Skeptical Science New Research for Week #18 2024

Climate-smart agriculture: adoption, impacts, and implications for sustainable development, Ma & Rahut, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change Open Access pdf 10.1007/s11027-024-10139-z

Do fishers follow fish displaced by climate warming?, Abe et al., npj Ocean Sustainability Open Access 10.1038/s44183-024-00063-9

Groundwater and climate smart agriculture: a reflection from West Bengal, India, Roy et al., Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 10.1007/s11027-024-10137-1

Long-term straw return to a wheat-maize system results in topsoil organic C saturation and increased yields while no stimulating or reducing yield-scaled N₂O and NO emissions, Yao et al., Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 10.1016/j.agrformet.2024.109937

Social responsibility awareness and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices: evidence from food-based family farms in China, Li et al., Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 10.1007/s11027-024-10132-6

Hydrology, hydrometeorology & climate change

Changes in drought occurrence and intensity in the context of climate change in Slovakia, Labudová et al., Theoretical and Applied Climatology 10.1007/s00704-024-04864-3

Climate change impacts on precipitation and water resources in Northwestern China, Zheng et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1377286

Design rainfalls under climate change scenarios in South East Queensland, Australia: A Brisbane River case study, Saboia & Helfer Helfer, Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101919

Effectiveness and resilience of BMPs to watershed climate adaptation considering the uncertainty of hydrological model and GCMs, Zhang et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2024.100612

Impact of Soil Moisture Dynamics and Precipitation Pattern on UK Urban Pluvial Flood Hazards Under Climate Change, Rong et al., Earth’s Future Open Access pdf 10.1029/2023ef004073

Climate change economics

Higher education’s impact on CO2 mitigation: MENA insights with consideration for unemployment, economic growth, and globalization, Zouine et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1325598

“Hidden price”: Energy conservation and emission reduction targets and employment growth, Wang et al., Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114135

Climate change mitigation public policy research

Bourdieu’s sociological lens: unveiling the dynamics of household carbon footprint in the Kalyani sub-division of Nadia district, West Bengal, India, Dey et al., Environment, Development and Sustainability 10.1007/s10668-023-04148-2

Can operational efficiency in the Portuguese electricity sector be improved? Yes, but…, Hou et al., Energy Policy Open Access 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114146

Catalysts for sustainable energy transitions: the interplay between financial development, green technological innovations, and environmental taxes in European nations, Fatima et al., Environment, Development and Sustainability 10.1007/s10668-023-04081-4

Decarbonization, critical minerals, and tribal sovereignty: Pathways towards conflict transformation, Zarsky et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103561

Decoupling government spending from carbon emissions: A spatio-temporal analysis of 283 Chinese cities, Feng et al., Urban Climate 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101941

Driving toward sustainable cities: The interplay between Chinese emerging corporate ESG performance and climate finance in achieving low-carbon development, Liu et al., Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101918

Equitable rooftop photovoltaics deployment, Castellanos, Nature Energy 10.1038/s41560-024-01525-7

Forerunner city or net-zero opportunist? Carbon dioxide removal in Stockholm, residual emissions and risks of mitigation deterrence, Olsson et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103567

Impact of population mobility on regional carbon emissions: empirical evidence from Australia, Guo, Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1392267

Increasing single households challenges household decarbonization in japan, Huang et al., Global Environmental Change Open Access 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2024.102848

Large methane mitigation potential through prioritized closure of gas-rich coal mines, Liu et al., Nature Climate Change 10.1038/s41558-024-02004-3

Market instrument for the first fuel and its role in decarbonizing Indian industrial production, Giri & Sharma, Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114139

Multinational companies and climate change and sustainable development debate: evidence from cement production in Nigeria, Nkwor et al., Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2024.2342683

Phasing out coal power in two major Southeast Asian thermal coal economies: Indonesia and Vietnam, Do & Burke, Energy for Sustainable Development Open Access 10.1016/j.esd.2024.101451

Reading the room: developing a practical justice politics of regional energy transition, Marshall & Pearse, Environmental Politics Open Access 10.1080/09644016.2024.2347164

Stepping into the just transition journey: The energy transition in petrostates, Hasan et al., Energy Research & Social Science Open Access 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103553

The politics of deforestation and REDD+ in Indonesia: global climate change mitigation, Sulistiani & Rambe, Environmental Politics 10.1080/09644016.2024.2347159

Toward sustainable heating: Assessment of the carbon mitigation potential from residential heating in northern rural China, Wang & Wei, Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114141

Whose Expertise and Whose Knowledge Matter? Influencing Wind Power Decisions in Norway, Bonvik-Stone & Lykke, Environmental Communication Open Access 10.1080/17524032.2024.2341931

Climate change adaptation & adaptation public policy research

Addressing extreme urban heat and energy vulnerability of renters in Portland, OR with resilient household energy policies, Ashbaugh & Kittner, Energy Policy 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114143

Assessing climate change vulnerability of coastal roads, Rocchi et al., Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change Open Access 10.1007/s11027-024-10140-6

Capturing cascading consequences is required to reflect risk from climate change and natural hazards, Thompson et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2024.100613

Climate impacts and adaptation strategies for coastal erosion, aquaculture, and tourism along the Adriatic side of Apulia region, Parete et al., Frontiers in Climate Open Access pdf 10.3389/fclim.2024.1378253

Delayed, abrupt and unjust: An institutionalist perspective on limits to climate change adaptation, Berkhout et al., Climate Risk Management Open Access 10.1016/j.crm.2024.100611

Exploring co-production in redirecting climate urbanism, Karol Mohan & Muraleedharan, Climate and Development 10.1080/17565529.2024.2339249

Governance, institutions, and climate change resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: assessing the threshold effects, Bambi et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1352344

The governance of climate adaptation in metropolitan regions: A systematic review of emerging themes and issues, Gori Nocentini, Urban Climate Open Access 10.1016/j.uclim.2024.101944

Climate change impacts on human health

Analysing health system capacity and preparedness for climate change, Braithwaite et al., Nature Climate Change Open Access 10.1038/s41558-024-01994-4

Beach day or deadly heatwave? Content analysis of media images from the 2021 Heat Dome in Canada, , Hitchhiker Open Access 10.2307/j.ctt1vjqqtb.19

Increasing tree cover and high-albedo surfaces reduces heat-related ER visits in Los Angeles, CA, Sheridan et al., International Journal of Biometeorology Open Access pdf 10.1007/s00484-024-02688-4

Climate change & geopolitics

The challenges of the increasing institutionalization of climate security, Hardt et al., PLOS Climate Open Access pdf 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000402

Other

Extreme hydrometeorological events induce abrupt and widespread freshwater temperature changes across the Pacific Northwest of North America, Déry et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-024-01407-6

Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives

A Convergence Science Approach to Understanding the Changing Arctic, Ivanov et al., Earth’s Future Open Access 10.1029/2023ef004157

Accuracy of Ocean CO2 Uptake Estimates at a Risk by a Reduction in the Data Collection, Dong et al., Geophysical Research Letters Open Access 10.1029/2024gl108502

Achieving transformational change through the consilience of behavioral science and radical alternatives, Read & Selinske, Sustainability Science Open Access pdf 10.1007/s11625-024-01482-w

Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE), Stevens et al., Earth System Science Data Open Access 10.5194/essd-16-2113-2024

Editorial: Climate science, solutions and services for net zero, climate-resilient food systems, Falloon et al., Frontiers in Environmental Science Open Access pdf 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1416427

The decision maker’s lament: If I only had some science!, Bisbal, Ambio Open Access pdf 10.1007/s13280-024-01986-w

The IPCC’s reductive Common Era temperature history, Esper et al., Communications Earth & Environment Open Access pdf 10.1038/s43247-024-01371-1

“Net zero” may need a rethink to keep climate targets within reach, Battersby, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Open Access 10.1073/pnas.2407160121

Book reviews

David Sedlak. Water for all: global solutions for a changing climate, Smardon, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences 10.1007/s13412-024-00925-1

Articles/Reports from Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations Addressing Aspects of Climate Change

State of the Air 2024 Report, American Lung Assoication

“State of the Air” 2024 is the 25th edition of this annual report, which was first published in 2000. From the beginning, the findings have reflected the successes of the Clean Air Act, as emissions from transportation, power plants and manufacturing have been reduced. In recent years, however, the findings of the report continue adding to the evidence that a changing climate is making it harder to protect human health. High ozone days and spikes in particle pollution related to extreme heat, drought and wildfires are putting millions of people at risk and adding challenges to the work that states and cities are doing across the nation to clean up air pollution.

Climate Change and Military Power: Hunting for Submarines in the Warming Ocean, Gilli et al., Texas National Security Review

Climate change will have significant effects on military power, capabilities, effectiveness, and employment. Yet, scholars have paid little attention to this topic. We address this gap by investigating the effects of changing ocean conditions on anti-submarine warfare. Anti-submarine warfare capabilities exploit various physical phenomena to detect enemy submarines, principally underwater sound propagation. Underwater sound propagation depends on factors influenced by climate change, such as water temperature and salinity. Through ocean-acoustic simulations, we estimate the effect of climate change on the detection range of enemy submarines in the North Atlantic and in the Western Pacific.

Heavy precipitation hitting vulnerable communities in the UAE and Oman becoming an increasing threat as the climate warms, Zachariah et al., World Weather Attribution

From April 14 to 15 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the northern parts of Oman were hit by exceptionally heavy rainfall causing massive disruption in infrastructure and public life in the area and leading to at least 20 fatalities in Oman and four in the United Arab Emirates UAE. The disagreement between model results and observations prevents the authors from concluding with certainty that human-induced climate change is the main driver making this event more likely. However, while multiple reasons could explain the absence of a trend in the model results, the authors have no alternative explanation for a trend in observations other than the expectation of heavy rainfall increasing in a warmer climate.

Mitigating Risk That Climate Change Poses to the National Critical Functions, Resetar,, RAND

The National Critical Functions (NCFs) are those functions vital to the United States’ economic and national security, public health, and safety. Climate change effects have the potential to disrupt routine operations of these functions. Climate risk mitigation strategies are intended to reduce an NCF’s vulnerability to, or the consequences from, direct and indirect effects of climate change. This report is intended to inform risk mitigation planning and decision-making by contextualizing climate risk mitigation through a review of mitigation strategies for four NCFs: Maintain Supply Chains, Provide Insurance Services, Prepare for and Manage Emergencies, and Provide Public Safety.

Transmission Interconnection Roadmap, Gorman et al., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The authors identify solutions to enable interconnection processes to meet the growing demand for renewable energy resources from the rapid, widespread clean energy transition. The authors provide the diverse group of interconnection stakeholders with near- to long-term solutions to address current challenges in transmission system interconnection.

New Nuclear Energy: Assessing the National Security Risks, Sharon Squassoni, The George Washington University

The climate crisis has renewed interest in nuclear energy as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, the United States and 21 other countries pledged to triple nuclear energy by 2050. Lost in the noise about meeting net zero goals are the national security implications of attempting such an enormous expansion of nuclear energy.

Louisiana Offshore Wind Supply Chain Assessment, Xodus et al., Xodus Group, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Greater New Orleans Inc, the Southeastern Wind Coalition, Center for Planning Excellence

Louisiana’s experience and expertise in offshore energy grants it a unique position to support the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind industry, while attracting new opportunities for existing Louisiana businesses, expanding employment opportunities for Louisiana residents, and capturing significant economic benefits for the State. The authors assess the industry landscape, supply chain, and workforce opportunities available to Louisiana in the offshore wind industry. As a nationally recognized leader in port infrastructure, maritime construction, and energy production, Louisiana can further diversify and develop new employment and economic opportunities through renewable energy production.

New York City Panel on Climate Change Assessments, New York City Panel on Climate Change

The authors provide insights into the state of the science on climate change and the implications for adaptation and mitigation policy in New York City. Building on the longitudinal data afforded by this ongoing research, this assessment centers on equity as a shared focus across all working groups. This is achieved through inclusive internal processes for working group activities and explicit attention to uneven impacts and vulnerabilities associated with climate change policy responses.

Coal to Nuclear Repowering: Considerations for State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions, Kelsey Jones, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and National Association State Energy Officials

The author highlights some of the benefits and challenges associated with the coal to nuclear repowering process, with a particular focus on the policy, programmatic, and regulatory considerations of relevance to State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions. Some of the benefits of coal to nuclear repowering include reduced emissions, workforce and economic development potential, improved electric reliability, and opportunities to save time and money relative to greenfield deployment by repurposing existing infrastructure.

2024 Energy Fact Sheet. Tracking MN’s clean energy trends, Clean Energy Economy MN and the Business Council of Sustainable Energy

The Factsheet outlines key trends in the energy sector. As America continues its transformation to cleaner, cheaper sustainable energy, Minnesota continues to be a leader both regionally and nationally. For example, for the fourth consecutive year, zero-carbon power remained the majority of Minnesota’s electricity with 54{2add217ad2235d262e63a186eb2903fa1b3aade4b9d8db7a510444e5d82aac71} of the state’s power provided, including wind, solar, hydro and biomass — outpacing the national share of 42{2add217ad2235d262e63a186eb2903fa1b3aade4b9d8db7a510444e5d82aac71}.

Climate Reality on-Screen: The Climate Crisis in Popular Films, 2013-22, Schneider-Mayerson, et al., Buck Lab for Climate and Environment, Colby College

The authors provide audience members, screenwriters, filmmakers, studios, and researchers with a straightforward way to evaluate whether climate change is represented—or omitted—in any narrative through a two-part, binary evaluation tool that is simple, illuminating, and powerful.

Obtaining articles without journal subscriptions

We know it’s frustrating that many articles we cite here are not free to read. One-off paid access fees are generally astronomically priced, suitable for such as “On a Heuristic Point of View Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light”  but not as a gamble on unknowns. With a median world income of US$ 9,373, for most of us US$ 42 is significant money to wager on an article’s relevance and importance. 

• Unpaywall offers a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox that automatically indicates when an article is freely accessible and provides immediate access without further trouble. Unpaywall is also unscammy, works well, is itself offered free to use. The organizers (a legitimate nonprofit) report about a 50{2add217ad2235d262e63a186eb2903fa1b3aade4b9d8db7a510444e5d82aac71} success rate

• The weekly New Research catch is checked against the Unpaywall database with accessible items being flagged. Especially for just-published articles this mechansim may fail. If you’re interested in an article title and it is not listed here as “open access,” be sure to check the link anyway. 

How is New Research assembled?

Most articles appearing here are found via  RSS feeds from journal publishers, filtered by search terms to produce raw output for assessment of relevance. 

Relevant articles are then queried against the Unpaywall database, to identify open access articles and expose useful metadata for articles appearing in the database. 

The objective of New Research isn’t to cast a tinge on scientific results, to color readers’ impressions. Hence candidate articles are assessed via two metrics only:

• Was an article deemed of sufficient merit by a team of journal editors and peer reviewers? The fact of journal RSS output assigns a “yes” to this automatically. 
• Is an article relevant to the topic of anthropogenic climate change? Due to filter overlap with other publication topics of inquiry, of a typical week’s 550 or so input articles about 1/4 of RSS output makes the cut.

A few journals offer public access to “preprint” versions of articles for which the review process is not yet complete. For some key journals this all the mention we’ll see in RSS feeds, so we include such items in New Research. These are flagged as “preprint.”

The section “Informed opinion, nudges & major initiatives” includes some items that are not scientific research per se but fall instead into the category of “perspectives,” observations of implications of research findings, areas needing attention, etc.

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