Reviews & Analysis

It is commonly assumed that fossil fuels can be replaced by alternative forms of energy. Now research challenges this assumption, and highlights the role of non-technological solutions to reduce fossil-fuel consumption.

Immobility rather than mobility should be the focus of concern for policymakers worried about the impact of climate-related natural hazards on the livelihoods of rural populations.

This Perspective describes techniques for quantifying uncertainties in climate projections in terms of a common framework, whereby models are used to explore relationships between past climate and climate change and future projections.

The complexity and politicization of climate computer models can hinder communication of their science, uses and limitations. Evidence suggests that information on climate models in US newspapers is declining and that when it appears, it is often within sceptic discourses. Furthermore, model projections are frequently portrayed as probably being inaccurate, and political opinion outlets provide more explanation of model results than many news sources.

This Review discusses current knowledge regarding agriculture as a source for nitrous oxide — a major greenhouse gas. It offers an outlook on future developments about the consequences of increasing use of biofuels and the potential importance of aquaculture, as well as options for mitigation.

Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) potentially provides joint solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss — a win–win situation. Based on a literature review, this study focuses on the different policy approaches available, including an assessment of their costs and benefits.

The twenty-first century was marked by a number of extreme weather events over northern continents. Amplified warming in the Arctic region and associated changes in atmospheric dynamics may provide a clue for understanding the origin of these recent extremes.

Firmly establishing Earth's surface temperatures during a sustained episode of global warming in the Pliocene will help 'ground truth' projections of future climate based on computer simulations using global climate models.

Glacial meltwater contributions to rivers are declining in many parts of the world, but the effect of these changes on river communities remains poorly understood. Now a quantitative analysis points to the potential scale of this biodiversity problem.

Urban economic models should raise the quality of debate about planning at the metropolitan level. Now research shows how this can be done.

Substantial work has shown the potential energy and climate benefits of full battery electric vehicles (BEVs) — an important policy option to mitigate climate change — but there are still uncertainties about their market diffusion. Research shows the importance of assessing BEV diffusion from an integrated perspective, focusing on the interaction between technology and behaviour.

In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will report on the next set of future greenhouse-gas emission scenarios, offering a rational alternative pathway for avoiding dangerous climate change.

Exposure to scientific information cannot explain entirely the levels of public concern about global warming in the United States. Now research shows that US views on climate change are largely affected by the actions of political groups.

It has long been known that temperature extremes are associated with an increased risk of death. Research now directly relates future climate warming to people's lifetime.

Shifts in the geographic distribution of species caused by climate change could detrimentally affect ecosystems and biodiversity. This Perspective highlights the importance of adaptations to day length in predicting the latitudinal range shifts of different species under global warming.

Converging evidence from the behavioural and brain sciences suggests that climate change fails to generate strong moral intuitions and therefore it does not stimulate an urgent need for action. However, adequate communication strategies could enhance moral intuitions about climate change and therefore motivate greater support for ameliorative actions and policies.