Comment in 2025

Small lakes in mountain regions hold significant potential to wreak havoc as a result of sudden drainage. This Comment argues that the risks can be managed within existing disaster reduction frameworks, but must be acknowledged and monitored.

Much of the public discourse around climate changes under net zero carbon dioxide emissions has been focused on global mean temperature changes after emissions cessation. More attention needs to be paid to the long-term impacts of climate change, which are likely to persist even if rapid decarbonization is achieved.

The idea of planting trees to sequester carbon is so popular that it seems to make people feel more negative towards other techniques, when presented with a range of options for carbon removal. Such a bias could hamper development of a broad and socially-robust portfolio of carbon removal options.

As demand for flights increases, the global aviation industry must transform to become more sustainable. Here we propose six pathways to set aviation on a path to a greener future that include innovations in aviation fuel, management, and regulations.

Arctic food systems blend Traditional Ecological Knowledge with modern, often energy-intensive influences, triggered by colonization. Food systems’ future depends on alignment of tradition with innovation – at a pace determined by local communities.

Climate change has negatively impacted grassland productivity in Africa. Climate-smart technologies such as forage grass, legume, and herb mixtures could enhance grassland productivity and resilience, offering a sustainable solution for African pasture-based livestock systems.

Unequal research experiences among Earth scientists from around the world are an obstacle to achieving sustainability. We assess challenges and propose ways to balance the careers of early- and mid-career researchers in the Global South with those in the Global North.