Climate Change Management Research Articles

Diversity Patterns and Drivers of Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities in a Muddy Coastal Wetland of China

Elucidating the dynamics of soil microbial diversity in coastal wetlands is essential for understanding the changes in ecological functions within these ecosystems, particularly in the context of climate change and improper management practices. In this study, the diversity patterns and influencing factors of soil bacterial and fungal communities in a muddy coastal wetland in China were investigated using Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS1, across wetlands dominated by different vegetations and varying proximity to the coastline. The wetlands include four plots dominated by Spartina alterniflora (SA1), four plots dominated by Suaeda glauca (SG2), additional four plots of Suaeda glauca (SG3), and four plots dominated by Phragmites australis (PA4), ranging from the nearest to the coast to those farther away. The results revealed significant differences in bacterial richness (Observed_species index) and fungal diversity (Shannon index) across different wetlands, with SG3 demonstrating the lowest bacterial Observed_species value (1430.05), while SA1 exhibited the highest fungal Shannon value (5.55) and PA4 showing the lowest fungal Shannon value (3.10). Soil bacterial and fungal community structures differed significantly across different wetlands. The contents of soil available phosphorus and total phosphorus were the main drivers for fungal Observed_species and Shannon index, respectively. Soil organic carbon, pH, and salinity were indicated as the best predictors of bacterial community structure, accounting for 28.1% of the total variation. The total nitrogen content and soil salinity contributed mostly to regulating fungal community structure across different wetlands, accounting for 19.4% of the total variation. The results of this study offer a thorough understanding of the response and variability in soil microbial diversity across the muddy coastal wetlands in China.

Will They Continue to Endure: How Conflict and “Climate-Induced” Migration is Affecting the Lake Chad Region

The effects of climate change are undoubtedly global. Reports show that West Africa is in a precarious position, regarding some of the worst consequences of climate change, occasioning extreme events, such as violent conflict, insecurity, and loss of livelihoods in the Lake Chad region. The impact on human lives is full-blown as ‘climate-induced’ migration results in drought, desertification, and the intensifying water stress has on human migration in the region. Notably, the deterioration of individual and local living conditions has compelled inhabitants of the region in Nigeria to migrate to neighboring states as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or ‘environmental refugees” in neighboring countries. However, existing studies focused on the impact and patterns of migration in West Africa thereby creating a “knowledge gap” on how ‘climate-induced’ migration is affecting the Lake Chad region. This paper employs secondary data collection, analyzing dynamic trends and patterns of climate change and challenges management. Findings revealed that while the activities of terrorists and insurgent groups have strongly impacted migration within the Lake Chad region, the continuous “dryness” and the ever-changing climate conditions, such as rising temperature, desertification, flooding, and drought have dramatically worsened and contributed to the mass decision to leave the region.

Managing Climate Change in Africa: Balancing Social and Environmental Factors in Crop Selection in Southwestern Ethiopia

Managing Climate Change in Africa: Balancing Social and Environmental Factors in Crop Selection in Southwestern Ethiopia

Assessing the current health effects of climate change in the Netherlands

Abstract The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has assessed the current effects of climate change on health as part of a national sector-wide process towards updating the Dutch National Adaptation Strategy. Besides health, this process includes assessing the risks of climate change for water management, agriculture, the built environment, nature and other sectors. It will provide a basis for policy, for prioritising the most urgent risks and for long-term risk monitoring. Six climate-related health topics were assessed for this update: heat, air quality, mental health, UV radiation, pollen allergies and infectious diseases. To allow comparison of the impact and likelihood of the climate-related risks across sectors, a format for factsheets on climate risks had been provided. Following this format, for each climate-related health topic we considered the climate threat, secondary effects, exposure, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, impact and cascading effects. The magnitude of the health impacts was categorised per topic as low (< 10,000 people affected; 0 - 10 seriously injured/dead), medium (10,000 - 100,000 people affected; 10 - 100 seriously injured/dead) or high (>100,000 people affected; >100 seriously injured/dead). The likelihood of these impacts was then described as well as possible black swan events or tipping points. Finally, the policy context was outlined, including possible maladaptation, lock-ins, and equity aspects, followed by quality assurance considerations. For all topics, negative health impacts are already occurring. However, the magnitude of the impacts cannot yet be accurately quantified. In this presentation, we will discuss the results of this assessment and explore the pros and cons of being part of a sector-wide process.

Nonstationarity in the global terrestrial water cycle and its interlinkages in the Anthropocene

Climate change and human activities alter the global freshwater cycle, causing nonstationary processes as its distribution shifting over time, yet a comprehensive understanding of these changes remains elusive. Here, we develop a remote sensing-informed terrestrial reanalysis and assess the nonstationarity of and interconnections among global water cycle components from 2003 to 2020. We highlight 20 hotspot regions where terrestrial water storage exhibits strong nonstationarity, impacting 35% of the global population and 45% of the area covered by irrigated agriculture. Emerging long-term trends dominate the most often (48.2%), followed by seasonal shifts (32.8%) and changes in extremes (19%). Notably, in mid-latitudes, this encompasses 34% of Asia and 27% of North America. The patterns of nonstationarity and their dominant types differ across other water cycle components, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, and gross primary production. These differences also manifest uniquely across hotspot regions, illustrating the intricate ways in which each component responds to climate change and human water management. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering nonstationarity when assessing water cycle information toward the development of strategies for sustainable water resource usage, enhancing resilience to extreme events, and effectively addressing other challenges associated with climate change.

Evaluation of management options for climate-change adaptation of threatened species: a case study of a restricted orchid

Context Global climate is changing rapidly, necessitating timely development of specific, actionable species conservation strategies that incorporate climate-change adaptation. Yet, detailed climate-change adaptation planning is noticeably absent from species management plans. This is problematic for restricted species, which often have greater extinction risk. Aims Focusing on the restricted and endangered Tarengo leek orchid (Prasophyllum petilum), we aimed to adapt and test a framework for producing strategies for its management under climate change. Methods We used expert elicitation to estimate the severity of threats and assess potential management actions to mitigate threat impacts. We created a conceptual model detailing ecology, threats and likely impacts of climate change on the species, including the interactions between components. Key results Although climate change-related threats will affect the species, the most severe threats were non-climate threats including grazing, weeds, and habitat degradation. Fire management was deemed highly beneficial but had low feasibility for some populations. Without management, experts estimated up to a 100% decrease in one P. petilum population, and up to 50% decrease if management remained unchanged. Conclusions Management actions with the highest benefit and feasibility addressed the non-climate threats, which, in turn, can give the species the best opportunity to withstand climate-change impacts. Experts highlighted the difficulty of addressing climate threats with such limited knowledge; therefore, further research was recommended. Implications This adapted framework enabled a structured analysis of threats, and informed selection of priority adaptation options. We recommend its use for other restricted species for efficient and robust decision-making in climate-change management.

СУ ҚАУІПСІЗДІГІ: ФОРСАЙТ-ЗЕРТТЕУЛЕР ПРИЗМАСЫ АРҚЫЛЫ НЕГІЗГІ АСПЕКТІЛЕР МЕН ПЕРСПЕКТИВАЛАР

In the modern world, water security issues are becoming increasingly relevant and are key to ensuring the sustainable development of society. The world community faces serious challenges related to the threats of pollution of water sources, climate change, ecosystem instability and inefficient management of water resources. Solving these problems requires not only immediate measures, but also long-term strategies that can ensure the preservation of water security for the future. The research work is an analytical review of current problems in the field of water security and possible strategic solutions to solve them using foresight research methods. The article highlights the current threats and challenges facing water resources in the modern world, and discusses the advantages and effectiveness of applying foresight research methods in this area. Within the framework of the conducted scientific research, the key areas of strategic planning for ensuring water security in the future are highlighted through the highlighted through the analysis of the current state and forecasting potential changes in the water sector.

The Role of Digital Technologies in Climate Change Management: Strategies for Minimizing the Environmental Impact of USA Companies

The article examines the role of digital technologies in climate change management and reducing the environmental impact of U.S. companies. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data are analyzed for their ability to help companies minimize CO2 emissions, optimize resource use, and improve energy efficiency. Challenges companies face when implementing digital solutions: high initial costs, integration difficulties, and regulatory complexities, are discussed. Strategies for overcoming these barriers to achieve sustainable development are proposed.

The overlooked effects of environmental impacts on root:shoot ratio in experiments and soil-crop models

Process-based soil-crop models are becoming increasingly important to estimate the effects of agricultural management practices and climate change impacts on soil organic carbon (C). Although work has been done on the effects of crop type and climate on the root:shoot (biomass) ratio, there is a gap in research on the effects of specific environmental or management conditions such as drought, temperature, nutrient limitation, elevated CO2 or tillage on the root:shoot ratio and thus, atmospheric C sequestration. In this study, we quantified the effects of these factors on the root:shoot biomass ratio by reviewing the current literature, presented common simulation approaches and performed model simulations using different examples. Finally, we identified different research gaps with respect to the root:shoot ratio with the aim of better estimating and predicting atmospheric C sequestration. A predominantly positive response of the root:shoot ratio was observed in case of elevated CO2 (~12 %), low soil N levels (~44 %), and drought (~14 %). Soil tillage did not affect root:shoot ratio of the major field crops but increased it by ~15 % in case of wheat. There are only few field studies on air temperature increase and the results vary widely (mean − 48 %). The responses of tested models to the mentioned effects root:shoot ratio were slightly positive in case of CO2 elevation (0 to 2 %) and tillage (0 to 8 %), slightly to clearly positive in the case of drought and N limitation depending on the model (1 to 40 %), and very variable in case of the air temperature scenarios. Our study reveals large model uncertainty (especially on temperature effects), particularly for below ground processes that highlight knowledge gaps in simulating root:shoot ratio. We advocate for the need of more model-oriented specific experiments under abiotic stresses to help model improvement. Such research effort would enable more robust and reliable root:shoot ratio simulations.

Urban water footprint in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city

Summary The water footprint (WF) is a metric used to quantify the total volume of fresh water consumed directly and indirectly by individuals and communities; it helps to inform responses to global challenges such as water scarcity, climate change and sustainable water management. This study assessed virtual (VWF), direct (DWF) and total (TWF) water footprints in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest city. Data collected from 382 households showed that the average individual VWF was 1314 m3 per month, the average individual DWF was 228 m3 per month and the average individual TWF was 1538 m3 per month. Additionally, key consumption patterns were identified, with rice and bread emerging as the most consumed items and vegetables as the least consumed. Over a 5-year period, direct water use declined. Significant correlations emerged between family size, annual cost and VWF and TWF, yet no association was found between age and the WFs. There were income-based disparities in VWF and TWF but no differences across education levels in terms of DWF, VWF and TWF. These findings offer crucial insights for policymakers and water authorities in formulating effective water-saving policies to address pressing environmental concerns.

Managing climate change impacts on crops: The influence of soil tillage on a triticale crop under water stress conditions

Managing climate change impacts on crops: The influence of soil tillage on a triticale crop under water stress conditions

Rising temperatures and sinking hopes: An in-depth analysis of the interplay between climate change, land use patterns, and the desiccation of a global biosphere reserve

Global ecosystems and communities are significantly impacted by climate change and extreme events. The rapid desiccation of massive wetlands, which are essential for controlling water cycles, and biodiversity, preventing floods, and supplying essential ecosystem services, is one of the most upsetting effects. The once-largest lake in the Middle East, Lake Urmia, had a significant impact on ecology, economy, and human life contributing to climate regulation, species preservation, habitat conservation, tourism and recreation, and a wide range of other ecosystem services. The Ramsar Convention classified the lake as a Wetland of International Importance, and UNESCO designated it as a Biosphere Reserve. The ecological, agricultural, and societal challenges caused by rising temperatures, improper water resource management and overuse, enhanced salinity, and declining water levels have made Lake Urmia an acute symbol of environmental vulnerability. Using Landsat imagery, this study begins a thorough analysis of changes in the Lake Urmia basin from 1990 to 2020. The endeavor aims to develop effective conservation and restoration strategies by identifying the multiple reasons that led to its vulnerable situation. The study attempts to identify the role of precipitation, temperature trends, agricultural development, population growth, water consumption, evapotranspiration, and atmospheric salt and aerosol concentrations in the desiccation of the lake. This study presents a comprehensive knowledge of the complex interplay between climate change, human activity, and water management and may have implications for the holistic recovery of the lake. The findings have the potential to improve prognostic models and inform targeted mitigation strategies for not only Lake Urmia but also for other globally threatened wetlands.

Integration of machine learning and process‐based model outputs via ensemble Kalman filter enhanced space–time modelling of soil organic carbon in a highly human impacted area

AbstractAccurate prediction of soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) dynamics in areas with intensive human activities is crucial for developing sustainable soil management practices and climate change mitigation strategies. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of SOCS by collecting a total of 1219 topsoil samples in southern Jiangsu Province of China in 1980, 2000 and 2015, and compared the performance of three predictive models: random forest (RF), RothC, and a hybrid model of RF‐RothCEnKF. The hybrid model integrated outputs from the process‐based RothC model and the data‐driven RF model using the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) for sequential model state updates. Results showed that the three models presented similar spatial patterns of SOCS from 1980 to 2015, with relatively higher SOCS mainly distributed in the areas surrounding Taihu Lake. The mean SOCS change rates estimated by the RF‐RothCEnKF model represented an overall net increase of 0.04 t C ha−1 yr.−1 during that period. The RF‐RothCEnKF model exhibited high prediction accuracy, with an R2 of .52, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 7.38 t C ha−1, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.13 t C ha−1 in 2015. This highlighted the RF‐RothCEnKF's ability to enhance performance when the individual RF model (R2 = .47, MAE = 7.66 t C ha−1, and RMSE = 9.42 t C ha−1) and the RothC (R2 = .13, MAE = 8.77 t C ha−1, and RMSE = 10.87 t C ha−1) fell short. Our findings may not only provide a framework for integrating process‐based and machine learning models to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of SOCS modelling in areas affected by intensive human activities, but also offer some guidance for developing sustainable agricultural practices and carbon management strategies in complex environmental settings.

Circular Economy: The 4Rs reduce-reuse-recycle-recover

Abstract This article summarizes the lecture presented at the Net Built 2024 conference. The lecture addresses the unsustainability of the current linear economy, characterized by the “take, make, dispose” model, in light of environmental challenges. The inefficiencies of this system lead to increased energy consumption, elevated CO2 emissions, and the exacerbation of climate change. It examines the current state of design and construction with respect to climate change and sustainable resource management. Additionally, the lecture introduces a methodology that integrates technologies and design philosophies capable of driving significant positive change. By advocating for a transformative approach to the expected lifetime of buildings and components, this presentation explores new paradigms grounded in the principles of the circular economy. To illustrate these strategies and their outcomes, the author provides a series of case studies. The presentation delves into open methods and strategies for managing building systems, focusing on lifecycle impact, durability, serviceability, and obsolescence.

Weather, Climate, and Society: A Retrospective between 2009 and 2022 Using Bibliometric and Content Analysis

Abstract This paper aims to analyze the bibliometrics of articles published in Weather, Climate, and Society (WCAS) over the last 14 years (2009–22). We conducted an analysis using the Scopus database and cross-checked the WCAS online journal and obtained 577 document results (article) and then analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer, Sankey diagrams, altmetric, and content analysis. This research was conducted to show publication trends, citation rates, productivity levels, and developments in research topics at WCAS. The study results show that the 577 articles published in Weather, Climate, and Society have become references for 7106 other articles and are spread across 160 publication sources. Based on the most cited articles, five cluster topics are references for many papers, namely, climate change and environmental management policy, weather risk assessment, climate hazard assessment, anthropogenic climate change, and decision support systems. Climatic Change, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainability Switzerland are the three publications with the most citations of articles published by WCAS. Research topics related to climate change, decision-making, risk assessment, the United States, societal impacts, social science, communications/decision-making, and vulnerability are the eight most commonly discussed topics in WCAS articles. Significance Statement From 2009 to 2022, 1773 authors published WCAS articles, either individually or collaboratively, across 1350 institutional affiliations in 70 countries. Using Scopus metadata, this study employs bibliometric and content analysis to explore temporal trends, article impact metrics, citation characteristics, and topic shifts in WCAS publications over this period. The findings indicate that analyzing citations, topics, and authors aids in understanding a journal’s interdisciplinary accessibility. Notably, highly cited papers in WCAS do not necessarily score high on altmetrics, suggesting that future impact measures might integrate academic and social media metrics. Prolific authors often collaborate rather than publish solo. Dominant research topics include climate change, decision-making, risk assessment, social impacts, and U.S. issues.

Boundary spanning increases knowledge and action on invasive species in a changing climate

Abstract Challenges associated with global change stressors on ecosystems have prompted calls to improve actionable science, including through boundary‐spanning activities, which aim to build connections and communication between researchers and natural resource practitioners. By synthesizing and translating research and practitioner knowledge, boundary‐spanning activities could support proactive, research‐informed conservation practice, but the success of these efforts is rarely evaluated. Using repeat survey data from the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NE RISCC) Management Network, a boundary‐spanning organization, we evaluate whether participating in NE RISCC affected practitioners' knowledge, actions and priorities related to invasive species management under a changing climate. Our survey results suggest that practitioners who participate in NE RISCC have greater knowledge about invasive species and climate change and are incorporating climate change in more ways into their invasive species management. We also found NE RISCC membership affected the perceived usefulness of informational resources, with NE RISCC members more frequently identifying research syntheses and targeted workshops (both are common products used by NE RISCC to translate science into practice and share manager knowledge) as useful compared to non‐members. Practitioners who participate in NE RISCC also identified somewhat different research priorities, with non‐members and short‐term members more frequently identifying range‐shifting neonative species and their impacts on native communities as higher priorities compared to long‐term NE RISCC members. NE RISCC research activities and outreach materials have consistently framed range‐shifting neonative species as comparatively low risk, suggesting that this information has influenced practitioner's perception of risk. Practical implication: Although real‐world impacts of applied ecology are notoriously difficult to quantify, this analysis illustrates that if research results are actively translated, they can affect the knowledge and actions of natural resource practitioners. These impacts illustrate the potential for boundary‐spanning efforts to address other global change challenges to conservation.

Mapping the integration of climate considerations in social protection in LMICs: An assessment of ninety-eight climate-relevant social protection programs

Social protection can be an important policy tool to manage the socioeconomic impacts of climate change and climate risk, including poverty and inequality. Despite growing interest from policy makers and academics, a systematic effort document capture and analyze the current integration of climate considerations in social protection programs does not yet exist. This understanding is crucial for designing climate-relevant policies and programs that help more effectively manage climate change impacts.Our research systematically maps for the first time the integration of climate considerations in social protection programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Using a mixed-methods approach, we identify 98 climate-relevant social protection programs and collect data on over 70 variables related to their scope and climate relevance at policy, design, and implementation level. We seek to answer the question: to what extent and how are social protection programs in LMICs climate-relevant? for further research.Our findings reveal a significant number of long-standing climate-relevant social protection programs that reach large populations and involve substantial financial investments globally. At policy level, these programs often lack climate considerations, and a minority are primarily climate-focused by design. At the implementation level, most programs show climate-relevant actions or results, typically centered on shock response, though our findings suggest they have the potential to address broader climate functions. Overall, our results empirically substantiate long-held assumptions about climate-relevant social protection and highlight areas for further research. We also make the database openly available and encourage its use by policymakers and practitioners.

Spatio-temporal tendencies of urban land surface temperature on the Andean piedmont under climate change: A case study of Metropolitan Lima, Peru (1986–2024)

The increase in land surface temperature (LST) in megacities has contributed to global warming due to poor urban planning and high population concentration. This study analyzes spatio-temporal trend patterns of LST in the city of Metropolitan Lima, Peru, during the summers of 1986–2024. The Mann-Kendall tests and the Theil-Sen Slope method were used to analyze the spatiotemporal trends of LST, relating R2 and the Mann-Kendall p-value of the annual average LST in each district. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to group districts according to their average yearly LST. Urban heat islands were identified based on basin configuration and distance to the sea at 1 km intervals. The results reveal a significant increase in LST (p<0.001) related to El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomena, in addition to urban growth and land cover change. The significant positive trend of LST showed a heterogeneous distribution in all districts. The districts were grouped into three clusters with statistically significant differences in LST (p<0.001), spatially configured radially from the sea to the foot of the Andes, up to 1179 m a.s.l. Urban heat islands did not correlate with significant positive trends in basins. Still, they showed a considerable increase in LST in areas of high economic activity, including dense commercial, industrial, and residential areas. This information is crucial to managing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and contributing to sustainable urban planning focused on the population’s well-being.

Multidisciplinary perspective: A review of the importance of communication in managing climate change challenges

Climate change is a global issue that affects the entire world, associated with greenhouse gas emissions and resulting in long-term changes in climate conditions. Scientists conduct numerous research studies focused on climate change and mitigating its effects, making it a central topic of discussion. Overall approaches are typically centered around sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through green and innovative technologies. However, these approaches and scientific expressions can appear complex and abstract to the public, governments, and civil society organizations. In this regard, the role of communication is significant in creating long-term awareness among the public and generating action-oriented solution proposals. The use of effective language and storytelling techniques, localization, visualization, and effective use of media can help contextualize climate change issues, raise awareness, and build consciousness. The role of communication is undeniable in breaking down barriers between scientists and the public, ensuring that solutions to climate change problems are sustainable and effective, and facilitating the development of appropriate policies by governments and civil society organizations. It is essential to prioritize and conduct advanced research and develop innovative strategies for coordinated efforts between scientists and communication experts in addressing climate change and developing effective solutions. The scope of this review is to examine the role of communication in addressing climate change. This article provides an overview of climate change, its impacts, and solutions, explores the relationship between climate change and communication, and highlights the explanation of communication strategies and intergenerational connectivity to increase awareness of climate change.

Tree species abundance changes at the edges of their climatic distribution: An interplay between climate change, plant traits and forest management

Abstract Climate change is anticipated to have an increased impact on tree populations located at the edges of their climatic tolerances. However, there is still uncertainty about how the interaction between climate change and functional traits drives changes in tree species abundance at climate edges, especially in the context of the abandonment of the traditional forest activity. We used data from ~445,000 monitored tree stems from 68 species in Spain to (1) quantify tree species abundance changes at the edges of their climatic distributions (cold and wet vs. warm and dry) over the last 25 years and (2) determine the impact of climate change, functional traits and forest densification (used here as an indicator of forest regrowth following anthropogenic disturbance) on these abundance changes. We developed a null model to test whether tree species abundance changes at the climate edges were higher or lower than expected, considering random stem gains and losses along the entire climate gradient. Across the study area, we found an average increase in tree species abundance over time. Our findings also show a higher than random average increase in tree species abundance at the cold and wet edge, but a random increase at the warm and dry edge. Tree species abundance changes along the entire climate gradient and in the edges were primarily associated with forest densification. However, the interaction between climate change and plant traits impacted tree species abundance changes at the climate edges. Tree species that invested more in their root systems and adopted more acquisitive leaf strategies showed greater increases in abundance in response to climate change. Synthesis: Our research emphasizes the crucial impact of historical forest management in shaping the current distribution of tree species. After controlling for the effect of forest management, climate change directly influenced tree demographics, favouring species based on their traits. As tree species regain their ecological niches after succession, climate change will determine their abundance by filtering for particular ecological strategies.