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: 1 hour 40 min ago

Marine carbon removal at a crossroads

Mon, 09/14/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 14 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02740-8

Marine carbon dioxide removal must advance through rigorous, transparent science, but caution cannot become paralysis. With billions of tonnes of carbon removal likely to be needed each year, we need to test promising approaches responsibly while uncertainty remains.

Compound and heterogeneous relationships between climate extremes and global net migration

Fri, 09/11/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 11 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02752-4

Climate extremes influence migration, but their long-term and compounding impacts are understudied. The authors show that associations between climate extremes and migration vary by hazard type, timing, the occurrence of consecutive events and local socioeconomic conditions.

Divergence between physical and emotional heat resilience in Chinese cities

Fri, 09/11/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 11 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02732-8

Heatwaves threaten both physical and mental health, yet physical heat exposure and emotional responses often diverge. The study shows that 84.9% of Chinese cities experienced severe emotional shocks, compared with 52.1% facing severe heat exposure, driven by socioeconomic and environmental factors.

Where global warming meets urban development

Thu, 09/10/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02743-5

Global warming and urban development combine to shape the temperatures people experience in cities. Here I revisit a 2016 attribution study of urban warming in China and consider what its legacy reveals about urban climate knowledge, responsibility and action.

Greening masks stability loss in drylands

Thu, 09/10/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02733-7

The authors consider greening trends and interannual variability, linked to ecosystem stability, in dryland ecosystems across 40 years (1982–2020). They show persistent greening yet increased interannual variability, with the latter driven by increasing rainfall sensitivity.

Physiological flexibility in changing climates

Wed, 09/09/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02738-2

How much ectothermic animals can rely on plastic adjustments in their physiology remains a central challenge when forecasting climate change impacts. Here, I look back on a 2015 paper that examined the role of physiological plasticity in thermal performance and discuss subsequent research and broader conservation implications.

Genetically engineered crop adoption support yields and cultivation under climate change

Tue, 09/08/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02737-3

The authors analyse the impacts of the adoption of genetically engineered crops in the USA over 40 years. They show that genetically engineered crop adoption has led to some increases in yield and reduced yield volatility, while also acting as an adaptation against climate change-driven northward shifts.

Author Correction: Tree species richness relates to long-term forest photosynthesis increase

Mon, 09/07/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02761-3

Author Correction: Tree species richness relates to long-term forest photosynthesis increase

Power asymmetries in adaptation

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02745-3

Power asymmetries in adaptation

Policy returns

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02746-2

Policy returns

Record-breaking wildfires in Canada

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02744-4

Record-breaking wildfires in Canada

Infrastructure links amplify impacts

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02747-1

Infrastructure links amplify impacts

Restoring reefs with heat-tolerant corals

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02721-x

As the Great Barrier Reef reels from successive devastating bleaching events, researchers are working to regenerate small areas with corals selected or manipulated for better heat tolerance.

Responding to ecological novelty

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02742-6

Climate change is shifting the world into new ecological states, prompting discussions of how humans and species will deal with this novelty, including how mitigation and adaptation will ultimately lead to further change.

Declines in European bumblebee habitat suitability attributable to climate change

Wed, 09/02/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02734-6

The authors consider factual and counterfactual scenarios to isolate the role of climate change in the decline of suitable habitats for European bumblebees (1901–2019). They show reductions of 5% on average, and up to 19% locally, with high-altitude gains partially offsetting losses.

Climate warming drives thermal shocks and accelerated freshwater habitat fragmentation

Mon, 08/24/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 24 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02731-9

Assessing 9,809 freshwater fish species globally, this study shows risk to a high proportion of species in the tropics, and severe extremes in non-tropical regions. Under high emissions, gradual warming drives abrupt exposure, with 63% of species facing accelerating thermal fragmentation by 2099.

Developing double materiality for climate-related financial policy

Thu, 08/20/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 20 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02725-7

The ‘double materiality’ framework helps guide financial policymakers in assessing the risks of climate change, but masks complex interactions within the financial system. I argue that effective policy requires more clarity on the underlying relationships and the links to specific mandates of different financial policymakers.

Thermal justice in urban climate change adaptation

Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02727-5

Extreme heat events are increasing, and urban adaptation is urgently needed for humans and non-humans to function safely under heat. Here we present a thermal justice framework and highlight how its use facilitates equitable adaptation and minimizes heat-risk displacement.

Bringing justice to informal adaptation to heat stress

Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02728-4

Informal adaptation can augment or replace formal adaptation with flexible and responsive actions, yet it can also reproduce and intensify existing injustices. We propose justice-oriented co-creation between informal and formal actions as a pathway for effective heat adaptation.

A climate impact taxonomy operationalizing IPCC physical driver and risk concepts

Wed, 08/19/2026 - 12:00am

Nature Climate Change, Published online: 19 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-026-02717-7

Adaptation to climate risks requires integrating knowledge across IPCC working groups. This study presents a climate impact taxonomy that connects climatic impact-drivers from Working Group I to representative key risks from Working Group II and provides more direct guidance for risk assessment and adaptation strategies.

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