Nature Climate Change
Nature Climate Change is a monthly journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research papers that describe the most significant and cutting-edge research on the causes, impacts and wider implications of global climate change. The journal publishes climate research across the physical, biological and social sciences and strives to integrate and communicate interdisciplinary research. The journal aims to play a leading role in: providing accessibility to a broad audience to research published both within and outside the journal; raising the visibility of climate change research in related research communities as well as the mainstream media; and offering a forum for discussion of the challenges faced by researchers and policy makers (and other interested parties) in understanding the complex mechanisms and impacts associated with the Earth’s changing climate.
Updated: 2 hours 15 min ago
Less than net zero needed to stabilize climate
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 24 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02708-8
Global temperature change over long times after cessation of greenhouse gas emissions is not well constrained. Now, research shows a consistent global cooling, especially if negative CO2 emissions compensate for continued CH4 and N2O emissions.Tracking the status of global evidence
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 24 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02720-y
Assessing the status of adaptation is important to target support and determine priority gaps. Here I look back on an influential 2021 study that reported a systematic review of evidence of implemented human adaptation and consider how this underscored the imperative for greater policy action and spawned methodological advancements in how to track adaptation progress.Multi-century cooling after net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 24 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02700-2
How global temperatures change after net-zero emissions are reached is highly uncertain. Here the authors constrain this response and find that net-zero GHG emissions lead to multi-century cooling of at least 0.6 °C.Global vessel carbon dioxide emission from navigable rivers
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 23 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02718-6
The magnitude and distribution of CO2 emissions from river transport are poorly constrained. This study finds that global CO2 emissions from inland vessels were about one-quarter of total vessel emissions, and that emissions were concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, related to economic activity.Ecological novelty induced by climate change
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 22 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02697-8
The authors review ecological novelty—ecological situations with no precedent—arising from climate change. They discuss ecological novelty due to direct and indirect effects of climate change, and due to adaptation and mitigation measures, and explore management options that are against, for or tolerant of ecological novelty.Temporal horizons in US climate change news
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 21 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02716-8
Whether news presents climate change as something happening now or in the future impacts public risk perceptions and climate action. A recent study shows that, in US news, the timing of anticipated climate impacts has got closer but coordinated climate actions are consistently deferred to the future.Reform preferences of key actors in the UNFCCC process
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 21 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02723-9
COP meetings have faced criticism and calls for reform, yet evidence on reform choices remains limited. Here a survey of COP participants reveals broad support for enhancing transparency and implementation, while proposals to change consensus rules or the COP presidency are less favoured.Win–wins for wind and whales
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02705-x
Offshore wind development presents huge potential for climate change mitigation, but loud underwater noises produced during construction can negatively impact marine species. Recent research shows that careful planning and noise-reduction technologies can effectively reduce impacts on critically endangered North Atlantic right whales at relatively minor additional cost.Tropical forest restoration can offset water flux losses from deforestation but not everywhere
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02710-0
Tropical forest restoration is widely promoted as a nature-based climate solution, but its potential to restore hydrological functions impaired by deforestation remains unclear. Now, satellite observations show that forest gain can increase evapotranspiration and precipitation more than forest loss reduces them, with prominent asymmetry in South America and Africa.Balancing marine species conservation with cost-effective renewable energy development
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02696-9
The authors consider the potential conflict between renewable energy development (offshore wind) and wildlife (North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis). They demonstrate a framework to identify trade-offs under different scenarios, maximizing conservation with minimal financial burden.Intercity connectivity enhances urban mobility resilience to extreme rainfall
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02713-x
Growing extreme weather poses escalating threats to urban functionality. This study shows that higher network centrality and stronger ties to wealthier cities enhance intracity mobility resilience during extreme rainfall, with larger benefits for smaller and poorer cities from targeted investment.Targeted tropical forest restoration can offset deforestation-induced water flux losses
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 15 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02709-7
The authors demonstrate asymmetrical impacts of forest gain and loss on evapotranspiration and precipitation: gain increases the processes more than loss reduces them. They highlight a need to better consider hydrological asymmetry in climate models and in planning of forest-based climate solutions.A shrinking buffer
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02699-6
The timescale on which river runoff reacts to glacier melt changes differs strongly between individual basins. Here we discuss how an article published in 2018 linked the buffering role of glaciers to future seasonal runoff losses, and how later work has extended this insight towards drought, water resources and the consequences for downstream societies.Building local adaptive capacity for health
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02695-w
Enhancing local adaptive capacity to reduce extreme weather-related health harms is essential in a warming world; understanding and sharing strategies that work helps to scale-up impact. Now a study focusing on China highlights the role of institutions, infrastructure and cities.Ecology is not at risk of a methodological balance crisis
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02706-w
Ecology is not at risk of a methodological balance crisisCo-benefit premiums can enhance nature-based climate solutions
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 08 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02690-1
Carbon markets reward the climate mitigation benefits of nature-based solutions but rarely value their broader societal impacts. Creating markets for verified co-benefits, such as coastal protection and biodiversity, could redirect investment towards projects that deliver larger gains for both people and climate.Seals in changing seas dive longer
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02703-z
Seals in changing seas dive longerRoots respond to phosphorus limitation
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02701-1
Roots respond to phosphorus limitationFemale climate leadership
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02704-y
Female climate leadershipShifts in experiencing downpours
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02702-0
Shifts in experiencing downpours