Skeptical Science New Research for Week #26 2025
Posted on 26 June 2025 by Doug Bostrom, Marc Kodack
Open access notables
Increased sea-level contribution from northwestern Greenland for models that reproduce observations, Badgeley et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The Greenland Ice Sheet has been thinning over the past several decades and is expected to contribute significantly to sea-level rise over the coming century. Ice flow models that make these projections, however, tend to underestimate the amount of mass lost from the ice sheet compared to observations, which complicates adaptation and mitigation planning in coastal regions. Here, we constrain a model of northwestern Greenland with a time series of satellite-derived surface velocity data and time-dependent physics to infer unknown ice properties. The model reproduces observed mass loss over the past 13 y within uncertainty. This model—constrained by more data—leads to about 8 to 17% greater sea-level rise contribution from this region by 2100.
Evidence of Emerging Increasing Trends in Observed Subdaily Heavy Precipitation Frequency in the United States, Mascaro et al., Geophysical Research Letters
The magnitude and frequency of heavy precipitation are expected to increase under warming temperatures caused by climate change. These trends have emerged in observational records but with much larger evidence on a daily rather than a subdaily scale. Here, we quantify long-term changes in heavy precipitation frequency in the United States using hourly observations in 1949–2020 from 332 gauges. We demonstrate that, when analyzed collectively, the frequencies of heavy precipitation at multiple durations from hourly to daily exhibit an increase that cannot be explained by natural climate variability. Upward trends are significant at ∼20%–40% of the gauges throughout the country except for the coastal western and southeastern regions, with higher percentages for longer durations. We also show that the frequency of hourly heavy precipitation has mainly grown after ∼2000, thus explaining the limited evidence of trends at the subdaily scale reported in past studies.
Giuseppe Mascaro thanks funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awards #2212702: “CAS-Climate: A Novel Process-Driven Method for Flood Frequency Analysis Based on Mixed Distributions” and #2221803: “Collaborative Research: CAS—Climate: Improving Nonstationary Intensity-Duration-Frequency Analysis of Extreme Precipitation by Advancing Knowledge on the Generating Mechanisms.”
Battery electric vehicles show the lowest carbon footprints among passenger cars across 1.5–3.0 °C energy decarbonisation pathways, Šimaitis et al., Communications Earth & Environment
Passenger car carbon footprints are highly sensitive to future energy systems, a factor often overlooked in life cycle assessment. We use a time-dependent prospective life cycle assessment to enhance carbon footprints under four 1.5–3.0 °C decarbonisation pathways for electricity, fuel, and hydrogen from an energy-based integrated assessment model. Across 5000 comparative cases, battery electric vehicles consistently have the lowest carbon footprints compared to hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles. For example, battery electric vehicles show an average 32 to 47% lower footprint than hybrid combustion in 3.0 °C and 1.5 °C climate-compatible futures, respectively. This is driven by greater projected decarbonisation of electricity compared to fossil-dominated fuels and hydrogen. Battery electric vehicles meaningfully retain their advantage for mileages over 100,000 km, even in regions with carbon-intensive electricity since these are anticipated to decarbonise the most. Although our study supports battery electric vehicles as the most reliable climate-mitigation option for passenger cars, reducing their high manufacturing footprint remains important.
Can dissent be meaningfully measured in an overwhelming consensus? A citation network case study in climate change research, Grunert, PLOS Clim ate
In scientific discourse, the prevalence of overwhelming consensus obscures the presence of dissenting views as well as their characteristics. This paper explores the potential to meaningfully measure dissent within the context of such a consensus, using climate change research as a case study. Using citation analysis to explore the dynamics of scientific publications and the reception of dissenting opinions, this project questions whether there may be a methodological framework for quantifying dissent. This study employs analysis of citation networks to assess the visibility and impact of minority viewpoints, as well as the viability of such a study. The findings indicate that because dissent in climate change research is miniscule such measurements are limited. Despite that finding, researchers on the fringe of scientific consensus have an outsized impact on social viewpoints. This project has potential to disrupt the ways researchers critically consider the relevance of dissenting research in their own fields, and to think of ways to embrace the impact of research that expands their fields.
In the face of anti-science politics, silence is not without cost, Editors, Nature
We recognize that not all scientific leaders are in a position to be able to speak out, particularly those in countries where doing so could incur a penalty — or even punishment. That is why our call is to international scientific organizations. Academies in countries where the freedom to dissent is protected should also make their concerns known. All need to be aware that silence is also not without cost.
From this week’s government/NGO section:
Information Integrity about Climate Science: A Systematic Review, Elbeyi et al., International Panel on the Information Environment
The human response to the climate crisis is being obstructed and delayed by the production and circulation of misleading information about the nature of climate change and the available solutions. The authors found that powerful actors—including corporations, governments, and political parties—intentionally spread inaccurate or misleading narratives about anthropogenic climate change. These narratives circulate across digital, broadcast, and interpersonal communication channels. The result is a decline in public trust, diminished policy coordination, and a feedback loop between scientific denialism and political inaction.
Bright side of the mine. Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint, Cheng Cheng Wu and Ryan Driskell-Tate, Global Energy Monitor
The authors conducted a worldwide survey of surface coal mines closed in the last five years (since 2020) and those forecasted to close over the next five (by the end of 2030). The first-time analysis shows that over 300 surface coal mines recently out of commission could house around 103 GW of photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity, and upcoming closures of large operations could host an additional 185 GW of solar across 127 sites (see Methodology). These abandoned coal mines are predisposed to renewables siting with grid-adjacent and even pre-cleared acreage. If these potential solar projects came to fruition, the world could build almost 300 GW of solar capacity on mined out lands by the end of 2030. Uptake on that scale is equal to 15% of the solar that has already been built globally and would add enough solar capacity to inch the world one step closer to tripling renewables before the end of the decade.
138 articles in 56 journals by 793 contributing authors
Physical science of climate change, effects
Combined emergent constraints on future extreme precipitation changes, Shiogama et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-025-60385-1
Observations of climate change, effects
Climate-induced losses of surface water and total water storage in Northeast Asia, Zhang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02449-0
Evidence of Emerging Increasing Trends in Observed Subdaily Heavy Precipitation Frequency in the United States, Mascaro et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2024gl114292
Increased frequency of planetary wave resonance events over the past half-century, Li et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2504482122
Satellite data indicates recent Arctic peatland expansion with warming, Crichton et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02375-1
Satellite data indicates recent Arctic peatland expansion with warming, Crichton et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02375-1
Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects
A comprehensive 22-year global GNSS climate data record from 5085 stations, Wang et al., Open Access 10.5194/essd-2025-283
A holistic overview of the applications of GRACE-observed terrestrial water storage in hydrology and climate science, Khorrami & Gündüz, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 10.1007/s10661-025-14207-y
Canada’s Fourth Generation of Homogenized Surface Air Temperature and its Trends for 1948–2023, Wan et al., Atmosphere Open Access 10.1080/07055900.2025.2516796
From TIROS-1 to the AI Age: 65 Years of Satellite Meteorology and the Legacy of Earth Observation, Varotsos, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar 10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106587
Improved Global Estimates of Terrestrial Evapotranspiration Using the MODIS and VIIRS Sensors, Endsley et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-24-0145.1
Trends and Variability in Global Ocean Heat Content Time Series Data for the period 2005-2035, Bilgili, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar 10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106586
Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects
A comprehensive review on the recent changes in Indian summer monsoon rainfall and its relations with global climate drivers based on the CMIP6 simulations, Varikoden et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108302
Atmospheric Excitation of Length of Day Inferred From 21st Century Climate Projections, Böhm & Salstein Salstein Salstein Salstein, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2025jd043646
Exploring the Influence of Anthropogenic forcing on Meteorological Drought pattern in East Africa: An Analysis Using CMIP6 Models, YOHANNES et al., Journal of Atmospheric and Solar 10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106569
Future Climate Changes on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Under CMIP6 Global Climate Models, Karim et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.70005
The future North Atlantic jet stream and storm track: relative contributions from sea ice and sea surface temperature changes, Köhler et al., Open Access 10.5194/egusphere-2024-3713
Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection
An improved and extended parameterization of the CO2 15 µm cooling in the middle and upper atmosphere (CO2&cool&fort-1.0), López-Puertas et al., Geoscientific Model Development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-17-4401-2024
Assessing and reducing uncertainties in future mean and extreme precipitation projections over China, Hou et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108301
Assessment of Abrupt Shifts in CMIP6 Models Using Edge Detection, Terpstra et al., AGU Advances Open Access 10.1029/2025av001698
European compound flood-heat-flood events associated with Omega patterns cannot be easily reproduced by a fully coupled model, Guo et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02481-0
Exposing Process-Level Biases in a Global Cloud Permitting Model With ARM Observations, Bogenschutz et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2024jd043059
Fingerprints of AMOC Decline Are Sensitive to External and Mechanistic Forcing, McMonigal et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl116307
Longshore Sediment Transport and Morphological Changes Under Climate Change—A Comparison Between CMIP5- and CMIP6-Derived Forcings and the Use of Wave Climate Bias Correction, Vieira da Silva et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans Open Access 10.1029/2024jc022212
Observed trend in Earth energy imbalance may provide a constraint for low climate sensitivity models, Myhre et al., Science 10.1126/science.adt0647
Stratification and overturning circulation are intertwined controls on ocean heat uptake efficiency in climate models, Vogt et al., Open Access 10.5194/egusphere-2024-3442
Tuning the ICON-A 2.6.4 climate model with machine-learning-based emulators and history matching, Bonnet et al., Geoscientific Model Development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-18-3681-2025
Cryosphere & climate change
Atlantic water recirculation in the northern Barents Sea affects winter sea ice extent, Heukamp et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-025-59992-9
Impact of Autumn Arctic Sea Ice concentration on Siberian High: Insights from causal relationship, Lin & Wang Wang, Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108268
Mapping the Composition of Antarctic Ice Shelves as a Metric for Their Susceptibility to Future Climate Change, Višnjevi? et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2024gl112585
Monitoring recent (2018–2023) glacier and rock glacier changes in Central Patagonia using high-resolution Pléiades and ALOS PRISM satellite data, Falaschi et al., Frontiers in Earth Science Open Access 10.3389/feart.2025.1601249
The First Firn Core From the Cordillera Darwin Icefield: Implications for Future Ice Core Research, Tetzner et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2024jd043124
The Utrecht Finite Volume Ice-Sheet Model (UFEMISM version 2.0) – part 1: description and idealised experiments, Berends et al., Geoscientific Model Development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-18-3635-2025
Toward a marginal Arctic sea ice cover: changes to freezing, melting and dynamics, Frew et al., The Cryosphere Open Access 10.5194/tc-19-2115-2025
Sea level & climate change
Economic impacts of sea level rise on China’s coastal provinces under different adaptation strategies, Wang et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2025.06.005
Increased sea-level contribution from northwestern Greenland for models that reproduce observations, Badgeley et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2411904122
Long-Term Sea Level and Climate Variability at Tide Gauge Stations: A Study from Türkiye, Erkoç & Do?an, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar 10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106580
Reconstructing sea level rise at global 945 tide gauges since 1900, Mu et al., Open Access 10.5194/essd-2025-300
Paleoclimate & paleogeochemistry
European mammal turnover driven by a global rapid warming event preceding the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum, Tabuce et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2505795122
Global cooling drove diversification and warming caused extinction among Carboniferous-Permian fusuline foraminifera, Zhang et al., Science Advances Open Access 10.1126/sciadv.adv2549
Processes and palaeo-environmental changes in the Arctic from past to present (PalaeoArc) – introduction, Lyså et al., Boreas Open Access 10.1111/bor.70021
Toarcian Greenhouse Warming Shifted Climate Belts Poleward With Global Change Implications, Wang et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 10.1029/2024jd043219
Biology & climate change, related geochemistry
A Global Meta-Analysis of Passive Experimental Warming Effects on Plant Traits and Community Properties, Dobson & Zarnetske, Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70306
Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Distribution Dynamics of Lysimachia Christinae in China Through MaxEnt Modeling, Xiang et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.71664
Climate change redefines sea turtle hotspots: Vessel strike risks and gaps in protected areas, Duquesne & Fournier, Science Advances 10.1126/sciadv.adw4495
Effects of marine heat waves and cold spells on a polar shallow water ecosystem, Fischer et al., Scientific Reports Open Access 10.1038/s41598-025-05621-w
Greener green and bluer blue: Ocean poleward greening over the past two decades, Zhao et al., Science 10.1126/science.adr9715
Growth rates and responses to climate and aridity of Algerian Atlas pistachio populations, Ifticene-Habani et al., Dendrochronologia 10.1016/j.dendro.2025.126326
Impact of Multiple Climate Stressors on Early Life Stages of North Pacific Kelp Species, Drakard et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.71661
Increasing Cumulative Impacts of Droughts Under Climate Change Does Not Alter the Ecosystem Resilience in India, Bejagam & Sharma, Earth’s Future Open Access 10.1029/2024ef005888
Present and Future of the White-Tailed Laurel Pigeon (Columba junoniae) on Gran Canaria Island, Albaladejo?Robles et al., Ecology and Evolution Open Access 10.1002/ece3.71580
Satellite data indicates recent Arctic peatland expansion with warming, Crichton et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02375-1
Sex-specific trade-offs influence thermoregulation under climate change, Levine et al., Ecology Open Access 10.1002/ecy.70138
Sustaining Species of the Future: Climatic Nuclei for Climate Change Adaptation, McLaughlin et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.70253
Synergies Between Agricultural Production and Shorebird Conservation With Climate Change in the Central Valley, California, With Optimized Water Allocation and Multi-Benefit Land Use, Li et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70304
Temporary Absence of Warming in the Northern Weddell Sea Validates Expected Responses of Antarctic Seals to Sea Ice Change, Dunn et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70290
The future of baleen whales: Recoveries, environmental constraints, and climate change, Stewart et al., Science Advances 10.1126/sciadv.adv8031
Various responses of global heterotrophic respiration to variations in soil moisture and temperature enhance the positive feedback on atmospheric warming, Zeng et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02423-w
Warming Enhances the Effects of Acidification on Aquatic Biota: A Global Meta-Analysis, Jian et al., Global Ecology and Biogeography 10.1111/geb.70080
Wetland Gain and Loss in the Mississippi River Bird-Foot Delta, Yang et al., Earth’s Future Open Access 10.1029/2024ef005003
Which Body Size Metrics Should Be Used for Assessing Temperature Impacts on Fish Growth and Size?, Audzijonyte et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.70296
GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry
Carbon estimation of old-growth bald cypress knees using mobile LiDAR, Tajudeen et al., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change Open Access 10.3389/ffgc.2025.1427376
Influence of Wave-Induced Variability on Ocean Carbon Uptake, Rustogi et al., Global Biogeochemical Cycles Open Access 10.1029/2024gb008382
Microbiome Adaptation Could Amplify Modeled Projections of Global Soil Carbon Loss With Climate Warming, Abs et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70301
Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra, Donateo et al., Biogeosciences Open Access 10.5194/bg-22-2889-2025
Response of China’s Terrestrial Carbon Uptake to Shift in Nitrogen Deposition, Zhang et al., Earth’s Future Open Access 10.1029/2024ef004946
Satellite data indicates recent Arctic peatland expansion with warming, Crichton et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02375-1
Sea ice controls net ocean uptake of carbon dioxide by regulating wintertime stratification, Droste et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02395-x
Spatial and temporal variations of gross primary production simulated by land surface model BCC&AVIM2.0, Li et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2023.02.001
Tracking the Future of Global N2O Gas Emissions with Data-Driven Forecasts, ÖNDER, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar 10.1016/j.jastp.2025.106577
Warming Weakens Soil Nitrogen Stabilization Pathways Driving Proportional Carbon Losses in Subarctic Ecosystems, Marañón?Jiménez et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70309
CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering
Carbon offsetting of fossil fuel emissions through afforestation is limited by financial viability and spatial requirements, Naef et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02394-y
Characterizing the Effects of Policy Instruments on Cost and Deployment Trajectories of Direct Air Capture in the U.S. Energy System, Kanyako & Craig, Earth’s Future Open Access 10.1029/2025ef005924
Protect young secondary forests for optimum carbon removal, Robinson et al., Nature Climate Change Open Access 10.1038/s41558-025-02355-5
Simulations on Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Into Coal Seams Within an Effective Area: A Case Study in the Eastern Section of Songji Uplift, China, Zou et al., Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology 10.1002/ghg.2358
Synergies of storing hydrogen at the crest of CO2${rm CO}&{2}$ or other gas storage, Rhouma et al., Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology Open Access pdf 10.1002/ghg.2278
Decarbonization
Battery electric vehicles show the lowest carbon footprints among passenger cars across 1.5–3.0 °C energy decarbonisation pathways, Šimaitis et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02447-2
Household preferences for rooftop solar photovoltaic systems: Evidence from a survey-based study in five Indonesian cities, Afifi et al., Energy for Sustainable Development 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101771
Hydropower-driven electric vehicle infrastructure in the Himalayan region: Integration dynamics and strategic SWOT analysis for sustainable transportation, Singh et al., Energy for Sustainable Development 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101732
Numerical assessment of emergency ammonia underwater discharge from a platform supply vessel, Avgerinos et al., Experimental and Computational Multiphase Flow Open Access 10.1007/s42757-024-0223-0
Offshore wave and wind energy development in the Southern Hemisphere will remain optimal between 20°E and 180°E by 2100, Zhao et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02437-4
Strategies for climate-resilient global wind and solar power systems, Zheng et al., Nature 10.1038/s41586-025-09266-7
Sustainable ethanol production: CO2 emission analysis and feedstock strategies through life cycle assessment, Kumar & Sinha, Energy for Sustainable Development 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101775
Geoengineering climate
Ocean alkalinity enhancement in an open-ocean ecosystem: biogeochemical responses and carbon storage durability, Paul et al., Biogeosciences Open Access 10.5194/bg-22-2749-2025
Regional and Seasonal Hydrological Changes With and Without Stratospheric Aerosol Intervention Under High Greenhouse Gas Climates, Rezaei et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Open Access 10.1029/2025jd044163
Stratospheric aerosol injection can weaken the carbon dioxide greenhouse effect, He et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02466-z
Aerosols
A review of aerosol-cloud interactions: Mechanisms, climate effects, and observation methods, Li et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2025.108267
Climate change communications & cognition
Can dissent be meaningfully measured in an overwhelming consensus? A citation network case study in climate change research, Grunert, PLOS Clim ate Open Access 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000666
Climate anxiety – impairment and/or activation? Exploring the roles of mindfulness and emotion regulation, , Journal of Development and Social Sciences Open Access pdf 10.47205/jdss.2021(2-iv)74
Climate change anxiety: A meta-analysis, Kühner et al., Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2025.103015
Countering AI-generated misinformation with pre-emptive source discreditation and debunking, Spearing et al., Royal Society Open Science Open Access 10.1098/rsos.242148
Fluid hope in a climate emergency: Lessons from an English citizens’ jury, Lewis, Environmental Politics Open Access 10.1080/09644016.2025.2522516
Social strategies to engage video gamers in climate action, Carman et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-025-02369-z
Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change
An in-depth approach on ecological and social processes improve quantifying the climatic impact of food production, del Prado et al., PLOS Climate Open Access 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000655
Climate information services enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change: Impacts on agricultural productivity, Tamru et al., SSRN Electronic Journal Open Access 10.2139/ssrn.4173669
Climate-driven global cropland changes and consequent feedbacks, You et al., Nature Geoscience 10.1038/s41561-025-01724-1
Increased irrigation could mitigate future warming-induced maize yield losses in the Ogallala Aquifer, Zhang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02459-y
Large CO2 removal potential of woody debris preservation in managed forests, Luo et al., Nature Geoscience 10.1038/s41561-025-01731-2
Modeling biochar effects on soil organic carbon on croplands in a microbial decomposition model (MIMICS-BC&v1.0), Han et al., Geoscientific Model Development Open Access 10.5194/gmd-17-4871-2024
Projected increase in global compound agricultural drought and hot events under climate change, Shi et al., Global and Planetary Change 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.104962
Synergies Between Agricultural Production and Shorebird Conservation With Climate Change in the Central Valley, California, With Optimized Water Allocation and Multi-Benefit Land Use, Li et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70304
Synergistic research on planter performance optimization and green low-carbon agricultural transformation under climate risk, Shi et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access 10.3389/fenvs.2025.1561655
Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change
Changing Rainfall Patterns and Their Climatic Drivers in One of the Rainiest Places on Earth, Debundscha, Gulf of Guinea, Nkiaka & Tume, International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.70009
Climatological Context of the Severe Rain-on-Snow Flooding Event of March 2019 in Eastern Nebraska, Suriano et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.8840
Climate-induced losses of surface water and total water storage in Northeast Asia, Zhang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02449-0
Evidence of Emerging Increasing Trends in Observed Subdaily Heavy Precipitation Frequency in the United States, Mascaro et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2024gl114292
Increased frequency of planetary wave resonance events over the past half-century, Li et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2504482122
Dynamics-constrained rainfall projection reveals substantial increase in population exposure to unprecedented floods in the North China Plain, Yang et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-025-02457-0
How Will Precipitation Characteristics Associated with Tropical Cyclones in Diverse Synoptic Environments in the Southeast United States Respond to Climate Change?, Hollinger Beatty et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-24-0089.1
Widespread Multi-Year Droughts in Italy: Identification and Causes of Development, Pascale & Ragone Ragone, International Journal of Climatology Open Access 10.1002/joc.8827
Climate change economics
Assessing the costs of fossil dependency: an integrated model for carbon costs across economic sectors in China and Germany, Vet?né Mózner et al., Climate Policy Open Access 10.1080/14693062.2025.2507213
Climate adaptation finance: From paper commitments to climate risk reduction, Verschuur et al., Science 10.1126/science.adx1950
Do the United States’fiscal decentralization, money supply, and environmental policies promote the clean energy transition?, Haseeb et al., Environment, Development and Sustainability Open Access 10.1007/s10668-025-06433-8
Renewable energy consumption and international trade: Does climate policy stringency matter?, Nouira et al., SSRN Electronic Journal 10.2139/ssrn.5291999
The labour and resource use requirements of a good life for all, McElroy & O’Neill, Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2025.103008
Climate change mitigation public policy research
Barriers to energy transition: Comparing developing with developed countries, Pereira et al., Energy for Sustainable Development Open Access 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101753
Bidirectional allocation method of provincial carbon emission allowances under China’s 2030 carbon peak target: From equity and efficiency perspective, Yang et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2025.04.018
Determinants of institutional change towards a sustainable energy transition in Ghana: A political economy analysis of solar photovoltaics, Agbaam et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2025.104165
Electrification, flexibility or both? Emerging trends in European energy policy, Mellot et al., Energy Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114725
Global analysis of constraints to natural climate solution implementation, , Journal of Development and Social Sciences Open Access pdf 10.47205/jdss.2021(2-iv)74
Tackling transformational change in climate policy appraisal: experiences and perceptions of United Kingdom policy analysts, Lynch et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2025.104190
Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research
Adaptive capacity for multimodal transport network resilience to extreme floods, Li et al., Nature Sustainability 10.1038/s41893-025-01575-z
Climate adaptive energy efficiency modeling using a generalized additive approach to optimize building performance across Chinese climate zones, Yang et al., Scientific Reports Open Access 10.1038/s41598-025-04844-1
Economic impacts of sea level rise on China’s coastal provinces under different adaptation strategies, Wang et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2025.06.005
Enhancing climate adaptation planning with limited resources: A streamlined framework for municipal climate risk assessments, Hübner & Finkbeiner, Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2025.100723
Tackling rural water scarcity in South Africa: climate change, governance, and sustainability pathways, Matimolane & Mathivha, Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access 10.3389/fenvs.2025.1550738
Vulnerability to Adverse Climate Change: Evidence from Rural Bangladesh, Tian, The European Journal of Development Research 10.1057/s41287-025-00705-9
Climate change impacts on human health
Evaluating the role of observational uncertainty in climate impact assessments: Temperature-driven yellow fever risk in South America, Jahn et al., PLOS Climate Open Access 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000601
Extreme Weather Events Interact With Local Contexts to Alter the Frequency of Firearm Violence and Child Maltreatment in Wayne County, Michigan, Sokol et al., GeoHealth Open Access 10.1029/2025gh001406
How Systemic Barriers Can Impact Health Inequities When Facing Climate Change Stressors: A Scoping Review of Global Differences, Wong et al., GeoHealth Open Access 10.1029/2024gh001272
Insights into the impact of ambient heat exposure on the first 1000 days of life, Bonell, Temperature 10.1080/23328940.2025.2515340
Time of Emergence and Future Projections of Extremes of Malaria Infections in Africa, Franzke & Parihar, GeoHealth Open Access 10.1029/2025gh001356
Unseen scars: Understanding the mental health burdens of climate change on indigenous and rural Peruvian women, Flores et al., PLOS Climate Open Access 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000527
Climate change impacts on human culture
Integrating cultural resources and heritage in climate action: A review of nine climate plans, Paloma & Cathy, Environmental Science & Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104127
Other
Record Warmth and Unprecedented Drop in Equatorial Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures in 2024, Tuchen et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2025gl115973
Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives
In the face of anti-science politics, silence is not without cost, , Nature 10.1038/d41586-025-01966-4
Is Antarctica Greening?, Colesie et al., Global Change Biology Open Access 10.1111/gcb.70294
Processes and palaeo-environmental changes in the Arctic from past to present (PalaeoArc) – introduction, Lyså et al., Boreas Open Access 10.1111/bor.70021
The economic effects of federal cuts to US science — in 24 graphs, Ro, Nature Open Access 10.1038/d41586-025-01830-5
The pursuit of 1.5°C endures as a legal and ethical imperative in a changing world, Rogelj & Rajamani, Science 10.1126/science.ady1186
What Is Endangered Now? Climate Science at the Crossroads, Saleska et al., AGU Advances Open Access 10.1029/2025av001808
Articles/Reports from Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Aspects of Climate Change
The 2025 State of Housing in Harris County and Houston, Sherman et al, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University
In addition to building on key indicators from previous years, the authors take a closer look at the impact of extreme weather and climate change on Harris County and Houston’s housing affordability and neighborhood livability. Crucially, the authors find the cost of coping with and adapting to these conditions is borne most heavily by those who can least afford it. In both flood-prone communities and communities with higher land surface temperatures, a significantly larger share of residents live in poverty. Vulnerable households are consigned to risky places. Air quality continues to endanger Houstonians, particularly in predominantly Hispanic/Latino neighborhoods. Poorer communities must rely on FEMA aid, emphasizing the societal inequities that lead to uneven impacts from weather events. Housing stock in some communities is not climate-resilient. Countywide: 106,975 residential structures lack central air conditioning 40,205 lack piped-in natural gas, electrical or solar heat. Flood insurance uptake is still insufficient, given the region’s vulnerabilities. Climate-induced home insurance increases may add over $15,000 to home costs, exacerbating an already precarious housing affordability landscape.
Global Drought Outlook, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Droughts are becoming more frequent, prolonged and severe with climate change, threatening water security and placing growing pressure on people, ecosystems and economies. From reduced crop yields and strained power supply and river trade to degraded landscapes and disrupted livelihoods, the impacts of droughts are on the rise – and so are their costs. The authors assess how countries can strengthen drought management to adapt to a changing climate. They provide new insights into the rising human, environmental, and economic impacts of droughts and offers practical policy solutions to minimize losses, build long-term resilience, and support adaptation to a drier future.
Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2025, Arora et al., World Economic Forum and Accenture
According to the authors, after several years of slow momentum, energy transition progress has accelerated. The Energy Transition Index (ETI), which benchmarks 118 countries on their current energy system performance and on the readiness of their enabling environment, finds improvements in energy equity and sustainability driven by easing energy prices, subsidy reforms, lower energy and emission intensity and increased share of clean energy. However, energy security has made more limited progress, and transition readiness momentum has slowed. Meanwhile, global energy systems are facing increasing pressure from climate change, geopolitical, economic and technological disruptions.
2025 Data Center Power Report Mid-Year Pulse, Bloomenergy
The authors provide an updated view of the evolving data center power landscape, following a more comprehensive report released earlier this year. These insights are shaped by ongoing conversations with industry leaders and a targeted survey examining shifts in power procurement strategies. The survey results indicate that interest is rising in onsite power generation as developers seek faster, more reliable and more flexible ways to meet growing data center power demands. In this environment, natural gas is emerging as a critical bridge fuel, valued for its availability, commercial viability and alignment with national and regional energy strategies. Although not identified in the survey, as noted by other commentators, fuel cells that run on natural gas are among the technologies gaining attention in this evolving landscape. The research reflects perspectives from hyperscalers, colocation developers, utilities and GPU service providers, with input from professionals ranging from mid-level managers to C-suite executives. The findings offer a timely lens into what matters most to the people shaping the future of the AI industry.
Information Integrity about Climate Science: A Systematic Review, Elbeyi et al., International Panel on the Information Environment
The human response to the climate crisis is being obstructed and delayed by the production and circulation of misleading information about the nature of climate change and the available solutions. The authors found that powerful actors—including corporations, governments, and political parties—intentionally spread inaccurate or misleading narratives about anthropogenic climate change. These narratives circulate across digital, broadcast, and interpersonal communication channels. The result is a decline in public trust, diminished policy coordination, and a feedback loop between scientific denialism and political inaction.
8 in 10 people support taxing oil and gas corporations to pay for climate damages, global survey finds, Dynata, Greenpeace International and Oxfam International
A vast majority of people believe governments must tax oil, gas and coal corporations for climate-related loss and damage, and that their government is not doing enough to counter the political influence of super rich individuals and polluting industries. These are the key findings of a global survey, which reflect a broad consensus across political affiliations, income levels and age groups.
Bright side of the mine. Solar’s opportunity to reclaim coal’s footprint, Cheng Cheng Wu and Ryan Driskell-Tate, Global Energy Monitor
The authors conducted a worldwide survey of surface coal mines closed in the last five years (since 2020) and those forecasted to close over the next five (by the end of 2030). The first-time analysis shows that over 300 surface coal mines recently out of commission could house around 103 GW of photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity, and upcoming closures of large operations could host an additional 185 GW of solar across 127 sites (see Methodology). These abandoned coal mines are predisposed to renewables siting with grid-adjacent and even pre-cleared acreage. If these potential solar projects came to fruition, the world could build almost 300 GW of solar capacity on mined out lands by the end of 2030. Uptake on that scale is equal to 15% of the solar that has already been built globally and would add enough solar capacity to inch the world one step closer to tripling renewables before the end of the decade.
A framework for the voluntary disclosure of climate-related financial risks, Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Bank for International Settlements
This voluntary framework for the disclosure of climate-related financial risks includes both qualitative and quantitative information. The Committee has agreed this framework will be voluntary in nature, with jurisdictions to consider whether to implement it domestically. The Committee acknowledges that the accuracy, consistency and quality of climate-related data are evolving, and therefore it is necessary to incorporate a reasonable level of flexibility into the final framework. The Committee also recognizes that multiple quantitative metrics and qualitative information may be needed to form a comprehensive picture of banks’ exposure to climate-related financial risks. Users need to consider the disclosures holistically, understanding the strengths and shortcomings of the disclosed information.
Solar electricity every hour of every day is here and it changes everything, Kostantsa Rangelova and Dave Jones, Ember
The authors unpack the concept of 24-hour electricity supply with solar generation — how solar panels, paired with batteries, can deliver clean, reliable electricity around the clock. They compares cities across the world, showing how close they can get to solar electricity 24 hours across 365 days (24/365 solar generation), and at what price. Focused on project-level applications like industrial users and utility developers, the authors show how batteries are now cheap enough to unlock solar power’s full potential.
System archetypes of the energy transition, Sharpea et al., S-Curve Economics
The authors identify 10 archetypical feedback effects that are driving system behavior through the energy transition, providing explanations, examples, and policy implications for each. They relate these to questions such as: why have electric vehicles achieved dominance over hydrogen fuel cell vehicles? Why has deployment of solar and wind energy exploded faster than even the most optimistic projections? And could declining demand for coal, oil, and gas send fossil fuel industries into a permanent downwards spiral?
Financed deforestation: banks’ roles and responsibilities, Australian Conservation Foundation
An investigation by the authors analyzed 100 cases of deforestation detected between July 2023 and July 2024 linked to major banks through mortgages. They show that all of Australia’s big banks are continuing to loan to companies actively bulldozing the bush. Banks have a powerful role to play in either helping or exacerbating Australia’s extinction crisis. Banks can either facilitate nature destruction through their lending to certain activities and sectors, or they could help prevent it by setting strict conditions in their lending for activities and sectors that have a high risk for nature destruction. Yet most are failing to assess, monitor, or act on deforestation occurring in activities or businesses they are lending to. Banks cannot claim to be managing climate or nature risk while turning a blind eye to bulldozers flattening forests in their loan books. They must contribute to internationally agreed goals to halting nature loss, forest loss and degradation by 2030.
Built to fail? World’s largest carbon offset projects unlikely to deliver promised emissions reductions despite reforms, Rachel Rose Jackson and Adrien Tofighi-Niaki, Corporate Accountability
The authors assess the most recent performance of the largest offset projects that comprise the voluntary carbon market (VCM) to help determine if it is setting the world up for galvanized climate action or exacerbating climate action failure. To do this, they analyze 47 of the largest carbon offset projects in 2024 and explores whether recent attempts to fix repeated failures of the VCM are leading to global emissions reductions.
Greenwashing Carbon Removal, Fern et al.
Urgent action is needed to ensure the upcoming EU carbon removal rules for biomass-based activities are cost-effective and do not worsen the climate crisis. Today, 41 NGOs including Fern have sent a briefing to the political leadership of the European Commission, members of the European Parliament and EU Member States to alert them that current draft rules are not fit for purpose. They also suggest remedies.
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