Arguments
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2023
Posted on 21 December 2023 by Doug Bostrom, Marc Kodack
Open access notables
From this week's government and NGO section, Flaws in EPA’s Monitoring and Verification of Carbon Capture Projects, Preet Bains, Environmental Integrity Project (pdf):
The author examined one central component of carbon capture and sequestration regulation in the U.S.: monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) plans required by the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. These plans describe the monitoring strategies in place at each site to validate that the carbon dioxide is securely stored underground and is not leaking or migrating unexpectedly. If approved by EPA, the plans can also be used to qualify for tax subsidies. However, the 21 plans that the EPA approved as of October 31, 2023, are ambiguous and lack key elements to ensure safe and long-term carbon sequestration.
A meta-analysis of the total economic impact of climate change, Tol, Energy Policy:
Earlier meta-analyses of the economic impact of climate change are updated with more data, with three new results: (1) The central estimate of the economic impact of global warming is always negative. (2) The confidence interval about the estimates is much wider. (3) Elicitation methods are most pessimistic, econometric studies most optimistic. Two previous results remain: (4) The uncertainty about the impact is skewed towards negative surprises. (5) Poorer countries are much more vulnerable than richer ones. A meta-analysis of the impact of weather shocks reveals that studies, which relate economic growth to temperature levels, cannot agree on the sign of the impact whereas studies, which make economic growth a function of temperature change do agree on the sign but differ an order of magnitude in effect size.
Life cycle assessment of a two-seater all-electric aircraft, Arvidsson et al., The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment:
The main contributors to almost all impact categories are the airframe, the lithium-ion battery and emissions (in the use phase). The airframe has a major impact as it contains energy-intensive, carbon fibre–reinforced composites, the impact of which can be reduced by recycling. The battery dominates mineral resource depletion categories and contributes notably to emission-based categories. Producing batteries using non-fossil energy or shifting to less resource-intensive, next-generation batteries would reduce their impact. Use-phase impacts can be reduced by sourcing non-fossil electricity. Despite the need for multiple battery pack replacements, the comparison with the fossil fuel option (based on equal lifetimes) still showed the electric aircraft contributing less to global warming, even in a high-carbon electricity scenario.
Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources, Tonelli et al., Nature Communications:
Proposals for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 include scaling-up electrolytic hydrogen production, however, this poses technical, economic, and environmental challenges. One such challenge is for policymakers to ensure a sustainable future for the environment including freshwater and land resources while facilitating low-carbon hydrogen production using renewable wind and solar energy. We establish a country-by-country reference scenario for hydrogen demand in 2050 and compare it with land and water availability. Our analysis highlights countries that will be constrained by domestic natural resources to achieve electrolytic hydrogen self-sufficiency in a net-zero target. Depending on land allocation for the installation of solar panels or wind turbines, less than 50% of hydrogen demand in 2050 could be met through a local production without land or water scarcity. Our findings identify potential importers and exporters of hydrogen or, conversely, exporters or importers of industries that would rely on electrolytic hydrogen.
Carbon storage in the built environment: a review, Bjånesøy et al., Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability:
With a rapidly decreasing carbon budget, the urgency of deep greenhouse gas reductions becomes increasingly necessary. This accentuates the need for the emerging paradigm shift, transforming the built environment from a major source of CO2 emissions to a carbon sink. Biogenic carbon sequestration and storage (CSS) has the potential to play a pivotal role as it offers multiple pathways for cities to improve their carbon sink capacity. There are various methods used to quantify the carbon storage potential of the built environment, and there is a lack of consensus on how biogenic carbon should be treated. This review aims to elucidate the ways in which scientific literature has considered carbon storage in the built environment by drawing a picture of the existing mechanism for CSS in the urban built environment with the focus on the existing mechanism of biogenic CSS materials.
Equivalent impacts of logging and beaver activities on aboveground carbon stock loss in the southernmost forest on Earth, Miranda et al., Scientific Reports:
While beavers have received significant attention for their substantial contribution to forest cover loss (56.1% forest cover, ≈ 1.4 MtC), our findings suggest that logging has nearly equally contributed to carbon stock depletion (43.8% forest cover, ≈ 1.2 MtC). Consequently, the prevailing focus on beavers has obscured the ongoing logging-induced carbon stock loss. The implications of our study highlight the urgency for comprehensive consideration of both drivers in Chile’s climate strategy to fulfill the country’s mitigation commitments.
Melting climates shrink North American small mammals, Searing et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences:
Here, we investigate body size shifts of North American small mammals during the past century, and we find that these species are indeed shrinking. We estimate that by 2100, the total anthropogenic reduction in body size may range from 10 to 21%, morphological shifts that are likely to have cascading impacts on the structure and functioning of terrestrial communities across the globe.
Rate-induced tipping in complex high-dimensional ecological networks, Panahi et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences:
This work studies the phenomenon of rate-induced tipping (R-tipping) in high-dimensional ecological networks, where the rate of parameter change can cause the system to undergo a tipping point from healthy survival to extinction. A quantitative scaling law between the probability of R-tipping and the rate was uncovered, with a striking and devastating consequence: In order to reduce the probability, parameter changes must be slowed down to such an extent that the rate practically reaches zero. This may pose an extremely significant challenge in our efforts to protect and preserve the natural environment.
137 articles in 66 journals by 768 contributing authors
Physical science of climate change, effects
Exploring the relationship between SPI and SPEI in a warming world, Nwayor & Robeson, Theoretical and Applied Climatology 10.1007/s00704-023-04764-y
Inferring Northern Hemisphere Continental Warming Patterns from the Amplitude and Phase of the Seasonal Cycle in Surface Temperature, McKinnon & Huybers, Journal of Climate 10.1175/jcli-d-22-0773.1
Opinion: Tropical cirrus – from micro-scale processes to climate-scale impacts, Gasparini et al., Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-23-15413-2023
Recent decline in tropical temperature sensitivity of atmospheric CO2 growth rate variability, Wang et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.17073
Roles of thermal advection in setting the Southern Ocean warming pattern, Wei, International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.8243
Observations of climate change, effects
Arctic tundra shrubification can obscure increasing levels of soil erosion in NDVI assessments of land cover derived from satellite imagery, Kodl et al., Remote Sensing of Environment Open Access 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113935
Attribution of differences in observed warming among subregions of China and observationally constrained projection, Dong et al., International Journal of Climatology 10.1002/joc.8322
Distinguishing the effects of climate change and vegetation greening on soil moisture variability along aridity gradient in the drylands of northern China, Xu et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109786
Heavier Precipitation in Response to Longer-Lasting Tropical Cyclones and Rapid Urbanization over the Yangtze River Delta of Eastern China, Wei et al., Journal of Climate Open Access pdf 10.1175/jcli-d-22-0854.1
Higher Exposure of Poorer People to Emerging Weather Whiplash in a Warmer World, Zhang et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl105640
Spatiotemporal changes in Universal Thermal Climate Index in the Middle East and North Africa, Hamed et al., Atmospheric Research 10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.107008
Unprecedented Human-Perceived Heat Stress in 2021 Summer Over Western North America: Increasing Intensity and Frequency in a Warming Climate, Jeong et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl105964
Instrumentation & observational methods of climate change, effects
Uncertainties in critical slowing down indicators of observation-based fingerprints of the Atlantic Overturning Circulation, Ben-Yami et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-023-44046-9
Modeling, simulation & projection of climate change, effects
Anomalous Meltwater From Ice Sheets and Ice Shelves Is a Historical Forcing, Schmidt et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl106530
Climate change projected to impact structural hillslope connectivity at the global scale, Michalek et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-42384-2
Future changes in Antarctic coastal polynyas and bottom water formation simulated by a high-resolution coupled model, Jeong et al., 10.5194/egusphere-egu23-4760
Internal Variability Increased Arctic Amplification During 1980–2022, Sweeney et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2023gl106060
The Effect of Arctic Sea-Ice Loss on Extratropical Cyclones, Hay et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl102840
Using Large Ensembles to Examine Historical and Projected Changes in Record-Breaking Summertime Temperatures Over the Contiguous United States, McHugh et al., Earth's Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023ef003954
Advancement of climate & climate effects modeling, simulation & projection
A New Framework for Estimating and Decomposing the Uncertainty of Climate Projections, Zhang et al., Journal of Climate Open Access pdf 10.1175/jcli-d-23-0064.1
Assessment of NA-CORDEX regional climate models, reanalysis and in situ gridded-observational data sets against the U.S. Climate Reference Network, SY et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access pdf 10.1002/joc.8331
Evaluation of statistical downscaling techniques and projection of climate extremes in central Texas, USA, Tefera et al., Weather and Climate Extremes Open Access 10.1016/j.wace.2023.100637
Increased Uncertainty in Projections of Precipitation and Evaporation Due To Wet-Get-Wetter/Dry-Get-Drier Biases, Adam et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl106365
Parameterized orographic gravity wave drag and dynamical effects in CMIP6 models, Hájková & Šácha, Climate Dynamics Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00382-023-07021-0
Selection of representative near-future climate simulations by minimizing bias in average monthly temperature and precipitation, Khokhlov et al., Theoretical and Applied Climatology Open Access 10.1007/s00704-023-04792-8
The Heat and Carbon Characteristics of Modeled Mesoscale Eddies in the South–East Atlantic Ocean, Smith et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023jc020337
Cryosphere & climate change
A high-resolution record of surface melt on Antarctic ice shelves using multi-source remote sensing data and deep learning, de Roda Husman et al., Remote Sensing of Environment Open Access 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113950
Climate Warming Favoring Sublimation on a Westerlies-Controlled Glacier of Tibetan Plateau, Guo et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 10.1029/2023jd039332
A high-resolution record of surface melt on Antarctic ice shelves using multi-source remote sensing data and deep learning, de Roda Husman et al., Remote Sensing of Environment Open Access 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113950
Climate Warming Favoring Sublimation on a Westerlies-Controlled Glacier of Tibetan Plateau, Guo et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 10.1029/2023jd039332
Dynamic Response to Ice Shelf Basal Meltwater Relevant to Explain Observed Sea Ice Trends Near the Antarctic Continental Shelf, Huneke et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl105435
Modelling the historical and future evolution of six ice masses in the Tien Shan, Central Asia, using a 3D ice-flow model, Van Tricht & Huybrechts, The Cryosphere Open Access 10.5194/tc-17-4463-2023
The effects of climatic change and inter-annual variability on glacier retreat from ~ 1850s AD moraines in the Kuoqionggangri peak region, southern Tibetan Plateau, Xu et al., Climate Dynamics 10.1007/s00382-023-07041-w
Unveiling lake ice phenology in Central Asia under climate change with MODIS data and a two-step classification approach, Xu et al., Remote Sensing of Environment 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113955
Paleoclimate & paleogeochemistry
Millennial atmospheric CO2 changes linked to ocean ventilation modes over past 150,000 years, Yu et al., Nature Geoscience Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41561-023-01297-x
Biology & climate change, related geochemistry
Chronic exposure to environmental temperature attenuates the thermal sensitivity of salmonids, González-Ferreras et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-43478-7
Climate change impacts on Antarctic krill behaviour and population dynamics, Kawaguchi et al., Nature Reviews Earth & Environment 10.1038/s43017-023-00504-y
Climate change impacts on streamflow and nutrient loading to Lake Okeechobee, Song et al., Climatic Change 10.1007/s10584-023-03660-8
Critical role of water conditions in the responses of autumn phenology of marsh wetlands to climate change on the Tibetan Plateau, Shen et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.17097
Decrease in climatic disequilibrium associated with climate change and species abundance shifts in Mediterranean plant communities, Pérez?Navarro et al., Journal of Ecology Open Access pdf 10.1111/1365-2745.14233
Design and Assessment of a Novel Approach for Ecosystem Warming Experiments in High-Energy Tidal Wetlands, Rich et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023jg007550
Geographic Analysis of the Vulnerability of U.S. Lakes to Cyanobacterial Blooms under Future Climate, Butcher et al., Earth Interactions Open Access pdf 10.1175/ei-d-23-0004.1
Increasing atmospheric dryness reduces boreal forest tree growth, Mirabel et al., Nature Communications Open Access 10.1038/s41467-023-42466-1
Influence of climate and landscape on genetic differentiation of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer), Epps et al., Diversity and Distributions Open Access pdf 10.1111/ddi.13792
Linking climate warming and land conversion to species’ range changes across Great Britain, Suggitt et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-42475-0
Links Between Stream Water Nitrogen and Terrestrial Vegetation in Northeast Greenland, Riis et al., Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 10.1029/2023jg007688
Mangrove ghost forests provide opportunities for seagrass, Twomey et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1284829
Melting climates shrink North American small mammals, Searing et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2310855120
Microclimate and forest density drive plant population dynamics under climate change, Sanczuk et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-023-01744-y
Rate-induced tipping in complex high-dimensional ecological networks, Panahi et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access pdf 10.1073/pnas.2308820120
Seagrass-macroalgal interactions in a changing ocean, Richard & Quijón, Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1283305
Simultaneous warming and acidification limit population fitness and reveal phenotype costs for a marine copepod, deMayo et al., Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 10.1098/rspb.2023.1033
Temperature dependence of carbon metabolism in the leaves in sun and shade in a subtropical forest, Chen et al., Oecologia 10.1007/s00442-023-05487-7
GHG sources & sinks, flux, related geochemistry
Conceptual models of dissolved carbon fluxes in a two-layer stratified lake: interannual typhoon responses under extreme climates, Lin et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-20-4359-2023
Effects of aridification on soil total carbon pools in China's drylands, Ren et al., Global Change Biology 10.1111/gcb.17091
Enhanced causal effect of ecosystem photosynthesis on respiration during heatwaves, Ping et al., Science Advances Open Access pdf 10.1126/sciadv.adi6395
Equivalent impacts of logging and beaver activities on aboveground carbon stock loss in the southernmost forest on Earth, Miranda et al., Scientific Reports Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41598-023-45657-4
Evidence of cryptic methane cycling and non-methanogenic methylamine consumption in the sulfate-reducing zone of sediment in the Santa Barbara Basin, California, Krause et al., Biogeosciences Open Access pdf 10.5194/bg-20-4377-2023
Food web structure for high carbon retention in marine plankton communities, Kang et al., Science Advances Open Access pdf 10.1126/sciadv.adk0842
Increasing global ecosystem respiration between 1982 and 2015 from Earth observation-based modelling, Tagesson et al., Global Ecology and Biogeography Open Access pdf 10.1111/geb.13775
Methane Seepage Caused by Gas Hydrate Dissociation in the Mid-Okinawa Trough Since the Last Glacial Maximum, Li et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl103375
Permafrost trapped natural gas in Svalbard, Norway, Birchall et al., Frontiers in Earth Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/feart.2023.1277027
Shoreface erosion counters blue carbon accumulation in transgressive barrier-island systems, Barksdale et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-42942-8
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
Substantial blue carbon sequestration in the world’s largest seagrass meadow, Fu et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-023-01154-0
CO2 capture, sequestration science & engineering
Carbon storage in the built environment: a review, Bjånesøy et al., Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability Open Access pdf 10.1088/2634-4505/ad139f
Cost of mitigating climate change through reforestation in China, Zhang et al., Frontiers in Forests and Global Change Open Access pdf 10.3389/ffgc.2023.1229216
Dataset on the adoption of historical technologies informs the scale-up of emerging carbon dioxide removal measures, Nemet et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-023-01056-1
Electrocatalytic CO2 conversion toward large-scale deployment, Lin et al., Chinese Journal of Catalysis 10.1016/s1872-2067(23)64524-3
The impact of carbon dioxide removal on temperature parameters over West Africa, Uzoma et al., Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics 10.1007/s00703-023-00992-z
Decarbonization
Efficient photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide using dispersible and photoactive porous polymers, Wang et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-42720-6
Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources, Tonelli et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-41107-x
Life cycle assessment of a two-seater all-electric aircraft, Arvidsson et al., The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Open Access pdf 10.1007/s11367-023-02244-z
Technological Solutions to China's Carbon Neutrality in the Steel and Cement Sectors, Chen et al., Earth's Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2022ef003255
Geoengineering climate
Climate intervention using marine cloud brightening (MCB) compared with stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) in the UKESM1 climate model, Haywood et al., Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-23-15305-2023
Aerosols
Detection of large-scale cloud microphysical changes within a major shipping corridor after implementation of the International Maritime Organization 2020 fuel sulfur regulations, Diamond, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Open Access pdf 10.5194/acp-23-8259-2023
Climate change communications & cognition
A Distant Threat? The Framing of Climate Futures Across Four Countries, Guenther et al., Environmental Communication 10.1080/17524032.2023.2253500
ChatClimate: Grounding conversational AI in climate science, Vaghefi et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access 10.1038/s43247-023-01084-x
Five types on perception of global warming in Japanese, Kosugi & Baba, Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1227585
Indigenous filmmaking practices: healing in times of climate crises, Ramirez-Loaiza, Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1231794
Predicting climate change anxiety, Asgarizadeh et al., Journal of Environmental Psychology Open Access 10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.102087
Proud fathers and fossil fuels: gendered identities and climate obstruction, Letourneau et al., Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2023.2274271
Agronomy, animal husbundry, food production & climate change
Biochar as a tool for the improvement of soil and environment, Kabir et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1324533
Climate Change Driving Salinity: An Overview of Vulnerabilities, Adaptations, and Challenges for Indonesian Agriculture, Oelviani et al., Weather, Climate, and Society 10.1175/wcas-d-23-0025.1
Comparing the responses of grain-fed feedlot cattle under moderate heat load and during subsequent recovery with those of feed-restricted thermoneutral counterparts: blood cells and inflammatory markers, Wijffels et al., International Journal of Biometeorology Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00484-023-02584-3
Economic inequality expanded after an extreme climate event: a long-term analysis of herders’ household data in Mongolia, Kakinuma et al., Sustainability Science Open Access pdf 10.1007/s11625-023-01429-7
Efficient agricultural practices in Africa reduce crop water footprint despite climate change, but rely on blue water resources, Giordano et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-023-01125-5
Facing drought: exposure, vulnerability and adaptation options of extensive livestock systems in the French Pre-Alps, Deléglise et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2023.100568
Grassland Greening and Water Resource Availability May Coexist in a Warming Climate in Northern China and the Tibetan Plateau, Zhang et al., Earth's Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023ef004037
Nutrition and Climate Policies in the European Union: Friends or Enemies?, Chadwick, Media History Open Access pdf 10.1080/13688804.2014.991383
Social dimensions of adaptation to climate change in rangelands: a systematic literature review, Smith et al., Climatic Change 10.1007/s10584-023-03648-4
Stakeholder-based modelling in climate change planning for the agriculture sector in Argentina, Gutman et al., Climate Policy 10.1080/14693062.2023.2267024
The development of a farmer decision-making mind map to inform climate services in Central America, Giraldo et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1235601
Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change
Future projections of extreme rainfall events in Indonesia, Kurniadi et al., International Journal of Climatology Open Access pdf 10.1002/joc.8321
Population Exposure to Compound Precipitation–Temperature Extremes in the Past and Future Climate across India, Dash et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-22-0238.1
Quantitative evaluation of flood damage methodologies under a portfolio of adaptation scenarios, Boulange et al., Natural Hazards Open Access 10.1007/s11069-023-06017-7
Temporal Assessment of GCM-Driven Hydroclimatic Conditions for the Alberta Oil Sands Region, Canada, Thiombiano et al., Journal of Hydrometeorology 10.1175/jhm-d-23-0051.1
Topographic controls of water balance response to air temperature increase in permafrost-affected watersheds, Debolskiy et al., Frontiers in Earth Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/feart.2023.1288680
Climate change economics
A meta-analysis of the total economic impact of climate change, Tol, Energy Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113922
From a dynamic integrated climate economy (DICE) to a resilience integrated model of climate and economy (RIMCE), Bertolami & Gonçalves Gonçalves Diego, The Anthropocene Review Open Access pdf 10.1177/20530196231205486
Integrated prediction of green bond return under the dual risks of climate change and energy crisis, Nie et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1336867
The effects of climate change on the natural rate of interest: A critical survey, Mongelli et al., WIREs Climate Change Open Access pdf 10.1002/wcc.873
Climate change mitigation public policy research
A transboundary agenda for nature-based solutions across sectors, scales and disciplines: Insights from carbon projects in Southeast Asia, Miller & Taylor, Ambio Open Access pdf 10.1007/s13280-023-01961-x
Additional or accidental? Simulating interactions between a low-carbon fuel standard and other climate policy instruments in Canada, , The Aeronautical Journal Open Access 10.1017/s0001924000026865
Can environmental protection tax drive manufacturing carbon unlocking? Empirical evidence from China, Wen & Sun, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Open Access pdf 10.3389/fevo.2023.1274785
Carbon reduction effect of ESG: empirical evidence from listed manufacturing companies in China, Ye & Xu, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Open Access pdf 10.3389/fevo.2023.1311777
Climate policy and inequality in urban areas: Beyond incomes, Liotta et al., Urban Climate Open Access pdf 10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101722
Co-benefits as a rationale and co-benefits as a factor for urban climate action: linking air quality and emission reductions in Moscow, Paris, and Montreal, Roggero et al., Climatic Change Open Access pdf 10.1007/s10584-023-03662-6
Designing role-play simulations for climate change decision-making: A step-by-step approach to facilitate cooperation between science and policy, Alejandro et al., Environmental Science & Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.103650
Electric utility plans are consistent with Renewable Portfolio Standards and Clean Energy Standards in most US states, Kroeger & Burgess, Climatic Change 10.1007/s10584-023-03645-7
Enacting biochar as a climate solution in Denmark, Hougaard, Environmental Science & Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.103651
Evaluation of carbon emission efficiency and spatial relevance in the thermal power industry: evidence from China, Liu et al., Environment, Development and Sustainability 10.1007/s10668-023-03573-7
Has the evolution of renewable energy policies facilitated the construction of a new power system for China? A system dynamics analysis, Wu et al., Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113798
Inequalities in Air Pollution Exposure and Attributable Mortality in a Low Carbon Future, Reddington et al., Earth's Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023ef003697
Mixed success for carbon payments and subsidies in support of forest restoration in the neotropics, Sinacore et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-43861-4
Optimizing building solutions in a changing climate: parameter-based analysis of embodied and operational environmental impacts, Ramon & Allacker, Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability Open Access pdf 10.1088/2634-4505/ad139e
Potential greenhouse gas emissions and reduction from municipal solid waste management in Phnom Penh municipality, Pheakdey et al., Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology 10.1002/ghg.2231
The impact of climate change policies on financial stability of China, Meng et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1295951
Uncertainties in deforestation emission baseline methodologies and implications for carbon markets, Teo et al., Nature Communications Open Access pdf 10.1038/s41467-023-44127-9
Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research
A co-produced national climate change risk and vulnerability assessment framework for South Africa, Ziervogel & Taylor, Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1197167
Central America urgently needs to reduce the growing adaptation gap to climate change, Ley et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1215062
High-level characterisation and mapping of key climate-change hazards in European coastal cities, Laino & Iglesias, Natural Hazards 10.1007/s11069-023-06349-4
Traditional and local communities as key actors to identify climate-related disaster impacts: a citizen science approach in Southeast Brazilian coastal areas, Pereira et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1243008
Training community engaged climate adaptation leaders using multiple case study analysis: insights from cognitive learning sciences, Abercrombie et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1196467
Climate change impacts on human health
Association between thermal stress and cardiovascular mortality in the subtropics, Jingesi et al., International Journal of Biometeorology 10.1007/s00484-023-02565-6
Feminization of hunger in climate change: linking rural women’s health and wellbeing in India, Pattnaik & Lahiri-Dutt, Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2023.2282486
Observational and model evidence together support wide-spread exposure to noncompensable heat under continued global warming, Powis et al., Science Advances Open Access pdf 10.1126/sciadv.adg9297
Projected changes in heatwaves and its impact on human discomfort over India due to global warming under the CORDEX-CORE framework, Maharana et al., Theoretical and Applied Climatology Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00704-023-04788-4
The Social Cost of Ozone-Related Mortality Impacts From Methane Emissions, McDuffie et al., Earth's Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023ef003853
Unprecedented Human-Perceived Heat Stress in 2021 Summer Over Western North America: Increasing Intensity and Frequency in a Warming Climate, Jeong et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023gl105964
Climate change & geopolitics
The impact of power dynamics on international climate commitments: a case study of the USA–Iran over climate action and economic sanctions, Javadi, Environment, Development and Sustainability 10.1007/s10668-023-04278-7
Other
Exploring the Drivers of Tropospheric Hydroxyl Radical Trends in the GFDL AM4.1 Atmospheric Chemistry-Climate Model, Chua et al., Open Access 10.5194/acp-2023-9
Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives
Amazon deforestation implications in local/regional climate change, Artaxo, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2317456120
An indisputable link between climate emergency and human health, TONG et al., Advances in Climate Change Research Open Access 10.1016/j.accre.2023.12.004
Coupled Changes in the Arctic Carbon Cycle Between the Land, Marine, and Social Domains, Wu et al., Earth's Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2022ef003293
Editorial: Nature-based solutions, climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, Hilmi et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1308032
Editorial: New approaches to local climate change risk analysis, Aall et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2023.1298779
Effective climate adaptation must be imaginative and inclusive, , Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-023-01150-4
Melting climates shrink North American small mammals, Searing et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2310855120
Poetry and language offer a balm for climate angst, McDermott, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2319793120
Valuing a values-based approach for assessing loss and damage, van Schie et al., Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2023.2289533
Articles/Reports from Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Aspects of Climate Change
Arctic Permafrost Atlas, Westerveld et al., GRID-Arendal
The authors present maps and graphics of the highest quality mixed with text, art, and stories to explain some of the complex processes associated with permafrost. They aimed to evoke the experiences of people living on and researching permafrost. The 82 maps and graphics, more than 50,000 words and nine stories cannot entirely do justice to the richness and complexity of the “country of permafrost”, a term coined by Edward A.G. Schuur and colleagues in 2022.
Arctic Report Card 2023, Thoman et al., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
More frequent extreme weather and climate events are transforming the Arctic, yet resiliency and opportunity lie within diverse partnerships. The Arctic is increasingly warmer, less frozen, and wetter, with regional extremes in weather, climate patterns, and ecosystem responses. Centering locally and internationally focused partnerships, long-term observations, and equitable climate solutions provides Arctic communities and nations as well as society at large with information and mechanisms to cope with a rapidly changing Arctic. Average surface air temperatures for the Arctic in the past year were the sixth warmest since 1900. Sea ice extent continues to decline, with the last 17 September extents (2007-23) as the lowest on record. Sea ice extent was 6th lowest in the satellite record, since 1979. North American snow cover extent set a record low in May 2023, while snow accumulation during the 2022/23 winter was above average across both North America and Eurasia.
India: Climate Change Issues, Kronstadt et al., Congressional Research Service
Global climate change presents multiple challenges to India. The country is faced with meeting its energy and economic development needs, reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and addressing the potential impacts of climate change. India is among the world’s top emitters of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), along with China, the United States, and the European Union; thus, India’s participation in global efforts to mitigate climate change would be crucial to their success. India accounted for 17.5% of the world’s population and 7% of global CO2 emissions in 2021, although its CO2 emissions per capita are comparatively low. Energy use in India has roughly doubled since 2000. The country’s reliance on coal and other fossil fuels results in India emitting more GHGs per unit of energy generated than many other large countries.
Flaws in EPA’s Monitoring and Verification of Carbon Capture Projects, Preet Bains, Environmental Integrity Project
The author examined one central component of carbon capture and sequestration regulation in the U.S.: monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) plans required by the Environmental Protection Agency's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. These plans describe the monitoring strategies in place at each site to validate that the carbon dioxide is securely stored underground and is not leaking or migrating unexpectedly. If approved by EPA, the plans can also be used to qualify for tax subsidies. However, the 21 plans that the EPA approved as of October 31, 2023, are ambiguous and lack key elements to ensure safe and long-term carbon sequestration. Specifically, these plans are not required to include specific monitoring strategies or technologies, allowing companies to write their own rules; often contain ambiguous language that does not commit to explicit monitoring timelines or activities. Several plans lack specific timelines for monitoring and testing, stating they will only continue with the monitoring actions described in the plan “if beneficial,” or even promise to “determine the most appropriate method” to quantify leaks in the event a leak occurs, instead of describing quantification strategies within the plan itself. These plans are difficult to enforce, with no third-party verification of the data.
Is Climate Change Influencing Wildfires? Climate Change Effects on Wildfires in the United States, Jonathan Haskett and Anne Riddle, Congressional Research Service
The authors describe changes in wildfire activity in the United States in recent decades and the potential influence of climate change on wildfires under current and projected climate change conditions.
National Preparedness Report, December 2023, Federal Emergency Management Agency
The authors present a data-driven picture of national preparedness and emergency management trends. This includes focused discussions on four core capabilities (Fire Management and Suppression; Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Public Health, Healthcare, and Emergency Medical Services [EMS]; and Long-Term Vulnerability Reduction) that continue to challenge emergency managers, as well as concrete recommendations that partners and stakeholders across the whole community can take to increase their resilience.
Climate Change in the Courts: A 2023 Thematic Retrospective, Marie Antonia Tigre and Margaret Barry, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
The report examines key cases and rulings that have shaped the legal discourse on climate change in 2023 or that are poised to have an impact in the coming months and years. Drawing from the Sabin Center’s United States (U.S.) and Global Climate Litigation databases, the report provides examples that offer insights into emerging themes, evolving legal strategies, and the pulse of climate litigation. The report begins with a brief analysis of the growth of climate litigation in 2023, both in terms of the number of cases and the jurisdictions included in the databases. the report then highlights seven key “themes” the Sabin Center observed in climate litigation in 2023
Insights on Climate, Peace and Security, Tarif et al., Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Climate change is having alarming effects on societies and ecosystems. There is also growing evidence of its impacts on peace and conflict, which is reflected in discussions in the United Nations Security Council. The authors synthesize four key findings from the fact sheet series including (a) the centrality of livelihood to climate-related security risks; (b) how climate change in one location can lead to insecurity risks in another; (c) how climate change interacts with new and existing conflict risks; and (d) conflict as a societal response to climate change. Recommendations that the United Nations Security Council should consider include the following; replicate the specialized advisor role in more countries, develop regional climate security hubs, ensure policies are coherent, and support just climate action.
Obtaining articles without journal subscriptions
We know it's frustrating that many articles we cite here are not free to read. One-off paid access fees are generally astronomically priced, suitable for such as "On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light" but not as a gamble on unknowns. With a median world income of US$ 9,373, for most of us US$ 42 is significant money to wager on an article's relevance and importance.
- Here's an excellent collection of tips and techniques for obtaining articles, legally.
- Unpaywall offers a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that automatically indicates when an article is freely accessible and provides immediate access without further trouble. Unpaywall is also unscammy, works well, is itself offered free to use. The organizers (a legitimate nonprofit) report about a 50% success rate
- The weekly New Research catch is checked against the Unpaywall database with accessible items being flagged. Especially for just-published articles this mechansim may fail. If you're interested in an article title and it is not listed here as "open access," be sure to check the link anyway.
How is New Research assembled?
Most articles appearing here are found via RSS feeds from journal publishers, filtered by search terms to produce raw output for assessment of relevance.
Relevant articles are then queried against the Unpaywall database, to identify open access articles and expose useful metadata for articles appearing in the database.
The objective of New Research isn't to cast a tinge on scientific results, to color readers' impressions. Hence candidate articles are assessed via two metrics only:
- Was an article deemed of sufficient merit by a team of journal editors and peer reviewers? The fact of journal RSS output assigns a "yes" to this automatically.
- Is an article relevant to the topic of anthropogenic climate change? Due to filter overlap with other publication topics of inquiry, of a typical week's 550 or so input articles about 1/4 of RSS output makes the cut.
A few journals offer public access to "preprint" versions of articles for which the review process is not yet complete. For some key journals this all the mention we'll see in RSS feeds, so we include such items in New Research. These are flagged as "preprint."
The section "Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives" includes some items that are not scientific research per se but fall instead into the category of "perspectives," observations of implications of research findings, areas needing attention, etc.
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Journals covered
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