Predicting monsoon climate is one of the major endeavors in climate science and is becoming increasingly challenging due to global warming. The accuracy of monsoon seasonal predictions significantly impacts the lives ...Predicting monsoon climate is one of the major endeavors in climate science and is becoming increasingly challenging due to global warming. The accuracy of monsoon seasonal predictions significantly impacts the lives of billions who depend on or are affected by monsoons, as it is essential for the water cycle, food security, ecology, disaster prevention, and the economy of monsoon regions. Given the extensive literature on Asian monsoon climate prediction, we limit our focus to reviewing the seasonal prediction and predictability of the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM). However, much of this review is also relevant to monsoon predictions in other seasons and regions. Over the past two decades, considerable progress has been made in the seasonal forecasting of the ASM, driven by an enhanced understanding of the sources of predictability and the dynamics of seasonal variability, along with advanced development in sophisticated models and technologies. This review centers on advances in understanding the physical foundation for monsoon climate prediction (section 2), significant findings and insights into the primary and regional sources of predictability arising from feedback processes among various climate components (sections 3 and 4), the effects of global warming and external forcings on predictability (section 5), developments in seasonal prediction models and techniques (section 6), the challenges and limitations of monsoon climate prediction (section 7), and emerging research trends with suggestions for future directions (section 8). We hope this review will stimulate creative activities to enhance monsoon climate prediction.展开更多
We examine possible funding sources for constructing Climate Change Haven Communities on a global basis. Areas of the planet that have the potential to house persons migrating to “safe havens” in their own or other ...We examine possible funding sources for constructing Climate Change Haven Communities on a global basis. Areas of the planet that have the potential to house persons migrating to “safe havens” in their own or other countries will require the rapid construction of communities capable of supporting them, their families, businesses and farms. However, different political-economic conditions are found across the areas which can serve as locations for these Climate Change Haven Communities. We develop funding and construction strategies for the United States (free-market capitalism), France and Spain (European Union supported economies), and Taiwan region (state-directed economy). The proposals for the Taiwan region should also be applicable to the rest of China.展开更多
This study investigates climate-and human-induced hydrological changes in the Zavkhan River-Khyargas Lake Basin,a highly sensitive arid and semi-arid region of Central Asia.Using Mann-Kendall,innovative trend analysis...This study investigates climate-and human-induced hydrological changes in the Zavkhan River-Khyargas Lake Basin,a highly sensitive arid and semi-arid region of Central Asia.Using Mann-Kendall,innovative trend analysis,and Sen's slope estimation methods,historical climate trends(1980-2100)were analyzed,while land cover changes represented human impacts.Future projections were simulated using the MIROC model with Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSPs)and the Tank model.Results show that during the past 40 years,air temperature significantly increased(Z=3.93^(***)),while precipitation(Z=-1.54^(*))and river flow(Z=-1.73^(*))both declined.The Khyargas Lake water level dropped markedly(Z=-5.57***).Land cover analysis reveals expanded cropland and impervious areas due to human activity.Under the SSP1.26 scenario,which assumes minimal climate change,air temperature is projected to rise by 2.0℃,precipitation by 21.8 mm,and river discharge by 1.61 m^(3)/s between 2000 and 2100.These findings indicate that both global warming and intensified land use have substantially altered hydrological and climatic processes in the basin,highlighting the vulnerability of western Mongolia's water resources to combined climatic and anthropogenic influence.展开更多
This study examined the role of green energy development in mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development in Central Asia including Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,and Turkmenistan.The re...This study examined the role of green energy development in mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development in Central Asia including Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,and Turkmenistan.The region has substantial untapped potential in solar energy,wind energy,hydropower energy,as well as biomass and bioenergy,positioning it strategically for renewable energy deployment.The result demonstrated that integrating renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions,improve air quality,enhance energy security,and support rural development.Case studies from Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,and Tajikistan showed measurable environmental and economic benefits.However,the large-scale use of renewable energy still faces numerous barriers,including outdated infrastructure,fragmented regulatory frameworks,limited investment,and shortages of technical expertise.Overcoming these obstacles requires institutional reform,stronger regional cooperation,and increasing engagement from international financial institutions and private investors.Modernizing grids,deploying storage systems,and investing in education,research,and innovation are critical for building human capacity in renewable energy sector.Accelerating the renewable energy transition is essential for Central Asia to meet climate goals,enhance environmental resilience,and ensure long-term socioeconomic development through innovation,investment,and regional collaboration.展开更多
Two international conferences in November 2025 jointly outlined a profound transformation of climate governance.The Committee on Trade and Environment(CTE)of the World Trade Organization(WTO)held a conference in Genev...Two international conferences in November 2025 jointly outlined a profound transformation of climate governance.The Committee on Trade and Environment(CTE)of the World Trade Organization(WTO)held a conference in Geneva,Switzerland,on November 4,where the topic of cooperation on trade-related carbon standards aroused heated discussions.The Leaders'Summit of the 30th Conference of the Parties(COP)to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)was held in Belém,Brazil,on November 7.At the meeting,the Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets was officially launched with the initial membership of 11 economies including Brazil,China,and the EU.As the world's first transnational alliance on compliant carbon markets,the coalition aims to coordinate carbon pricing mechanisms,emission trading systems and related policies in various countries,and realize the interconnection of global compliance carbon market networks.展开更多
Based on monthly runoff and climate datasets spanning 2000–2024,this study employed the Theil–Sen’s slope estimation,Mann–Kendall(M–K)trend test,as well as Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analys...Based on monthly runoff and climate datasets spanning 2000–2024,this study employed the Theil–Sen’s slope estimation,Mann–Kendall(M–K)trend test,as well as Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses to systematically examine the spatiotemporal patterns of runoff and its climatic driving mechanisms across Tajikistan,providing a scientific basis for sustainable water resource utilization and management in the study area.Results indicated that during 2000–2024,the annual runoff in Tajikistan exhibited statistically non-significant long-term trend(P=0.76),while displaying pronounced seasonal variability and strong spatial heterogeneity.Spring and summer average runoff primarily exhibited slight declining tendencies,while winter average runoff exhibited pronounced reduction in localized regions,such as the Syr Darya Basin,the Vakhsh River Basin,and the lower reaches of the Zeravshan River Basin.Precipitation emerged as the dominant positive driver of runoff,exhibiting moderate to strong positive correlations across over 78.00%of the country,whereas potential evapotranspiration consistently functioned as a negative driver.Rising temperatures exerted a dual competitive effect on runoff:in high-elevation,glacier-covered regions,rising temperatures temporarily increased runoff by accelerating glacier melt;however,at the national scale,the negative impact of rising temperature on runoff has played a slightly dominant role to a certain extent by enhancing evapotranspiration.Collectively,these results indicated that the present stability of runoff in Tajikistan is strongly dependent on the short-term compensatory effects of glacier melt and the risk of future runoff decline is likely to intensify as glacier reserves continue to diminish.This study provides a critical scientific evidence to inform sustainable water resource management in Tajikistan and underscores the need for glacier conservation and integrated water resource management strategies.展开更多
The hydrological system in Central Asia is highly sensitive to global climate change,significantly affecting water supply and energy production.In Tajikistan,the Vakhsh River—one of the main tributaries of the Amu Da...The hydrological system in Central Asia is highly sensitive to global climate change,significantly affecting water supply and energy production.In Tajikistan,the Vakhsh River—one of the main tributaries of the Amu Darya—plays a key role in the region’s hydropower and irrigation.However,research on long-term hydrological changes in its two top large basins—the Surkhob and Khingov river basins—remains limited.Therefore,this study analyzed long-term climate and hydrological changes in the Vakhsh River,including its main tributaries—the Surkhob and Khingov rivers—which are vital for the water resource management in Tajikistan and even in Central Asia.Using long-term hydrometeorological observations,the change trends of temperature(1933–2020),precipitation(1970–2020),and runoff(1940–2018)were examined to assess the impact of climate change on the regional water resources.The analysis revealed the occurrence of significant warming and a spatially uneven increase in precipitation.The temperature changes across three climatic periods(1933–1960,1960–1990,and 1990–2020)indicated that there was a transition from baseline level to accelerated warming.The precipitation showed a 2.99 mm/a increase in the Khingov River Basin and a 2.80 mm/a increase in the Surkhob River Basin during 1970–2020.Moreover,there was a gradual shift toward wetter conditions in recent decades.Despite the relatively stable annual mean runoff,seasonal redistribution occurred,with increased runoff in spring and reduced runoff in summer,due to the compensation of glacier melting.Moreover,this study forecasted runoff change during 2019–2040 using the exponential triple smoothing(ETS)method and revealed the occurrence of alternating wet and dry phases,emphasizing the sensitivity of the Vakhsh River Basin’s hydrological system to climate change and the necessity of adaptive water resource management in mountainous regions of Central Asia.Therefore,this study can provide evidence-based insights that are critical for future water resources planning,climate-resilient hydropower development,and regional adaptation strategies in climate-vulnerable basins in Central Asia.展开更多
The G20 Youth Summit(Y20)took place in Johannesburg,South Africa,from 18 to 23 August.Sun Ruoshui,a research assistant from the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development,Tsinghua University,was appointed...The G20 Youth Summit(Y20)took place in Johannesburg,South Africa,from 18 to 23 August.Sun Ruoshui,a research assistant from the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development,Tsinghua University,was appointed by the All-China Youth Federation to represent China in the discussions on Climate and Environmental Sustainability.Specialising in global climate governance,international climate negotiation and climate policy,Sun has previously served as a member of the Chinese delegation to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference(COP28)and 2024 Bonn Subsidiary Bodies Meeting.展开更多
To address climate change and highlight its global nature,the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)was adopted for the first time in history within the UN framework on May 9,1992,clearly establ...To address climate change and highlight its global nature,the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)was adopted for the first time in history within the UN framework on May 9,1992,clearly establishing the obligations of developed countries to take the lead in emission reduction and provide financial,technological,and capacity-building support to developing countries.Particularly since the 2015 Paris Agreement,successive UN climate conferences have placed high emphasis on financial and technological matters,with financial arrangements demonstrating an increasingly specific trend in recent years.The Glasgow Climate Pact adopted in 2021 urges developed country Parties to deliver on their commitment to the goal of providing USD 100 billion to developing country prties,while also urging developed country parties to at least double their provision of climate finance to developing country parties by 2025 compared to 2019 levels.展开更多
IN his video speech to the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York on September 24,Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China’s new Nationally Determined Contributions(NDC)—the efforts taken by each country...IN his video speech to the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York on September 24,Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China’s new Nationally Determined Contributions(NDC)—the efforts taken by each country to reduce their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.展开更多
As the world gathers in Belém,Brazil,for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference,COP30,global attention is once again turning to China.For years,China was primarily discussed as the world’s largest carbon emitter....As the world gathers in Belém,Brazil,for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference,COP30,global attention is once again turning to China.For years,China was primarily discussed as the world’s largest carbon emitter.Today,that picture is more complex.China is also the largest builder of renewable energy infrastructure,a key driver in lowering global clean-tech costs,and a major contributor to international climate cooperation.展开更多
The Arctic and Antarctica are important components of the Earth system,and the snow and ice over the polar regions make the interactions between the spheres there extremely sensitive to climate change,with an amplifyi...The Arctic and Antarctica are important components of the Earth system,and the snow and ice over the polar regions make the interactions between the spheres there extremely sensitive to climate change,with an amplifying effect on climate warming.Polar regions are the forefront of global climate and ecosystem changes.More than half of the identified climate tipping elements in our planet occur in the polar regions,with the losses of Arctic sea ice,Greenland ice sheet,permafrost,and western Antarctic ice sheet,being considered as tipping elements with global impacts that have already occurred(McKay et al.,2022).These changes in the polar regions affect the heat and material transfer,water and carbon cycles,as well as biological diversity at a global scale,closely related to global sustainable development.Therefore,polar regions are also considered the limiting factors in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(Li et al.,2025).展开更多
Distribution of vegetation is closely coupled with climate; the climate controls distribution of vegetation and the vegetation type reflects regional climates. To reveal vegetation_climate relationships is the foundat...Distribution of vegetation is closely coupled with climate; the climate controls distribution of vegetation and the vegetation type reflects regional climates. To reveal vegetation_climate relationships is the foundation for understanding the vegetation distribution and theoretically serving vegetation regionalization. Vegetation regionalization is a theoretical integration of vegetation studies and provides a base for physiogeographical regionalization as well as agriculture and forestry regionalization. Based on a brief historical overview on studies of vegetation_climate relationships and vegetation regionalization conducted in China, we review the principles, bases and major schemes of previous vegetation regionalization and discuss on several contentious boundaries of vegetation zones in the present paper. We proposed that, under the circumstances that the primary vegetation has been destroyed in most parts of China, the division of vegetation zones/regions should be based on the distribution of primary and its secondary vegetation types and climatic indices that delimit distribution of the vegetation types. This not only reveals the closed relationship between vegetation and climate, but also is feasible practically. Although there still are divergence of views on the name and their boundaries of the several vegetation zones, it is commonly accepted that there are eight major vegetation regions in China, i.e. cold temperate needleleaf forest region, temperate needleleaf and broadleaf mixed forest region, warm temperate deciduous broadleaf forest region, subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest region, tropical monsoon forest and rain forest region, temperate steppe region, temperate desert region, and Qinghai_Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau high_cold vegetation region. Analyzing characteristics of vegetation and climate of major vegetation boundaries, we suggested that: 1) Qinling Mountain_Huaihe River line is an important arid/humid climatic, but not a thermal climatic boundary, and thus can not also be regarded as the northern limit of the subtropical vegetation zone; 2) the northern limit of subtropical vegetation zone in China is along the northern coast of the Yangtze River, from Hangzhou Bay, via Taihu Lake, Xuancheng and Tongling in Anhui Province, through by southern slope of the Dabie Mountains, to Wuhan and its west, coinciding with a warmth index ( WI ) value of 130-140 ℃·month; 3) the tropical region is limited in a very small area in southeastern Hainan Island and southern edge of Taiwan Island; and 4) considering a significant difference in climates between the southern and northern parts of the warm temperate zone, we suggested that the warm temperate zone in China is divided into two vegetation regions, deciduous broadleaf woodland region and deciduous and evergreen broadleaf mixed forest region, the Qinling Mountain_Huaihe River line being as their boundary. We also claimed that the zonal vegetation in North China is deciduous broadleaf woodland. Finally, we emphasized the importance of dynamic vegetation regionalization linked to climate changes.展开更多
I never thought I'd become a climate refugee.After moving my family from drought and wildfire-stricken California to the so-called“climate haven”of Asheville,NC,I thought we were safe.But just two months after s...I never thought I'd become a climate refugee.After moving my family from drought and wildfire-stricken California to the so-called“climate haven”of Asheville,NC,I thought we were safe.But just two months after settling into our lovely and wooded community with mild weather,we had to flee.展开更多
The accelerated pace of natural and human-driven climate change presents profound challenges for Earth's systems.Oceans and ice sheets are critical regulators of climate systems,functioning as carbon sinks and the...The accelerated pace of natural and human-driven climate change presents profound challenges for Earth's systems.Oceans and ice sheets are critical regulators of climate systems,functioning as carbon sinks and thermal reservoirs.However,they are increasingly vulnerable to warming and greenhouse gas emissions.展开更多
Climate change has well-documented psychological consequences for society.However,the emotional experiences of frontline conservation professionals remain underexplored.As key knowledge producers and participants in d...Climate change has well-documented psychological consequences for society.However,the emotional experiences of frontline conservation professionals remain underexplored.As key knowledge producers and participants in decision-making processes,conservation researchers play a crucial role in shaping and implementing adaptation and mitigation efforts,which are pivotal for effective climate planning.Understanding their emotional responses is essential for enhancing the success of these strategies and supporting climate action.This study aims to identify the most prevalent emotions experienced by conservation researchers regarding climate change across various countries and to examine the qualitative and quantitative factors shaping these emotions.An online survey was conducted with 362 participants from 98 academic and research institutions,utilising both closed and open-ended questions to capture demographic data,climate knowledge,stances on mitigation and adaptation,and emotional responses.Data analysis revealed that feelings of powerlessness,guilt,and concern were most frequently reported,driven by a profound sense of inability to halt climate change,frustration with perceived inaction by governments and industries,and self-assessed personal shortcomings.Age and stances on climate adaptation were identified as primary factors influencing emotional responses,particularly among individuals aged 20–50 and 61–70,with opposition to adaptation correlating with stronger emotional reactions.Demographic factors such as region,place of residence,and mitigation stances played a minor role.These findings provide valuable insights into the psychological well-being of conservation researchers related to climate change.展开更多
Forests play a critical role in mitigating cli-mate change by sequestering carbon,yet their responses to environmental shifts remain complex and multifaceted.This special issue,“Tree Rings,Forest Carbon Sink,and Clim...Forests play a critical role in mitigating cli-mate change by sequestering carbon,yet their responses to environmental shifts remain complex and multifaceted.This special issue,“Tree Rings,Forest Carbon Sink,and Climate Change,”compiles 41 interdisciplinary studies exploring forest-climate interactions through dendrochro-nological and ecological approaches.It addresses climate reconstruction(e.g.,temperature,precipitation,isotopes)using tree-ring proxies,species-specific and age-dependent growth responses to warming and drought,anatomical adap-tations,and methodological innovations in isotope analysis and multi-proxy integration.Key findings reveal ENSO/AMO modulation of historical climates,elevation-and latitude-driven variability in tree resilience,contrasting carbon dynamics under stress,and projected habitat shifts for vulnerable species.The issue underscores forests’dual role as climate archives and carbon regulators,offering insights for adaptive management and nature-based climate solutions.Contributions bridge micro-scale physiological processes to macro-scale ecological modeling,advancing sustainable strategies amid global environmental challenges.展开更多
THIS year marks a major milestone in China-EU engagement—the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.Building on this momentum,the two sides released the Joint Statement on Climate ...THIS year marks a major milestone in China-EU engagement—the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.Building on this momentum,the two sides released the Joint Statement on Climate Change by Chinese and EU Leaders in July,noting that“in the fluid and turbulent international situation today,it is crucial that all countries,notably the major economies,maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change.”Showing insightful political commitment,this document will guide China-EU cooperation in green development over the coming 50 years.To translate commitments into reality,China and the EU must understand the shifting role the other side is playing in global climate governance and take pragmatic actions to overcome challenges.展开更多
Given the reality of climate-driven migration,the net effectiveness of existing spatially fixed protected areas(PAs)to biodiversity conservation is expected to decline,while the potential of non-PA habitats(non-PAs,i....Given the reality of climate-driven migration,the net effectiveness of existing spatially fixed protected areas(PAs)to biodiversity conservation is expected to decline,while the potential of non-PA habitats(non-PAs,i.e.,natural,altered,or artificial ecosystems that are not formally designated as PAs)for biodiversity conservation is gaining attention.However,the contribution of non-PAs to biodiversity conservation remains poorly understood.With the aim of comprehensively assessing the effectiveness of non-PAs as transient refugia and steppingstones during future climate-change-induced migration of species in China,a six-metric integrated framework was applied and statistics of these metrics for PAs and non-PAs are compared.Results reveal that,a greater area of non-PAs has a low velocity of climate change(VoCC)compared to that of PAs,and can therefore serve as temporary refugia for species.The disappearing climate index(DCI)and novel climate index(NCI)results show that some 17%of the subdivided climate classes within the PAs have changed.However,the displacement index(DI)results imply that nearly half(48.98%)of the PAs need non-PAs to provide transient refugia for climate-driven migration of species in PAs.The higher ratio of effective steppingstones measured using the climate corridor score(CCS)and landscape current flow(LCF)further emphasizes that non-PAs play a more significant role as steppingstones for climate driven migration than do PAs in terms of both their structural and functional connectivity.Our research further demonstrates that a conservation approach that improves connectivity among PAs and considers Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures(OECMs)is essential for long-term biodiversity adaptation to climate change.展开更多
AT a critical juncture in global climate governance,where pressures on multilateral cooperation are mounting,collaboration between China and the European Union(EU),rooted in their shared pursuit of pragmatism and tang...AT a critical juncture in global climate governance,where pressures on multilateral cooperation are mounting,collaboration between China and the European Union(EU),rooted in their shared pursuit of pragmatism and tangible outcomes,has demonstrated unique resilience and value.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U2342208)support from NSF/Climate Dynamics Award#2025057。
文摘Predicting monsoon climate is one of the major endeavors in climate science and is becoming increasingly challenging due to global warming. The accuracy of monsoon seasonal predictions significantly impacts the lives of billions who depend on or are affected by monsoons, as it is essential for the water cycle, food security, ecology, disaster prevention, and the economy of monsoon regions. Given the extensive literature on Asian monsoon climate prediction, we limit our focus to reviewing the seasonal prediction and predictability of the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM). However, much of this review is also relevant to monsoon predictions in other seasons and regions. Over the past two decades, considerable progress has been made in the seasonal forecasting of the ASM, driven by an enhanced understanding of the sources of predictability and the dynamics of seasonal variability, along with advanced development in sophisticated models and technologies. This review centers on advances in understanding the physical foundation for monsoon climate prediction (section 2), significant findings and insights into the primary and regional sources of predictability arising from feedback processes among various climate components (sections 3 and 4), the effects of global warming and external forcings on predictability (section 5), developments in seasonal prediction models and techniques (section 6), the challenges and limitations of monsoon climate prediction (section 7), and emerging research trends with suggestions for future directions (section 8). We hope this review will stimulate creative activities to enhance monsoon climate prediction.
文摘We examine possible funding sources for constructing Climate Change Haven Communities on a global basis. Areas of the planet that have the potential to house persons migrating to “safe havens” in their own or other countries will require the rapid construction of communities capable of supporting them, their families, businesses and farms. However, different political-economic conditions are found across the areas which can serve as locations for these Climate Change Haven Communities. We develop funding and construction strategies for the United States (free-market capitalism), France and Spain (European Union supported economies), and Taiwan region (state-directed economy). The proposals for the Taiwan region should also be applicable to the rest of China.
基金The National University of Mongolia,No.P2024-4814The Mongolian Science and Technology Foundation,No.CHN-2022/274The‘Chey Institute for Advanced Studies’International Scholar Exchange Fellowship for the Academic Year of 2025-2026。
文摘This study investigates climate-and human-induced hydrological changes in the Zavkhan River-Khyargas Lake Basin,a highly sensitive arid and semi-arid region of Central Asia.Using Mann-Kendall,innovative trend analysis,and Sen's slope estimation methods,historical climate trends(1980-2100)were analyzed,while land cover changes represented human impacts.Future projections were simulated using the MIROC model with Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSPs)and the Tank model.Results show that during the past 40 years,air temperature significantly increased(Z=3.93^(***)),while precipitation(Z=-1.54^(*))and river flow(Z=-1.73^(*))both declined.The Khyargas Lake water level dropped markedly(Z=-5.57***).Land cover analysis reveals expanded cropland and impervious areas due to human activity.Under the SSP1.26 scenario,which assumes minimal climate change,air temperature is projected to rise by 2.0℃,precipitation by 21.8 mm,and river discharge by 1.61 m^(3)/s between 2000 and 2100.These findings indicate that both global warming and intensified land use have substantially altered hydrological and climatic processes in the basin,highlighting the vulnerability of western Mongolia's water resources to combined climatic and anthropogenic influence.
文摘This study examined the role of green energy development in mitigating climate change and fostering sustainable development in Central Asia including Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan,and Turkmenistan.The region has substantial untapped potential in solar energy,wind energy,hydropower energy,as well as biomass and bioenergy,positioning it strategically for renewable energy deployment.The result demonstrated that integrating renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions,improve air quality,enhance energy security,and support rural development.Case studies from Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Kyrgyzstan,and Tajikistan showed measurable environmental and economic benefits.However,the large-scale use of renewable energy still faces numerous barriers,including outdated infrastructure,fragmented regulatory frameworks,limited investment,and shortages of technical expertise.Overcoming these obstacles requires institutional reform,stronger regional cooperation,and increasing engagement from international financial institutions and private investors.Modernizing grids,deploying storage systems,and investing in education,research,and innovation are critical for building human capacity in renewable energy sector.Accelerating the renewable energy transition is essential for Central Asia to meet climate goals,enhance environmental resilience,and ensure long-term socioeconomic development through innovation,investment,and regional collaboration.
文摘Two international conferences in November 2025 jointly outlined a profound transformation of climate governance.The Committee on Trade and Environment(CTE)of the World Trade Organization(WTO)held a conference in Geneva,Switzerland,on November 4,where the topic of cooperation on trade-related carbon standards aroused heated discussions.The Leaders'Summit of the 30th Conference of the Parties(COP)to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)was held in Belém,Brazil,on November 7.At the meeting,the Open Coalition on Compliance Carbon Markets was officially launched with the initial membership of 11 economies including Brazil,China,and the EU.As the world's first transnational alliance on compliant carbon markets,the coalition aims to coordinate carbon pricing mechanisms,emission trading systems and related policies in various countries,and realize the interconnection of global compliance carbon market networks.
基金funded by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB0720203)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF0805603).
文摘Based on monthly runoff and climate datasets spanning 2000–2024,this study employed the Theil–Sen’s slope estimation,Mann–Kendall(M–K)trend test,as well as Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses to systematically examine the spatiotemporal patterns of runoff and its climatic driving mechanisms across Tajikistan,providing a scientific basis for sustainable water resource utilization and management in the study area.Results indicated that during 2000–2024,the annual runoff in Tajikistan exhibited statistically non-significant long-term trend(P=0.76),while displaying pronounced seasonal variability and strong spatial heterogeneity.Spring and summer average runoff primarily exhibited slight declining tendencies,while winter average runoff exhibited pronounced reduction in localized regions,such as the Syr Darya Basin,the Vakhsh River Basin,and the lower reaches of the Zeravshan River Basin.Precipitation emerged as the dominant positive driver of runoff,exhibiting moderate to strong positive correlations across over 78.00%of the country,whereas potential evapotranspiration consistently functioned as a negative driver.Rising temperatures exerted a dual competitive effect on runoff:in high-elevation,glacier-covered regions,rising temperatures temporarily increased runoff by accelerating glacier melt;however,at the national scale,the negative impact of rising temperature on runoff has played a slightly dominant role to a certain extent by enhancing evapotranspiration.Collectively,these results indicated that the present stability of runoff in Tajikistan is strongly dependent on the short-term compensatory effects of glacier melt and the risk of future runoff decline is likely to intensify as glacier reserves continue to diminish.This study provides a critical scientific evidence to inform sustainable water resource management in Tajikistan and underscores the need for glacier conservation and integrated water resource management strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(W2412135).
文摘The hydrological system in Central Asia is highly sensitive to global climate change,significantly affecting water supply and energy production.In Tajikistan,the Vakhsh River—one of the main tributaries of the Amu Darya—plays a key role in the region’s hydropower and irrigation.However,research on long-term hydrological changes in its two top large basins—the Surkhob and Khingov river basins—remains limited.Therefore,this study analyzed long-term climate and hydrological changes in the Vakhsh River,including its main tributaries—the Surkhob and Khingov rivers—which are vital for the water resource management in Tajikistan and even in Central Asia.Using long-term hydrometeorological observations,the change trends of temperature(1933–2020),precipitation(1970–2020),and runoff(1940–2018)were examined to assess the impact of climate change on the regional water resources.The analysis revealed the occurrence of significant warming and a spatially uneven increase in precipitation.The temperature changes across three climatic periods(1933–1960,1960–1990,and 1990–2020)indicated that there was a transition from baseline level to accelerated warming.The precipitation showed a 2.99 mm/a increase in the Khingov River Basin and a 2.80 mm/a increase in the Surkhob River Basin during 1970–2020.Moreover,there was a gradual shift toward wetter conditions in recent decades.Despite the relatively stable annual mean runoff,seasonal redistribution occurred,with increased runoff in spring and reduced runoff in summer,due to the compensation of glacier melting.Moreover,this study forecasted runoff change during 2019–2040 using the exponential triple smoothing(ETS)method and revealed the occurrence of alternating wet and dry phases,emphasizing the sensitivity of the Vakhsh River Basin’s hydrological system to climate change and the necessity of adaptive water resource management in mountainous regions of Central Asia.Therefore,this study can provide evidence-based insights that are critical for future water resources planning,climate-resilient hydropower development,and regional adaptation strategies in climate-vulnerable basins in Central Asia.
文摘The G20 Youth Summit(Y20)took place in Johannesburg,South Africa,from 18 to 23 August.Sun Ruoshui,a research assistant from the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development,Tsinghua University,was appointed by the All-China Youth Federation to represent China in the discussions on Climate and Environmental Sustainability.Specialising in global climate governance,international climate negotiation and climate policy,Sun has previously served as a member of the Chinese delegation to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference(COP28)and 2024 Bonn Subsidiary Bodies Meeting.
文摘To address climate change and highlight its global nature,the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)was adopted for the first time in history within the UN framework on May 9,1992,clearly establishing the obligations of developed countries to take the lead in emission reduction and provide financial,technological,and capacity-building support to developing countries.Particularly since the 2015 Paris Agreement,successive UN climate conferences have placed high emphasis on financial and technological matters,with financial arrangements demonstrating an increasingly specific trend in recent years.The Glasgow Climate Pact adopted in 2021 urges developed country Parties to deliver on their commitment to the goal of providing USD 100 billion to developing country prties,while also urging developed country parties to at least double their provision of climate finance to developing country parties by 2025 compared to 2019 levels.
文摘IN his video speech to the United Nations Climate Summit held in New York on September 24,Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China’s new Nationally Determined Contributions(NDC)—the efforts taken by each country to reduce their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
文摘As the world gathers in Belém,Brazil,for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference,COP30,global attention is once again turning to China.For years,China was primarily discussed as the world’s largest carbon emitter.Today,that picture is more complex.China is also the largest builder of renewable energy infrastructure,a key driver in lowering global clean-tech costs,and a major contributor to international climate cooperation.
文摘The Arctic and Antarctica are important components of the Earth system,and the snow and ice over the polar regions make the interactions between the spheres there extremely sensitive to climate change,with an amplifying effect on climate warming.Polar regions are the forefront of global climate and ecosystem changes.More than half of the identified climate tipping elements in our planet occur in the polar regions,with the losses of Arctic sea ice,Greenland ice sheet,permafrost,and western Antarctic ice sheet,being considered as tipping elements with global impacts that have already occurred(McKay et al.,2022).These changes in the polar regions affect the heat and material transfer,water and carbon cycles,as well as biological diversity at a global scale,closely related to global sustainable development.Therefore,polar regions are also considered the limiting factors in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(Li et al.,2025).
文摘Distribution of vegetation is closely coupled with climate; the climate controls distribution of vegetation and the vegetation type reflects regional climates. To reveal vegetation_climate relationships is the foundation for understanding the vegetation distribution and theoretically serving vegetation regionalization. Vegetation regionalization is a theoretical integration of vegetation studies and provides a base for physiogeographical regionalization as well as agriculture and forestry regionalization. Based on a brief historical overview on studies of vegetation_climate relationships and vegetation regionalization conducted in China, we review the principles, bases and major schemes of previous vegetation regionalization and discuss on several contentious boundaries of vegetation zones in the present paper. We proposed that, under the circumstances that the primary vegetation has been destroyed in most parts of China, the division of vegetation zones/regions should be based on the distribution of primary and its secondary vegetation types and climatic indices that delimit distribution of the vegetation types. This not only reveals the closed relationship between vegetation and climate, but also is feasible practically. Although there still are divergence of views on the name and their boundaries of the several vegetation zones, it is commonly accepted that there are eight major vegetation regions in China, i.e. cold temperate needleleaf forest region, temperate needleleaf and broadleaf mixed forest region, warm temperate deciduous broadleaf forest region, subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest region, tropical monsoon forest and rain forest region, temperate steppe region, temperate desert region, and Qinghai_Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau high_cold vegetation region. Analyzing characteristics of vegetation and climate of major vegetation boundaries, we suggested that: 1) Qinling Mountain_Huaihe River line is an important arid/humid climatic, but not a thermal climatic boundary, and thus can not also be regarded as the northern limit of the subtropical vegetation zone; 2) the northern limit of subtropical vegetation zone in China is along the northern coast of the Yangtze River, from Hangzhou Bay, via Taihu Lake, Xuancheng and Tongling in Anhui Province, through by southern slope of the Dabie Mountains, to Wuhan and its west, coinciding with a warmth index ( WI ) value of 130-140 ℃·month; 3) the tropical region is limited in a very small area in southeastern Hainan Island and southern edge of Taiwan Island; and 4) considering a significant difference in climates between the southern and northern parts of the warm temperate zone, we suggested that the warm temperate zone in China is divided into two vegetation regions, deciduous broadleaf woodland region and deciduous and evergreen broadleaf mixed forest region, the Qinling Mountain_Huaihe River line being as their boundary. We also claimed that the zonal vegetation in North China is deciduous broadleaf woodland. Finally, we emphasized the importance of dynamic vegetation regionalization linked to climate changes.
文摘I never thought I'd become a climate refugee.After moving my family from drought and wildfire-stricken California to the so-called“climate haven”of Asheville,NC,I thought we were safe.But just two months after settling into our lovely and wooded community with mild weather,we had to flee.
文摘The accelerated pace of natural and human-driven climate change presents profound challenges for Earth's systems.Oceans and ice sheets are critical regulators of climate systems,functioning as carbon sinks and thermal reservoirs.However,they are increasingly vulnerable to warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
基金funded the Ecuadorian National Secretary of Higher Education,Science and Technology(SENESCYT),through the Scholarship Programme 2012.
文摘Climate change has well-documented psychological consequences for society.However,the emotional experiences of frontline conservation professionals remain underexplored.As key knowledge producers and participants in decision-making processes,conservation researchers play a crucial role in shaping and implementing adaptation and mitigation efforts,which are pivotal for effective climate planning.Understanding their emotional responses is essential for enhancing the success of these strategies and supporting climate action.This study aims to identify the most prevalent emotions experienced by conservation researchers regarding climate change across various countries and to examine the qualitative and quantitative factors shaping these emotions.An online survey was conducted with 362 participants from 98 academic and research institutions,utilising both closed and open-ended questions to capture demographic data,climate knowledge,stances on mitigation and adaptation,and emotional responses.Data analysis revealed that feelings of powerlessness,guilt,and concern were most frequently reported,driven by a profound sense of inability to halt climate change,frustration with perceived inaction by governments and industries,and self-assessed personal shortcomings.Age and stances on climate adaptation were identified as primary factors influencing emotional responses,particularly among individuals aged 20–50 and 61–70,with opposition to adaptation correlating with stronger emotional reactions.Demographic factors such as region,place of residence,and mitigation stances played a minor role.These findings provide valuable insights into the psychological well-being of conservation researchers related to climate change.
基金supported by the Outstanding Action Plan of Chinese Sci-tech Journals(Grant No.OAP-C-077).
文摘Forests play a critical role in mitigating cli-mate change by sequestering carbon,yet their responses to environmental shifts remain complex and multifaceted.This special issue,“Tree Rings,Forest Carbon Sink,and Climate Change,”compiles 41 interdisciplinary studies exploring forest-climate interactions through dendrochro-nological and ecological approaches.It addresses climate reconstruction(e.g.,temperature,precipitation,isotopes)using tree-ring proxies,species-specific and age-dependent growth responses to warming and drought,anatomical adap-tations,and methodological innovations in isotope analysis and multi-proxy integration.Key findings reveal ENSO/AMO modulation of historical climates,elevation-and latitude-driven variability in tree resilience,contrasting carbon dynamics under stress,and projected habitat shifts for vulnerable species.The issue underscores forests’dual role as climate archives and carbon regulators,offering insights for adaptive management and nature-based climate solutions.Contributions bridge micro-scale physiological processes to macro-scale ecological modeling,advancing sustainable strategies amid global environmental challenges.
文摘THIS year marks a major milestone in China-EU engagement—the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.Building on this momentum,the two sides released the Joint Statement on Climate Change by Chinese and EU Leaders in July,noting that“in the fluid and turbulent international situation today,it is crucial that all countries,notably the major economies,maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change.”Showing insightful political commitment,this document will guide China-EU cooperation in green development over the coming 50 years.To translate commitments into reality,China and the EU must understand the shifting role the other side is playing in global climate governance and take pragmatic actions to overcome challenges.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grants No.2022YFC3802604,2022YFF1303102)the Global Engagement for Strategic Partnership project of Nanjing University.
文摘Given the reality of climate-driven migration,the net effectiveness of existing spatially fixed protected areas(PAs)to biodiversity conservation is expected to decline,while the potential of non-PA habitats(non-PAs,i.e.,natural,altered,or artificial ecosystems that are not formally designated as PAs)for biodiversity conservation is gaining attention.However,the contribution of non-PAs to biodiversity conservation remains poorly understood.With the aim of comprehensively assessing the effectiveness of non-PAs as transient refugia and steppingstones during future climate-change-induced migration of species in China,a six-metric integrated framework was applied and statistics of these metrics for PAs and non-PAs are compared.Results reveal that,a greater area of non-PAs has a low velocity of climate change(VoCC)compared to that of PAs,and can therefore serve as temporary refugia for species.The disappearing climate index(DCI)and novel climate index(NCI)results show that some 17%of the subdivided climate classes within the PAs have changed.However,the displacement index(DI)results imply that nearly half(48.98%)of the PAs need non-PAs to provide transient refugia for climate-driven migration of species in PAs.The higher ratio of effective steppingstones measured using the climate corridor score(CCS)and landscape current flow(LCF)further emphasizes that non-PAs play a more significant role as steppingstones for climate driven migration than do PAs in terms of both their structural and functional connectivity.Our research further demonstrates that a conservation approach that improves connectivity among PAs and considers Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures(OECMs)is essential for long-term biodiversity adaptation to climate change.
文摘AT a critical juncture in global climate governance,where pressures on multilateral cooperation are mounting,collaboration between China and the European Union(EU),rooted in their shared pursuit of pragmatism and tangible outcomes,has demonstrated unique resilience and value.
