Arctic lake ecosystems are highly biodiverse sites that play an important role in the carbon cycle, but the impacts of emerging warmer and wetter conditions on the ecology of these lakes are poorly understood, in part due to a lack of long-term data. Using a 10-year dataset, we report an abrupt, coherent, climate-driven transformation of Arctic lakes in Greenland, demonstrating how a season of record warmth and precipitation caused a change in state in these systems. This shift from a “blue” to a “brown” lake state altered numerous physical, chemical, and biological lake properties. The coherent changes in lake state quantified here are unprecedented and may represent changes that can be expected in Arctic lakes more broadly as the hydrological cycle continues to intensify. (Jasmine E. Saros, Václava Hazuková, Robert M. Northington, Suzanne McGowan, more at pnas.org)

Join IIASA, AIMES, Earth Commission, Future Earth, and WCRP's Safe Landing Climates Lighthouse activity for a webinar on temporal and spatial scales in tipping processes. This webinar will feature two talks that explore how tipping points emerge and evolve in both social and ecological contexts. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM CET. (More on iiasa.ac.at)

Our world is warming, and ecosystems are changing in response. Some of the changes are obvious—like flowers blooming earlier—but many are subtle and complex. One of the most important factors in this transformation is phenology, the timing of natural events like seed germination and plant growth. (More on earth.com)

World Drought Atlas is a comprehensive publication that examines the issue of drought on a global scale. The Atlas highlights the systemic nature of drought risks and impacts and offers insight into how these risks are interconnected across sectors. It provides guidance for proactive and forward-looking drought management and adaptation.

The atlas addresses various aspects of drought, including:

• Consequences of drought for ecosystems: It highlights the negative impacts of drought on biodiversity while also pointing out how biodiversity can mitigate the impacts of drought on ecosystems.
• Human mobility and drought: The atlas examines the issue of population displacement due to drought and highlights the challenges in understanding the global picture of these displacements.
• Land degradation and dust storms: The document identifies areas at high risk of land degradation and describes the main routes of desert dust transport worldwide.
• Drought impacts on indigenous communities: The atlas highlights the unique vulnerability of indigenous communities to drought while highlighting their knowledge and tools for addressing the issue.
• Success stories from around the world: The atlas presents successful examples of drought management, from local to global levels, including the example of the Dominican Republic and its National Drought Management Plan.
• Emphasis on collaboration and integration: The Atlas emphasizes the importance of intersectoral collaboration and integration of drought management strategies.

The atlas serves as a tool for policymakers and experts to better understand the complexity of drought and take action to mitigate its impacts.

The main objectives of the atlas are:

• Raise awareness about the risks and impacts of drought.
• Provide information and data to support decision-making.
• Promote cooperation and international coordination in the field of drought management.
• Promote proactive and forward-looking approaches to drought management.

The World Drought Atlas represents a significant step in the effort to build drought resilience and contributes to a better understanding and management of this global challenge. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• Drought: A prolonged period of unusually low water availability, leading to an imbalance between its availability, quality and demand.
• Meteorological drought: Lack of precipitation compared to the long-term average.
• Hydrological drought: Low water levels in rivers, lakes and groundwater.
• Agricultural drought: Insufficient soil moisture for crop growth.
• Evapotranspiration: Combined loss of water from the soil surface by evaporation and from plants by transpiration.
• Virtual water: The volume of water consumed to produce a good or service.
• Drought management: A set of measures to mitigate the negative impacts of drought.
• Adaptation to drought: Adapting to changing drought conditions to minimize their impacts.
• Climate change: Long-term change in global climate, caused by human activity.
• Soil degradation: Deterioration of soil quality, reducing its fertility and water retention capacity.

Our world is warming, and ecosystems are changing in response. Some of the changes are obvious—like flowers blooming earlier—but many are subtle and complex. One of the most important factors in this transformation is phenology, the timing of natural events like seed germination and plant growth.

Document provides guidance for Just Transition Fund (JTF) regions considering using JTF funds for support programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These programs could provide a variety of services, from financial support for innovation to operational consulting and employee competency development. The toolkit summarises the main focus areas of these programmes, provides examples of good practice from across Europe and recommendations for programme design broken down by focus area. It also provides some general recommendations and other resources for additional information and support in the design and implementation of these programmes.

The document focuses on the five most common areas of focus for SME support programs:

• Incubation and coaching/mentoring
• Education and competence development
• Consulting and advisory services
• Financial support for investments
• Equal opportunities for underrepresented groups in the SME workforce

The document contains case studies of nine programs that overlap in several of these five focus areas. Each section of the document focuses on one of the five focus areas, describes in detail several case study programs that cover that focus area, and synthesizes recommendations for designing an effective program dedicated to each focus area.

In addition to recommendations tailored to individual areas, there are several general recommendations for designing effective regional SME support programs, which could be particularly relevant for successful initiatives within the JTF territories. These include:

• Providing added value: New programs should be designed to add value, complement existing offerings and not (excessively) overlap with them.
• Precise targeting: The program design should take into account the different needs of SMEs at different stages of development and precisely define the target group.
• Offering variety and choice: Precise targeting does not necessarily mean that programs have only a narrow scope.
• Providing available information: Advisors and resources should at least be (also) easily accessible online or by phone.
• Fast processing of requests: The time lag between submitting an application for support and receiving it should be as short as possible to ensure certainty for the businesses applying for it.
• Sustainable support: It is important to create a foundation for businesses to understand what next steps follow after immediate support, capacity building or funding ends.
• Success rating: Programs should ensure that they adequately monitor and measure performance against their objectives and outcomes.

The document also includes a list additional resources, which may be useful for regions designing SME support programmes. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• Just Transition Fund (JTF): An EU fund designed to support regions affected by the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Enterprises with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million.
• Incubation: The process of supporting startups in their early stages, by providing resources, mentoring, and space.
• Coaching/mentoring: Individual guidance and support for entrepreneurs from experienced experts.
• Education and competence development: Programs and courses aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of employees and businesses.
• Consulting and advisory services: Professional assistance and advice for businesses in various areas such as strategy, finance and marketing.
• Financial support for investments: Grants, loans and other forms of financing designed to support SME investments.
• Equal opportunities: Ensuring equal access to resources and opportunities for all, regardless of gender, age, origin or other factors.
• Inclusive growth: Economic growth that benefits all members of society, including disadvantaged groups.
• Just transformation: A process of transition to a sustainable and climate-neutral economy that ensures social justice and support for workers and regions affected by this change.

A 2024 report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) analyses Trends and projections in climate change mitigation in Europe. Assesses progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, (more…)

Document The European Environment Agency's "Trends and projections in Europe 2024" examines historical trends, recent progress and expected future developments in climate change mitigation through greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy gains and improved energy efficiency. The report focuses on progress towards the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets, with a focus on 2023.

In 2023, total net greenhouse gas emissions in the EU decreased by 8 % compared to 2022, reaching 37 % below 1990 levels. This represents the largest year-on-year reduction in emissions in decades, excluding 2020, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction was mainly due to a decrease in emissions in the energy sector due to a significant increase in renewable energy production and a reduction in overall energy consumption.

Progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions varies significantly across economic sectors in Europe. Emissions in the energy supply sector have almost halved compared to 2005 levels, while industry has seen significant reductions of more than a third over the past two decades. These two sectors make up the bulk of the current European Emissions Trading System (ETS), which makes available the 2030 emission reduction target. On the other hand, sectors covered by the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR), such as buildings, transport, waste and agriculture, are making slower progress. While the buildings sector has achieved significant emission reductions, the transport sector has shown little progress and has become the largest source of emissions in the EU.

As regards renewable energy, the share of EU gross final energy consumption produced from renewable energy sources has increased by an average of 0.8 % per year since 2005. This pace must triple by 2030 to meet the targets. In terms of energy efficiency, acceleration is needed to achieve the targets.

These latest trends highlight the need for sustained efforts to reduce emissions across the EU and make progress towards climate neutrality. Member States need to step up efforts to achieve the 2030 targets, in particular in sectors covered by the ESR. Maintaining the momentum towards climate neutrality will require a clear and predictable policy framework after 2030, including agreement on a recommended 90% reduction target for emissions by 2040 and ensuring sufficient investment in a carbon-neutral economy of the future. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• Climate neutrality: A state in which a balance is reached between greenhouse gas emissions and their removal from the atmosphere.
• Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG): Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and contribute to climate change.
• Emissions Trading System (ETS): A system that sets a cap on total greenhouse gas emissions from certain sectors and allows companies to trade emission permits.
• Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR): A regulation that sets binding national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from sectors not covered by the ETS.
• Renewable energy sources: Energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower and biomass.
• Energy efficiency: Reducing energy consumption while maintaining or improving service levels.
• Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector: A sector that includes CO2 emissions and removals from forests, land and land-use change.
• Decarbonization: The process of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
• Fit for 55: A package of EU legislative proposals aimed at achieving the target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030.
• National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP): A plan that each EU Member State draws up to achieve the EU's climate and energy targets by 2030.

Droughts have major social and ecological impacts, including shortages of drinking water, crop failures, tree mortality, forest fires, and reduced ecosystem productivity. Shifts in the hydrological cycle and continued warming with climate change are leading to rapidly evolving droughts that are more intense and longer lasting. . Extreme but short-term droughts (< 1 year) can have a wide range of consequences depending on the severity and timing of the drought, as well as the resilience of the ecosystem. (More on science.org)

The global economy could face a 50 trillion-euro loss of gross domestic product (GDP) between 2070 and 2090 due to catastrophic climate change shocks unless political leaders take immediate action to decarbonize and restore nature, a new report says. (More on theguardian.com)

Carbon Brief analyzed the data to compile its annual list of the 25 most talked about climate papers of the past year. The infographic above highlights the most talked about climate papers of 2024, while the article analyzes the top 25 research papers in more detail, including the diversity and country affiliation of the authors. Overall, Altmetric’s data reveals that the articles that generated the most online buzz in 2024 were linked to Covid-19 for the fourth year in a row, with five of the 10 most talked about papers of the year related to the virus.

But several of the most shared studies were related to climate change, from how warming affects ocean currents, economics, and timekeeping, to efforts to map historical temperatures using proxy data. (More on carbonbrief.org)

This document, "Global Risks Report 2024" from the World Economic Forum, examines the most significant global risks over the next two and ten years. The report draws on two main sources:

• Global Risk Perceptions Survey, which gathers the views of approximately 1,500 world leaders from various sectors.
• CEO Opinion Survey, which identifies the risks that pose the most serious threat to each country over the next two years, based on responses from more than 11,000 business leaders from 113 economies.

The report's main findings highlight misinformation and disinformation as the biggest risk in the next two years. The report highlights the growing threat of disinformation spread through large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models and their potential to manipulate public opinion. Another significant risk is the erosion of human rights, which is closely linked to disinformation and censorship.

The report further examines four key structural forcesthat shape the global risk landscape:

1. Environmental changes: The growing risk of climate change and its impact on ecosystems and society.
2. Technological progress: The rapid development of AI and other technologies presents both opportunities and risks.
3. Economic trends: Changes in the global economy, such as rising inequality and the debt crisis.
4. Demographic changes: An aging population and increasing migration bring new challenges.

The report warns of a potential cascade of risks, where one risk can trigger another, and highlights the need for collective action to address these global challenges.

In addition, the report analyzes other key trends and risks, such as:

• The growing number of state armed conflicts.
• The impact of climate change on food production and flood risk.
• The risk associated with developing new biological weapons using AI.
• Labor shortages and growing inequality.
• The rise of crime and its connection to state fragility.

The report concludes with a call for strengthened international cooperation, emphasizing that addressing global risks requires joint efforts by governments, businesses and civil society. Spring

This document, entitled "How to create a climate story – A practical guide" from December 2024 serves as a tool for experts in the field of climate change adaptation in creating your own climate storiesThe handbook was created as part of the European research project REACHOUT.

Climate stories use storytelling to communicate topics related to climate change. Storytelling allows you to communicate complex scientific data, model results, and insights to your target audience in an engaging and understandable way. Stories help to bridge the gap between science and society by combining complex information with human and understandable elements.

Climate stories are most effective as a tool for communicating messages, knowledge, or information in a way that transforms or influences the listener. They can deepen understanding, change perspectives, or evoke emotional responses. However, they are not suitable for communicating detailed information, large data sets, or complex instructions.

The guide presents three interconnected development cycles for creating a climate story:

• Cycle 1 – Planning: Determining the story's purpose, main idea, identifying the audience, and finding the best way to connect with them and stakeholders.
• Cycle 2 – Proposal: Creating a storyboard that includes the plot line, visual style, characters, and mood of the story.
• Cycle 3 – Creation: Content production (media, graphics, data) and transformation of the story into a final product.

An important part of the creation process is interaction with stakeholders. Engaging individuals or organizations with an interest in the story allows them to contribute ideas, concepts, products, or solutions, leading to local engagement and support for the story.

The guide emphasizes the importance understanding the reason and motivation for creating a climate story and emphasizes choosing the right medium for story presentation.

The final part is devoted to spreading the climate story and measuring its impact. An engaging media campaign targeting specific audiences and strategies for launching the story are recommended. Various tools such as web analytics, surveys and interviews can be used to measure impact.

The guide also includes examples of climate stories from six European cities that illustrate the principles and techniques outlined. Spring

The story of Earth's climate can be found locked away in tiny shells scattered throughout ancient rocks. These seemingly modest remains have just helped scientists unravel one of the most significant climate mysteries in our planet's history. Researchers from the University of St Andrews have made remarkable discoveries about the fundamental role of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) in shaping the Earth's climate.

Study provides new insight into how CO ₂ regulated the warming and cooling of the Earth for hundreds of millions of years.

WHAT ₂ : the climate architect of the Earth

WHAT ₂ is the most influential greenhouse gas on Earth. It traps heat from the Sun by absorbing it and radiating some of it back to the planet's surface.

This natural process keeps the Earth warm enough to support life. However, when CO levels ₂ in the atmosphere will increase, the planet will warm, leading to significant climate change. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

The year 2024 was marked by a series of extreme weather events that forced billions of people to confront the harsh reality of a changing climate. Persistent droughts have gripped southern Africa and Central America, while devastating floods have swept through Spain. Hurricane Helene has unleashed its fury in the southeastern United States. (Sanjana Gajbhiye, more at earth.com)

The ocean plays a critical role in the Earth's climate system by acting as its primary heat sink. It absorbs 90 % excess heat generated by global warming , thereby helping to regulate global weather patterns. This regulation occurs when the ocean transfers heat and moisture to the atmosphere, affecting everything from precipitation to storm intensity. (More on earth.com)

Melting ice sheets are often seen in the media as synonymous with climate change, conjuring up images of lone polar bears floating on ever-shrinking ice floes. While impacts such as sea level rise and salinity changes are commonly cited, one lesser-known consequence is the impact on volcanoes. (More on phys.org)

Global deforestation rates have decreased, but forests remain under significant pressure. Growing demand for forest products and climate-related challenges have led to calls for better conservation measures. The European Union had 160 million hectares in 2022 forest , which accounts for 39 percent of its land, an increase of 8.3 million hectares since 2000. The largest forest areas are in Sweden, Finland and Spain. (More on euractiv.com)

Meteorologists and climatologists from around the world have presented their first forecasts for spring 2025, indicating a continuation of the global warming trend. Based on the latest climate models, average temperatures are expected to be higher than the long-term average again, which could have significant impacts on weather, ecosystems and human activities.

Expected temperature anomalies

Spring 2025 is forecast to bring average temperatures 1 to 1.5°C above normal in many regions. This temperature anomaly is associated with the continued increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), which reached record levels exceeding 420 ppm in 2023.

Impact on weather and climate

Higher temperatures can lead to:

– An earlier onset of the growing season, which will affect agriculture and may disrupt traditional growing cycles.

– Increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts or intense rainfall.

– Melting of snow and glaciers, which will affect water supplies in mountainous areas and may lead to floods.

Impacts on ecosystems and society

– Agriculture: Rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns can affect crop yields, increasing the risk of pests and diseases.

– Public health: Heat waves can pose a health risk, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.

– Biodiversity: Climate change can disrupt natural habitats, threaten temperature-sensitive species and promote the spread of invasive species.

Causes of continued warming

The main factors contributing to global warming are:

– Burning fossil fuels: Oil, coal and natural gas are the main sources of CO₂.

– Deforestation: The loss of forests reduces the planet's ability to absorb CO₂.

– Agriculture: Methane (CH₄) emissions from animal production and rice fields contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Challenges and measures

Meteorologists emphasize the need to:

– Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: Switching to renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency and promoting sustainable transport.

– Climate change adaptation: Investments in resilient infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices and protection of water resources.

– International cooperation: Implementation of global agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, to address climate challenges in a coordinated manner.

The predictions for spring 2025 are further evidence that the trend of global warming continues and its impacts are becoming increasingly noticeable. It is imperative that governments, organizations and individuals take concrete steps to mitigate climate change and adapt to new conditions. Only by working together can we ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. Spring

The Climate Pact brings people and organizations together for a common goal: climate action. Together, our community has achieved significant milestones, driven by unwavering commitment, collaboration, and passion. Check out our poster and see the special moments of 2024. Spring