Articles tagged with Climate Change Adaptation
Patients undergoing major surgery are at a higher risk of suboptimal recovery in urban heat islands, with Black patients and those in socially vulnerable communities hit hardest. Researchers recommend incorporating questions about home cooling and hydration into discharge planning to mitigate this risk.
A new study by Concordia researchers suggests that temporarily overshooting global warming targets can leave lasting changes in the climate system, including permafrost, sea-level rise, and ocean warming. The study found that the length of time spent above a target is crucial in determining the extent of these changes.
A study led by Göttingen University found that ethephon can delay flowering in sweet cherry varieties, potentially protecting them from frost damage. However, the treatment was not consistent across all varieties and regions, highlighting the need for further trials.
A new study proposes a detailed public policy plan to meet Catalonia's needs in a resilient manner while respecting planetary boundaries. The report, part of the REAL post-growth research project, analyzes potential alternatives and quantifies resources required by current modes of living and production.
A new book proposes that smallholder farmers, who already produce 30% of the world's food, could meet humanity's additional food needs by 2050 while restoring nature. Regenerative agriculture and agroforestry practices can offset CO2 emissions and improve soil health.
Research highlights advances in global weather modeling, sea ice convergence, and changes in seasonal drought patterns. Tornado emergencies are also explored, with a focus on Latinx communities and the importance of building trust and partnerships.
Researchers identified 33% of rivers and streams rated above-average for resilience, concentrated in Pacific Coast, Northern Rocky Mountains, and Great Lakes areas. Conserving 35% of waterways could sustain biodiversity, but only 6% is currently protected and resilient.
A new study highlights the importance of lived experience, local knowledge, and community voices in climate change communication. Researchers found that people experience and respond to climate change differently, even within similar geographic and socio-ecological settings. The study recommends more place-responsive approaches that br...
A new study by Colorado State University reveals that ag irrigation prevents higher greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding land conversion, saving 363 years' worth of emissions. Irrigation allows the US to grow more food on less land, reducing land-use change and its associated emissions.
A 5,000-year study reveals how dramatic sea level rise transformed the Northern Adriatic coastline, reshaping landscapes and affecting communities. The research reconstructs the region's evolution, highlighting the impact of coastal flooding on habitats, resources, and the availability of food.
Cocoa farmers in West Africa face a new climate threat: excessive rainfall. Scientists at Harvard University discovered that predicting extreme rains could help protect harvests. The study found that heavy rain during the wet season and dry season can damage cocoa crops, leading to price volatility and reduced production.
Researchers create genetic map to understand spruce's transition from vegetative to reproductive development, identifying key genes and a previously unknown gene called DAL55. The study may have implications for the forestry industry and the development of climate-adapted spruce seedlings.
A comprehensive review maps the RNA regulatory landscape in plants, detailing the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of diverse plant RNAs. The review highlights the latest research breakthroughs in hot areas such as non-coding RNAs, RNA epigenetic regulation, and RNA chemical modifications.
Research shows that weather information alone won't shield poor livestock farmers from climate change impacts, highlighting the need for paired climate forecasts and risk-smoothing measures
A new study led by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences found moderate genetic diversity within sugar kelp populations in Maine's kelp forests, identifying four distinct populations shaped by oceanography. The findings highlight the importance of regional management strategies to protect and leverage this genetic resource.
A new study finds that extreme heat events have expanded globally, with some regions experiencing more frequent heat events in spring and fall. This shifts the focus from average temperatures to individual extreme heat events, which are harder on the body when arriving at unexpected times.
New research estimates that Australia will face significant economic losses of up to $855 billion by 2100 due to rising sea levels and storm surges. The study found that coastal flooding could affect almost 270,000 properties and two million hectares of land across the country.
A new study projects significant disparities in access to food, water, and energy by 2050, with lower-income groups facing significant challenges. The study finds that in some regions, lower-income people could spend up to 50% of their income on food, while higher-income groups spend only 5%.
A European consortium, led by Universitat Jaume I, aims to develop genetically modified citrus lines with greater resilience to climate change, pests, and diseases. The project, CitrusAld, will focus on sweet orange and mandarin, and explore biofortification to enhance nutritional properties.
Researchers warn that marine heatwaves can intensify extreme weather, disrupt fisheries and aquaculture, and threaten coastal livelihoods, ultimately posing risks to human health. Marine heatwaves also have significant psychological impacts on communities, causing grief, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future.
A 'warm-west/cold-east' North Pacific sea surface temperature dipole signals the start of high-skill forecasting periods for East Asian winter cold surges. Forecasts that account for matching SST anomalies in key regions reach 100% accuracy rates during La Niña conditions.
Researchers have found that coastal wildflowers, such as the yellow monkeyflower, have evolved multiple adaptations to withstand salt spray, including altered pore structures and ability to bead up and roll off salt droplets. This knowledge could point to ways to make other plants, including crops, more resilient to salt exposure.
A global study of over 23,000 marine mollusk species found that body size is projected to decline in most ocean regions by 2100, but some groups will grow larger. Researchers analyzed temperature, oxygen, and ocean productivity to predict changes in five major groups of mollusks.
Researchers analyzed lobster forecasts from 1970s to 2020s, revealing the importance of considering historical and sociocultural contexts in forecasting the ocean's future. The study highlights the need for communication strategies that account for the social context of forecasts, particularly in fisheries management decisions.
A UNIGE study shows that climate communication campaigns designed to appeal to people's emotions, such as evoking a sense of wonder, are more effective at inspiring climate action than those relying solely on scientific facts. Messages that include images and draw on moral or ethical considerations also achieve better results.
A University of Michigan study found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than in the pre-industrial era. The study, which examined modern and ancient corals in the Galápagos Islands, found that El Niño events in the last four decades were stronger than any in the 1,000 years prior to about 1850.
Corals hosting heat-tolerant algae are more resistant to heat stress, but their immune systems are suppressed, making them more prone to disease. This trade-off helps explain why some corals appear more resilient but struggle to survive in complex environments.
A team of northern New England universities has been awarded $5.9 million to advance snow research and explore connections between winter weather and the outdoor recreation economy in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The project will unify snow monitoring equipment and weather station networks to improve computer model simulations an...
A study of 25 European cities found that only 11.6% of climate strategies include green spaces, despite their potential to alleviate climate change effects such as heatwaves and heavy rain. Cities prioritize measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but neglect adaptation strategies that incorporate green spaces.
A historic drought in northern Kenya led to a shift in livelihoods, with fishing becoming a crucial source of food and income among the Daasanach community. The study found that drought can alter not only physical health and food access but also cultural norms and settlement patterns, with women experiencing greater hardship than men.
A global forest study found that trees do not substantially alter their physiological traits to cope with prolonged drought. However, maintaining physiological capacity may allow trees to maximize carbon assimilation during favorable periods, while narrowing hydraulic safety margins pose a threat.
A new study projects that Europe's wildfire-affected areas could increase by 39% to 192% by 2100, driven by climate change. Improvements in prevention, detection, and firefighting can reduce the scope of affected areas, with potential reductions of up to 92% in a 1.8°C future.
Scientists warn that Canada's boreal forests absorb enough heat to offset 6-20% of their climate benefit, due to their dark surface reflecting winter sunlight. Mixed forests with deciduous trees and moderate densities outperform dense evergreen monocultures in delivering climate cooling.
Researchers propose 'Thermal Justice' framework to address heat-related inequalities, combining emergency measures with structural changes. The framework prioritizes exposed residents, accessible cooling, and worker protection during heatwaves, while retrofitting housing and expanding green infrastructure between heatwaves.
The climate impact taxonomy provides a shared framework linking measurable climate changes with risks and adaptation options, helping policymakers and practitioners make informed decisions. The taxonomy identifies key patterns, including regional scales and the need for both mitigation and adaptation.
The team created a tile that captures, holds, and slowly evaporates water, cooling surfaces without fans or compressors. The tile's unique design, inspired by African elephant skin, allows it to maintain a stable temperature of 89.6° Fahrenheit under infrared heating and periodic watering.
A recent NTU Singapore study found that 76% of Indo-Pacific coral reefs may struggle to keep pace with accelerating sea-level rise, threatening coastal protection and marine habitats. Reefs can grow only so quickly, and if sea level rises faster than a reef can build upwards, the reef will sit under progressively deeper water.
A new study by Dr Esme Ashe-Jepson finds that butterflies are primarily responding to climate change by shifting their distributions to cooler elevations. Large and pale species have an advantage in thermoregulation, leading to changes in butterfly communities along the elevational gradient.
A new UN University publication reveals that many people in England fail to take action to protect themselves during heatwaves despite receiving warnings. The most common reason is a lack of perception of personal risk, highlighting the need for improved communication and long-term adaptation strategies.
A study by Colorado State University and others found that fast-moving forest fires burn more area severely, leaving fewer trees to reseed the landscape. This can lead to long-term ecological change rather than recovery.
The Western Fire & Forest Resilience Collaborative will adapt its research tools for grasslands and shrublands, focusing on west Texas, to better protect ecosystems and communities. The collaboration aims to quantify the impact of wildfires on water resources in Colorado and inform land management decisions.
Researchers develop pangenome-guided breeding strategy to combine beneficial genes and traits for higher yields and stress tolerance in crops. The approach identifies and reintroduces lost genetic variants from wild species, resulting in improved seed size and high-altitude adaptability.
A new study from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has developed a less invasive method to measure the body temperature of hatchling Mojave desert tortoises, reducing disturbance and handling stress. The handheld infrared thermal camera provides a reliable estimate of internal body temperature under various conditions.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a process for converting carbon dioxide and industrial waste into green hydrogen, producing valuable mineral products. The technology reduces energy requirements and creates negative emissions, paving the way for widespread adoption and economic benefits.
The Conservation Gap Analysis of Select Native Asian Oaks reveals over half of native ranges are under human pressure, with many species lacking backup in botanical collections. The report prioritizes oak conservation efforts in Southeast and East Asia, focusing on regions with high human impact and limited protected area coverage.
Researchers developed an open-source tool RIME-X to generate regional climate and impact projections while capturing uncertainties. The new method combines simple climate models with regional information from multi-model climate and impact model ensembles, producing scenario- and time-dependent probability distributions.
A new study reveals that global crop models are less sensitive to heat extremes than real-world observations, particularly in the reproductive stages of rice. This discrepancy highlights the need for adaptation measures such as developing heat-tolerant varieties and adjusting planting dates to protect crops from extreme heat.
A recent study published in Biological Diversity reveals that ecological selection drives population differentiation and local adaptation in Capsella bursa-pastoris, a widely distributed annual herb. Genome-wide scans identified 54 candidate genes under positive selection related to energy metabolism and other processes.
A field experiment on wild kittiwakes found that birds with high energy costs during breeding raised more chicks the next year, but at a cost to their own survival. The study reveals how flexible energy use can lead to hidden trade-offs in life-history strategy.
This open-access publication presents journalism, poetry, fiction, and artwork produced by Indigenous writers and artists on climate change. The book introduces the relational worldview – an Indigenous way of thinking where everything impacts everything else.
A recent study highlights the role of social relationships in knowledge sharing among farmers and proposes a new way to understand how climate-smart agricultural innovations begin. Trust, mutual support, and close relationships play a fundamental role in enabling knowledge sharing.
A new digital mapping project has created a comprehensive dataset to safeguard UNESCO World Heritage sites along coastlines at risk of flooding and erosion. The Global Coastal Heritage (Glo-CoH) dataset includes 1250 individual heritage sites, spanning over 235 million hectares across the globe.
Researchers have developed a new metric to estimate air-conditioning and refrigeration energy demand, accounting for temperature and humidity. The study found that cooling efficiency has been declining by 2–4% per decade since 1971, with regions facing the steepest future increases in cooling demand expected in the Northwest, Great Lak...
Researchers at ICTA-UAB developed a public tool to explore climate gentrification vulnerability across 36 municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The map shows that greener, less densely populated areas are at higher risk due to rising temperatures and heat exposure.
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters found that climate mitigation and adaptation strategies often lack real-world data, hindering effective climate policy. Researchers identified the need for systematic collection of observational data across cities to determine what truly works, under which conditions, and for whom.
New research reveals alpine butterflies closely match local warming in range shifts, but habitat availability drives community composition and climate change response. The study finds that butterfly communities have become warmer-adapted over the past two decades, with specialist species vulnerable to elevational hostplant mismatches.
A study of 17,000 EU citizens found that most view economic growth as compatible with sustainability, with values like equality and collective welfare driving support. Citizens in wealthier societies tend to be less supportive, suggesting they feel more secure when basic needs are met.
Researchers found that giant trees in tropical forests have developed complex adaptations to compensate for the challenges of transporting water to their uppermost branches. These adjustments enable them to continue growing and thrive despite increased water stress.
Research from the University of East Anglia found that even modest changes in weather can impact mental health service demand, with increases during hot weather and low sunshine. Fluctuations in temperature and sunlight exposure were linked to shifts in unscheduled healthcare use, with rainfall appearing to have little consistent effect.
A review paper synthesizes nearly 20 years of research on the Great Barrier Reef's responses to sea-level shifts, finding five distinct reef phases that formed, drowned, and reformed over 30,000 years. The study highlights the reefs' dynamic nature and reveals they were shaped by multiple environmental pressures.