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In recent years, recognition has grown of the significant role that food systems play in driving climate change, constituting about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, while also playing a key role in sequestering carbon and adapting to climate changes. The COP28 climate conference signaled a pivotal shift, spotlighting food and agriculture in discourse. However, despite pledges and declarations, concrete plans and targets to address emissions from food chains remain elusive. Urgent action is imperative to transform food systems and avert surpassing critical warming thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Active school transportation (AST) is an important source of physical activity for children and a potentially important climate change mitigation strategy. However, few studies have examined factors associated with AST in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used baseline data from a longitudinal survey to investigate correlates of AST during the second wave of COVID-19 (December 2020). We collected survey data from 2291 parents of 7- to 12-year-olds across Canada and linked this information with data on neighborhood walkability and weather from national databases. We assessed potential correlates representing multiple levels of influence of the social–ecological model. We used gender-stratified binary logistic regression models to determine the correlates of children's travel mode to/from school (dichotomized as active vs motorized), while controlling for household income. We examined the correlates of travel mode for both the morning and afternoon trips. Results: Consistent correlates of AST among Canadian children during the COVID-19 pandemic included greater independent mobility, warmer outdoor temperature, having a parent who actively commuted to work or school, living in a household owning fewer vehicles, and living in a more walkable neighborhood. These findings were largely consistent between boys and girls and between morning and afternoon school trips. Conclusions: Policymakers, urban planners, and public health workers aiming to promote AST should focus on these correlates while ensuring that neighborhoods are safe for children. Future research should monitor the prevalence and correlates of AST as COVID-19 restrictions are removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Calls to action addressing the interconnections between physical (in)activity and the climate crisis are increasing. The current study aimed to investigate public support for policy actions that potentially have co-benefits for physical activity promotion and climate change mitigation. Methods: In 2023, a survey through the Angus Reid Forum was completed by 2507 adults living in Canada. Binary logistic regressions were conducted. Separate models were created to reflect support or opposition to the 8 included policy items. Several covariates were included in the models including age, gender, political orientation, physical activity levels, income, urbanicity climate anxiety, and attitudes surrounding physical activity and climate change. The data were weighted to reflect the gender, age, and regional composition of the country. Results: Most individuals living in Canada strongly or moderately supported all actions (ranging from 71% to 85%). Meeting the physical activity guidelines, higher self-reported income, and scoring high on personal experience of climate change were associated with higher odds of supporting the policy actions related to climate actions. Conclusions: Most adults living in Canada support policies that align with the recommended policy actions related to physical activity and climate change. National campaigns enhancing awareness and understanding of the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and climate change are warranted, and these should consider the consistent demographic differences (eg, gender, age, and political orientation) seen in public support for physical activity-related policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young Americans are coming of age immersed in daily news and controversy about rising perils like climate change, and emerging ones like artificial intelligence. Generation Z has produced and embraced movements for climate action like the school strikes led by Greta Thunberg that connect to other social justice movements. But the threat posed by nuclear weapons remains a disconnected abstraction to many young people, even as tensions between nuclear-armed states over conflicts like the invasions of Ukraine and Gaza renew fears of a nuclear confrontation that were more common decades ago. In this personal essay, a life-long opponent of nuclear weapons raised during the Cold War reflects on intergenerational lessons about activism, and teaching college students to embrace their curiosity, and their fear, on the way to saving the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a survey and analyses of observational data, we provide systematic evidence that institutional investors value and demand climate risk disclosures. The survey reveals the investors have a strong demand for climate risk disclosures, and many actively engage their portfolio firms for improvements. Empirical analyses of holdings data corroborate this evidence by showing a significantly positive association between climate-conscious institutional ownership and better firm-level climate risk disclosure. We establish further evidence of institutional investors' influence on firms' climate risk disclosures by examining a shock to the climate risk disclosure demand of French institutional investors (French Article 173). Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the sufficiency, efficiency, and renewable frameworks for reducing energy use and energy-related carbon emissions, Building Energy Sufficiency (BES) is gaining attention from policy makers and engineers. Despite the significant role of the building sector in the success of national energy and climate plans, there is a lack of research on the drivers, technologies, and effective policy instruments required to achieve BES in the building operational phase. To fill this gap, this study presents a systematic review of the definition and paradigm of BES and concludes that BES should address both occupant demand and energy or emissions requirements simultaneously. The characteristics of occupant demand in building services are divided into four dimensions: time and space, quality and quantity, control and adjustment, and flexibility. Technical options regarding the building architecture, the envelope system, and the building energy system are reviewed. Finally, policy implications and recommendations are discussed. The multiple benefits and multidisciplinary nature of BES justify further research and accelerated policy implementation in developed and developing countries.

Coastal wetlands in San Diego County have experienced a significant decline in their extent over the past century due to erosion, sea-level rise, and development. Understanding the historical and current conditions of these wetlands is essential for effective management and restoration efforts. Furthermore, assessing the economic value of the ecosystem services provided by these wetlands is crucial for making informed decisions regarding their conservation and restoration. This paper presents a detailed valuation of two ecosystem services provided by San Diego County wetlands: nursery habitats for California halibut and carbon sequestration through blue carbon ecosystems. The valuation is based on existing scientific literature and government reports, and a Monte Carlo simulation is employed to account for the uncertainties associated with the complex and dynamic nature of coastal wetlands. The results indicate that these wetlands provide substantial economic benefits to the California halibut commercial fishery, valued at almost $998 thousand annually. The net present value analysis suggests that these wetlands could generate over $30.7 million in net benefits to the commercial fishery through the end of the century, assuming the habitats remain intact. Additionally, the wetlands contribute almost $5 million annually in natural capital through the production of juvenile California halibut. Utilizing a social cost of carbon value of $120/metric ton of CO2, local eelgrass beds, salt marshes, and mudflats are valued at over $1.6 million annually, with over 50% coming from eelgrass beds. The net present value analysis suggests that these wetlands could generate over $50 million in net benefits via carbon sequestration through the end of the century, assuming the habitats remain intact. This detailed valuation approach provides valuable information for policymakers and the public, facilitating better decision-making and increased awareness of the importance of protecting and restoring coastal wetland ecosystems for their ecological and economic contributions.See full project here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d3456f12100047b2a979df40a59c8357

Abstract Agroforestry plays a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. While carbon sequestration efforts have primarily centred on forests, it is imperative to acknowledge the contribution that non-forest ecosystems, such as agroforestry, can offer. This study investigated the influence of agroforestry systems on the variation of biomass carbon stocks in the Sahelo-Sudanian and Sudanian regions of the Senegalese Groundnut basin. Three primary agroforestry systems were studied: silvopastoral, agrisilvicultural, and agrosilvopastoral. Forty-six (46) 100 m × 100 m plots were sampled, within which 1 × 1 m2 subplots were used to sample understory biomass across three agroforestry systems in the two climatic zones. Analysis of variance was performed to assess the influence of agroforestry systems and climatic zones on biomass carbon stocks. The findings showed that in the Sahelo-Sudanian region, the agrisilvicultural system exhibited the highest AGC + BGC stocks, averaging 43.42 ± 21.61 tCha−1. In contrast, the silvopastoral system showed significantly higher AGC + BGC stocks, which amounted to 36.33 ± 12.27 tCha−1 in the Sudanian region. On the other hand, understory carbon stocks were significantly higher (p

Climate anxiety refers to pervasive worry and apprehension about climate change. Scholars have stressed that climate anxiety is a normal and healthy response to climate change that can motivate climate action and should therefore not be medicalized. This article considers the inadvertent consequences associated with not treating climate anxiety as a mental health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to much of the conventional wisdom, taking stronger actions on climate change may enhance economic growth, even as conventionally measured, but even more so, in terms of societal well-being. We identify the flaws in the models and analyses which contend that there must be a trade-off and explain the mechanisms and dynamic forces which have the potential to enhance growth. Critically, there are numerous market failures that result in suboptimal economic performance. We explain how addressing climate change reduces the bite of these failures and enhances the incentives and political will to address them. We identify packages of policies that alleviate market failures, enhance growth, and reduce carbon emissions. Finally, we argue that the green transition is coming at a time when, both because of persistent deficiencies of aggregate demand and advances in technology, including artificial intelligence and robotization, the macroeconomic opportunity costs of strong climate actions may be especially low and the benefits particularly high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting green hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal discourse in the contemporary energy landscape, driven by pressing environmental concerns and the quest for sustainable energy solutions. This paper delves into the multifaceted domain of C -Suite issues about green hydrogen, encompassing both technological advancements and policy considerations. The question of whether green hydrogen is poised to become the focal point of the upcoming energy race is explored through an extensive analysis of its potential as a clean and versatile energy carrier. The transition from conventional fossil fuels to green hydrogen is considered a fundamental shift in energy paradigms, with far-reaching implications for global energy markets. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art green hydrogen technologies, including fuel cells, photocatalysts, photo electrocatalysts, and hydrogen panels. In tandem with technological advancements, the role of policy and strategy in fostering the development of green hydrogen energy assumes paramount significance. The paper elucidates the critical interplay between government policies, market dynamics, and corporate strategies in shaping the green hydrogen landscape. It delves into policy mechanisms such as subsidies, carbon pricing, and renewable energy mandates, shedding light on their potential to incentivize the production and adoption of green hydrogen. This paper offers a nuanced exploration of C -Suite issues surrounding green hydrogen, painting a comprehensive picture of the technological and policy considerations that underpin its emergence as a transformative energy source. As the global community grapples with the imperatives of climate change mitigation and the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, understanding these issues becomes imperative for executives, policymakers, and stakeholders alike. [Display omitted] • The latest advancements in photo electrocatalysts and fuel cell technologies are reviewed. • The storage and transportation within the realm of green hydrogen energy were discussed. • Policy and strategy for fostering the development of green energy are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest canopy structural complexity (CSC) plays a crucial role in shaping forest ecosystem productivity and stability, but the precise nature of their relationships remains controversial. Here, we mapped the global distribution of forest CSC and revealed the factors influencing its distribution using worldwide light detection and ranging data. We find that forest CSC predominantly demonstrates significant positive relationships with forest ecosystem productivity and stability globally, although substantial variations exist among forest ecoregions. The effects of forest CSC on productivity and stability are the balanced results of biodiversity and resource availability, providing valuable insights for comprehending forest ecosystem functions. Managed forests are found to have lower CSC but more potent enhancing effects of forest CSC on ecosystem productivity and stability than intact forests, highlighting the urgent need to integrate forest CSC into the development of forest management plans for effective climate change mitigation.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic meltwater discharge has been largely emphasized for its potential role in climate change mitigation, not only by reducing global warming, but also by stabilizing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Despite the tremendous impact of the AMOC on the climate system, its temporal evolution in response to the meltwater remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the meltwater impacts on the AMOC based on the GFDL CM2.1 experiments and discover its fast weakening and slow strengthening to the Antarctic meltwater discharge. Cold ocean surface caused by meltwater spread throughout the globe and eventually strengthened the AMOC. However, in the early stages, the tropical temperature response could stimulate the Rossby wave teleconnection, modulating atmospheric circulation in the North Atlantic, and weakening convection and even the AMOC. This counterintuitive evolution implies a potential destabilizing effect of Antarctic meltwater, underscoring the importance of the atmospheric dynamics in the interaction between the two poles. Plain Language Summary: The climate system is made up of interactions between different subsystems, so that regional climate changes can have global effects. The freshwater discharge from Antarctica would increase in the future and result in regional cooling. Atmospheric and oceanic dynamics extend this local effect to the globe, reducing global surface temperature and strengthening the large‐scale ocean circulation in the Atlantic. These mitigating effects naturally put the spotlight on Antarctic meltwater. Our study however suggests that the mitigation effect depends on the time scale. Although the global mean temperature is always reduced, the ocean circulation in the Atlantic surprisingly slows down as an early response to Antarctic meltwater; fast atmospheric teleconnection enables it. This non‐monotonic evolution emphasizes the importance of the atmospheric teleconnection between the two poles, which should be carefully considered to understand the polar climate. Key Points: The response of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation to perennial meltwater‐induced cooling is investigated by GFDL CM2.1 experimentsBefore the cooling spreads out the Atlantic, tropical atmospheric teleconnection could weaken the Greenland ocean convectionThe fast and slow responses imply the importance of the atmospheric teleconnection to regulate polar climate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political polarization of Americans' support for climate policies often impedes the adoption of new, urgently needed climate solutions. However, recent polls suggest that younger conservatives favor adopting pro-climate policies to a greater degree than older conservatives, resulting in less political polarization among younger Americans relative to older Americans. To better understand these patterns, we analyzed Americans' support for various climate policies from 1982–2020, across 16 waves of historical, nationally representative survey data from the American National Election Studies (total N = 29,467). Regression models consistently show that, since 2012, younger Americans have been less politically polarized than older Americans on support for climate policies. Before 2012 and on non-climate policy topics, we did not find consistent statistical evidence for political polarization varying with age. These findings can inform policy debates about climate change and offer hope to environmentalists and policymakers who seek to build broad consensus for climate action at the policy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A troubling feedback loop, where drier soil contributes to hotter climates, has been widely recognized. This study, drawing on climate model simulations, reveals that maintaining current global soil moisture levels could significantly alleviate 32.9% of land warming under low-emission scenarios. This action could also postpone reaching critical warming thresholds of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C by at least a decade. Crucially, preserving soil moisture at current levels could prevent noticeable climate change impacts across 42% of the Earth's land, a stark deviation from projections suggesting widespread impacts before the 2060s. To combat soil drying, afforestation in mid-to-low latitude regions within the next three decades is proposed as an effective strategy to increase surface water availability. This underscores the substantial potential of nature-based solutions for managing soil moisture, benefiting both climate change mitigation and ecological enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbon (C) sink and stock are among the most important ecosystem services provided by forests in climate change mitigation policies. In this context, old-growth forests constitute an essential reference point for the development of close-to-nature silviculture, including C management techniques. Despite their small extent in Europe, temperate old-growth forests are assumed to be among the most prominent in terms of biomass and C stored. However, monitoring and reporting of C stocks is still poorly understood. To better understand the C stock amount and distribution in temperate old-growth forests, we estimated the C stock of two old-growth stands in the Dinaric Alps applying different assessment methods, including direct and indirect approaches (e.g., field measurements and allometric equations vs. IPCC standard methods). This paper presents the quantification and the distribution of C across the five main forest C pools (i.e., aboveground, belowground, deadwood, litter and soil) in the study areas and the differences between the applied methods. Results: We report a very prominent C stock in both study areas (507 Mg C ha− 1), concentrated in a few large trees (36% of C in 5% of trees). Moreover, we found significant differences in C stock estimation between direct and indirect methods. Indeed, the latter tended to underestimate or overestimate depending on the pool considered. Conclusions: Comparison of our results with previous studies and data collected in European forests highlights the prominence of temperate forests, among which the Dinaric Alps old-growth forests are the largest. These findings provide an important benchmark for the development of future approaches to the management of the European temperate forests. However, further and deeper research on C stock and fluxes in old-growth stands is of prime importance to understand the potential and limits of the climate mitigation role of forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gases monitoring is important to ensure climate goals are being achieved. This study unveils the potential of using atmospheric tall towers in direct flux measurements, bridging the gap between atmospheric and ecosystem monitoring networks. The ICOS Cities (PAUL) project aims to monitor CO2 emissions in urban areas, where concentrated emissions make them key targets for climate change mitigation. This study explores synergy between ICOS atmospheric and ecosystem networks by utilizing slow-response analysers (~2 sec) on tall atmospheric towers for ecosystem studies using the Eddy Covariance method. A standard setup with an ultrasonic anemometer and an infrared (IR) fast-response CO2 analyser was installed and compared with measurements from an existing cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) analyser measuring CO2, CO, and CH4. Deployed on the 100 m Saclay tower near Paris, covering a 43.9 km² 80 % footprint with heavy traffic roads, a nearby heating plant, and a forest, the setup addressed technical challenges and height-induced complexities. Corrections for flux attenuation by high frequency losses were limited to <20 % on average for all stabilities, around 11 % for unstable conditions. Wavelet-based eddy covariance allowed 18–34 % more data exploitation than standard EC enabling the analysis of non-stationary fluxes, particularly from a point source such was the case of a heating plant. The estimated storage term produced by atmospheric profiling measurements reported an expected increase at night, destocking during the first half of the day. Storage term represented at times more than half of the surface flux. Elevated mean fluxes for CO2 (10 μmolm−2s−1) and CH4 (200 nmolm−2s−1) were observed from the heating plant wind direction during December and January. Conversely, the forest direction exhibited the strongest sink among all wind directions, with −4 μmolm−2s−1 during July and August. These results demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of utilizing atmospheric towers for urban emission monitoring, offering valuable insights for emission monitoring strategies worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover crops have the potential to mitigate climate change by reducing negative impacts of agriculture on ecosystems. This study is first to quantify the net climate change mitigation impact of cover crops including land-use effects. A systematic literature and data review was conducted to identify major drivers for climate benefits and costs of cover crops in maize (Zea maize L.) production systems. The results indicate that cover crops lead to a net climate change mitigation impact (NCCMI) of 3.30 Mg CO2e ha-1 a-1. We created four scenarios with different impact weights of the drivers and all of them showing a positive NCCMI. Carbon land benefit, the carbon opportunity costs based on maize yield gains following cover crops, is the major contributor to the NCCMI (34.5% of all benefits). Carbon sequestration is the second largest contributor (33.8%). The climate costs of cover crops are mainly dominated by emissions from their seed production and foregone benefits due to land use for cover crops seeds. However, these two costs account for only 15.8% of the benefits. Extrapolating these results, planting cover crops before all maize acreage in the EU results in a climate change mitigation of 49.80 million Mg CO2e a-1, which is equivalent to 13.0% of the EU's agricultural emissions. This study highlights the importance of incorporating cover crops into sustainable cropping systems to minimize the agricultural impact to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental sustainability lies at the centre of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Many developing economies, including Bangladesh, undertook massive institutional and policy reformulation initiatives to accomplish the respective environmental targets of the SDGs. However, effective policy implementation and obtaining the desired impact on people and the planet remain challenging. Against this backdrop, using the typical case of Bangladesh, the study hypothesises whether environmental (including forest and climate change) policy changes beget optimal policy outcomes and bring innovative policy ideas. Or they deliver sub‐optimal policy outcomes and prioritise traditional policy substances in achieving the SDGs. The study uses a policy typology and does content analysis for a large number of policy changes (n = 82). It applies the analytical framework of policy planning and a coherent–consistent policy approach. The result shows a tremendous shortfall in policy planning and a lack of technical policy capacities to implement innovative policy substances, for example, sustainable and scientific resources management, pollution control, science‐based study and data generation, and so forth. Also, incoherent goal settings (e.g., biodiversity conservation versus infrastructure development) and inadequate policy solutions for long‐standing problems (e.g., land tenure conflict) can obstruct achieving transformative changes. The sustainable development targets demand an all‐inclusive sectoral approach and technical‐legal policy solutions to achieve environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data acquisition for sustainable forest management has focused on obtaining high quality information to estimate biomass. Improving the quality of non-timber sustainability indicators, like deadwood volume, has been a minor interest. To explore how inventory approaches could be improved, we applied a Global Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis (GUSA) to evaluate which factors propagate more errors in deadwood modelling and how better data collection can minimize them. The impact of uncertainty on deadwood characteristics (diameter, collapse ratio, decay class, tree species, and position) was explored under stakeholders´ preferences, management actions, and climate change scenarios. GUSA showed that removing the prediction error in deadwood tree species and diameter would alter the most the total uncertainty in deadwood volume. We found that assessment of high deadwood volume was less uncertain for the scenarios where small deadwood items were left decaying on the forest floor (BAU) and for high-end climate change scenario (RCP8.5) which resulted in lower deadwood accumulation in forest stands and therefore also in lower likelihood of erroneous estimates. Reduced uncertainty in tree species and diameter class will elevate the certainty of deadwood volume to a similar level achieved in living biomass estimation. Our uncertainty and sensitivity analysis was successful in ranking factors propagating errors in estimate of deadwood and identified a strategy to minimize uncertainty in predicting deadwood characteristics. The estimation of uncertainty in deadwood levels under the scenarios developed in our study can help decision makers to evaluate risk of decreasing deadwood value for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor winter sports sit on the frontlines of climate change, with athletes subject to increasingly unsafe, unfair and non-ideal competition and training conditions as a result. With athletes' livelihoods and the future of winter sports on the line, this research investigates if and how winter athletes use their position as public figures, celebrities and role models to challenge the hegemonic structures in sports and society driving climate change. Framed through the broad athlete-activism literature, this study used a qualitative survey of 390 elite winter-sport athletes and coaches combined with eight key stakeholder interviews to understand athlete climate activism. Results demonstrate that winter athletes' climate action is generally low risk constituting advocacy rather than activism. Athletes express fear of being called out as hypocritical for their high-carbon sport and lifestyle, insecurity over their level of climate education and frustration with the lack of climate action from international- and national-level winter-sport organizations. Scholarly, grassroots and sport-based activism may help athletes engage more effectively in climate activism within and beyond sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caribbean small island developing states are becoming increasingly vulnerable to compounding disasters, prominently featuring climate-related hazards and pandemic diseases, which exacerbate existing barriers to cancer control in the region. We describe the complexities of cancer prevention and control efforts throughout the Caribbean small island developing states, including the unique challenges of people diagnosed with cancer in the region. We highlight potential solutions and strategies that concurrently address disaster adaptation and cancer control. Because Caribbean small island developing states are affected first and worst by the hazards of compounding disasters, the innovative solutions developed in the region are relevant for climate mitigation, disaster adaptation, and cancer control efforts globally. In the age of complex and cascading disaster scenarios, developing strategies to mitigate their effect on the cancer control continuum, and protecting the health and safety of people diagnosed with cancer from extreme events become increasingly urgent. The equitable development of such strategies relies on collaborative efforts among professionals whose diverse expertise from complementary fields infuses the local community perspective while focusing on implementing solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreement places states' nationally determined contributions (NDCs) at the center of global climate politics. While previous research on the NDC has provided important suggestions for enhanced legitimacy and effectiveness of global climate governance, I examine the NDC not in terms of its content, but as an instrument for governing climate conduct in the post-Paris regime. By analyzing state submissions to post-Paris NDC negotiations, I identify five functions of the NDC: Progress Tracker, Trust-Builder, Influencer, Differentiator, and Gatekeeper. While the first three functions are informed by a techno-managerial rationality that posits effective climate action as a project of increased information-sharing, the last two highlight underlying political struggles of responsibility and fairness which are not necessarily solvable through intensified collaboration. I argue that these diverging views on the function of the NDC will become increasingly prominent as we move toward the first round of the global stocktake in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global agriculture industry is facing never before faced issues in the form of soil degradation, water scarcity, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Among the possible remedies, applying biochar to the soil has drawn interest as a viable strategy. Although a great deal of literature has been written about the benefits and drawbacks of applying biochar initially, there is still a significant amount of research on the effects of using biochar repeatedly. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the varied effects of both the initial application (at rates of 0 t.ha−1, 10 t.ha−1, and 20 t.ha−1) and the reapplication of biochar (at rates of 0, 10, and 20 t.ha−1), especially when combined with different levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 108, and 162 kg.ha−1). The investigation focuses on soil properties and CO2 emissions from Haplic Luvisol in the temperate climate zone (Slovakia). The results showed that biochar generally improved soil properties, such as soil pH (KCl) (p <0.05), shifting it from acidic towards moderately acidic, and generally led to a decrease in ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) content. The second level of fertilization, combined with different biochar treatments, yielded the most efficient results in physical properties such as soil temperature, bulk density (BD), and soil water content (SWC) compared to control treatments without biochar. Biochar application contributed to the reduction of both average daily CO2 emissions and cumulative CO2 emissions during the study period (April – October) in 2022 compared to the control without biochar application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sector (LULUCF) role is of critical importance in contributing to the ambitious targets set by the European Union (EU) to reduce by 55% net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and to become carbon neutral by 2050. The EU LULUCF regulation, approved in 2023, sets out binding targets for each individual Member State to be achieved by 2030, totaling 310 MtCO2e of net removals for the whole EU. However, it remains poorly understood to what extent the EU LULUCF climate target matches with the Member States' strategies. The alignment between the EU governance and its Member States' visions for the long-term will determine the achievement of the climate targets. The objective of this study is to understand the LULUCF expected contribution to the EU's 2030 and 2050 climate goals. In doing so, we explored the European and country-level visions of LULUCF with respect to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as expressed in their Long-Term Strategies (LTSs) and national projections; we evaluated whether national level projections for LULUCF are aligned with the EU short and long term targets. We found that most countries' LTSs envisage policies and measures in the LULUCF sector, however they are, often general and not comprehensive. Furthermore, the majority of countries' quantitative future projections of GHG emissions and removals from LULUCF differ from the pathway set in EU targets; thus, countries may need to either update existing policies or conceive and plan new policies and actions. European Union (EU) Member States are required to design and carefully implement LULUCF policies to comply with the ambitious EU targets. EU countries describe in their Long-Term Strategies LULUCF policies and measures that are potentially effective, but not comprehensive, transparent and accurate. Ideally Long-Term Strategies for LULUCF are aligned with other policy instruments, e.g. Nationally Determined Contributions and National Energy and Climate Plans. Many EU countries may grapple with the adoption and fulfilment of the currently proposed European Union targets on LULUCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imperative to halt global warming extends beyond human boundaries, intertwining with the urgent need to achieve net-zero emissions. To this end, the Paris Agreement (PA) states that all Parties should strive to formulate their Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). This article comprehensively reviews the LT-LEDS submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 53 Parties (representing 75% of global emissions) as of September 23rd, 2022. First, it conducts an analysis of the quality and completeness of the LT-LEDS. The findings of this analysis highlight the need for improvement in the reported information, particularly to improve the clarity of the information presented and the monitoring of progress towards the objective of each LT-LEDS. Furthermore, the study confirms the noticeable absence of reference to the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances. Yet these principles should frame climate action within the PA. Second, this article estimates the carbon budget to be utilized by the Parties that have integrated net-zero emission (NZE) targets within their LT-LEDS. The analysis reveals that this group of Parties (i.e. those reporting on LT-LEDS and those with NZE targets), currently encompasses 37% of the global population and is responsible for 62% of global emissions. If these NZE targets are met, the group is projected to consume a total of 431 GtCO2. This value notably exceeds the threshold of 400 GtCO2, exceeding the remaining global carbon budget estimated by the IPCC to be compatible with a 67% likelihood to achieve a temperature increase objective of 1.5°C. To achieve the objectives of the PA, it is necessary for all countries to develop and implement their LT-LEDS, and for the 53 countries that have already submitted them to enhance the quality and comprehensiveness of the reported information and to improve the monitoring of progress towards NZE targets. To achieve the long-term objective of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, more countries need to actively engage in formulating and implementing NZE commitments. It is also imperative to increase the level of ambition in the existing NZE commitments, particularly those formulated by developed countries. All LT-LEDS, encompassing both present submissions and those anticipated in the future, should be formulated in the light of equity considerations, and meticulously assess the share of the global carbon budget that will be allocated to the LT-LEDS' net-zero CO2 commitments. The analysis of net-zero CO2 commitments reveals that the existing NZE targets set by developed nations entail a carbon budget consumption significantly exceeding their equitable share, while those formulated by less developed countries remain notably below their due allocation. This divergence could potentially limit the capacity of the latter group to foster their development, compounded by the challenges of addressing climate change impacts. Examination of the current NZE commitments underscores that the current trajectory of emission reductions lacks a comprehensive framework to instigate the transformative changes required to achieve the ambitious mitigation objectives of the Paris Agreement. Consequently, there is an imperative for more detailed and comprehensive long-term visions at the national level, which will serve as guidance for short-term policy decisions and effectively prioritize the fundamental structural shifts needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are increasingly seeing the unintended social consequences of climate action planning as urban efforts to be climate-responsive create uneven exposure to climate risks and contribute to new forms of gentrification and displacement. I use Yiftachel's four dimensions of planning control as a framework to explore the circumstances in which planning emerges as an oppressive activity in the context of climate change. I argue that seemingly progressive mitigation and adaptation actions are accompanied by a "dark side" that can advance regressive outcomes despite the positive intentions of planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rangelands face threats from climate and land-use change, including inappropriate climate change mitigation initiatives such as tree planting in grassy ecosystems. The marginalization and impoverishment of rangeland communities and their indigenous knowledge systems, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, are additional major challenges. To address these issues, we propose the wilder rangelands integrated framework, co-developed by South African and European scientists from diverse disciplines, as an opportunity to address the climate, livelihood, and biodiversity challenges in the world's rangelands. More specifically, we present a Theory of Change to guide the design, monitoring, and evaluation of wilder rangelands. Through this, we aim to promote rangeland restoration, where local communities collaborate with regional and international actors to co-create new rangeland use models that simultaneously mitigate the impacts of climate change, restore biodiversity, and improve both ecosystem functioning and livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) are vital for global climate change mitigation and offer diverse local ecosystem co-benefits. Despite existing literatures on integrating national and international BCE agendas at the local level, the development and implementation of localized BCE strategies often lag behind. To provide insights on this knowledge gap, we present a case study conducted in Eastern Samar, Philippines. Employing a multi-framework analysis- encompassing DPSIR (drivers, pressures, state, impact, responses), SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results), and PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental) frameworks, stakeholder perceptions collected from focus group discussions highlight issues and challenges in developing and implementing a BCE strategy. Findings reveal that the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 in the study sites stimulated conservation efforts and raised awareness, but governance structures and policy enforcement influence the success and longevity of management and conservation efforts. Through the integration of multiple frameworks, this study outlined a potential localized BCE strategy, emphasizing both internal priorities such as stakeholder engagement and alternative livelihoods and external priorities related to policy and technological supports. While developed based on a specific case study in the Philippines, the proposed strategy is presented in a general manner, enabling its potential replication in other provinces in the Philippines or in countries with similar geographic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and climate education concern more than climate and the environment, as our social and economic systems both rely upon and are impacted by climate and environment. We cannot address the human impact on our global climate and local environments without several nations reconstructing their social and economic systems to be equitable and inclusive. According to several key global guidance documents related to adult learning and education (ALE) and climate education, adult educators have significant roles in developing learners capable of engaging in climate and environmental action. However, defining climate education and roles for adult educators is not well-defined or explicit. To gain clarity in how ALE providers can facilitate learners' understanding of how social/political, economic, and natural systems intersect to create and perpetuate the oppression, marginalization, and destruction of humans and the world upon which we depend, a close review of global guidance documents is warranted. This article analyzes key documents, such as the Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA), Education for Sustainable Development: A roadmap (ESD for 2030), and the International Council for Adult Education Spotlight Report for CONFINTEA VII. This process resulted in clarification of the definition of climate education from an ALE perspective and suggestions of explicit roles for ALE providers in the realm of climate education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge is generated at a local level and is unique in its culture and society. The Maltese rural landscape, being one of the most anthropomorphic in the world, describes a wealth of indigenous knowledge on how to thrive in arid conditions on land that is barren of soil. The most visible features of the present landscape are the characteristic field terraces with their dry rubble wall containment that in most cases represent the boundary wall of man-made "Campi Artificiali." These features constitute an inestimable rural attribute that has facilitated human habitation of the islands. Additionally, distinctive water harvesting and dryland cultivation techniques were also employed by Maltese farmers to sustain a living in an often-arid environment. Recognizing the importance of indigenous knowledge and locally developed technologies can facilitate the cost-effectiveness of development or conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global climate change is one of the major challenges facing the world today, and forests play a crucial role as significant carbon sinks and providers of ecosystem services in mitigating climate change and protecting the environment. China, as one of the largest developing countries globally, owns 60% of its forest resources collectively. Evaluating the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests not only helps assess the contribution of China's forest resources to global climate change mitigation but also provides important evidence for formulating relevant policies and measures. Results: Over the past 30 years, the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests in China has shown an overall upward trend. Except for coastal provinces, southern collective forest areas, as well as some southwestern and northeastern regions, have the advantage of lower carbon sequestration costs. Furthermore, LSTM network predictions indicate that the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests in China will continue to rise. By 2030, the average carbon sequestration cost of collective forests is projected to reach 125 CNY per ton(= 16.06 Euros/t). Additionally, there is spatial correlation in the carbon sequestration cost of collective forests. Timber production, labor costs, and labor prices have negative spatial spillover effects on carbon sequestration costs, while land opportunity costs, forest accumulation, and rural resident consumption have positive spatial spillover effects. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate regional disparities in the spatial distribution of carbon sequestration costs of collective forests, with an undeniable upward trend in future cost growth. It is essential to focus on areas with lower carbon sequestration costs and formulate targeted carbon sink economic policies and management measures to maximize the carbon sequestration potential of collective forests and promote the sustainable development of forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-term experimental studies provided evidence that plant diversity increases ecosystem resilience and resistance to drought events, suggesting diversity to serve as a nature-based solution to address climate change. However, it remains unclear whether the effects of diversity are momentary or still hold over the long term in natural forests to ensure that the sustainability of carbon sinks. By analyzing 57 years of inventory data from dryland forests in Canada, we show that productivity of dryland forests decreased at an average rate of 1.3% per decade, in concert with the temporally increasing temperature and decreasing water availability. Increasing functional trait diversity from its minimum (monocultures) to maximum value increased productivity by 13%. Our results demonstrate the potential role of tree functional trait diversity in alleviating climate change impacts on dryland forests. While recognizing that nature-based climate mitigation (e.g., planting trees) can only be partial solutions, their long-term (decadal) efficacy can be improved by enhancing functional trait diversity across the forest community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article shines a light on the act of social construction of climate change mitigation as a policy issue at the hands of expert bodies enjoying epistemic power, notably the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), using Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) as key tools. This is crucial to the politics of tackling climate change as IPCC models and scenarios profoundly shape what are seen as viable futures and mitigation policy options. Analysing how technocratic governance bodies broach climate change, its mitigation, and the associated economic costs and implications, reveals contestations within the technocratic politics of climate change. The particular social construction of mitigation as a policy issue through IAMs and IPCC scenarios has important and real socio-ecological consequences. This engagement with the technocratic politics of mitigation problematises five key assumptions that are fed into modelling, and reveals why and how they matter politically. We also highlight ways in which contestable assumptions built into IPCC IAMs undermine their credibility and usefulness for planning mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring methane emissions is crucial in mitigating climate change as it has a relatively short atmospheric lifetime of about 12 years and a significant radiative forcing impact. To measure the impact of methane-controlling policies and techniques, a deep understanding of methane emissions is of great importance. Remote sensing offers scalable approaches for monitoring methane emissions at various scales, from point-source high-resolution monitoring to regional and global estimates. The TROPOMI satellite instrument provides daily XCH4 data globally, offering the opportunity to monitor methane at a moderate spatial resolution with an acceptable level of sensitivity. To infer emissions from TROPOMI data, we used the prior emission estimates from global and national inventories and the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model to simulate atmospheric methane along with actual observations of TROPOMI. In this study, methane emissions from Toronto, Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Mexico City have been estimated using the analytical solution of Bayesian inversion using the cloud-based Integrated Methane Inversion (IMI) framework. Using the result from ensemble inversions, and city boundaries, the average total emissions were as follows: Toronto 230.52 Gg a−1, Montreal 111.54 Gg a−1, New York 144.38 Gg a−1, Los Angeles 207.03 Gg a−1, Houston 650.16 Gg a−1, and Mexico City 280.81 Gg a−1. The resulting gridded scale factors ranged from 0.22 to 6.2, implying methane prior emission underestimations in most of these cities. As such, this study underscores the key role of remote sensing in accurately assessing urban methane emissions, informing essential climate mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration rapidly rises, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an emerging field for climate change mitigation. Various carbon capture technologies are in development with the help of adsorbents, membranes, solvent-based systems, etc. One of the main challenges in this field is the removal of CO2 from nitrogen (N2) gas. This paper focuses on mixed matrix membrane technology, for which the CO2/N2 separation performance is based on differences in gas permeations. Membrane separation and purification technologies are widely studied for carbon capture. Microporous adsorbents such as zeolites and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for carbon capture have been attracting researchers' attention due to their highly porous structures, high selectivity values, and tunable porosities. Utilizing microporous adsorbents dispersed within a novel, blended polymer matrix, fourteen membranes were prepared with the commercial MOF ZIF-8, zeolite 13X, and kaolin, with methyl cellulose (MC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which were tested using a single gas permeation setup in this study. The addition of polyallylamine (PAH) as a chemisorbent was also investigated. These membranes were synthesized both with and without a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support to compare their performances. MC was found to be an ideal polymeric matrix component to develop free-standing MMMs. At 24 °C and a relatively low feed pressure of 2.36 atm, a free-standing zeolite-13X-based membrane (MC/PAH/13X/PVA) exhibited the highest N2/CO2 selectivity of 2.8, with a very high N2 permeability of 6.9 × 107 Barrer. Upon the optimization of active layer thickness and filler weight percentages, this easily fabricated free-standing MMM made of readily available materials is a promising candidate for CO2 purification through nitrogen removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a critical technology for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. CCS involves capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes and power plants and injecting them deep underground for long-term storage. The success of CCS projects is influenced by various factors, including the regional pressure dissipation effects in subsurface geological formations. The safe and efficient operation of CCS projects depends on maintaining the pressure in the storage formation. Regional pressure dissipation, often resulting from the permeability and geomechanical properties of the storage site, can have significant effects on project integrity. This paper provides a state-of-art of the impact of regional pressure dissipation on CCS projects, highlights its effects, and discusses ongoing investigations in this area based on different case studies. The results corroborate the idea that the Sleipner project has considerable lateral hydraulic connectivity, which is evidenced by pressure increase ranging from <0.1 MPa in case of an uncompartmentalized reservoir to >1 MPa in case of substantial flow barriers. After five years of injection, pore pressures in the water leg of a gas reservoir have increased from 18 MPa to 30 MPa at Salah project, resulting in a 2 cm surface uplift. Furthermore, artificial CO2 injection was simulated numerically for 30 years timespan in the depleted oil reservoir of Jurong, located near the Huangqiao CO2-oil reservoir. The maximum amount of CO2 injected into a single well could reach 5.43 × 106 tons, potentially increasing the formation pressure by up to 9.5 MPa. In conclusion, regional pressure dissipation is a critical factor in the implementation of CCS projects. Its impact can affect project safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Ongoing research and investigations are essential to improve our understanding of this phenomenon and develop strategies to mitigate its effects, ultimately advancing the success of CCS as a climate change mitigation solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of chlorophyll‐a (CHL) is an important proxy for autotrophic biomass and primary production in the ocean. Quantifying trends and variability in CHL are essential to understanding how marine ecosystems are affected by climate change. Previous analyses have focused on assessing trends in CHL mean, but little is known about observed changes in CHL extremes and variance. Here we apply a quantile regression model to detect trends in CHL distribution over the period of 1997–2022 for several quantiles. We find that the magnitude of trends in upper quantiles of global CHL (>90th) are larger than those in lower quantiles (≤50th) and in the mean, suggesting a growing asymmetry in CHL distribution. On a regional scale, trends in different quantiles are statistically significant at high latitude, equatorial, and oligotrophic regions. Assessing changes in CHL distribution has potential to yield a more comprehensive understanding of climate change impacts on CHL. Plain Language Summary: The marine environment is essential to nature and society, as it provides food and other important services such as Earth's climate regulation and habitat for species. Marine primary productivity is increasingly stressed due to global climate change. Detecting the impact of climate change on primary producers should be a priority given their critical role in the climate system. Most studies focus on the impact of climate change by evaluating the mean state of primary productivity, but little is known about whether and how climate change is impacting variance and extremes. Here we assess changes in chlorophyll‐a (CHL), which is an important proxy for primary production of marine ecosystems. We quantify long‐term changes in different aspects of the CHL distribution (mean, variance, and extremes) using a quantile regression model. We find that CHL high extremes and variability are slightly intensified globally during the 26 years of observational record. Trends in regional scales, especially in high‐latitude and North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, show that CHL high extremes have been increasing since 1997. Our results suggest that more emphasis should be put into understanding the impact of climate change on the variance and extremes of primary productivity for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Key Points: Long‐term changes are detected in different aspects of the distribution of chlorophyll‐a (not just the mean state)Oceanic chlorophyll‐a high extremes are changing faster than chlorophyll‐a mean globally during 1997–2022On a regional scale, chlorophyll‐a extremes trends are predominant at high latitude (+), equatorial (−), and oligotrophic regions (−) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article emphasizes the importance of establishing a solid scientific foundation for nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) in the United States. While NbCS have gained support, their implementation has outpaced scientific understanding. The article highlights challenges in evaluating and monitoring NbCS, such as a lack of data and standardized protocols. The authors propose a hierarchical system of networks, open data sharing, and improved monitoring approaches to develop robust and credible NbCS programs. They also suggest prioritizing measurements from various sources, including eddy covariance flux towers, soil and biomass inventories, and satellite data. By investing in data collection and research, the US can reduce risks and develop a scientific basis for NbCS. [Extracted from the article]

Climate change persists as a pressing global issue due to high greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-based energy sources. A transition to a greener energy matrix combined with carbon offsetting is imperative to mitigate the rate at which global temperature ascends. While countries have deployed faith in green hydrogen to accelerate worldwide decarbonization efforts, the concurrent rise of blockchain-operated crypto-applications, such as bitcoin, has exacerbated climate change concerns. In this study, we propose technological solutions that combine the green hydrogen infrastructure with bitcoin mining operations to catalyze environmental and socioeconomic sustainability in climate change mitigation strategies. Since the present state of crypto-operations undeniably contributes to worldwide carbon emissions, it becomes vital to explore opportunities for harnessing the widespread enthusiasm for bitcoin as an aid toward a sustainable and climate-friendly future. Our findings reveal that green hydrogen production, paired with crypto-operations, can accelerate the deployment of solar and wind power capacities to boost conventional mitigation frameworks. Specifically, leveraging the economic potential derived from green hydrogen and bitcoin for incremental investment in renewable energy penetration, this dynamic duo can enable capacity expansions of up to 25.5% and 73.2% for solar and wind power installations. Therefore, the proposed technological solutions that leverage green hydrogen and bitcoin mining, bolstered with appropriate policy interventions, can not only strengthen renewable power generation and carbon offsetting capacities but also contribute significantly to achieving climate sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) plays a vital role in regional and global carbon cycles. However, the processes of DOC conversion from soil organic carbon (SOC) and leaching into rivers are insufficiently understood, inconsistently represented, and poorly parameterized, particularly in land surface and earth system models. As a first attempt to fill this gap, we propose a generic formula that directly connects SOC concentration with DOC concentration in headwater streams, where a single parameter, the transformation rate from SOC in the soil to DOC leaching flux, Pr , accounts for the overall processes governing SOC conversion to DOC and leaching from soils (along with runoff) into headwater streams. We then derive a high-resolution Pr map over the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in five major steps: 1) selecting 2595 headwater catchments where observed riverine DOC data are available with reasonable quality; 2) estimating catchment-average SOC for the 2595 catchments based on high-resolution SOC data; 3) estimating the Pr values for these catchments based on the generic formula and catchment-average SOC; 4) developing a predictive model of Pr with machine learning (ML) techniques and catchment-scale climate, hydrology, geology, and other attributes; and 5) deriving a national map of Pr , based on the ML model. For evaluation, we compare the DOC concentration derived using the Pr map and the observed DOC concentration values at another 3210 headwater gauges. The resulting mean absolute scaled error and coefficient of determination are 0.73 and 0.47, respectively, suggesting the effectiveness of the overall methodology. Efforts to constrain uncertainty and evaluate the sensitivity of Pr to different factors are discussed. To illustrate the use of such a map, we derive a riverine DOC concentration reanalysis dataset for more than two million small catchments over CONUS. The map, robustly derived and empirically validated, lays a critical cornerstone for better simulating the terrestrial carbon cycle in land surface and earth system models. Our findings not only set a foundation for improving our predictive understanding of the terrestrial carbon cycle at the regional and global scales but also hold promises for informing policy decisions related to decarbonization and climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We shed new light on a long-standing question in political science: When confronted with costly policy choices, do citizens form their preferences using material (economic) concerns or other-regarding motivations, such as the distribution of costs, and how are these moderated by political ideology? Using the case of carbon taxation, a widely advocated policy solution to climate change, we conducted survey experiments in Germany and the United States to assess the relative importance of these forms of preferences. The results show that individuals are primarily concerned with how a carbon tax would affect their individual income. There are also important cross-national differences with high-income German respondents being more receptive to redistributive policy design, especially in contrast to high-income Democrats who significantly decrease support for carbon taxation. These findings highlight how the constituencies generated by new policies can significantly alter the distribution of mass support for action on emerging societal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into local public diplomacy from the perspective of climate action. A cross-sectional analysis is made of the climate perspective in the international 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, considering the social, political, and economic challenges implied by human alteration of the environment. The websites of local municipal corporations in Portugal are analysed to identify the information referring to Agenda 2030 and its convergence in climate action. To this end, a content analysis method was designed based on the relationship of the Agenda’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) with their associated climate change goals. Attention is paid primarily to the websites’ fixed sections, and secondarily to their informational content and external portals. The method is applied to the websites of seven of Portugal’s municipalities. Conclusions are drawn concerning whether or not they provide information on climate change so that the effort directed by these local governments towards climate action can be determined. A comparison is made with the international case. This tool contributes to localizing the SDGs and prioritizing environmentally important components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]