Nature Climate Change

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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: 46 min 51 sec ago

Win–wins for wind and whales

9 hours 49 min ago

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

9 hours 49 min ago

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

9 hours 49 min ago

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

9 hours 49 min ago

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

Wed, 07/15/2026 - 12:00am

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

Tue, 07/14/2026 - 12:00am

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

Tue, 07/14/2026 - 12:00am

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

Mon, 07/13/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 13 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02706-w

Ecology is not at risk of a methodological balance crisis

Co-benefit premiums can enhance nature-based climate solutions

Wed, 07/08/2026 - 12:00am

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

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02703-z

Seals in changing seas dive longer

Roots respond to phosphorus limitation

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02701-1

Roots respond to phosphorus limitation

Female climate leadership

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02704-y

Female climate leadership

Shifts in experiencing downpours

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02702-0

Shifts in experiencing downpours

Responsible carbon accounting

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02707-9

Carbon accounting shapes how climate responsibility is allocated, and expanding existing frameworks could provide a stronger basis for effective and equitable climate action.

Nepal’s swift embrace of electric vehicles

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02588-y

The rapid electrification of Nepal’s automobile sector in just five years shows how a robust mix of policies and incentives can catapult climate action.

Future-proofing interpretations of the Paris Agreement’s limit of well below 2 °C

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02685-y

Here the authors show that a common interpretation of the Paris Agreement’s ‘well below 2° C’ target is changing with time, which could lead to higher overall warming. They propose that using median temperatures instead of probability ranges is more robust.

People systematically under- and overestimate public engagement in climate action

Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02668-z

Unlike previous work showing that people underestimate others’ support for climate action, this study finds systematic pluralistic ignorance in both directions: frequent attitudes and actual behaviours are underestimated but rare ones are overestimated. This can be explained by general cognitive processes.

Publisher Correction: Multi-centennial response of marine carbon pumps to global warming

Wed, 07/01/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 01 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02719-5

Publisher Correction: Multi-centennial response of marine carbon pumps to global warming

Warming dominates over circulation slowdown in reducing marine carbon storage under high-mitigation scenarios

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 30 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02687-w

The ocean absorbs a vast amount of carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change. The projected decrease in this absorption is often attributed to a global-warming-induced slowdown in circulation, but analysis using a mechanistic carbon decomposition and attribution framework reveals that the carbon cycle response depends on the emissions trajectory — with warming dominating under low-emission, high-mitigation scenarios.

Uncovering the unequal geography of climate change

Tue, 06/30/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 30 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02674-1

Understanding the socioeconomic impact of climate change at fine scale is essential for promoting real-world actions. Here I look back at a 2018 paper that disaggregated the global economic damages from climate change and discuss how high granularity analyses advance climate impact research and policy progress.

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