Researchers found that Swiss forests are no longer shielded from the worst effects of summer droughts, despite growing at high altitudes. The study, published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, reveals that the number of trees per stand is reduced due to drought, causing a progressive decline of these precious forests.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·TypeObservational study·DateOct 1, 2026
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 new study reveals that grazing abandonment leads to lower soil carbon, while continued grazing consistently results in higher soil carbon. Grazing is found to be crucial for sustaining grasslands and enhancing soil carbon storage.
A Yale-led study reveals that farmers in the Mississippi River Basin are storing more carbon dioxide in the soil than they are emitting when adding limestone to their fields, a practice known as 'liming'. This finding has major implications for agricultural soil management and suggests that enhanced weathering may deserve renewed atten...
A new study integrates fair-share considerations into climate models, revealing different pathways to achieve the same global climate outcome. Regions with higher responsibility and capability cut emissions faster domestically, while lower-responsibility regions see net improvements to consumption.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers at Stony Brook University propose a technology to electrochemically enhance ocean alkalinity without seawater pretreatment, reducing costs and increasing carbon offset quality. This approach enables 'negative emission' carbon offsets and has significant implications for ocean carbon capture and net-zero goals.
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.
Seaweed forests globally are experiencing rapid declines due to climate change, with an estimated 25 million hectares lost by 2050. Restoration efforts may not be enough to compensate for these losses, with tens of thousands of projects needed at a significant cost. The study highlights the need to focus on preventing habitat loss as a...
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 new study found that forests with greater tree species diversity show smaller declines in productivity during compound climate extremes and recover more effectively afterwards. Biodiversity acts as a form of biological insurance, helping forests maintain stability in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
A research team at the Wyss Institute has engineered bacteria to produce higher amounts of siderophores, molecules that extract iron from silicate minerals, speeding up rock weathering and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. This process has the potential to be implemented at industrial scales, offering a new climate-regulating strategy.
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.
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.
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.
Climate researchers have discovered a significant increase in neighborhood-level hurricane warnings, widespread wildfires in the US, and unprecedented changes in Earth's energy budget. These findings suggest that greenhouse gases are driving these trends, with smoke and fire-related carbon emissions rising due to increased aridity.
Researchers found a significant association between declining air pollution and improved cognitive development in children. The study, published in Environmental Health, analyzed data from over 1,000 mother-child pairs and found a 26% increase in cognitive scores at age 3 with reduced air pollution concentrations.
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 of 103 European cities' climate neutral plans reveals that many rely on carbon removal to compensate for a significant portion of their emissions. Key findings include the energy and transport sectors being major contributors to residual emissions, with only 32% of cities mentioning permanent carbon removal options.
A new analysis tool helps municipalities identify areas with insufficient tree cover, enabling targeted interventions to improve livability and reduce heat exposure. The tool provides a granular diagnostic approach, allowing cities to prioritize infrastructure investments and greening initiatives where they are needed most.
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.
Research from University of California - Santa Cruz shows battery electric cars produce less carbon emissions than internal combustion engines. Replacing a functional gas-powered vehicle with an EV leads to significant emission reduction benefits, making it the right choice for environmentally conscious consumers.
New research suggests that collecting and spraying rainwater on rooftops during hot weather can significantly reduce energy demand for air conditioning and lower urban temperatures. The study found that this approach could cut the number of heatwave days overall and lessen the intensity of extreme heat events.
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 Perspective in Nature Sustainability proposes industry-specific net-zero blueprints to ensure corporate climate action is grounded in science. The plan aims to provide a common scientific foundation for companies to set targets and track progress, reducing the reliance on carbon credit markets and planetary limits.
A new holistic scoring system for dietary protein evaluates environmental impact, health, affordability, and availability. The analysis found plant-based foods dominate the highest-scoring quintile while animal-based products are in the lowest-scoring group.
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 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.
Researchers estimate that audience travel is responsible for most emissions at 'mega-events' like the World Cup. To reduce emissions, organisers should reward fans with discounts for using lower-carbon transport, rather than passing on costs.
The study identified specific climate measures for each city type, including infrastructure investment in heat protection, urban greening, and transport transition. Rapidly growing cities like Tirana and shrinking cities like Daugavpils benefit from nature-based solutions and infrastructure upgrades.
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.
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.
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers suggests that reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century will substantially improve public health in the US. The study found that climate strategies relying less on carbon dioxide removal lead to better air quality and lower premature deaths.
Physicists have identified two new superconductors, YRu3B2 and LuRu3B2, using machine-learning to filter material combinations. This breakthrough aims to find a room-temperature superconductor, which could slash global energy consumption and reduce the heat footprint of ICT sector.
Declining plankton abundance across the North East Atlantic poses a significant threat to ocean health, impacting marine food webs and carbon cycling. The study found six pelagic habitat-region combinations rated as 'Not Good' and three as 'Uncertain', highlighting the need for climate change mitigation and reduced nutrient pollution.
A new study reveals rooftop solar panels can offset nearly half of increased electricity demand during peak cooling periods. Climate change alone is projected to push up residential cooling demand by 5%, but rooftop solar growth could halve this additional load, easing pressure on the grid.
The UN has launched an initiative calling on AI companies to publicly disclose their environmental impacts, including carbon, water and land footprint. The move comes after a report highlighted the massive electricity demand and environmental impacts of AI systems.
Researchers unveil a rigorous framework to fix global forest carbon credit systems, addressing methodological defects and promoting biodiversity conservation. The new standards aim to produce high-integrity climate assets while safeguarding community interests.
A new project aims to create an early warning system for climate impacts like flooding or droughts, helping insurers react quickly. Researchers will develop models of insurer responses to different levels of climate change, combining climate science with behavioral and political sciences.
Urban parks are found to have a significant impact on mitigating heat, air and noise pollution in cities, extending far beyond their boundaries. Parks with tree cover and grassland areas improve thermal comfort and reduce Physiologically Equivalent Temperature by up to 8.5°C.
A study predicts climate change will trap air pollutants over coastal areas, increasing health risks for millions in Barcelona. Ozone concentrations are projected to rise substantially along the coastline by 2100.
A controversial cooling strategy to shield Earth from sun's rays could offer unequal protection for oceans and communities, leaving 25-75% of seas at risk from overheating. Researchers used computer simulations to forecast marine heat waves under future scenarios with and without solar geoengineering.
A study published in Lancet Planetary Health found that most national climate adaptation plans fail to fully integrate health needs or engage populations at risk from climate change. Key gaps include inadequate monitoring and evaluation, insufficient budgeting, and lack of engagement with vulnerable groups.
Researchers found that phytoplankton in the eastern equatorial Pacific were fertilized by iron from the seafloor during ice-age transitions. This suggests a possible feedback loop connecting sea level, seafloor volcanism, and ocean biology, with potential implications for climate change.
A major new analysis of over 3000 scientific papers on climate change mitigation found that policy recommendations are often non-existent, disconnected from the study's findings, or 'wish lists'. The researchers created a tool to assess the quality of policy recommendations and identified key challenges, including unclear uncertainty a...
Mangrove forests worldwide are no longer in net decline and are now growing overall, driven by natural regeneration and expansion. The research highlights a more hopeful trajectory for these ecosystems, which play a critical role in protecting coastlines and storing climate-warming carbon.
The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal report reveals that current pledges fall short of pathways limiting warming to 1.5°C by more than 5 billion tonnes of CO2 per year by 2050. CDR must grow at rates comparable to or faster than the most rapid clean energy transitions, including solar power.
A new five-year field study suggests that pairing annual biochar amendment with water-saving irrigation can reduce methane emissions from paddy fields. Continuous biochar use maintained and strengthened methane mitigation over time, while a one-time application's effect weakened.
Thawing permafrost is causing Arctic rivers to turn toxic with orange iron particles, suffocating insects and smothering fish. The process also involves acid rock drainage, where pyrite breaks down into sulfuric acid and sulfate, creating rust-like particles.
Experts from medicine, psychology, and geography will discuss the links between climate change and mental health, highlighting specific perspectives from South Africa and Germany. The webinar aims to integrate mental health into climate and health strategies.
A new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research finds that reducing car commutes can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. By targeting densification of neighborhoods around city centers, planners can reduce emissions and create more sustainable urban environments.
A new study projects that climate change will significantly increase the risk of heat-related cardiovascular disease in the US by 2050. The Pacific Northwest and Southern/Midwestern states are expected to experience the highest and steepest increases, respectively. Targeted interventions for vulnerable communities are crucial to mitiga...
A research team found that tropical forest plants increase root carbon exudation to stimulate phosphatase activity, mineralize organic P, and release organic acids to dissolve mineral-bound P. This adaptation helps alleviate P limitation under long-term N enrichment, sustaining productivity.
A new study suggests that temporary carbon storage can play a significant role in climate mitigation, particularly in sectors with persistent methane emissions. The researchers found that neutralizing the climate impact of 1 kilogram of methane requires removing roughly 498 kilograms of CO₂ stored for 20 years.
New research from the University of Sydney reveals that moderate temperature rises increase koala hospital admission and mortality risk. Koalas in inland north-west NSW are particularly vulnerable to heat stress, with populations on the brink of extinction.
A new framework maps Europe's climate-smart rewilding potential, highlighting regional strengths in Eastern and Southern Europe. The approach balances ecosystem restoration with climate mitigation and adaptation, offering opportunities for diverse regions to contribute.