The warming of Earth's surface poses a serious threat to the Earth's ecosystem, with the effects already evident in changing weather patterns. In 1996, world leaders agreed to limit climate change and the rise in global mean temperatures to a maximum of 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, while aiming to keep below 1.5 degrees C. However, the Earth's global mean surface temperature reached 1.55 degrees C in 2024, highlighting the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and act on climate change. This study examines individuals' experiences of using digital tools designed to encourage more sustainable behaviours. Using a qualitative, longitudinal research design incorporating the think-aloud method, twenty UK-based participants used one of two websites (Get-Greener and Climate Hero) while reflecting on current behaviours, recommended changes, and attitudes toward sustainability. Over a two-week period, eight participants made small behavioural changes, six of which were recommended by the tools. Key findings highlight valued persuasive design elements: personalized footprint calculations and feedback, tailored recommendations, and ongoing support. Participants preferred small, easily implemented actions, and identified barriers to larger-scale changes, including cost, limited access to sustainable alternatives, logistical challenges, and uncertainty about what products are sustainable. Despite a general willingness to adopt sustainable practices, convenience and financial considerations often outweighed pro-environmental intentions. Additionally, participants' attitudes toward sustainability were affected by the behaviour and attitudes of government and the people around them. Participants expressed a need for clearer guidance on what changes to make, alongside support through policy and infrastructure changes-such as improved public transport and greater access to sustainable options-to enable behaviour change.
Climate change is exacerbating extreme heat events, and individual cooling measures are becoming vital, particularly in communities lacking access to air conditioning or other cooling systems. This review introduces a new framework that bridges the gap between nutrition and climate adaptation, highlighting the potential of using traditional, nutrient-rich diets as evidence-based, practical methods to help individuals manage heat stress. We integrate biochemical, physiological, epidemiological, and cultural approaches, unlike most studies that have concentrated primarily on engineering or technological interventions, to demonstrate how regular foods help maintain body temperature, hydration, and mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress. Considering nutrition as a means of heat resilience, we can observe that familiar foods can provide cost-effective, easily available, and sustainable solutions to numerous vulnerable groups. Notably, we also discuss how to incorporate such traditional cooling foods into national food programs and school meal schemes, combining the local knowledge with contemporary climate adaptation policies. Although this approach is India-centred, it has broad applicability and can be used to provide a replicable, scientifically based, and culturally informed framework on how community heat resilience can be improved throughout the Global South.
The Arctic's sea ice cover is important both for the region's communities and for the global climate system. Its rapid decline has prompted explorations of artificial ice thickening with the goal of partially stabilising the changing climate. Trials of this intervention recently received several million pounds of funding in the United Kingdom from a program aiming to investigate ways to cool the climate. We argue that while sea-ice thickening may work at a local scale, it is unlikely to scale to have a meaningful pan-Arctic or global impact in the next few decades. Based on this discussion, we suggest that these sea-ice thickening methods would be better understood as a way for local communities to adapt to ice retreat, rather than a way to intervene in the climate system. Such a framing better reflects our present and likely future technological capabilities, and highlights that control should lie with those most directly affected by sea-ice decline.
Loss and Damage (L&D) due to climate change from human activity is now an accepted scientific fact. After years of collecting data, analysing samples and changes overtime, writing reports, applying various models and developing theories, the agreement to take action and provide funding for L&D to vulnerable countries was finally agreed to at the United Nations Conference of Parties 27 (COP) on 20 November 2022. The question needs to be asked why did this take so long? And was it absolutely necessary to wait for the conclusive proof about L&D? Echoes of the ignored precautionary principle from International Law come to mind as sadly, vulnerable countries, already experiencing the most serious impacts of climate change, are left to adapt and mitigate the harsh effects hitting their shores. Audrey Brown-Pereira's poem "They Taking pictures of us in the water" paints the real-life experiences faced by vulnerable countries, who, are 'leading the charge of [their] own self rescue'. This paper seeks to provide a complete background of the topic of climate change loss and damage (CCLD), tracing its conceptual development overtime from 1824 to 2025 and into the future. It analyses what happened over these four epochs and explores how justice has developed in these epochs. To understand CCLD there is a need to analyse its historical evolution as that can provide the platform for improved impact. The originality of this research centres on being the first to explore with a justice lens the full emergence of CCLD overtime.
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) may be able to cool the Earth and (imperfectly) counter effects of greenhouse-gas-related warming. Increasing efforts are spent on researching SAI's effects on the physical climate, but the impact on ecological systems is harder to project. As a rough approximation, it is often assumed that fast changes are particularly detrimental. One common measure is the climate velocity, that is the velocity with which relevant iso-lines (e.g. isotherms) move; an ecological system unable to migrate at this speed cannot track its climate niche. We argue that additional measures are needed to capture the climate impacts of various SAI scenarios. Using three climate scenarios-RCP8.5 without SAI, with SAI starting from 2020, or with SAI starting from 2080-we show that delayed SAI can roughly restore relevant climate variables in most parts of the world, but the delay leads to long periods of high temperature overshoot and rapid cooling, both of which may damage ecological systems. It is unclear a priori whether a rapid reversal of prior climate trends is as detrimental as a rapid continuation. This makes it necessary to also consider sign changes of climate velocities. In addition, measures for the magnitude and duration of overshoot are needed. These additional indicators should be included in risk assessments of SAI strategies. However, given the severe political conundrum of (early) SAI deployment, our findings can only be one element in a holistic assessment.
Carbon removal markets have failed to deliver liquidity, price discovery, or scale. This failure is institutional rather than technological. Current markets trade registry certificates that record past attestations, not claims on carbon or obligations governing its continued absence from the atmosphere. As a result, no object of custody exists; buyers acquire neither enforceable control nor ongoing remedies tied to stored carbon. Even if such claims were properly constituted, carbon storage would remain difficult to govern through markets because it is inherently location- and time-bound, resisting delivery, substitution, and exit in ways unlike standard commodities or property interests. This article identifies these problems in sequence. First, current certificate-based practice fails to create a carbon asset at all. Second, conditional on remedying that absence, genuine carbon claims would face binding constraints of custody and alienability: performance must be governed over time, and claims must be transferable without extinguishing accountability. Existing practices-particularly retirement as an end-state-foreclose these mechanisms by design. The article proposes carbon storage leasing as a canonical solution. Leasing reframes removals as time-bound, auditable, and enforceable services rather than consumptive acts resolved at certificate issuance. To scale, such contracts require institutional counterparties. Carbon Delivery Companies (CDCs) govern claims rather than projects, performing for carbon removals the functional equivalent of custodial and clearing roles long used in commodity and derivatives markets. Together, leasing and CDCs enable governable, transferable carbon claims and establish an institutional pathway compatible with asset-based carbon accounting.
The policy impacts of uncertain climate sensitivity are simulated in the Dystopian Schumpeter-meeting-Keynes (DSK) model, an agent-based integrated assessment model. The effects of different approaches to equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) uncertainty are investigated along two different axes: whether policymakers adapt their policy to updated estimates of the climate sensitivity probability distribution, and which part of the probability distribution they focus on (expected value or 99th percentile, i.e. worst-case scenario), under 5 different policy mixes. Results indicate that a suitable choice of policy instruments is vital for limiting warming and policies' economic repercussions. The choice of policy mix determines the type of trade-offs that ensue, influencing the effects of expectation-focus versus worst-case-focus and adaptiveness. We conclude that adaptiveness plays a very limited role except under very high true climate sensitivity, a role that will likely grow more limited the longer climate policy remains inadequate in scope.
This article examines the intersection of climate obstruction and “green nationalism,” exploring whether the latter can act as a tool against the former. While previous research has highlighted the conflicting relationship between nationalism and climate action, the crucial aspect of climate obstruction has not been thoroughly explored in relation to nationalism. Among the varieties of nationalism in relation to climate change, “green nationalism” has been identified as rooted in the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and defending the planet, potentially serving as a valid ally against policies that hinder climate progress. The study focuses on West European sub-state nationalisms (Catalonia, Scotland, Galicia, Wales) and Asian state nationalisms (People’s Republic of China, Vietnam), analyzing their approaches to climate policies and the impact of broader international trends. The results are mixed, with “green nationalism” still holding potential for pro-climate action but facing challenges from shifting political priorities and the rise of far-right movements. The article concludes by recommending the need for further research to understand the evolving role of “green nationalism” in shaping climate policies in a changing political landscape.
Climate change, food insecurity, and conflict (CFC) represent a critical intersection of issues impacting global health systems, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. This literature review synthesizes evidence from five studies published between 2021 and 2024, highlighting global health vulnerabilities and health system level adaptive strategies in the face of CFC challenges. Climate change exacerbates health risks through extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and resource depletion, often aggravating food insecurity and triggering or intensifying conflicts. These phenomena synergistically amplify health crises, including malnutrition, epidemics, and reduced access to care. The researchers conducted a rapid literature review to scope the coverage of this issue and documented the impacts of this trilemma, such as heightened incidence of stunting and wasting among children, increase in food- and waterborne diseases, injuries and heat-related conditions among others. Our findings underscore the necessity of integrating disaster-health preparedness, conflict-sensitive approaches, and cost-effective practices into adaptation frameworks. A systematic gap in current policies was identified, where climate change, food security, and conflict are rarely addressed holistically within health system planning. Additionally, the findings emphasize the importance of aligning immediate humanitarian responses with long-term resilience-building, prioritizing evidence-based planning, equitable resource distribution, and multisectoral engagement. By addressing the CFC trilemma cohesively, health systems can better mitigate risks and enhance adaptive capacities. This review highlights the urgent need for global and local stakeholders to collaborate in bridging the gaps in research and practice, ensuring that health systems are equipped to respond to the complex and interlinked challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and conflict.
Role model narratives—stories about specific people taking recommended actions—are a proven communication strategy for encouraging socially beneficial behaviors such as climate action. However, the extent to which climate activists share role model narratives on social media has yet to be investigated. To measure the prevalence of climate action role model narratives on social media, we manually collected Instagram and TikTok posts tagged with the hashtags #climateaction and #climateactivist (dated between August 2021 and October 2024) and conducted a content analysis of the posts (Instagram N = 457 and TikTok N = 188). We examined the types of actions featured in role model narratives, the presence and nature of any calls to action, and whether role model narratives are correlated with higher engagement than other types of content. We found that role model narratives appear in only 11% of the Instagram posts (N = 48) and 19% of the TikTok posts (N = 35), which suggests that they are an underutilized communication approach. Furthermore, only 28% of the role model narratives included calls to action, with joining an organization being the most common. Additionally, role model narratives did not have significantly different engagement compared to other posts in the sample, but were represented among the ten top-performing posts. Given the ease with which the role model narrative format can be adopted and the powerful reach of social media, climate groups and advocates have a unique opportunity to share their stories and lead by example, using their platforms to inspire greater and more concerted climate action.
Climatic variables, such as temperature and humidity, can influence physiological and psychological states, potentially exacerbating mental health disorders. This study analyzed the temporal pattern of schizophrenia hospitalization rates in the municipality of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, between 2013 and 2023, and explored associations with climate variables. An ecological time-series study was conducted using schizophrenia hospitalization data from the Brazilian Unified Health System. Rates were calculated based on the city's population, and climate data were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology. Statistical analyses and machine learning techniques, including Gradient Boosting Machines and Generalized Additive Models, were used to assess associations. During the study period, 9200 schizophrenia hospitalizations were recorded, with average annual and monthly rates of 57.5 and 4.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. A seasonal pattern emerged, with higher hospitalization rates in autumn and winter and lower rates in summer (P = 0.002). The most significant climate variables for the predictive model were sunlight exposure, maximum temperature, and pitch evaporation. Municipal-level climate variables may be associated with schizophrenia exacerbation in Porto Alegre and could serve as predictive factors for psychiatric hospitalizations in similar urban settings.
The annual average trends and health impacts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), organic carbon (OC), and black carbon (BC) in West Africa from 1980 to 2023 were studied using satellite data. The analysis showed significant seasonal and yearly fluctuations in particulate levels, with monthly mean PM2.5 (46.55-97.84 mu g/m(3)) being higher during the dry season due to dust from the Sahara and smoke from bush burning caused by the increased use of fossil fuels, and lower during the wet season. The monthly OC/BC ratio ranged from 8.13 to 8.92 (unitless), indicating different source contributions, with higher ratios pointing to biogenic sources and secondary organic aerosols, and lower ratios indicating emissions from combustion. This ratio helps classify particle sources and understand atmospheric chemistry. Health risk assessments revealed minimal cancer (1.76 x 10-10) and non-cancer risks (adults: 1.14 x 10-6 and children: 2.67 x 10-6) related to BC, OC, and PM2.5, especially since children are more vulnerable due to their developing immune systems, despite emission patterns and advances in technology. BC from diesel engines and coke ovens is linked to lung cancer, while OC compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), along with formaldehyde, contribute to cancer risks. PM2.5 poses serious health threats, including respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Environmental concerns include global warming, decreased visibility, and ecosystem disruption. This study emphasizes the urgent need for better air quality management and public health actions in the West African region.
This study investigates the factors influencing women's agency and adaptive capacity in response to climate change in the coastal union of Sarankhola, Bangladesh. Drawing on 27 community case studies from 162 individuals in group surveys, it applies a five-step fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to identify combinations of conditions that explain the presence or absence of women's agency. The analysis defines women's agency through asset ownership, decision-making power, and ability to mediate conflict. Causal conditions were selected based on existing scholarship and local context, and each case was calibrated using a four-point fuzzy scale. The fsQCA results reveal that a combination of restricted mobility, lack of household support, and absence of material conditions consistently contributes to the absence of agency across most cases. Two solution pathways explain the observed outcomes, with consistency scores above 0.72. The study also shows how disaster events, such as Cyclone Sidr and Amphan, have disrupted entrenched vulnerabilities and temporarily expanded women's roles-analysed through a modified Radical Capacity Framework and a Discharging Vulnerability Model. These findings suggest that adaptive responses and enhanced agency can emerge not only through targeted interventions but also through structural shifts triggered by crisis events. The paper concludes by arguing for climate adaptation strategies that engage with these dynamic, non-linear pathways, and that recognize the role of social restructuring, support networks, and institutional presence in shaping women's resilience.
As the effects of climate change are increasingly being felt, understanding its impact on population and migration trends is becoming crucial. Although some research has covered the link between the two, a systematic approach remains uncharted territory. As knowledge on both climate-induced migration and climate change are both extremely complex, developing a cross-fielded methodological approach with the potential to tackle them simultaneously is a promising avenue to put forward. This article introduces a novel methodology that leverages the disruptive capabilities of Earth Observation to examine the highly complex relationships between the various impacts of climate change and climate-induced migration.
Amid growing efforts to mitigate climate change in healthcare systems, there is a need to better understand the complex social and political processes by which a healthcare system can progress towards "net zero" goals. We aimed to gather stakeholders' perspectives to explain this process by applying a qualitative Theory of Change (ToC) co-creation methodology in the subnational healthcare system of Catalonia, Spain. Iterative virtual focus group interviews and written feedback rounds gathered the perspectives of 12 stakeholders, including researchers, government officials and healthcare professionals working in the Catalan healthcare system and/or climate action. Thematic and axial coding on focus group transcripts identified themes, categories and relationships. A ToC consisting of a sequence of nearly two hundred events envisioned by stakeholders to reach a long-term desired change of a "smart net zero" healthcare system was developed. The need for simultaneous top-down and bottom-up change was recognized, with identification of key stakeholder groups. Events were categorized into four "core change pathways" (policy, industry, healthcare institutions' and healthcare workers' pathways) and six "supporting processes" (governance, participation and collaboration, finance, digitalization, knowledge production and knowledge dissemination). The sequence of events in every pathway was further categorized into five stages of change: motivation, commitment, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. A ToC approach was useful to understand context-specific political, logistical, and social constraints and opportunities for different types of stakeholders to contribute to change towards a "net zero" healthcare system.
Climate change presents a critical challenge to healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya. Health workers are key to leading the transition toward a sustainable, climate-resilient healthcare system. This mixed-methods study explores the perceptions, knowledge, and roles of Kenyan health workers in mitigation and adaptation in healthcare. An online questionnaire, completed by 118 health workers, explored their understanding of climate change's impacts on health, the healthcare system's role in emissions reduction and adaptation, and current practices. A subsequent focus group discussion delved deeper into the identified themes, with a particular focus on education of health workers to support climate action. The findings reveal that while health workers are aware of the health risks posed by climate change, financial limitations and insufficient training present significant barriers to the implementation of sustainable practices. The focus group emphasized the need for practical, context-specific education to equip health workers with actionable knowledge and skills, alongside fostering emotional resilience and ethical leadership. Key recommendations include co-creating educational programs with communities and health workers, integrating climate-health modules into curricula, and leveraging innovative approaches such as peer-led workshops and social media campaigns. These insights underscore the transformative potential of education in empowering health workers to lead Kenya's transition to a sustainable, climate-resilient healthcare system.
Noise pollution is a planetary health problem. This perspective article sets out to provide a high-level summary of recent scientific evidence on the impacts of noise pollution from transport on human and the natural environment. Beyond annoyance and sleep disturbance, evidence has indicated that traffic noise is associated with cardiovascular diseases, metabolic outcomes, mental health and neurological health. Current estimates of the burden of ill health due to noise pollution are likely to underpredict the true impact as newer evidence emerges. Furthermore, current net-zero policy discussions tend to be dominated by strategic priorities such as population mobility, economic growth, and air pollution. Noise is often overlooked or only considered after problems arise. We explore the intersections between noise pollution and climate strategies relating to transport, natural environment, housing and building, and offer insights into some of the potential benefits and caveat to human health, in a planetary health perspective.
Human-induced climate change has led to hotter, longer, and more severe heatwaves globally. In high-income settings, cooling centres are increasingly used as public health interventions to mitigate heat-related impacts. This review evaluates the evidence of the effect of publicly accessible indoor cooling centres in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries on heat-related morbidity and mortality. A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar for studies from OECD countries published between 1 January 2010 and 30 April 2024. Records were screened for inclusion based on titles, abstracts, and full texts by two independent reviewers. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. From 3,718 unique records, five studies met inclusion criteria. An ecological study linked access to cool spaces, including commercial areas, with reduced heat-related ill health. A modelling study indicated many cooling centre visits are needed to prevent one heat-related death or hospitalization; a finding contested by a similar study focusing on vulnerable groups. Two simulated heatwave studies reported that cooling centres provided only transient physiological benefits to healthy older adults. No studies reported real-world health outcomes for cooling centre users. There is limited direct evidence for the impact of real-world cooling centres on heat-related health outcomes. Laboratory based studies suggest that the benefit to users is transient and small. Experimental research of real-world cooling centres is urgently needed to address the evidence gaps in heat response planning, given the worsening severity of heatwaves.
This paper argues that the climate economics literature often overlooks the role of generational self-interest in hindering ambitious climate change mitigation. A deeper examination of this self-interest could improve public awareness of their role in current low levels of mitigation and guide future research towards critical questions needed to overcome the generational barrier to significant climate action.
