Nature Climate Change
Biochemical remodelling of phytoplankton cell composition under climate change
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 31 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02598-w
The authors simulate phytoplankton macromolecular composition—proteins, carbohydrates and lipids—under present and future scenarios. They show increased protein allocation in subtropical phytoplankton but declines in high-latitude populations under warming, with implications for marine food webs.Vegetation recovery following retrogressive thaw slumps across northern tundra regions
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 30 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02603-2
Retrogressive thaw slumps are a key disturbance resulting from permafrost thaw that impact both vegetation and soil carbon. This study assesses surface greenness recovery times following thaw and shows that recovery can be predicted based on annual ecosystem gross primary productivity.Building façade photovoltaics enhance global climate resilience
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 27 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02606-z
Façade-integrated photovoltaics (FIPV) present a promising yet early-stage solution for mitigating building emissions. Combining global building datasets, climate projections and façade-scale simulations, researchers estimate that FIPV could deliver substantial economic and climate benefits.Pioneering Spanish experience in climate shelters practice
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 20 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02587-z
As cities heat up, climate shelters are increasingly vital for protecting people from extreme heat. Beyond temporary emergency stopgaps, Spain’s pioneering experience shows how climate, health and governance align to turn these spaces into enduring infrastructures of care and resilience.Misbehaviour dominates GHG emissions from food loss and waste
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02596-y
Food loss and waste (FLW) is a major source of global GHG emissions, yet its drivers and mitigation potential remain understudied. By attributing FLW to techno-economic and misbehavioural drivers, this study shows misbehaviour dominates FLW emissions and offers substantial mitigation potential.Wind-triggered Antarctic sea-ice decline preconditioned by thinning Winter Water
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02601-4
Antarctic sea ice declined sharply between 2015 and 2017, and this study uses ocean observations and atmospheric data to determine contributing factors. The authors show that thinning of Winter Water in the previous decade, followed by strong winds, brought warm deep water into contact with sea ice.International trade reduces emissions through technology transfer led by key emitters
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 17 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02595-z
Technology advancement is essential for climate action, yet the uneven distribution of technological progress across the world can slow mitigation. Through empirical and scenario analysis, researchers find that participating in trade agreements could enhance technological transfers and lead to emission reductions.Technological advances mitigate the impact of climate change on electric vehicle battery lifetimes
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 16 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02581-5
We combined electric vehicle simulation and battery degradation models with high-resolution downscaled climate data for 300 global cities. Climate change was predicted to reduce battery lifetime by 8% on average for batteries manufactured between 2010 and 2018 versus 3% for batteries produced after 2019. Thus, technological advances in electric vehicle battery manufacturing demonstrate important climate adaptation co-benefits.Dry soils lose more carbon when warm
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 13 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02585-1
The massive carbon store in soils is vulnerable to anthropogenic warming. Now, a study shows that climate-driven changes in precipitation can mediate soil carbon responses to warming, with drought amplifying soil carbon losses.Increasing risks of post-experimental ecology
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 13 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02583-3
Increasing risks of post-experimental ecologyPrinciples for a post-growth scenario of ambitious mitigation and high human well-being
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 13 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02580-6
Post-growth scholarship seeks to address the limitations of growth-oriented mitigation scenarios by exploring the potential of profound socio-economic transformations. This Perspective synthesizes core principles for modelling post-growth futures.Drought amplifies warming-induced soil carbon loss in a decade-long experiment
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 13 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02584-2
The response of soil carbon to warming is critical feedback that has been difficult to constrain. This study uses a long-term experiment to show that precipitation modulates microbial and therefore carbon dynamics; drought leads to carbon loss with warming, but wet conditions increase soil carbon.Policy interactions reshape the outcomes of carbon pricing policies
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 11 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02578-0
The adoption and effectiveness of carbon pricing are highly reshaped by interactions with other climate mitigation policies. A global comparative assessment of policy synergies and conflicts can guide policymakers in designing policy portfolios that can achieve higher mitigation cost-effectiveness.Cross-national comparative assessment of synergies and conflicts in climate policy mixes
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 11 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02574-4
Interactions between climate policy instruments can have synergistic and conflicting effects, but these interactions are not systematically understood. This research provides global evidence on how policy characteristics and interactions in different contexts could lead to different outcomes.Climate policy feasibility across Europe relies on the conditional middle
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 11 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02562-8
The feasibility of climate policies hinges on public support. A survey of 13 EU countries shows that ‘middle groups’—citizens whose support across mitigation measures varies, rather than being uniformly supportive or opposed—play a pivotal role in shaping overall public policy support and electoral outcomes.Changing bird nutrient inputs
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02592-2
Changing bird nutrient inputsAmplified variability
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02593-1
Amplified variabilityDesign impacts building emissions
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02591-3
Design impacts building emissionsSymbolic policies foster support
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02594-0
Symbolic policies foster supportLiving in the overshoot age
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02589-x
Overshoot, the temporary crossing of climate targets before warming is reversed, has shifted from theoretical models to an urgent reality. Addressing this challenge requires effective strategies, global collaboration of different stakeholders and fair governance systems to manage the unprecedented risks.