Advancing Climate Change Research Articles

Reinvigorating Climate Change Education in Universities a Social Transformative Agenda

The global community is faced with environmental threats due to climate change. The problematic process of societal transformation involved in responding to climate change. Reviving climate change education in educational institutions can provide a strong impetus for societal change. Future leaders, professionals, and citizens are significantly shaped by the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities they acquire in universities. This paper then sought to unpack strategies employed by universities to advance climate change education. Transformational paradigm and social change theory are the underlying philosophical view for this paper. Curriculum integration, a holistic approach, experiential learning, community engagement, faculty development, campus sustainability, policy advocacy, developing student leadership, partnerships, and collaborations are some approaches to reviving climate change education that came to light from the paper. By implementing these approaches, universities may position themselves as hubs for climate change education, research, and action, raising a generation of conscious, involved, and equipped individuals ready to lead societal transformation in the direction of a sustainable future.

Farmers Feel the Climate Change: Variety Choice as an Adaptation Strategy of European Potato Farmers

Effects associated with a changing climate could severely threaten potato production in Europe. Hence, farmers need to take up adaptation measures to safeguard agricultural production. Collecting data from 553 farmers from 22 different European countries, our survey evaluates European potato farmers’ perceptions regarding the influence of climate change on local potato production, and their willingness to implement adaptation strategies. An overwhelming majority of survey respondents had already experienced the effects of climatic changes on their potato production. Specifically, drought and heat were identified as the most significant threats. The planting of an adapted variety was the preferred adaptation strategy, while farmers were also willing to take up changes in agricultural management practices. Survey respondents predominantly considered yield stability as the most important characteristic of an adapted variety, closely followed by heat tolerance, disease resistance, drought tolerance, and yield potential. When choosing a variety, the personal experience of the survey respondents as well as the experience of their peers were identified as the most important sources of information. Our survey gives valuable insights into the challenges European potato farmers are facing in times of climate change. Supplying farmers with better-adapted varieties would be a well-targeted and well-accepted measure to advance climate change adaptation.

Exploring the role of social capital in advancing climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction

ABSTRACT This work explores how social capital impacts community resilience via the community development framework, with dimensions spanning trust, cooperativism, volunteerism, reciprocity, and interpersonal relationships in mitigating climate change impacts. With flooding impacts as a case, a mixed method approach was used, purposely recruiting 24 research cooperators in one of the suburban villages in the central Philippines. Results show that key components in disaster mitigation plans include help-seeking behavior, community responses, social relations, and resource allocation within communities. Findings demonstrate that social capital has proven invaluable in mobilizing resources, building resilience, disseminating information, mediating conflict resolution, providing psychological support, and improving livelihoods within communities. By exploring the role of social capital in community development, this study sheds light on its importance for climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction initiatives. Policymakers, development practitioners, and community leaders can frame these findings to effectively harness social capital and foster community participation.

From identification to forecasting: the potential of image recognition and artificial intelligence for aphid pest monitoring.

Insect monitoring has gained global public attention in recent years in the context of insect decline and biodiversity loss. Monitoring methods that can collect samples over a long period of time and independently of human influences are of particular importance. While these passive collection methods, e.g. suction traps, provide standardized and comparable data sets, the time required to analyze the large number of samples and trapped specimens is high. Another challenge is the necessary high level of taxonomic expertise required for accurate specimen processing. These factors create a bottleneck in specimen processing. In this context, machine learning, image recognition and artificial intelligence have emerged as promising tools to address the shortcomings of manual identification and quantification in the analysis of such trap catches. Aphids are important agricultural pests that pose a significant risk to several important crops and cause high economic losses through feeding damage and transmission of plant viruses. It has been shown that long-term monitoring of migrating aphids using suction traps can be used to make, adjust and improve predictions of their abundance so that the risk of plant viruses spreading through aphids can be more accurately predicted. With the increasing demand for alternatives to conventional pesticide use in crop protection, the need for predictive models is growing, e.g. as a basis for resistance development and as a measure for resistance management. In this context, advancing climate change has a strong influence on the total abundance of migrating aphids as well as on the peak occurrences of aphids within a year. Using aphids as a model organism, we demonstrate the possibilities of systematic monitoring of insect pests and the potential of future technical developments in the subsequent automated identification of individuals through to the use of case data for intelligent forecasting models. Using aphids as an example, we show the potential for systematic monitoring of insect pests through technical developments in the automated identification of individuals from static images (i.e. advances in image recognition software). We discuss the potential applications with regard to the automatic processing of insect case data and the development of intelligent prediction models.

Widening the lens of population-based health research to climate change impacts and adaptation: the climate change and health evaluation and response system (CHEERS).

Climate change significantly impacts health in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), exacerbating vulnerabilities. Comprehensive data for evidence-based research and decision-making is crucial but scarce. Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSSs) in Africa and Asia provide a robust infrastructure with longitudinal population cohort data, yet they lack climate-health specific data. Acquiring this information is essential for understanding the burden of climate-sensitive diseases on populations and guiding targeted policies and interventions in LMICs to enhance mitigation and adaptation capacities. The objective of this research is to develop and implement the Change and Health Evaluation and Response System (CHEERS) as a methodological framework, designed to facilitate the generation and ongoing monitoring of climate change and health-related data within existing Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites (HDSSs) and comparable research infrastructures. CHEERS uses a multi-tiered approach to assess health and environmental exposures at the individual, household, and community levels, utilizing digital tools such as wearable devices, indoor temperature and humidity measurements, remotely sensed satellite data, and 3D-printed weather stations. The CHEERS framework utilizes a graph database to efficiently manage and analyze diverse data types, leveraging graph algorithms to understand the complex interplay between health and environmental exposures. The Nouna CHEERS site, established in 2022, has yielded significant preliminary findings. By using remotely-sensed data, the site has been able to predict crop yield at a household level in Nouna and explore the relationships between yield, socioeconomic factors, and health outcomes. The feasibility and acceptability of wearable technology have been confirmed in rural Burkina Faso for obtaining individual-level data, despite the presence of technical challenges. The use of wearables to study the impact of extreme weather on health has shown significant effects of heat exposure on sleep and daily activity, highlighting the urgent need for interventions to mitigate adverse health consequences. Implementing the CHEERS in research infrastructures can advance climate change and health research, as large and longitudinal datasets have been scarce for LMICs. This data can inform health priorities, guide resource allocation to address climate change and health exposures, and protect vulnerable communities in LMICs from these exposures.

Working in heat: Contrasting heat management approaches among outdoor employees and contractors

Exposure to high heat and humidity in the workplace is a critical health and safety issue. In Australia, where heat waves are occurring with more frequency and intensity the risks posed by occupational heat exposure have been acknowledged by employer groups, trade unions, and statutory government agencies. In this study we investigate the employment context in which heat stress is experienced, and whether the mode of employment affects the capacity to manage it. We examine the experience of workplace heat exposure for two groups of affected outdoor workers: contracted pieceworkers in bicycle delivery and permanently employed municipal workers in parks and road maintenance. Data was collected in Sydney during the summer of 2019 via surveys and in-person interviews with the two sets of workers. Research findings reflect the well-established nexus between outside temperature, humidity and work effort in producing heat stress. The comparative findings reveal that more secure forms of employment enable social organisation and workflow to manage heat stress and that, conversely, more contingent forms of employment such as contractual piece work can exacerbate exposure. The research demonstrates that the mode of employment has a direct bearing on the capacity to address workplace heat stress: growth in contract or ‘gig’ work may exacerbate impacts; this issue is likely to become more important with advancing climate change.

The heterogeneity-diversity-system performance nexus.

Ever-growing human population and nutritional demands, supply chain disruptions, and advancing climate change have led to the realization that changes in diversity and system performance are intimately linked. Moreover, diversity and system performance depend on heterogeneity. Mitigating changes in system performance and promoting sustainable living conditions requires transformative decisions. Here, we introduce the heterogeneity-diversity-system performance (HDP) nexus as the conceptual basis upon which to formulate transformative decisions. We suggest that managing the heterogeneity of systems will best allow diversity to provide multiple benefits to people. Based on ecological theory, we pose that the HDP nexus is broadly applicable across systems, disciplines, and sectors, and should thus be considered in future decision making as a way to have a more sustainable global future.

Strategic Litigation at the Domestic and International Levels as a Tool to Advance Climate Change Adaptation?

Strategic Litigation at the Domestic and International Levels as a Tool to Advance Climate Change Adaptation?

Influencing the International Transport Regime Complex: The EU’s Climate Action in ICAO and IMO

Regime complexes entail a variety of institutions with a degree of overlap in terms of thematic issues and participating actors. The EU is such an actor engaging with other governmental and non-governmental entities in the formation and evolution of regime complexes. In this article, we examine the role of the EU in the international transport regime complex, and more specifically in two of its core international organizations, namely ICAO and IMO. Our actor-based approach focuses on how the EU navigates between these two constitutive components of the global transport regime complex, advancing climate change mitigation measures. Our empirical material shows how the EU’s active engagement in ICAO contributed to the organization’s shift vis-à-vis the role of the aviation industry in greenhouse gas emissions. Besides the EU learning process that occurred and led to a more engaging and less conflictual EU approach in IMO, the ICAO achievement increased pressure and created a more conducive environment for the respective recognition of the maritime industry’s share in climate deterioration. In this respect, the EU benefited from the structure of the transport regime complex to pursue its own preferences.

Critical Analysis of Shareholder Benefits from Spin-Offs and Carve-Outs of Carbon-Intensive Businesses: A Study of the Energy Industry

The energy trilemma is a significant challenge of our time, driven by advancing climate change, social and political changes, and the impact of the war in Ukraine. This has led to the traditional business models of the energy industry and utilities being challenged. Against the backdrop of environmental sustainability, energy security, and affordability, this paper examines whether German utilities can achieve greater sustainability while creating shareholder value by divesting their carbon-intensive businesses. The analysis of the spin-off of E.ON-Uniper and the carve-out of RWE-Innogy reveals positive impacts on shareholder value, corporate performance, and a higher share price of all four companies after the splits. One conclusion that can be drawn is that divesting carbon-intensive businesses might create value for the company and its shareholders. However, it is important to note that the analysis did not demonstrate any benefits in terms of improved ESG ratings due to divestment.

Impact of different diets on the survival, pupation, and adult emergence of Culex pipiens biotype molestus larvae, and infectability with the insect-specific Culex Y virus

The current rapidly advancing climate change will affect the transmission of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), mainly through changes in vector populations. Mosquitos of theCulex pipienscomplex play a particularly prominent role in virus transmission in central Europe. Factors that contribute to the vector population density and the ability of those vectors to transmit viral pathogens (vector competence) can include nutrition during the larval stages. To test the influence of larval diet on larval survival and adult emergence, as well as vector competence, several diets varying in their nutritional composition were compared using a newly established assay. We tested the effects of 17 diets or diet combinations on the fitness of third-instar larvae ofCulex pipiensbiotypemolestus.Larval survival rates at day 7 ranged from 43.33% to 94.44%. We then selected 3 of the 17 diets (Tetra Pleco, as the routine feed; JBL NovoTab, as the significantly inferior feed; and KG, as the significantly superior feed) and tested the effect of these diets, in combination with Culex Y virus infection, on larval survival rate. All Culex Y virus-infected larvae showed significantly lower larval survival, as well as low pupation and adult emergence rates. However, none of the tested diets in our study had a significant impact on larval survival in combination with viral infection. Furthermore, we were able to correlate several water quality parameters, such as phosphate, nitrate, and ammonium concentration, electrical conductivity, and low O2saturations, with reduced larval survival. Thus, we were able to demonstrate that Culex Y virus could be a suitable agent to reduce mosquito population density by reducing larval density, pupation rate, and adult emergence rate. When combined with certain water quality parameters, these effects can be further enhanced, leading to a reduced mosquito population density, and reduce the cycle of transmission. Furthermore, we demonstrate, for the first time, the infection of larvae of the mosquitoCulex pipiensbiotypemolestuswith a viral pathogen.

Across-model spread and shrinking in predicting peatland carbon dynamics under global change.

Large across-model spread in simulating land carbon (C) dynamics has been ubiquitously demonstrated in model intercomparison projects (MIPs), and became a major impediment in advancing climate change prediction. Thus, it is imperative to identify underlying sources of the spread. Here, we used a novel matrix approach to analytically pin down the sources of across-model spread in transient peatland C dynamics in response to a factorial combination of two atmospheric CO2 levels and five temperature levels. We developed a matrix-based MIP by converting the C cycle module of eight land models (i.e., TEM, CENTURY4, DALEC2, TECO, FBDC, CASA, CLM4.5 and ORCHIDEE) into eight matrix models. While the model average of ecosystem C storage was comparable to the measurement, the simulation differed largely among models, mainly due to inter-model difference in baseline C residence time. Models generally overestimated net ecosystem production (NEP), with a large spread that was mainly attributed to inter-model difference in environmental scalar. Based on the sources of spreads identified, we sequentially standardized model parameters to shrink simulated ecosystem C storage and NEP to almost none. Models generally captured the observed negative response of NEP to warming, but differed largely in the magnitude of response, due to differences in baseline C residence time and temperature sensitivity of decomposition. While there was a lack of response of NEP to elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) concentrations in the measurements, simulated NEP responded positively to eCO2 concentrations in most models, due to the positive responses of simulated net primary production. Our study used one case study in Minnesota peatland to demonstrate that the sources of across-model spreads in simulating transient C dynamics can be precisely traced to model structures and parameters, regardless of their complexity, given the protocol that all the matrix models were driven by the same gross primary production and environmental variables.

Development of agroecology in Austria and Germany.

Background: Transforming food systems is necessary to address the global issues of severe biodiversity loss, hunger, and malnutrition as well as the consequences of the rapidly advancing climate change. Agroecology as a systemic approach has been recognised as a promising path of change exemplified in various case studies strengthening this transformation. The aim of this study is to get insight specifically for Austria and Germany in providing an overview of the advancement in agroecology in both countries and identify agroecology-related initiatives. Methods: 21 interviews with experts were conducted to determine the recognition, understanding, and development of agroecology in Austria and Germany in terms of movement, practice, policies, education, and research. In addition, information about agroecology-related initiatives was collected from interviews with 24 representatives of initiatives and literature analysis. Data was analysed according to five activity categories under which agroecology manifest: movement, practice, living lab, science and research infrastructure, and training and education. Results: Results show that the term agroecology is not commonly used in Austria and Germany, where the concept is mainly associated to a scientific discipline. Practices considered agroecological are implemented primarily through organic agriculture, which is very developed in Austria and to a lesser extent in Germany. Many networks, food policy councils, associations, and scientific projects related to agroecology exist, each with specific purposes and ambitions to change farming and food systems. While most selected initiatives do not explicitly refer to agroecology, all follow certain agroecological principles and aim at contributing to accelerate the agroecological transition. Conclusions: Clarifying the concept of agroecology, overcoming economic and political barriers as well as fostering participation of a multitude of stakeholders in the transition is essential for the future development of agroecology in Austria and Germany.

Manipulation of the aerodynamic behavior of the DrivAer model using dimple patterns

Societies rising environmental awareness in the context of advancing climate change is continuously shifting the focus of automotive development to vehicle efficiency and thus also to aerodynamic resistance. However, customers favor the familiar vehicle aesthetics, so research and development must find new solutions to reduce drag based on a given body shape. Dimple patterns extruded outward from the vehicle skin are considered in this study with the aim of reducing flow separation and thus lowering drag. They are applied to the realistic and already optimized notchback DrivAer vehicle model. Delayed detached-eddy simulations validated by experiments are used to assess the potential of this concept. In order to see the dependence of the concept on essential parameters, the location, size as well as height of the dimple pattern are varied in this study. All applied patterns on the rear window of the DrivAer model reduce drag and lift by up to 1.9% and 19.2%, respectively, compared to the reference geometry without dimple pattern. A large-scale dimple pattern is less sensitive with respect to the dimple height, whereas a smaller pattern exhibits more significant variations with respect to drag and downforce as the dimple height is varied. Compared to conventional vortex generators, the dimple pattern approach shows less potential to increase downforce, but allows a significant reduction in drag compared to the classical approach, with the consequence of increasing efficiency and reducing emissions.

Cause-Effect Relationships in Battery Cell Production - Data based validation of expert knowledge in electrode production

The advancing climate change requires a shift from conventional energy sources to renewable ones, which is accompanied by the indispensability of an efficient and sustainable storage of electrical energy. The production of lithium-ion battery cells comprises an enormous complexity, as it consists of several interlinked process steps, each with different quality requirements for the (intermediate) products and the processes itself. This complexity means that a supposedly insignificant process parameter can lead to errors and deviations in the manufactured products via complex cause-effect relationships, that are not fully known. The missing knowledge of the processes and inter-process interdependencies lead to difficulties in the setup of a suitable quality assurance in battery cell production to reduce scrap rates. Beside these potentials in planning and optimizing the process chain of the battery cell factory of tomorrow are impeded.We developed a method to build up a relevant knowledge base on cause-effect relationships for battery cell production. Expert knowledge based on experience and intuition has been collected and quantitative cause-effect relationships are established. This knowledge is used to set up the initial data acquisition, ensuring relevant data being available for analysis. Afterwards, the data analysis, that validates and extends this expert knowledge, is defined. This approach is applied to real-world use-cases including machinery and laboratory equipment in battery cell production. The electrode production is selected as the basis for validation. The found inter-relationships either validate the qualitative expert knowledge, contradict this prior knowledge or else add new insights about the battery cell electrode production process that have not been considered in the qualitative expert knowledge. Methods used include correlations and a predictive power score for non-linear interdependencies. The cause-effect relationships are constantly updated by automatically analyzing the production data of the digital factory. These identified and validated cause-effect relationships allow the planning of efficient and sustainable battery cell production and data-based process chain optimization.

Climate Change Adaptation Activities and Needs in US State and Territorial Health Agencies.

To characterize US State and Territorial Health Agencies' (S/THA) climate change adaptation activities and priorities to facilitate appropriate investments, skills development, and support that will strengthen health sector capacity in response to a changing climate. In 2021, we conducted an online survey of S/THA staff requesting information on current activities related to climate change and health, the state of climate and health programming, and anticipated needs and priorities for assistance. We analyzed survey results using descriptive statistics. US State and Territorial Health Agencies. We received responses from 41 of 59 S/THAs (69.5%). Implementation of S/THA climate and health programs (CHPs); engagement in climate and health activities; maintenance of hazard early warning systems and action plans; employment of climate and health communications strategies; capability to assess risks and adaptation needs related to various climate-sensitive conditions; priorities and plans for climate change adaptation in relation to climate-sensitive health risks; climate change adaptation-related partnerships and collaborations; requests of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) for advancing climate change adaptation activities; and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate change work. Nineteen S/THAs reported having CHPs, the majority of which are federally funded. On average, S/THAs without CHPs reported engagement in fewer climate and health activities and more early warning activities. The S/THAs reported the highest levels of concerns regarding non-vector-borne infectious disease (66%), vector-borne infectious diseases (61%), and extreme heat (61%) hazards. As S/THAs with CHPs report substantially greater climate and health capacity than those without, additional federal and state investments (eg, Building Resilience Against Climate Effects [BRACE]) are urgently needed to catalyze climate and health capacity.

Climate Change, Holism, Evolution, and Collective Intelligence

One focal endeavor of our time is to safeguard civilization and the planet in its entirety from the threats of global climate change. By recounting the story of Toughie, the last of the Rabbs fringe-limbed treefrogs, this article seeks to advance the argument that both an ecological revolution and an ecosophical shift in humankind's approach are urgently required. Drawing on holism and evolutionary psychology, humankind's inclination toward self-destruction in terms of brain structure and philosophies, and its encompassing cyclic political–historical dynamics, are also examined. Collective evolution and intelligence may mean that novel approaches to advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies should be adopted. Collective intelligence could provide an avenue for crowdsourcing ideas on potential solutions in addressing various challenges in vulnerable spaces.

Collaborative scenario building: Engaging stakeholders to unravel opportunities for urban adaptation planning

Uncertainties arising from the climate crisis and socioeconomic challenges require decision makers to advance climate change adaptation planning and practice. In response, many cities have adopted climate change adaptation strategies, which is also the case in the Czech Republic. Although adaptation planning should be prospective, requiring long-term, future-oriented approaches, the use of future scenarios have not been fully acknowledged yet. In this methodological paper, we introduce a combined approach for delivering spatially explicit future land use/land cover (LULC) scenarios developed as supporting tools for adaptation planning in three major Czech cities—Prague, Brno, and Ostrava. The methodological approach consists of (1) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) downscaled to city level, to capture underpinning social, environmental, and economic dynamics; (2) collaborative processes with stakeholders; and (3) computer modelling of LULC scenarios. While collaborative process collects the perceptions of local needs, challenges, and opportunities, spatially explicit modelling of LULC changes allows for an easy-to-read visualization of the plausible futures. Nesting the scenarios in SSPs makes them consistent with global socioeconomic drivers. The introduced methodological approach can support adaptation planning by engaging stakeholders directly in the scenario building process, to elaborate on plausible future urban developments while considering an array of different stakes and challenges.

The Elusive Turkestan Lynx at the Northwestern Edge of Geographic Range: Current Suitable Habitats and Distribution Forecast in the Climate Change

The Turkestan lynx (Lynx lynx isabellina Blyth, 1847) is a rare and understudied subspecies of the Eurasian lynx occupying the mountains of Central and South Asia. This elusive felid’s northwestern range includes the Tien Shan and Zhetisu Alatau mountains in the border region of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. As the first step to conserve this vulnerable carnivore, we have conducted the first full-scale research from 2013 until 2022 on its distribution in this region. Using 132 environmental predictors of 359 lynx sightings, we have created species habitat distribution models across the lynx’s northwestern range using machine learning approaches (Maximum Entropy—MaxEnt). Additionally, we created species distribution forecasts based on seven bio-climatic environmental predictors with each three different future global climate model scenarios. To validate these forecasts, we have calculated the changes in the lynx distribution range for the year 2100, making the first species distribution forecast for the Turkestan lynx in the area. Additionally, it provides insight into the possible effects of global climate change on this lynx population. Based on these distribution models, the lynx population in the Northern and Western Tien Shan and Zhetisu Alatau plays a significant role in maintaining the stability of the whole subspecies in its northwestern and global range, while the distribution forecast shows that most lynx distribution ranges will reduce in all future climate scenarios, and we might face the Turkestan lynx’s significant distribution range decline under the ongoing and advancing climate change conditions. For a future (year 2100) warming scenario of 3 deg. C (GCM IPSL), we observe a decrease of 35% in Kazakhstan, 40% in Kyrgyzstan, and 30% in China as the three countries with the highest current predicted distribution range. For a milder temperature increase of 1.5–2 deg. C. (GCM MRI), we observe an increase of 17% Kazakhstan, decrease of 10% in Kyrgyzstan, and 57% in China. For a cooling scenario of approx. 1–1.5 deg. C (GCM MIROC), we observe a decrease of 14% Kazakhstan, increase of 11% in Kyrgyzstan, and a decrease of 13% in China. These modeled declines indicate the necessity to create new and expand the existing protected areas and establish ecological corridors between the countries in Central and South Asia.

Analysis of the readiness of Silesian city inhabitants for decarbonisation

Rapidly advancing climate change and environmental degradation are nowadays the key challenges of the modern world and, therefore, a threat to Europe. According to the European Green Deal, by 2050, European Union countries will achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions, which is directly connected with significantly reducing or completely stopping the use of fossil fuels for energy purposes. Poland, and especially the inhabitants of Silesia, must face a change concerning their cultural heritage and their way of life. The aim of this article is to answer the question of whether the inhabitants of the Silesian agglomeration are ready to resign from coal-based energy. Are they aware of the changes in their closest environment related to decarbonisation. This article presents the results of a survey carried out in order to identify the attitude of Silesian cities' inhabitants towards decarbonisation. The study was carried out by means of an online survey using Google Forms and was addressed to the inhabitants of cities in the central part of the Silesian Voivodeship.