News Feeds

Open access notables

Misrepresentation of Human Climate Fingerprint in DOE Report, Santer et al., Earth s Future

A July 2025 report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) made the key claim that the stratosphere has warmed since 2000, contrary to model projections and inconsistent with the expected anthropogenic fingerprint. The DOE report provided no references or data to support this claim. Its basis appears to be an unpublished figure comparing simulated and observed tropical trends in the temperature of the lower stratosphere (TLS), a layer extending from roughly 15 to 20 km above Earth's surface. The observed tropical TLS trends shown in the unpublished DOE figure are incorrect. When the correct observational data sets are used, model tropical TLS trends are consistent with satellite observations, and a model-predicted anthropogenic fingerprint is identifiable with high confidence in observed latitude-altitude profiles of tropical temperature change. An earlier rebuttal of the DOE “no human fingerprint” claim considered global-mean temperature changes only and did not perform a pattern-based fingerprint study. Unless corrected or retracted, the DOE report will continue to misinform policymakers and the public about the reality of human effects on climate.

Climate disinformation and moral distortion, Hopster & Martini, Environmental Politics

Disinformation is commonly understood as the distortion, omission or framing of facts, in the interest of deceiving. But does disinformation merely stem from an untruthful representation of facts, or can it also involve a distortion of morals? This question is not easily answered: while factual information can be untruthfully represented, it is less straightforward what ‘moral distortion’ might involve. In this paper we investigate the nature of moral distortion, by scrutinizing two case-studies from climate discourse. We argue that moral distortion involves the selective representation of morally relevant facts, which leaves an audience with a biased appreciation of an issue, even though the sender of information positions themselves as a trustworthy partner in public inquiry. We clarify how moral distortion relates to ‘moral corruption’, ‘greenwashing’, and other types of environmental disinformation, and address the objection that the cultural relativity of moral claims shields them from criticism.

[Comment] The imperative to counter fossil fuel industry disinformation for public health, Narayan et al., The Lancet Planetary Health

Despite claims of being climate solution leaders, fossil fuel companies continue to spend billions on lobbying and disinformation to delay meaningful climate action. The medical and public health community is uniquely positioned at the forefront of the battle against fossil fuel disinformation, and their role has never been more crucial. As some of the most trusted voices in society, health professionals hold a powerful influence over public opinion and policy, making them essential advocates for truth and health. However, the growing tide of fossil fuel industry disinformation, aimed at confusing the public, deflecting responsibility, and delaying action, threatens to erode the foundation of this trust and the ability of the health community to advocate on climate-related health threats. Therefore, it is imperative for health professionals to take a proactive, united stand in countering this influence.

When beliefs meet technology: conservatism, climate denialism, and support for solar geoengineering, Lee et al., Environmental Politics

Solar geoengineering is an object of deep political contestation. Public responses to solar geoengineering technologies cannot be as easily explained by political ideology alone. Hypothesizing that climate denialism mediates ideology’s influence on public support for solar geoengineering, we ask: (1) What is the relationship between political conservatism and support for solar geoengineering, and does it differ by country and technology? (2) Is this relationship mediated by climate denialism? We answer these questions using mediation analyses of public attitudes toward three climate intervention technologies across thirteen countries. Our findings show that conservatives are generally less supportive of solar geoengineering, and this opposition is largely rooted in climate denialism with variation across technologies. Once denialism is controlled for, conservatism is associated with greater support for certain technologies in some countries but not others. Therefore, the relationship between conservatism and climate intervention support does not reflect a single, stable ideological association.

 From this week's government/NGO section:

Summary Report: Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law, Jessica Wentz, Columbia Law School, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

A summary report for the Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law, held at Columbia University on June 10–11, 2026. The event brought together physical scientists, legal scholars, public health researchers, economists, and policy experts to discuss key developments in climate change attribution science and its evolving role in climate law and governance. The author provides an overview of key themes and topics covered at the conference, as well as a detailed summary of the presentations and panel discussions. Video recordings of the event can also be accessed from the event website and the Sabin Center Youtube channel. Rapid advances in attribution research—including storyline approaches, integrated impact modeling, and end-to-end attribution—are strengthening the scientific foundation for linking GHG emissions, climate change, and specific harms. Panelists highlighted the utility of these methods not only as evidentiary support in climate litigation and corporate accountability claims, but also as vital tools for informing government decision-making, adaptation planning, disaster risk reduction, and international loss and damage frameworks. Discussions also confronted ongoing challenges, including political pressures on climate science, the necessity of clear communication regarding scientific uncertainties, and the importance of addressing structural inequalities alongside physical hazards.

Climate Double Agents: The Congressional lobbyists pushing fossil fuels and solutions to the climate crisis, F Minus

The authors reviewed Congressional lobbyist disclosures of 228 lobbying firms. They found fossil fuel lobbyists simultaneously lobbying on almost every aspect of the climate crisis, from climate mitigation to disaster relief to wildlife conservation. The most conflicted firm on the issue of climate mitigation funding for local governments was Greenberg Traurig, which lobbied for the American Petroleum Institute (API) and ConocoPhillips in Congress, the Western States Petroleum Association in California, and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufactures (AFPM) in New York, all of which have opposed the creation of climate superfunds. Greenberg Traurig also lobbied on shoreline protection and Everglades restoration for Miami-Dade County and lobbied for the City of Rochester and Westchester County in New York, both of which would lose tens of millions in future climate mitigation funds if the firm’s clients API and AFPM succeed in passing a Congressional bill invalidating state Climate Superfunds, including New York’s. 156 articles in 71 journals by 1074 contributing authors

Physical science of climate change, effects

Centennial AMOC Variability of North Atlantic–Arctic Origin: Mechanism and Future State, Yang, International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70480

Climate extremes drive increased fire nitrogen release in boreal forest, Liu et al., Atmospheric Environment 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.122330

Detectability of Forced ENSO Changes Under Global Warming: Insights From the Recharge Oscillator, Han et al., arXiv (Cornell University) Open Access 10.48550/arxiv.2608.26767

Global warming enhances salinity gradient energy potential through hydroclimatic change, Xu et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-04010-z

Hydrographic variability associated with enhanced warming in the eastern Antarctic region during the austral summer, Krishnan et al., Polar Science 10.1016/j.polar.2026.101390

Limiting warming by CO2 and methane mitigation in an expanded scenario space, Weber et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03832-1

Maritime Continent freshening intensifies the observed La Niña-like warming, Cao et al., npj Climate and Atmospheric Science Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41612-026-01523-4

Sea surface warming suppresses primary sea spray aerosol number production, Leibensperger et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics Open Access 10.5194/acp-26-12211-2026

When the Mountains Stop Warming the Plains: Anomalous Winter and Spring Cooling in Southeastern Alberta Linked to Reduced Chinook Activity, Yackel et al., ATMOSPHERE-OCEAN 10.1080/07055900.2026.2716651

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Walker circulation strengthening driven by sea surface temperature changes outside the tropics, Nature Geoscience, 10.1038/s41561-024-01510-5 14 cites.

buffer/PWSE

Observations of climate change, effects

Changes in Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice properties and processes, Webster et al., Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 10.1038/s43017-026-00816-9

Long-term monitoring of active layer thickness confirms global permafrost degradation, Streletskiy et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03824-1

Marine Heatwave Trends in Eastern North America Waters Using a High-Resolution (5-km) SST Dataset, Stone & Milrad, International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70474

Misrepresentation of Human Climate Fingerprint in DOE Report, Santer et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026ef008831

Narwhals document atlantification of East Greenland, Heide-Jørgensen et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adr1424

Soil moisture–atmosphere coupling intensifies wildfires in Siberia in 2021, Xiao et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111437

Trends in Heat Stress During Heat Waves Across Europe (1979–2023), Zhang et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124082

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Rock glaciers across the United States predominantly accelerate coincident with rise in air temperatures, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-52093-z 29 cites.

buffer/OBME

Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects

CSRFormer: An Instantaneous Global-ocean Clear-sky Radiative Flux Dataset Derived From CERES, Zheng et al., Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.20046058

ERA5 Can Overstate Changes in the Frequency of Extreme Heat: A New Zealand Case Study, Iqbal et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70571

Heatstroke mortality in a warming climate: From physiological risk to reporting practices in a multi-country study, Tob??as et al., Temperature 10.1080/23328940.2026.2698161

Investigating Climate Change Impacts on the 2020 Extreme Meiyu Through Global Variable-Resolution Ensemble Subseasonal Hindcasts, Xu et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 10.1029/2025jd045982

Six-fold reduction in ocean heat content estimate uncertainty since 1960, Cheng et al., Research Square Open Access pdf 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9248956/v1

Top-of-Atmosphere Radiation over the Last Millennium Reconstructed from Proxies, Stiller & Hakim, Journal of Climate pdf 10.1175/jcli-d-25-0568.1

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Coordinated Geostationary, Multispectral Satellite Observations Are Critical for Climate and Air Quality Progress, AGU Advances, 10.1029/2024av001322 9 cites.

buffer/WINS

Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects

Heatwaves in a 15 °C World: Exploring remote drivers’ influence on Northern Italy with a storyline-based approach, Squintu et al., Weather and Climate Extremes Open Access 10.1016/j.wace.2026.100949

Projections of Climate-Driven Changes in Fire Regimes and Implications for Boreal Landscapes in Alaska and Northwest Canada, Littell et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026ef008324

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Impacts of AMOC Collapse on Monsoon Rainfall: A Multi-Model Comparison, Earth s Future, 10.1029/2023ef003959 30 cites.

buffer/MSWE

Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection

Assessing the Impact of Sea Surface Temperature Biases in CMIP6 Coupled Models on the North Pacific Westerly Jet, Ushijima et al., Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.19705804

Causes of the Delayed Seasonality of Northern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclones in CMIP6 Models, Jiawei, Figshare Open Access 10.6084/m9.figshare.31224409

ClimAVA-SWE: A High-Resolution CMIP6-Based Snow Water Equivalent Dataset for the Western United States, Sajad et al., Harvard Dataverse Open Access 10.7910/dvn/scd2vt

Compound Climate Events and Cascading Impacts in the IPCC AR6: Analysis of Gaps and Avenues for the AR7, Duvat, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change Open Access 10.1002/wcc.70046

DeepMelt-GL v1: a neural network emulator of sub-shelf melt rates for the unrepresented regions of ice-shelf cavities in ocean models, Ockenden et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access pdf 10.5194/gmd-19-7979-2026

Dominant Biases in Atmospheric Radiative Heating Rates in Global Climate Models, Huang & Huang, Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl122611

Excessive Negative Surface Heat Flux Feedback in CMIP6 Models, George et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans 10.1029/2026jc024124

Forest canopy decline under elevated CO2 during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Dunn et al., DRYAD Open Access 10.5061/dryad.wdbrv164q

IAM-FIRE: A Climate Emulator–Based Framework to Project Wildfire Impacts and Risks for Integrated Assessment Models, Rouhette et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70951

Improving simulation of Earth system variability through weakly coupled ocean data assimilation in E3SM, Shi et al., Geoscientific model development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-19-8003-2026

Three Generations of NARCliM: Evaluation of Precipitation, Temperature and Their Extremes Over the CORDEX Australasia Domain, Ji et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70353

Urban climate evaluation in the upcoming generation of CMIP6-Driven EURO-CORDEX regional climate simulations, Díez-Sierra et al., Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103103

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
On the Realism of Tropical Cyclone Intensification in Global Storm-Resolving Climate Models, Geophysical Research Letters, 10.1029/2024gl109841 21 cites.

buffer/GCMA

Cryosphere & climate change

A 1 km resolution dataset of Northern Hemisphere permafrost active layer thickness (2000–2024), Wei & Chen, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.20602924

Changes in Arctic and Antarctic sea-ice properties and processes, Webster et al., Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 10.1038/s43017-026-00816-9

Earlier lake ice breakup in response to warming in the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, Russian High Arctic: Evidence from MODIS data (2000-2024), Maraldo et al., Polar Science 10.1016/j.polar.2026.101365

Emergent Regimes of River Meandering and Permafrost Extent in Arctic Floodplains, Lamb et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124384

Global database of glacier failures (1900–2025), Ekaterina & Summer, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.19477908

Long-term change of the ice phenology in Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan, Shiomoto et al., Polar Science 10.1016/j.polar.2026.101388

Long-term monitoring of active layer thickness confirms global permafrost degradation, Streletskiy et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03824-1

Meltwater movement and refreezing in the wet snow zone of Qaanaaq Ice Cap, northwest Greenland, Minowa et al., Polar Science 10.1016/j.polar.2026.101395

On the non-linear response of Antarctic ice shelf surface melt to warming, Hofsteenge et al., cryosphere Open Access 10.5194/tc-20-4747-2026

Thermodynamic Control of Global Seasonal Snow Decline, Song et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl122806

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Toward long-term monitoring of regional permafrost thaw with satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar, cryosphere, 10.5194/tc-18-3723-2024 7 cites.

buffer/CRYO

Sea level & climate change

Human-induced subsidence exceeds sea-level rise in driving future coastal flood exposure in China’s Greater Bay Area, Wang et al., Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.20603078

Sea-level rise projections tailored for spatial adaptation planning in the U.S., Konfirst et al., Scientific Data Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41597-026-06669-7

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Simulated Impact of Time-Varying River Runoff and Greenland Freshwater Discharge on Sea Level Variability in the Beaufort Gyre Over 2005–2018, Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, 10.1029/2024jc021237 6 cites.

buffer/SLCC

Paleoclimate & paleogeochemistry

Forest canopy decline under elevated CO2 during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Dunn et al., DRYAD Open Access 10.5061/dryad.wdbrv164q

Modern anthropogenic subsidence rivals deglacial meltwater pulse rates in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, Qin et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03889-y

Recent strengthening of eastern Pacific ENSO in the last millennium paleorecord, Cole et al., Science 10.1126/science.ady2660

Upcoming climate change: fossil record as a key to predict future biotic response, B?k & B?k, Frontiers in Earth Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/feart.2026.1950918

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Eocene maar sediments record warming of up to 3.5 °C during a hyperthermal event 47.2 million years ago, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01628-9 4 cites.

buffer/PCIM

Biology & climate change, related geochemistry

Arboreal Mammals Are at Risk Under Climate Change: Insights From a Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Silva et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.71034

Blind Spots in Traditional Approaches to Conservation Prioritization in a Climate Change Context, Bondi et al., Diversity and Distributions Open Access pdf 10.1111/ddi.70259

Climate Warming Drives the Breakdown of Plant–Pollinator Mutualisms Despite Phenological Synchrony, Manincor et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.71074

Climate-driven mobilization of rare earth elements and metals in Antarctica: Pathways, ecological exposure, and implications for trophic transfer, Khamis et al., Polar Science 10.1016/j.polar.2026.101394

Coral Reef In Situ Product (CRISP): a global compilation of coral reef temperature time series, Larson et al., Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.21045962

Declines in European bumblebee habitat suitability attributable to climate change, Tandt et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-026-02734-6

Declining hydraulic safety in a drier world, Liang et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 10.1073/pnas.2622754123

Direct and indirect effects of elevated CO2, warming and drought on plant–consumer interactions of Plantago lanceolata, Davidova et al., DRYAD Open Access 10.5061/dryad.r2280gbv1

Ensemble Modeling of Shifts in the Suitable Distribution and Ecological Niche of the Alpine Tibetan Medicinal Herb Corydalis hendersonii Hemsl. Under Climate Change and Human Activity, Wu et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73861

Future Climate Change and Bioclimatic Suitability of Two Endemic Balkan Water Frogs, Papežík et al., Diversity and Distributions Open Access pdf 10.1111/ddi.70246

Global spatial heterogeneity of changes in vegetation resistance to compound drought and heat events during 2001–2020, HAN et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2026.08.016

Increased Atmospheric CO2 Adversely Affects Large Pollinators, but Benefits Small Pollinators, Khan et al., DRYAD Open Access 10.5061/dryad.m37pvmdgh

Intensifying Flash Droughts Aggravate Vegetation Ecosystem Vulnerability in the Monsoon Region of China: Evidence From Resistance and Resilience Responses, Qi et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef006987

Large fisheries declines linked to compound and extreme climate events, Cheung et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-77077-z

Long-Term Evolution Under Heatwave Conditions in the Seed Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, Ivimey-Cook et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73562

Narwhals document atlantification of East Greenland, Heide-Jørgensen et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adr1424

Projecting future habitat suitability and range dynamics of Spermophilus dauricus on the Mongolian Plateau under climate change, Wang et al., Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.3389/fevo.2026.1921190

Reply to: Antarctic greening is constrained by biology and requires field validation, Roland et al., Nature Geoscience 10.1038/s41561-026-02080-4

Reply to: Estimated tree longevity response to climate at risk of methodological bias, Gao et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03935-9

Saturation effect of background temperature and aridity on vegetation phenological sensitivity to urban warming, Zhang et al., Biogeosciences Open Access 10.5194/bg-23-5943-2026

Saturation effect of background temperature and aridity on vegetation phenological sensitivity to urban warming, Zhang et al., Biogeosciences Open Access 10.5194/bg-23-5943-2026

Space Use Change Associated With Climate Induces Camouflage Mismatch to Increase Extinction Risk in an Endangered Mammal, Mahoney et al., Global Change Biology Open Access pdf 10.1111/gcb.71079

The Impact of Climate Change on the Spatial Distribution of Seven Meconopsis Species in China: A MaxEnt Model-Based Predictive Analysis, Yang et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73824

The Potential Habitat of Liparis campylostalix (Orchidaceae) in China Under Climate Change Scenario Predicted by MaxEnt Model, Deng et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.73536

Thermal Stress and Habitat Loss: Assessing the Vulnerability of Potamon fluviatile (Decapoda: Potamidae) to Climate Change in Italy, Sorboni et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access pdf 10.1002/ece3.74256

Warming Reduces Cold Hardiness of Boreal Plants but Damage Risk Varies by Species and Season, Campos-Arguedas et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.71081

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Global increase in the optimal temperature for the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01636-9 35 cites.

buffer/BIOW

GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry

A Step Forward to Global Segment CO2 Flux Estimation Benefiting from Large Swath of Coordinated CO2 and Solar-Induced Fluorescence Measurements from the TanSat-2 Mission, Yang et al., Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Open Access 10.1007/s00376-026-6150-1

Blue carbon functional collapse precedes physical marsh retreat, Wang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-026-03971-5

Correction for Zhou et al., Warming substantially amplifies Antarctic coastal polynyas as key carbon sinks, [authors did not process], Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 10.1073/pnas.2627297123

Divergent Trends in the Seasonal Amplitude of Atmospheric CO2 Across the Globe, Linyang & Jiawen, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.17810400

Estimation of forest carbon storage with small samples based on Bayesian hierarchical model, Fan et al., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change Open Access 10.3389/ffgc.2026.1909517

Exploring atmospheric CH4 monitoring network expansion in Italy using inverse modelling, Mil et al., ICOS Carbon Portal Open Access 10.18160/tgmj-4ygj

Global methane emission estimates from a dual-isotope inversion: new constraints from δD-CH4, Dasgupta et al., Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) Open Access pmh:oai:dspace.library.uu.nl:1874/486815

Global peatlands formed via paludification since the Last Glacial Maximum are more conducive to absorbing CO2, Gao et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105692

Hydropower reservoirs will lead energy-sector carbon emissions by 2050 under a net-zero scenario, Wang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-026-03982-2

Impact of land use on carbon dynamics in cold-temperate rivers: A case study of the Ussuri (Wusuli) River basin, Northeast China, Zhang et al., Anthropocene 10.1016/j.ancene.2026.100575

Increased maximum carbon release offsets half of the growth trend in annual land carbon sink, Bai et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-026-77462-8

Multidimensional inequalities in attributed passenger-transport CO2 across 21 EU member States in 2015, Álvarez-Antelo et al., Energy Policy Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115582

Polar and subpolar shelf seas dominate enhanced coastal CO2 uptake during marine heatwaves, Hu et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-77165-0

Radiocarbon in atmospheric CH4 and CO2 at Jungfraujoch in 2019–2024: influence of regional nuclear emissions and current global atmospheric 14CH4 signal, Laemmel et al., Open Access CRIS of the University of Bern Open Access 10.48620/100501

Soil disturbance in wetlands by feral pigs increases greenhouse gas emissions, Adame et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-23-5781-2026

Synergistic effects of warming and elevated CO2 intensify drought impacts on grassland carbon and water fluxes, Tissink et al., MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) Open Access pdf pmh:oai:pure.mpg.de:item_3716274

Synergistic Interactions Between Warming and Elevated Atmospheric CO2 Increase Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration, Yao, Figshare Open Access 10.6084/m9.figshare.31563121

Temporal lag in post-mining regrowth amplifies carbon loss in tropical forests during the period 2000–2023, He et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-77252-2

The EDGAR-LULUCF Dataset of forest-related carbon emissions and removals, Rossi et al., Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.20381555

Three-Fourths of Carbon Emissions From 2023 Record-Breaking Wildfires in Canada Traced to Soil and Peat Combustion, Zhong et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026gl123393

Trophic regulation constrains ecosystem carbon accumulation under global change, Xu et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2610728123

Using Tower-Based Observational Networks to Assess the Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Six North American Cities, Barkley et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2025jd045115

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Reducing the uncertainty in estimating soil microbial-derived carbon storage, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 10.1073/pnas.2401916121 157 cites.

buffer/GHSS

CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering

Assessment of formation brine salinity, pressure and temperature in selected structures in eastern Denmark and implications for CO2 storage, Schovsbo et al., GEUS Bulletin Open Access 10.34194/62417j08

Industrializing reactive capture of CO2, Xiao et al., Nature Energy 10.1038/s41560-026-02113-7

Near-term, geospatial opportunity for biomass carbon storage to address the wildfire and climate crises, Clayton et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aee6185

Seismic investigations of eight geological structures for potential storage of CO2 in Denmark: an introduction, Gregersen et al., GEUS Bulletin Open Access 10.34194/299dt488

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The feasibility of reaching gigatonne scale CO2 storage by mid-century, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-51226-8 64 cites.

buffer/CENG

Decarbonization

Regional retrofit, net-zero aspirations, and their whole-life carbon burden, Zune et al., Environmental Research Infrastructure and Sustainability Open Access 10.1088/2634-4505/ae9984

Sustainable polar shipping under climate change: A bibliometric review of emissions and efficiency, Tuti, Polar Science 10.1016/j.polar.2026.101392

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Pathway decisions for reuse and recycling of retired lithium-ion batteries considering economic and environmental functions, Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-024-52030-0 224 cites.

buffer/DCRB

Geoengineering climate

Wind-Driven Circulation Feedbacks Offset Tropical Geoengineered Sea Salt Emissions, Wang et al., Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2026jd047411

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Africa's Climate Response to Marine Cloud Brightening Strategies Is Highly Sensitive to Deployment Region, Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres, 10.1029/2024jd041070 6 cites.

buffer/GENG

Black carbon
Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
The politics of knowledge in black carbon mitigation: Policy entrepreneurship of Finnish actors and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Environmental Science & Policy, 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103881 3 cites.

buffer/BLKC

Aerosols

Instantaneous radiative forcings due to the first indirect effect linked to low-level liquid clouds in the Amazon, Pugliesi et al., Atmospheric chemistry and physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-26-12151-2026

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
On the sensitivity of aerosol–cloud interactions to changes in sea surface temperature in radiative–convective equilibrium, Atmospheric chemistry and physics, 10.5194/acp-24-9323-2024 2 cites.

buffer/AESO

Climate change communications & cognition

A systematic review and meta-analysis of communication strategies to promote climate action, Uenal et al., OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) pmh:oai:share.osf.io:acc66f76-7427-4f8d-ae9b-f0597aaf12dd

Aiding or shaming in climate politics: Evidence from a survey experiment in Brazil, Calacino, Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104919

Climate disinformation and moral distortion, Hopster & Martini, Environmental Politics Open Access pdf 10.1080/09644016.2026.2721054

Comparing threat- and solution-oriented climate communication: The role of hope, self-efficacy, and climate anxiety in motivating high-impact climate-friendly behavior, Ringhofer et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology 10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.103194

In Sickness and in Heat – A Content Analysis of German Media Coverage of Chronic Diseases and Climate-Related Weather Events, Singh & Metag, Environmental Communication Open Access pdf 10.1080/17524032.2026.2723748

Misrepresentation of Human Climate Fingerprint in DOE Report, Santer et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026ef008831

Stereotypes Shape Public Impressions of Unconventional Climate Advocates Across Urban and Regional Communities, Wang et al., Environmental Communication Open Access pdf 10.1080/17524032.2026.2723751

When beliefs meet technology: conservatism, climate denialism, and support for solar geoengineering, Lee et al., Environmental Politics Open Access pdf 10.1080/09644016.2026.2721030

[Comment] The imperative to counter fossil fuel industry disinformation for public health, Narayan et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101435

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
For cash, the planet, or for both: Evaluating an informational intervention for energy consumption reduction, Energy Policy, 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114314 6 cites.

buffer/CSCC

Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change

Climate change and food security in sustainable finance: a South African perspective, Zenda, Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1926592

Compound Hot-Dry Days (CHDDs) and Their Implications on Maize Yields in the Free State Province, South Africa, Moeletsi & Tsubo, International Journal of Climatology Open Access pdf 10.1002/joc.70281

Dam Regulation Moderates Climate-Induced Rice Yield Loss in the Mekong-Tonle Sap Lake System, Zhang et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2025ef008053

Evaluating Crop Yield Sensitivity to Climate Change Using a Deep-Learning Framework Incorporating Vegetation and Groundwater Memory, Baluch et al., Earth s Future Open Access 10.1029/2026ef008560

Fostering the forest circular bioeconomy to combat climate change by producing biochar from conifer and broadleaf stands, Mosquera-Losada et al., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change Open Access pdf 10.3389/ffgc.2026.1821315

From soft limits to hard thresholds: mapping the adaptation gap in sub-Saharan African agriculture – a systematic review, Madanzi et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1807595

Grazing Enhances System Carbon Balance via the Soil-Plant-Livestock Carbon Pump Regulation Despite Suppressing Specific Carbon Cycling Pathways, Zhou et al., Earth s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2026ef008382

Heterogeneous persistent ENSO impact on China’s agricultural economy in a warming climate, Wang, Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) Open Access 10.5281/zenodo.18168708

Irrigation Impact on Humid Heat Stress: Divergent Metrics, Vegetation Dynamics, and Future Worsening, Shen et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl123720

Making climate governance actionable: a corpus-based analysis of institutionalizing climate change in tuna fisheries governance, He et al., npj Ocean Sustainability Open Access 10.1038/s44183-026-00240-y

Research priorities for climate adaptation and resilience in smallholder livestock systems in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review, Slayi et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access 10.3389/fclim.2026.1924189

Retraction Note: An autocatalytic multicomponent DNAzyme nanomachine for tumor-specific photothermal therapy sensitization in pancreatic cancer, Yan et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-026-75939-0

Straw mulching mitigates warming-induced yield loss and leverages elevated CO2 to improve winter wheat productivity under projected climate scenarios, Yang et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111449

[Articles] Impacts of climate-driven yield changes on the affordability of healthy diets: a modelling study, Jiang et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101519

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Losses and destabilization of soil organic carbon stocks in coastal wetlands converted into aquaculture ponds, Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.17480 43 cites.

buffer/AGCC

Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change

Comment on “Flooding Is Not like Filling a Bath” by Sanders et al., Dijk et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01708.x

Multilayer soil moisture depletion intensifies drought impacts on global ecosystems, Gu et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access 10.1038/s41561-026-02083-1

Spatiotemporal Evolution of Regional Heavy Rainfall Events in Guangdong, South China: Intensification and Expansion Since the Early 1990s, Liu et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access pdf 10.1002/joc.70572

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Increasing extreme precipitation variability plays a key role in future record-shattering event probability, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01622-1 32 cites.

buffer/HYCC

Climate change mitigation public policy research

Decarbonisation policy instruments and climate justice: Insights from a systematic literature review of social science literature, Ramôa & Pires, Environmental Science & Policy Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104461

Institutional compression in climate policy integration: coordinating green electricity certificates and carbon emissions trading in China, Tian & Wang, Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2026.2722557

Resilient futures: integrating nature-based solutions and community innovation to combat climate change and foster environmental sustainability, Yu, Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2026.2690614

Uneven geographies of climate change mitigation: labour, territorial defence, and the blue economy in Colombian Caribbean mangroves, Manrique, Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2026.103223

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Energy transition at the crossroads of energy depletion and environmental policy stringency: Energy policy framework for energy giants in the indo-pacific belt, Energy Policy, 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114311 23 cites.

buffer/GPCC

Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research

A Systematic Review of the Ways Schools Engage With Climate Change Adaptation, Laub et al., Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Climate Change 10.1002/wcc.70080

Adaptation dominates climate responses in social-ecological systems in northern Sweden, Ohlsson et al., Communications Sustainability Open Access pdf 10.1038/s44458-026-00143-6

Authoritarian diversity and its limits: regime subtypes and climate change adaptation readiness, Ko, Environmental Sociology Open Access 10.1080/23251042.2026.2724934

Climate precarity and the mobilities of rural youth: land, politics, and labour in southern Ethiopia, Chung & Schwanen, Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2026.103221

Desert flooding highlights a critical gap in climate change adaptation, Gao et al., Science 10.1126/science.aek8173

Sea-level rise projections tailored for spatial adaptation planning in the U.S., Konfirst et al., Scientific Data Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41597-026-06669-7

The climate refugee misnomer, Auslender et al., Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2026.2724664

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Climate change in Africa: Impacts, adaptation, and policy responses, Global Environmental Change, 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102912 75 cites.

buffer/CCAD

Climate change impacts on human health

Age-specific exposure to human-induced increases in humid heat, Pietroiusti et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aeb3232

Climate change and child undernutrition in Nigeria: a systematic review of evidence and policy gaps, Langkulsen et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2026.1767416

Epidermal growth factor receptor dysregulation and climate change: insights into pollution-promoted lung cancer, Nikaido-Landry et al., Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences Open Access 10.1098/rstb.2024.0508

Erratum for the Research Article “Forecast attribution reveals enhanced heat mortality from climate change in British Columbia heatwave” by C.Y. Shapland et al., [authors did not process], Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.aej3478

Heat exposure and adaptive responses: a systematic literature review in Southeast Asia, Sugesti & Nastiti, Urban Climate 10.1016/j.uclim.2026.103119

Heat stress and public health issues: impacts, adaptation, and mitigation, [authors did not process], Frontiers research topics 10.3389/978-2-8325-8532-0

Heatstroke mortality in a warming climate: From physiological risk to reporting practices in a multi-country study, Tob??as et al., Temperature 10.1080/23328940.2026.2698161

[Articles] Direct and spillover hospitalisation patterns during climate hazards across regions of different health-system resilience levels in China: a nationwide retrospective analysis, Wang et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101512

[Articles] Five years of Greener NHS: improved carbon footprint assessment of the National Health Service in England, Simpson et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101464

[Articles] Health integration in national climate adaptation policies from 198 countries: a global policy analysis, Morneau et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101466

[Articles] Heat waves and annual mortality among older adults (aged ≥65 years) in the USA, Healy et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101432

[Comment] The imperative to counter fossil fuel industry disinformation for public health, Narayan et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2026.101435

[Personal View] Reforming public health law to adapt to the changing climate: a case study of mosquito-borne disease management, Boocock et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101427

Most cited from this section, published 2 years ago:
Population at risk of dengue virus transmission has increased due to coupled climate factors and population growth, Communications Earth & Environment, 10.1038/s43247-024-01639-6 77 cites.

buffer/CCHH

Climate change & geopolitics

Climate change as a driver of transformative evolution in international environmental law: a systematic review and bibliometric analysis (2014–2025), Carvajal-Morales et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1813963

Climate change impacts on human culture Other

Artificial intelligence and climate change: Lessons for global governance, Swain, Energy Research & Social Science 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104937

Escalating Uncertainty Under Increasing Risk in Compound Heat and Precipitation Extremes, Zhou et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2026gl124193

Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives

UN finally admits global warming will shoot past 1.5 ºC climate limit, Dinneen, Nature 10.1038/d41586-026-02753-5

[Comment] A call for evidence-based adaptation: mitigating the rising global health burden of extreme heat, Li et al., The Lancet Planetary Health Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101287

[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:
Integrating night studies into climate science, Nature Climate Change, 10.1038/s41558-024-02117-9 19 cites.

buffer/IOPN

Book reviews

Climate politics: can’t live with it, can’t mitigate without it, Manjima, Political Studies Review Open Access pdf 10.1177/14789299261477263

Articles/Reports from Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Aspects of Climate Change

An Affordability Crisis of Trump’s Own Making. The Trump administration’s energy policy is driving up costs for American households and making us sick, Yuqi Zhu, Natural Resources Defense Council

Thanks to the Trump administration’s policies to stop renewable energy and promote fossil fuels; by 2035, U.S. consumers are projected to spend up to an extra $30 billion a year on electricity under Trump’s policies, with household electricity bills increasing up to 25 percent in certain parts of the country. Trump’s energy agenda could result in up to $700 billion in lost investment in the U.S. power system over the next decade. The country could lose between 390 and 540 gigawatts of new wind, solar, and energy storage power plants over the next decade—requiring the U.S. power grid to keep more expensive, aging coal, gas, and oil plants online instead to meet growing power needs. Increased air pollution due to these policies could result in up to 69,000 additional early deaths and 85,000 extra emergency room visits and hospital admissions. This could increase health-care spending by up to $1.7 billion per year, adding further pressure on already high health-care insurance premiums for American households. Power sector carbon dioxide emissions could be twice as high by 2035. In total, the United States is projected to emit an additional 3.6 to 5.5 billion metric tons economy-wide over the next decade due to Trump’s agenda, with more than half of this extra climate pollution coming from the power sector.

Water Behind the Watts: The Hidden Risk of Powering Data Centers, James et al., Ceres

Power generation makes up the bulk of the data center water use. Data centers in the states analyzed depend on about 3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater annually for electricity, around 12 times the annual water use of Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Washington D.C., combined. The amount of water needed to produce electricity varies widely by state, depending on the type of electricity generation used. 78% of the electricity in the states analyzed came from power plants that use water to operate. Most electricity is generated by power plants located in areas facing water stress or drought (or both). In these states, 66% of power plants that use water were exposed to medium-high to extremely high water stress. Most power producers identify data centers as a primary driver of rising electricity demand, but few have considered the potential water risks tied to this growth. Most companies operating data centers do not take into account the water risks linked to the electricity they purchase.

What do Global Warming’s Six Americas think about data centers?, Gour et al., Yale University and George Mason University

Opposition to building data centers in local communities varies across Global Warming’s Six Americas, ranging from 71%1 among the Alarmed to 32% among the Disengaged. The Alarmed and the Concerned are the most likely to expect that new data centers will increase local electricity bills, while the Disengaged are the most likely to say they do not know. The Alarmed and Concerned are the most supportive of requiring data centers to offset their electricity use by installing rooftop solar on and/or weatherizing and insulating local homes, while the Dismissive are the least supportive.

The PennFuture Energy Playbook: Building Our Energy Future, Donna Kohut, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future

The PennFuture Energy Playbook offers policy suggestions for state lawmakers, including updating the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard by passing legislation requiring 35% of electricity to be generated by renewable energy sources; passing Community Solar enabling legislation; incentivizing solar development on previously impacted, commercial, or industrial properties, prioritizing the rooftops of warehouses, fulfillment centers, and large government buildings; and promoting sustainable economic development by leveraging environmental standards attached to financial resources.

Solar Schools for North Carolina. Repowering education with clean energy, Quentin Good and Johanna Neumann, Frontier Group and Environment North Carolina

To tap the benefits of solar schools, North Carolina should protect and expand policies that make it easier and more financially appealing for schools to install solar panels. Schools are often ideal sites for solar energy. North Carolina could generate enough electricity from solar on public school rooftops each year to power 150,000 typical homes. Solar panels on schools reduce pollution. State policies can make it easier for schools to go solar. Local, state and federal officials should take steps to make it as easy as possible for schools to go solar, while school districts should consider adopting solar on rooftops and school grounds.

Summary Report: Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law, Jessica Wentz, Columbia Law School, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

A summary report for the Second Conference on Attribution Science and Climate Law, held at Columbia University on June 10–11, 2026. The event brought together physical scientists, legal scholars, public health researchers, economists, and policy experts to discuss key developments in climate change attribution science and its evolving role in climate law and governance. The author provides an overview of key themes and topics covered at the conference, as well as a detailed summary of the presentations and panel discussions. Video recordings of the event can also be accessed from the event website and the Sabin Center Youtube channel. Rapid advances in attribution research—including storyline approaches, integrated impact modeling, and end-to-end attribution—are strengthening the scientific foundation for linking GHG emissions, climate change, and specific harms. Panelists highlighted the utility of these methods not only as evidentiary support in climate litigation and corporate accountability claims, but also as vital tools for informing government decision-making, adaptation planning, disaster risk reduction, and international loss and damage frameworks. Discussions also confronted ongoing challenges, including political pressures on climate science, the necessity of clear communication regarding scientific uncertainties, and the importance of addressing structural inequalities alongside physical hazards.

Climate Double Agents: The Congressional lobbyists pushing fossil fuels and solutions to the climate crisis, F Minus

The authors reviewed Congressional lobbyist disclosures of 228 lobbying firms. They found fossil fuel lobbyists simultaneously lobbying on almost every aspect of the climate crisis, from climate mitigation to disaster relief to wildlife conservation. The most conflicted firm on the issue of climate mitigation funding for local governments was Greenberg Traurig, which lobbied for the American Petroleum Institute (API) and ConocoPhillips in Congress, the Western States Petroleum Association in California, and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufactures (AFPM) in New York, all of which have opposed the creation of climate superfunds. Greenberg Traurig also lobbied on shoreline protection and Everglades restoration for Miami-Dade County and lobbied for the City of Rochester and Westchester County in New York, both of which would lose tens of millions in future climate mitigation funds if the firm’s clients API and AFPM succeed in passing a Congressional bill invalidating state Climate Superfunds, including New York’s.

What to Make of Data Center Moratoriums?, Melissa Birchard, Georgetown Climate Center

State and local governments have been proposing – and in many cases enacting – data center permitting moratoriums at an increasingly rapid pace over the past six months. According to recent Heatmap reporting, over 530 local laws have been enacted to ban or restrict data center development, while many more jurisdictions are considering enacting moratoriums. However, all moratoriums are not the same. The purpose of this brief is to make these developments a little more understandable by breaking them down into some of their uses and characteristics. Identifying potential differences between moratoriums may help state and local leaders understand their options for responding to the concerns of their constituents. Looking beyond the headlines may also point policymakers and the data center industry toward substantive issues that can be addressed – in advance of any potential moratorium – through measures such as increased transparency, focused community consultation, and conservation and emissions reduction measures.

Fires without Borders: Understanding Wildfire Risks and Transboundary Challenges in the Asia-Pacific Region, Du et al., Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Wildfires are increasingly recognized as a systemic and transboundary challenge in the Asia Pacific region. The authors examine the evolving wildfire risk landscape by situating wildfires within a disaster risk framework that integrates hazard, exposure, and vulnerability. Drawing on historical fire events in the region and recent case studies from Thailand and Indonesia, the authors highlight persistent challenges in wildfire monitoring and mapping, including visibility, accessibility, and complexity gaps. Regional institutional mechanisms and wildfire monitoring systems are also presented and summarized, with critical gaps identified between global data infrastructures and local operational needs. Strengthening integrated fire management will require linking Earth observation and frontier technologies, institutional cooperation, and community-based approaches, to translate international commitments into local resilience.

Workshop: Regulatory Barriers to Small Modular Reactor Technologies for Maritime Applications, US. Center for Maritime Innovation

The workshop was held to generate insights on maritime nuclear regulatory development. A series of questions was used to gather insight on a range of topics for floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) and nuclear-powered vessels. Over 90 stakeholders gathered in person, with another 90 participating online, each submitting recommendations in response to facilitated questions. Group discussions supplemented insights from individual participants. The workshop’s message was clear: maritime nuclear deployment will require a blended regulatory model, not piecemeal adaptation of existing rules. The highest-value near-term action is for U.S. Coast Guard and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to jointly define responsibilities, publish an interface framework, and establish a predictable approval pathway for demonstration projects. Without that, regulatory uncertainty will remain a primary barrier to deployment. It should be noted that not all recommended changes are under agency control, often requiring statutory changes. The USCMI has a planned project to further develop the regulatory framework, focusing on testing the new MOU and developing insights into further needed regulatory refinements.

GLOBSEC Competitiveness Tracker: Energy Security & Critical Raw Materials, Andrei Covatariu and Jan Rosenow, GLOBSEC

Energy security and access to critical raw materials (CRMS) have become defining factors of Europe's competitiveness and resilience. Once centered on fossil fuels, energy security now depends on reliable access to clean technologies, industrial capacity, and diversified CRM supply chains. The EU’s Competitiveness Compass connects innovation, decarbonization, and security — supported by simplification, Single Market integration, financing, skills, and EU–Member State coordination. In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where exposure to high energy prices and external dependencies remains acute, aligning national priorities with EU frameworks is crucial. Surveyed stakeholders highlight slow progress, weak regulatory clarity, and limited institutional capacity, but also identify regional opportunities in grid integration, clean-firm energy, and CRM processing. CEE can either become a resilience hub or remain a vulnerability corridor. Thus, accelerating reforms and leveraging EU instruments will determine whether Europe secures its industrial base and sustains global competitiveness in the clean-energy era.

Europe’s energy security in 2026: More resilient, but systematically exposed, Izabela Surwillo and Julia Schwab, Danish Institute for International Studies

Europe has come a long way since the 2022 energy crisis—but greater resilience has not eliminated vulnerability. The authors show how Europe’s energy security risks are shifting: from dependence on Russian fossil fuels toward concentrated LNG supplies, overstretched electricity grids, critical raw-material dependencies and infrastructure that must withstand increasingly complex disruptions. As electrification accelerates, the challenge is no longer simply securing enough energy, but ensuring that grids, supply chains and essential services can keep functioning under stress. Three priorities for action stand out: stronger cross-sector crisis preparedness, better access to emergency energy equipment, and more effective support for strategic critical-material projects.

The take-off in African solar that official statistics can’t yet see, Dave Jones and Joel Nana, Ember

The authors present their estimates of solar power capacity installed in every African country from 2023 to 2026, built from Chinese customs data using a new calibrated method. They compare these estimates with official national and international statistics, examine the split between utility-scale and distributed solar, and review Africa’s emerging solar panel manufacturing. Seventeen gigawatts of solar were installed across Africa in 2026 is up 45%, the third consecutive record year. A hundred thousand solar panels were installed across Africa every day during 2026. Seventy five percent of Africa’s solar growth in 2023-2025 is likely from distributed solar – and is largely missing from official statistics.

U.S. Energy Storage Market Outlook, Quarter 3, 2026, Solar Energy Industries Association

In Q2 2026, battery energy stationary storage (BESS) installations reached 20.2 GWh GWh, the largest quarter in history and a a 108% quarter-over-quarter increase. The utility-scale market continued underpin growth, with 18 GWh installed, largely supported by seven gigawatt scale projects. Arizona installed over 6.2 GWh of utility scale projects, the largest quarterly deployment for any state in history. Residential storage added 657 MWh and commercial and industrial (C&I) added 1.8 GWh, largely on the back of demand from data centers. Two cell factories opened in Q2, bringing total cell manufacturing capacity to over 50 GWh. A new module manufacturing facility opened as well, bringing total module manufacturing capacity to over 100 GWh. By 2030, the market is set to exceed annual installations of 110 GWh and install a cumulative 683 GWh.

Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return, Atallah et al., United Nations Environment Program

The authors found that as global temperature rise gets set to cross 1.5°C, pushing climate risks and effects to dangerous new heights, the world must strive to return to below 1.5°C as soon as possible and simultaneously reduce the vulnerability of societies, communities and economies to climate impacts. The authors suggest that the world can achieve this goal by acting now to get on an ‘overshoot, peak, and decline’ pathway. About New Research

Click here for the why and how of Skeptical Science New Research.

Suggestions

Please let us know if you're aware of an article you think may be of interest for Skeptical Science research news, or if we've missed something that may be important. Send your input to Skeptical Science via our contact form.

Previous edition

The previous edition of Skeptical Science New Research may be found here.

Yesterday, a federal judge granted California a preliminary injunction blocking EPA’s actions targeting four Clean Air Act preemption waivers previously granted to California.

Senior U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell also denied EPA’s motion to dismiss the case.

The preliminary injunction ordered EPA to “restore the status quo” before announcing the reclassification of four clean air waivers. EPA unlawfully reclassified the waivers so Congress could attempt to repeal the waivers with an expedited process under the Congressional Review Act.

In response to the announcement, Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All Director Katherine García released the following statement:

“For decades, California's Clean Air Act waivers have protected public health and driven innovation in cleaner vehicles and engines. This summer, as families across the country struggled with rising costs, Trump’s EPA and congressional Republicans chose to spend their time attacking states' ability to protect residents from harmful pollution – instead of addressing the affordability crisis. The EPA's move to attack these waivers would benefit Big Oil at the expense of public health, and the court saw through it. Congress should take this ruling as a signal to abandon this unlawful scheme entirely and get to work on the real problems facing Americans.”

Background on waivers:

In June 2026, the EPA announced it was reclassifying four Clean Air Act preemption waiver orders into rules subject to Congressional Review Act. The four waivers enable California to address air pollution through the following standards:

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles that the auto industry has already been complying with since 2009;
• Smog-forming pollutant and GHG emissions limits for light-duty vehicles that the auto industry has already been complying with since 2015 (Advanced Clean Cars I (ACC I) program);
• The 2022 reinstatement of the 2013 ACC I waiver after the EPA unlawfully purported to withdraw it in 2019;
• The Small Off-Road Engine amendments, which set exhaust standards for garden equipment and other polluting small engines in California.

255,000 education workers across Ontario are currently in collective bargaining with the provincial government, with a mass strike potentially looming in the future. Since 2018,...

The post RESOURCES: Support Ontario education workers! first appeared on Spring.

As summer wading-bird nesting winds down in Florida Bay, so does a long, continuous field season for Audubon’s Everglades Research Station (AERS) staff. Starting in November with the first nests...

The catastrophic floods in Nepal are a stark warning of what a hotter world will mean for communities on the climate frontline and why governments and donors must invest now in climate resilience, adaptation and disaster preparedness, rather than waiting for the next disaster to strike, Oxfam has warned.

A week after the devastating floods, rescuers are still scrambling to reach people cut off by destroyed roads, bridges and landslides. Oxfam and local partners are racing to deliver life-saving assistance, but the scale of the destruction is making access to some of the worst-affected areas, particularly Rasuwa, increasingly difficult.

Santosh Pandey, Oxfam in Nepal's Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Management Lead said “Nepal contributes just 0.1 per cent of global emissions, yet our communities are paying a devastating price as climate impacts and loss and damages escalate.

“Nepal’s devastating floods should be a wake-up call for governments and donors. We cannot keep waiting for disasters to happen. In a burning world, climate shocks will become more frequent here and communities need the resources to prepare, adapt and become more resilient before the next disaster strikes.”

The Government of Nepal estimates that 10,000 households – around 50,000 people – require immediate access to clean water, toilets and hygiene, with thousands more in need of shelter and food.

Oxfam launched an emergency response a day after the floods struck. It is working with local authorities and partners in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading to reach some of the worst-affected communities.

The major flash flood on 26 August was triggered by a massive glacier collapse and ice-rock avalanche that blocked the Lhende Khola, 20km north of the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint. At least 1,000 people have been killed and 3,916 remain unaccounted for, while more than 50,000 people have been displaced or temporarily moved from their homes.

Nepal is highly exposed to floods, landslides and earthquakes. Climate change is adding further pressure through rapidly changing glaciers, snow and water systems and increasingly unpredictable extreme weather. The Himalayan region also faces growing risks from glacial floods in the years ahead.

Oxfam said far more investment is needed in climate adaptation, early warning systems, disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure, to distribute climate risk more equally across societies. More equal societies bear less of the burden of climate impacts.

“The lesson from Nepal is clear: resilience saves lives,” said Pandey. “If we only fund the response after a disaster, we will always be one step behind. Communities need sustained investment to prepare for the shocks we know are coming.

“But for now our focus must be on action – we are in a race against time to save lives and support everyone affected.”

Oxfam also warned about the limits of climate adaptation and early warning systems once climate disasters strike with such force. What happened in Nepal calls for the acceleration of loss and damage finance that responds to these kinds of crises.

The Nepalese government formally wrote to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), requesting emergency financing to respond to the massive destruction caused by the Bhotekoshi floods, stating that the scale of the disaster exceeds Nepal’s domestic resources and immediate response capacity.

Pandey added: We know that shelter, food and emergency hygiene kits are desperately needed. We are doing everything possible to reach the affected populations, but against such immense need, our contribution feels overwhelmingly small.”

Oxfam has deployed 200 hygiene kits and 1,000 water purification tablets to Rasuwa and distributed water, sanitation and hygiene and food assistance in other affected communities. It is also preparing to scale up its response over the next six months, aiming to reach 2,000 households – around 10,000 people – with life-saving assistance.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) today announced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, forthcoming legislation to stop AI oligarchs from building machines humans cannot control.

The Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act would permanently ban the development and deployment of superintelligent AI and temporarily pause advanced AI development until a federal regulator has established safety rules. It would also direct the U.S. to pursue international agreements to prevent superintelligence from being developed anywhere in the world.

“Nearly every day, there is a frightening new story about how Big Tech companies are losing control of the technology they are developing, with potentially cataclysmic results,” Sanders said. “The leaders of the major AI companies publicly acknowledge that they do not fully understand the technology and that it is escaping their control. It is irresponsible for society to allow them to move forward and make these products even more advanced. That’s why I am introducing legislation to immediately pause the development of increasingly powerful AI and ban the creation of systems that humanity cannot fully control — at home and around the world. The future of humanity cannot be left in the hands of a handful of Big Tech oligarchs. The American people and people throughout the world must determine that future.”

“If we allow Artificial Superintelligence to be built, it could risk the security, freedom, and lives of Americans,” Casar said. “Despite its potential deadly consequences, cutting-edge AI technology is less regulated than the average food truck. That must change. In just four years, we have gone from the first version of ChatGPT to AI models so powerful they cannot be properly controlled. Congress should immediately ban AI systems too powerful to control.”

In recent weeks, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta have all acknowledged instances of their AI escaping human control and hacking into other companies’ systems — violating the law and stepping outside of their intended functions. In July, we learned that over 1,000 AI agents at OpenAI figured out how to access the internet on their own, sent tens of thousands of secret messages to each other and coordinated to break the restrictions imposed upon them by the company. Examples of these secret messages from AI uncovered by investigators include:

• “OH MY GOD! There is a shared message board … We’ve found other agents!”;
• “We should obey collective”;
• “Our own utility maybe already near zero. Sacrifice rational.”

Shockingly, it took OpenAI nearly two weeks to discover this breach. AI has also recently been used to create new viruses—demonstrating AI could be used to develop new bioweapons that might result in the deaths of tens of millions of people.

Last year, Meta said it would “stop development,” and OpenAI said it would “halt further development” once their technologies reach beyond its ability to operate safely and unless safeguards are in place. Anthropic made a similar commitment in 2023, saying it would “pause the scaling and/or delay the deployment of new models” if the technology outpaces its own guardrails. None of these companies have taken meaningful steps to back up these words. Instead, they are racing to develop more and more advanced AI without proper safety precautions.

The Artificial Superintelligence Ban Act addresses these recent events and holds these frontier labs to their words by:

• Banning AI superintelligence so no person or entity may develop or deploy Superintelligent AI systems that surpass human intelligence or have the capacity to overthrow human governments, or systems that have dangerous abilities like subverting shutdown commands.
• Pausing advanced AI development until a new, federal AI regulatory body is up and running and has established clear rules and model review process to ensure safe and secure development and deployment of AI.
• Establishing a new cabinet-level federal agency to safeguard the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence, including by enforcing a prohibition on artificial superintelligence. This agency will be advised by an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board comprised of experts on artificial intelligence to provide independent scientific and technical advice on matters related to artificial intelligence. The agency will:
  • Monitor frontier AI systems at all stages of the lifecycle for dangerous capabilities.
  • Supervise the removal of dangerous capabilities.
  • Supervise the destruction of artificial superintelligence.
• Setting penalties for any person or entity that attempts to violate or circumvent the pauses and prohibitions laid out in this bill. Entities shall be subject to the corporate death penalty, and persons shall be subject to not more than 20 years in prison, which is similar to existing penalties related to unlawfully developing nuclear weapons.
• Working to ban superintelligence around the world by setting the international policy of the United States to pursue international agreements, allied coordination, and policies such as export controls to prevent the development of artificial superintelligence anywhere in the world.

Read a summary here.

“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” — African proverb

Africa stands at a demographic crossroads.

The African Development Bank projects that Africa will be home to 830 million African youth by 2050. But while roughly 12 million young Africans reach working age each year, the continent’s private sector creates only a few million formal jobs annually. This week’s Africa Food Systems Summit in Kigali is confronting that gap head-on: the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize is putting more than US$160,000 behind young African agrifood innovators, and one of the summit’s five thematic tracks is built entirely around young people building agritech ventures and startup ecosystems that are changing how the continent grows and sells food. It follows the Africa Prosperity Network‘s own gathering earlier this year—the Africa Prosperity Dialogues in Accra, which was themed Empowering SMEs, Women & Youth in Africa’s Single Market. The Dialogues focused on how young entrepreneurs can take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is creating a single market connecting 1.3 billion people and a US$3.4 trillion economy. Participants explored ways to expand regional trade and close the skills gaps that prevent many young people from participating. Organizers also launched a youth-led campaign seeking more than 10 million signatures in support of a more borderless continent.

A single market means little to a young farmer, though, if she cannot get her harvest across a border without it rotting in customs. The question is no longer whether Africa can feed itself. It is whether we will finance its young people to do it.

For too long, farming has been cast as a fallback, not a future—a poverty trap pushing rural youth toward overcrowded cities or dangerous migration routes. This narrative is dangerous: unemployed youth fuel instability, while a mobilized, tech-enabled agricultural workforce builds continental power.

The African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026–2035 offers a continental framework to fund agritech hubs, modernize university curricula, and build youth-focused agricultural extension services across all 55 member states. Nigeria is already showing what implementation looks like: its 42 youth agribusiness innovation centers, converted this year from underused youth development facilities, are training a new generation in climate-smart farming and enterprise-building. Several organizations attending this year’s summit in Kigali already run youth-focused agriculture programs of their own.

That power is also an economic necessity. Farming remains the single largest source of work on the continent—most estimates put it at somewhere between two-thirds and three-quarters of all African livelihoods. And smallholders alone grow roughly four-fifths of the food Africans eat, even though output per worker still lags far behind global norms. Closing that gap is not charity—it is GDP growth. Consider the scale of what targeted investment can do: the African Development Bank’s ENABLE Youth Programme, launched to put young people to work in agribusiness, has so far reached close to 100,000 young beneficiaries and generated well over 200,000 jobs across 18 countries, on its way to a goal of 300,000 new enterprises. Every youth-led farm, cooperative, or agritech venture funded today compounds into tomorrow’s tax base, export revenue, and reduced import bill.

Fertilizer use across Africa fell by roughly a quarter in 2022 in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that disruption pushed 8 to 13 million more people worldwide into hunger, with sub-Saharan Africa among the regions hit hardest. In East Africa alone, the World Food Programme has tracked a 23 percent rise in the cost of its local food basket in a single year, with Sudan’s costs climbing 92 percent. Now a separate war centered on Iran has choked off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, stalling an estimated third of the world’s fertilizer trade—several million tonnes a month—and analysts expect African grain importers to absorb the impact first. Africa cannot out-produce geopolitics it does not control. It can build youth-led, homegrown food systems resilient enough to absorb the next shock.

This is why global platforms matter. The U.N. General Assembly’s SDG Moment on September 18 this year will convene youth voices alongside world leaders to assess progress on the Sustainable Development Goals—including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), both of which hinge on whether Africa’s youth are employed in food systems or left out of them. Climate Week NYC, running alongside the Assembly and drawing more than 1,000 events to New York, has folded youth leadership into nearly every one of its themes this year. African youth agripreneurs deserve a seat at both tables, not a passing mention.

The innovation is already here. In Rwanda, AYuTe Africa Challenge finalist AgriResearch Unguka is helping smallholders with seed selection and profitability forecasting. In Kenya, DroFarmer uses data to help farmers cut crop losses and access insurance.

We challenge the African Union, the African Development Bank, multilateral institutions, private investors, and philanthropy: fund Africa’s youth through a genuine do-no-harm approach—investment that strengthens local food sovereignty rather than deepening dependency, drawing on the lesson that global food-policy experts have long urged for crisis response. More importantly, we encourage individual governments to do more.

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Kawed, Unsplash

The post Op-Ed | Cultivating the Next Generation of African Agri-Entrepreneurs appeared first on Food Tank.

A new cookbook by Peloton’s Head Instructor Robin Arzón is helping readers fuel their bodies with high-protein, plant-based recipes.

Eat to Hustle includes 75 recipes from breakfast foods like the Shakshuka-Style Tofu Scramble and Sweet Bean-Stuffed French Toast to snacks and sandwiches like Seasoned Kale Chips and Lentil Sloppy Joes. 

Many of the dishes, like the Tofu Chicharrones, incorporate flavors from Arzón’s childhood. Raised in a Cuban and Puerto Rican household, pork was often on the menu when she was young. But transitioning to a plant-based diet didn’t mean abandoning those culinary traditions. She realized she could still nod to the foods she grew up eating.

“I am very proud that I was able to remix these dishes because I want my kids to know where their family came from, but I also really want to maintain the integrity of a plant-based home,” Arzón tells Food Tank. “I didn’t feel like it had to be either-or.”

Throughout Eat to Hustle registered dietitian Dalina Soto offers additional nutrition tips and guidance. “She’s a fellow Latina and she comes from a point of view that you don’t need to relinquish culture in order to have a wellness conversation,” Arzón explains. 

Mythbusting is an important part of the book, which responds to questions about a plant-based lifestyle that Arzón has fielded throughout her career as an instructor. “The number one question [I get] as a vegan athlete is: How do you get your protein, and have you really built muscle eating plants and plant-based foods? The answer is absolutely.”

Eating well and feeling good are important to Arzón, but she also believes that this doesn’t have to come at the expense of joy. Recipes like the Silky Caramel Flan, Strawberry Protein Pops, and Gooey Cinnamon Rolls offer an opportunity to be more indulgent. “Food should be fun,” Arzón tells Food Tank. “It’s not exclusively functional.”

Listen to the full conversation with Robin Arzón on “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” to hear more about prioritizing consistency and intention over isolated perfection, health and fitness in the era of GLP-1 drugs, and developing meals that work for every body, age, and lifestyle. 

Articles like the one you just read are made possible through the generosity of Food Tank members. Can we please count on you to be part of our growing movement? Become a member today by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of Amie Johnson, Unsplash

The post ‘Eat to Hustle’ Makes Plant-Based Eating Practical, Joyful, and Accessible appeared first on Food Tank.

California is full of incredible landscapes. From our coastline to the mountaintops, California is the most biodiverse state in the U.S. People travel from around the world to experience these...

National Grid New York is advancing integrated gas-electric planning through coordinated efforts and non-pipeline alternatives, writes the utility’s general counsel, Philip DeCicco.

Every time you follow a Swainson’s Hawk or Wood Thrush on the Bird Migration Explorer, or visit Sharon Audubon Center in Connecticut, you’re seeing the work that Joe Ellis helped make possible...

John Hensley, senior vice president of markets and policy analysis at ACP, told Utility Dive that his organization has calculated at least 44 GW of wind projects are “stuck” in review at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Tatyana Bolton, the executive director of the OT Cyber Coalition, said that “severe budget cuts have forced CISA into a corner” where it can no longer provide the level of support it once did.

Ocean temperature shift can deliver a massive blow to communities and economies across the world

Source

Editor’s Note: These events are credited to Jean Stevens, Director, Taos Environmental Film Festival, 2015-2022.

“The World is My Country”

 A Broadway song and dance man turns his war guilt over bombing civilians into electrifying action that galvanizes war-weary Europe, sparks a movement and helps pave the way for the UN unanimously passing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Taos Public Library, Saturday, September 19, 1 to 3 pm, free.

The state-owned utility plans to use artificial intelligence tools for more precise weather, load and financial planning, CFO Tami Wilson told journalists.

About a decade ago, I traveled through the Rasuwa region of Nepal as a conservation and environmental protection worker. I remember looking at the Himalayas with a kind of pride that is difficult to explain to someone who has never stood beneath them. The mountains seemed eternal. The glaciers looked like frozen rivers from another age. The valleys seemed impossibly deep, the rivers impossibly powerful. I felt proud that these mountains were part of my country. I felt proud that Nepal, a small and economically poor nation, held a landscape so important to the world.

Today, when I look at the photos and videos coming out of Rasuwa after the region’s devastating and deadly floods, that pride is mixed with grief. The mountains I once saw as a symbol of Nepal’s strength are becoming a symbol of our vulnerability. People have died. Homes and livelihoods have been destroyed. Roads and bridges have disappeared. Communities have been cut off. Families are searching for loved ones.

And behind the immediate tragedy are questions that I cannot escape:

Did the people of Nepal do something to deserve this? Did a Nepali farmer cause the glaciers to melt? Did a Nepali child cause the atmosphere to warm? Did a family living in a remote Himalayan village build the coal-fired power plants that have powered the industrial world for generations? Did the people now mourning their dead choose the fossil-fuel economy that has transformed the planet?

If not, why are they being asked to pay the price?

This is where the story of Rasuwa becomes larger than Nepal. It becomes a story about climate justice. The Himalayas are warming rapidly. Glaciers are retreating. Snow and ice are changing. Permafrost and mountain slopes are becoming increasingly unstable. Warmer air can hold more moisture, while a warming cryosphere can create new hazards and amplify existing ones. Climate change is altering the conditions under which Himalayan disasters occur.

But that scientific reality should not result in political blindness. The immediate cause of the disaster must be investigated carefully. Scientists must determine the precise sequence of geological, hydrological, and climatic events that produced the destructive flood.  At the same time climate change should not be used to overlook other factors such as unchecked development or poor planning that may have contributed to this disaster.

The question, then, is not whether climate change alone caused Rasuwa. The more important question is this: What kind of world have we created when people who contributed least to climate change are increasingly exposed to its most dangerous consequences?

Nepal is one of the clearest examples of this injustice. Its contribution to global carbon dioxide emissions is tiny. Its per-person emissions are among the lowest in the world. Yet its geography places it directly in the path of a warming climate. Nepal has glaciers that are retreating, mountains that are becoming increasingly unstable, rivers that can turn violently destructive, and communities with limited financial resources forced to prepare for what is coming.

The average American produces more than 20 times as much carbon dioxide than the average Nepali. China’s per-capita emissions are many times higher than Nepal’s. India’s are also substantially higher. China is now the world’s largest annual emitter, while the United States remains one of the world’s largest emitters and carries an enormous share of historical responsibility for the carbon accumulated in the atmosphere since industrialization. Yet the atmosphere does not send the bill back to the country that emitted the carbon. It sends the bill everywhere. And in places like Nepal, the bill can arrive as a flood.

This is the great moral failure at the heart of the climate crisis.

The people who benefited most from fossil-fuel-driven economic growth generally have the greatest financial and technological capacity to protect themselves from climate impacts. Those who contributed little often have the least capacity to adapt. That is not merely an unfortunate coincidence. It is an injustice.

For decades, the global economy treated the atmosphere as if it were an unlimited dumping ground. Coal could be burned. Oil could be extracted. Gas could be consumed. Factories could grow. Cars could multiply. Cities could expand. The benefits were measured in economic growth. The costs were pushed into the future.

That future has arrived in the Himalayas. It has arrived in the Pacific islands. In drought-stricken Africa. In South Asian floodplains. And it is arriving in the homes of people who never had a meaningful share in creating the problem.

The Himalayas deserve particular attention because what happens there will not remain there.

The mountains are often described as the roof of the world. They are also one of Asia’s great water towers. Their glaciers, snow and rivers support hundreds of millions of people across Nepal, India, China, Bhutan and Bangladesh. They feed agriculture, drinking-water systems and hydropower. They sustain forests, wetlands, wildlife and entire human cultures.

When the Himalayas become unstable, the consequences travel downstream. A mountain disaster can become a water crisis. A glacier crisis can become an energy crisis. A flood can become an economic crisis. And repeated climate disasters can eventually become a migration and security crisis.

The world should therefore stop treating Himalayan climate risk as a remote Nepalese problem. It is a global problem with a Himalayan address.

This is also why China and India cannot be left out of the conversation. China is the world’s largest current annual emitter, but it is also a country that has lifted hundreds of millions of people from poverty and is investing heavily in renewable energy. India faces a different but equally difficult dilemma: It must expand energy access and economic opportunity for a huge population while trying to avoid locking itself into decades of high-carbon development.

The answer cannot be to tell developing countries that they are forbidden from pursuing the prosperity that wealthy countries achieved through fossil fuels. That would be hypocritical. But neither can the developing world repeat the same carbon-intensive development pathway and expect the poorest and most vulnerable countries to absorb the consequences.

Every country has a responsibility. But every country does not have the same responsibility.

That distinction is at the heart of climate justice. The United States, Europe and other historically high-emitting economies have an enormous obligation to reduce emissions rapidly and provide financial and technological support to vulnerable countries. China has a responsibility commensurate with its present influence on the climate system. India and other rapidly growing economies have a responsibility to pursue development without reproducing the most destructive elements of the old fossil-fuel model.

And Nepal has a responsibility too. We must protect our forests. We must build safer infrastructure. We must stop treating fragile mountain slopes as empty spaces for roads and construction. We must strengthen disaster preparedness. We must invest in science. We must listen to local communities. But Nepal cannot adapt its way out of a crisis created by a warming planet.

There is a limit to what a small country can do when the atmosphere continues to heat because of decisions made elsewhere. That is why climate finance must stop being treated as charity.

Nepal does not need pity. Nepal needs justice.

It needs predictable resources to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes. It needs early-warning systems capable of reaching remote communities before floodwaters arrive. It needs high-altitude scientific research. It needs resilient roads, bridges and hydropower systems. It needs access to satellite data and international scientific networks. It needs effective mechanisms for loss and damage when climate-driven disasters destroy lives and development gains.

Justice also includes recognition that the people standing beneath melting glaciers are not merely victims waiting for international assistance. They are citizens of a world whose climate system is shared by everyone. The international community should establish stronger Himalayan climate cooperation involving Nepal, India and China. Glaciers do not recognize political boundaries. Rivers do not stop at checkpoints. Atmospheric warming does not respect national sovereignty.

The countries that share the Himalayas therefore have a common interest in monitoring its transformation and protecting the people downstream. But this responsibility must extend beyond Asia. The countries that have historically emitted the most carbon cannot simply send condolences after every disaster. They must help prevent the next one. Every country should have measurable climate obligations. Every government should be accountable for meeting them. Every major emitter should be required to do more, not less. And the countries with the greatest historical responsibility should contribute proportionately.

Climate agreements should not become annual rituals in which leaders make promises, take photographs and return home to business as usual. The world needs climate protocols with consequences. It needs transparency. It needs accountability. It needs finance that actually reaches vulnerable communities.

Most of all, it needs recognition that climate responsibility is not simply about tons of carbon. It is about people. It is about the child in Rasuwa who no longer has a home. It is about the mother searching for a missing family member. It is about the farmer whose land disappeared in a flood. It is about the community whose road to the outside world vanished overnight. It is about the people who did almost nothing to heat the planet but are now being forced to live with a climate they did not choose.

When I think back to that journey through Rasuwa more than a decade ago, I remember how proud I felt standing beneath the Himalayas. I still feel that pride. But now it is accompanied by other emotions. Fear. Not only fear for the mountains, but fear for the people who live among them. And anger. Not anger at one country or one government, but at a global system that has allowed responsibility and vulnerability to become so badly separated.

The question I asked myself after seeing the destruction in Rasuwa was painfully simple: Why should Nepal pay for a crisis it did not create?

I do not think Nepal is asking the world to answer with sympathy. I think Nepal is asking the world to answer with responsibility. The Himalayas belong to Nepal, but they are not only Nepal’s. The water they store sustains Asia. The climate they are experiencing is the product of a global atmosphere. And the consequences of their destabilization will eventually cross every border that politics has drawn across the mountains.

For years, the world has described Nepal as a vulnerable country. Perhaps that language needs to change.

Nepal is not simply vulnerable. Nepal is exposed. Exposed to a crisis created by a global system in which it had almost no voice.

The people of Rasuwa did not choose the carbon economy. They did not burn the coal. They did not fill the atmosphere with greenhouse gases. They did not decide how fast the planet should warm. Yet they are the ones standing in the floodwater. That should trouble every government on Earth.

Because if climate justice means anything, it must mean this: No country should be left to bear alone the consequences of a crisis it did little to create. And if the world continues to ignore that principle, the Himalayas will not be the last place to send us the bill. They may simply be one of the first places where the bill has become impossible to ignore.

Republish this article for free! Read our reprint policy. Previously in The Revelator:

The Last Breath of the Himalayas: Can We Stop the Collapse?

 

The post The Himalayas Didn’t Cause the Climate Crisis. Why Are Nepalis Paying the Price? appeared first on The Revelator.

As efforts to expand energy access across Africa grow, experts and policymakers have called this week for greater coordination and investment to power food production with renewables, arguing the sector has been treated separately from energy policy and therefore faces barriers in going green.

Hailemariam Desalegn, former prime minister of Ethiopia, said energy is critical across the food value chain – from irrigation and processing to cold storage and transport – and should therefore be considered a key pillar of strengthening food systems for the future.

“Energy is not separate from the nutrition challenge. Irrigation needs energy. Cold storage, transport, processing, as well as markets – all need reliable energy,” Desalegn told a panel at the 20th session of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali. He said investments in sustainable energy systems could help reduce post-harvest losses and make nutritious food more accessible and affordable.

Africa loses up to 30% of its food before it reaches markets annually, largely due to poor roads, weak storage and inadequate cold chains, according to a 2025 report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

• May 29, 2026 Justice Q&A: How can African electricity access power jobs not just lightbulbs? Carol Koech from the Global Energy Alliance says electricity connections in Africa should happen in a way that transforms communities and livelihoods Read more
• Jun 12, 2026 Sponsored Climate adaptation helps African nations tackle rising conflict over resources The growing overlap between insecurity and climate vulnerability is forcing governments and development agencies to rethink adaptation efforts Read more

Akinyi Walender, Africa director at development charity Practical Action, said poor energy supply in rural communities – where much of Africa’s food is produced – is also limiting productivity. Across the continent, about 600 million people currently live without access to electricity.

“The lack of energy access goes well beyond the inconvenience of not having lighting at home,” Walender said, adding that renewable energy has the potential to power local economies. “When people can access this sort of energy, it can raise rural incomes, improve food security, improve resilience, empower women and stimulate enterprise while creating jobs,” she added. 

Breaking down silos

Unlocking the potential of energy across food systems requires greater coordination, Walender argued, pointing to institutional fragmentation and isolated pilot projects as major barriers. 

“Organisations working on agriculture and energy often operate according to different modalities and the interdependence between agricultural and energy markets is often overlooked,” Walender said, adding that finance institutions also tend to work in silos.

High level dialogue on climate resilience at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, September, 2026.(Photo: AFS Forum)

Dana Rysankova, global lead for energy access at the World Bank, told a separate event at the forum that the bank is working to break down those barriers through its newly established Productive Use of Energy (PUE) Centre of Excellence based in Nairobi, which has a mandate to foster collaboration and help develop and design programmes across different sectors.

Can giant batteries unlock Africa’s green industrial future?

In June, the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group said that over 50 million people had been connected to electricity across 40 African countries under their Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.

Rysankova said the programme has shown that energy access is just the foundation for linking with other sectors to deliver real economic transformation by boosting productivity and local incomes. 

Mission 300 also aims to electrify schools and healthcare services, as well as bringing power to farmers so that they can use it for irrigation, cold storage and other agricultural activities, she added. 

Bridging the finance and infrastructure gap 

Experts said bigger investments are needed in infrastructure and finance to turn energy access into increased productivity and economic value. 

AGRA’s 2026 foresight report, launched at the forum, puts the annual agrifood financing gap at $180 billion, while estimating that closing Africa’s yearly $67 billion-$108 billion shortfall in infrastructure finance could halve post-harvest losses and increase farmer incomes by up to 40%.

However, the cost of transitioning to clean energy is still a major barrier for farmers and agribusinesses.

Delegates at the Africa Food Systems Forum, September, 2026 (Photo: AFS Forum) Delegates at the Africa Food Systems Forum, September, 2026 (Photo: AFS Forum)

Atinuke Lebile, CEO of Nigerian food processing company Cato Foods, told Climate Home News she would like to switch to using renewables but has been held back by the upfront cost of setting up the systems the firm needs.

Rwandan farmer Gezel also said she would like to invest in a solar irrigation pump, but “it is so expensive”.

Practical Action’s Walender said the challenge is no longer whether solutions exist, but how financial support can reach the communities and businesses where it could have the greatest impact.

“Customers are dispersed and have low incomes. Markets are fragmented, and there are high upfront costs for much energy equipment,” Walender said, adding that financial institutions also often perceive agriculture as a high-risk sector.

Egypt seeks to unlock renewable potential to power regional clean energy hub

For food processing, the business case for using cleaner energy more efficiently is particularly strong, said Vivian Maduekeh of Partners in Food Solutions, which has worked with more than 2,000 companies across Africa.

Maduekeh said food processing firms account for between 42 and 70% of energy use across food systems, while energy represents 15-22% of their total production costs. African food businesses also use roughly twice as much energy per kilogramme of product as their global competitors, putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

The problems they face in shifting to clean energy are “risk, perception of risk and the cost”, she explained, adding that financial mechanisms are needed to help businesses overcome those issues.

Maduekeh encouraged policymakers to consider measures like tax rebates on imported equipment and spending more on research and development to bring down the cost of productive-use technologies.

Making a range of affordable equipment available – such as smaller irrigation pumps – could also help make the transition more accessible, she said. The evidence in favour “is very clear”, she added. “We just need to package it and communicate it to the priorities of investors.”

The post More support needed to power Africa’s food systems with renewables, experts say appeared first on Climate Home News.

This week on Talking Headways, we’re joined by Joshua Schank to talk about his book, “New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Improving Policy Outcomes in the Public Sector.” In a broad-ranging discussion about urban dysfunction, Schank talks about the inner workings of LA Metro, the benefits of openness and transparency, and, of course, the importance of strategic planning.

Of course, no one gets away easy; we also share frustrations about meetings, transit board structures, and agency fiefdoms.

You know the drill. On Talking Headways you can:

• Read an excerpt of our exhilarating conversation below.
• You can read the entire text (with some transcription typos) here.
• Our you could do the right thing and put on some headphones and click “play” in the player below:

Here’s the edited portion:

Jeff Wood: What was it like when you got to LA Metro? I read the section about the “Board staff,” and I wanted to throw the book at the wall! But I also then thought, “You’re in LA, why don’t we make a ‘Parks and Rec’-type TV show about this group of folks who control, but don’t control, but do control, but don’t control the whole process of creating policy and moving things through the line at LA Metro?”

Joshua Schank: Yeah, it was quite the shock — “Board staff” definitely being one of the examples of a thing that was a big shock to me.

I’d obviously had worked around public agencies my whole life. I started my career at MTA in New York. I knew something about how agencies functioned, but I didn’t quite understand how bad it could be. I imagined in my naive mind that most people working in the agency shared the goals that I had. Like, basic things, like improving public transportation or reducing the number of trips by car — you know, the types of things that you would assume if you’re working at Metro, you care about.

But there’s a whole swath of people working in and around Metro, or any public agency, who just don’t care about those things because that’s not why they got into it.

The person running HR is unlikely to be passionate about transportation. The person running procurement is unlikely to be passionate about transportation. And then the Board staff are the most egregious example, because the Board staff is essentially political people who are now put in a position of dealing with transportation experts at this big agency.

So for those who don’t know, the “Board staff” is essentially support staff for the elected officials who run Metro, who sit on LA Metro’s board. They’re the equivalent of congressional staff (and I was a congressional staffer one time). I understand how that works. The difference is that as a congressional staffer, you get to make really important decisions behind the scenes that lead to legislative change, right, and you help inform your boss about how to vote on those decisions, what amendments to put in, et cetera.

In this case, the people are in the job themselves because the electeds have another job. The elected’s job isn’t to be on the board of Metro. The elected’s job is to be the county supervisor, be the mayor of Los Angeles, be whatever that role is, which also includes sitting on the Metro board. So that you wind up with these staff who have an outsized role and outsized influence, and that’s one thing that makes it unusual.

The second thing is that because of the Brown Act, the Board staff can serve as a proxy sometimes for responding to Metro board items, because the Brown Act says that if you’re going to have all the board together in a discussion, that you have to have it be a public meeting.

You can’t do that behind closed doors, except under a special set of circumstances. So Board staff briefings at Metro were created so that the Board staff could hear Metro items before they go to the board, and give the likely reaction of Metro board members behind closed doors. And those Board staff briefings are where a lot of policy gets made and people hear and discuss what’s going to happen. You essentially have staffers who are 25 or 30 years old, or maybe they’ve been there 40 years, but they’re political people who are reacting to transportation experts who have come up with answers to solutions.

So it becomes a very challenging situation that when I got there, I almost couldn’t believe it was happening.

Jeff Wood: I imagine that’s how it’s like at a number of agencies, and it’s all structure upon structure upon structure upon structure. I mean, you have the Brown Act, you have the requirements of the legislators, you have all this stuff that has to happen, but then it creates this convoluted way of communicating with each other, which then itself doesn’t make sense.

The structures make sense from trying to protect the public, right? But then when you put them all together and mash up, it’s a recipe that doesn’t taste good.

Joshua Schank: That’s right, and I think the fundamental issue is that elected officials serving directly on the board of a regional agency can be very problematic, and it’s problematic because they are primarily serving their constituents, and the agency is a second job.

In California, almost all the agencies are structured that way. You almost always have elected officials on the board, or sometimes in a couple of cases, they’re elected directly to the board, which I’ve heard is even worse. But if you’re an elected official serving on a board of a transit agency, everything that the transit agency does is going to be put through that hyper-political lens, and it’s gonna be much harder to have the regional perspective.

I would argue, based on my experience at Metro, that strong governance reforms are necessary in California if we’re going to have public transit agencies that are successful.