changes across the globe. The findings suggest that Arctic warming events triggered rapid climate change on a global scale.
Researchers found equilibrium climate sensitivity likely between 1.9 and 3.4 °C based on latest climate models, contradicting high predictions of over 5°C warming. This range suggests goals of the Paris agreement may be achievable even with nations taking maximum efforts.
A new study estimates that 50% of the world's oceans are already being affected by climate change, with changes in temperature and salt levels detectable since the 1980s. The Southern Hemisphere oceans are being impacted more rapidly, highlighting the importance of this region for global heat storage.
A team of researchers from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research analyzed the COVID-19 pandemic to identify lessons for mitigating climate change. They propose a 'Climate Corona Contract' that unites younger and older generations to address the climate emergency.
A new report from Colorado State University outlines a list of 20 climate indicators that provide insight into the impacts of climate change on US agriculture. The indicators, organized in five categories, offer a broad look at what's happening across the country.
Research shows that climate change will shift the timing of prescribed burning windows along the east coast of Australia, with some months experiencing more frequent fires. However, the overall number of prescribed burning days is expected to remain similar or even increase in some cases.
A Brown University researcher found that nearly 14% of anti-climate action press releases received major national news coverage, compared to about 7% of pro-climate messages. The study suggests that this unequal coverage may contribute to public disengagement on climate change.
The article emphasizes the importance of climate resilience in urban energy systems to address climate change and extreme events. Nik and colleagues provide an overview of current progress in adapting urban energy systems to climate change, highlighting limitations in existing approaches.
A new report provides a path forward for research on the complex links between climate change and violent conflict. The study suggests prioritizing deepening insight into climate-conflict linkages, integrating research designs, and evaluating interventions to manage climate-conflict risks.
Researchers found that climate change positively impacts yellow-bellied marmot survival during short, wet summers and negatively affects it during harsh winters. This study suggests that certain species may benefit in one season while facing unfavorable conditions in another due to climate change.
A new study using statistical mechanics improves climate prediction accuracy for IPCC-class models, bridging gap between scenarios and models. This approach enables real-time scenario construction and facilitates the assessment of tipping points, a crucial aspect of understanding climate change.
A USask-led partnership has been awarded $2.5 million to increase climate change education, training, and public awareness globally. The six-year Monitoring and Evaluation of Climate Change Education project will develop a standard set of quality education indicators and train students and policy makers.
A study from UC Davis maps 15% of California's natural lands as 'climate refugia' where existing vegetation can buffer climate change impacts. These areas are priority targets for conservation and wildfire restoration efforts, offering a chance to conserve habitat and services for wildlife.
A special issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment synthesizes climate-change refugia science developments, highlighting conservation successes and future directions. The article highlights the importance of 'slow lanes' to protect native species and ecosystems from climate change impacts.
A team of scientists suggests a digital COP26-Part 1 to complement the traditional event, ensuring transparency and accessibility. The proposal includes announcing unilateral pledges on ambitious national climate plans and initiatives to strengthen communities' resilience.
The Hugo Observatory in Belgium coordinates the largest Horizon 2020-funded climate change and migration research project, HABITABLE, worth 6.8 million euros. The project explores how climate change affects migration patterns, introducing a new concept of social tipping points.
A climate game developed by Max Planck researchers shows that global cooperation can be possible -- although not without effort. The study found that richer countries rarely stopped climate change and migration, while poorer countries supported a minimum level of climate protection.
The deep ocean is warming at a slower rate than the surface, with climate velocity accelerating to 11 times the present rate in waters between 200-1000 metres by the end of the century. This poses huge challenges for protecting areas and mitigating threats to deep-sea life.
The study found that global mean climate velocities in the deepest ocean layers have been 2-4 times faster than at surface over the past 20th century. Climate velocities are projected to continue accelerating even under strong greenhouse gas emission mitigation scenarios, posing significant threats to deep sea biodiversity.
Researchers used popular proverbs to study climate change impacts on precipitation, snow cover, and flowering periods in Sierra Nevada. Many proverbs were found to be inaccurate due to changes in climate conditions, but they also provided novel information on scientifically undocumented climate change impacts.
A study by University of Alberta scientists found that alpine butterflies with specialized diets are more vulnerable to climate change, while those with diverse diets are less likely to be affected. Climate change models suggest that fluctuations in food resources will have a significant impact on these butterfly populations.
Researchers found that 92% of employers believe public health professionals with climate change training will be in high demand in the next 5-10 years. Employers value skills such as knowledge of climate mitigation, health equity, and risk assessment. The study analyzed 16 years' worth of job postings to project future workforce needs.
A new database, FiCli, has been created to track the impacts of climate change on freshwater fish. The searchable directory of peer-reviewed journal articles provides information on projected or documented effects of climate change on inland fishes.
A new study published in Nature's journal Climate and Atmospheric Science reveals that adding sea-salt can dampen the effect of clouds becoming brighter, which could impact climate change predictions. The research found that pollution-induced changes to cloud reflectance are a major uncertainty in predicting future climate change.
A recent study on Uganda finds that climate change can lead to a 20% decline in economic output due to reduced labor supply and increased food consumption. The analysis suggests that households will need to adapt to changing temperatures through strategies such as crop diversification and irrigation.
A new study published in Global Environmental Change journal found that climate-related disasters enhance armed conflict risks in vulnerable countries. Researchers discovered that almost one-third of all conflicts onsets in these countries are preceded by a climate-related disaster within seven days.
A new study by UCL and Harvard researchers found that halving warming by adding aerosols to the stratosphere could moderate important climate hazards in almost all regions, with only a small fraction experiencing increased climate change. The approach should be considered as a complementary measure to emissions cuts.
A new study published in Energy and Environment found that despite high awareness of climate change, people are hesitant to take action due to differing worldviews. The study identifies four major worldviews influencing opinions on policy interventions and individual responsibility.
A new study warns that coastal erosion and rising sea levels will accelerate due to climate change, threatening the world's sandy beaches. Effective climate action could prevent 40% of erosion, but societies will still need to adapt and protect these ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School explore the importance of learning and knowledge in environmental decision-making. They argue that educational tools can accelerate climate change adaptation and provide actionable knowledge for societies.
Researchers argue that current disjointed approaches may harm strategies to reduce food emissions and safeguard food from climate impacts. A comprehensive approach is needed to track emissions beyond the farm gate and understand how different components work together.
A recent study published in PNAS found that fires have a significant impact on plant survival and distribution, often exceeding the effects of climate change. The research highlights the importance of considering other environmental factors, such as human land use practices, in understanding biodiversity.
A new study by University of Arizona researchers estimates that one in three plant and animal species may face extinction by 2070 due to climate change. The study analyzed data from hundreds of plant and animal species surveyed around the globe, finding that maximum annual temperatures are the key variable driving local extinctions.
A study analyzing climate-associated range shifts found larger temperature increases linked to extinctions. Niche shifts may allow some species to survive, reducing predicted extinctions to 30%. The analysis suggests niche shifts are more important for species survival under climate change than range shifts.
A new research review argues that societal adaptation to climate change should focus on collective action and systems-level thinking, rather than individual coping strategies. The authors propose transformational change to ensure society's resilience in the face of increasing hazards.