10 New Insights in Climate Science 2021
Acknowledgments

The making of this report has been led by Future Earth, The Earth League, and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We also gratefully acknowledge support from Arizona State University (ASU), GERICS Climate Service Center Germany (an institution of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon), European Space Agency (ESA), Global Land Programme (GLP), Integrated Global Risk Project (IGRP), Global Carbon Project (GCP), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Future Earth’s Knowledge-Action Networks for a) Health, and b) Systems of Sustainable Consumption and Production.

We acknowledge the work of the following individuals in their respective capacities:

Acknowledgments

The making of this report has been led by Future Earth, The Earth League and the World  Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We also gratefully acknowledge support from Arizona  State University (ASU), GERICS Climate Service Center Germany (an institution of Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon), Earth System Governance Project (ESG Project), Integrated Land Ecosystem Atmosphere Processes Study (iLEAPS), Global Carbon Project (GCP), Potsdam Institute for  Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Future Earth’s Knowledge-Action Networks for a) Health, and b) Systems of Sustainable Consumption and Production.  

We acknowledge the work of the following individuals in their respective capacities:

Editorial Board

Mercedes Bustamante, University of Brasilia, Brazil 

Deliang Chen, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden 

Helen Cleugh, WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) & Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial  Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia 

Fatima Denton, United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, Ghana 

Kristie Ebi, Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE), University of Washington, USA

Eleanor Fisher, The Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden 

Huang-Hsiung Hsu, Anthropogenic Climate Change Center, Research Center for Environmental  Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei 

Johan Rockström, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Lizzie Sayer, International Science Council, France 

Peter Schlosser, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA 

Detlef B. Stammer, Centrum für Erdsystemforschung und Nachhaltigkeit (CEN), University of  Hamburg, Germany

Editorial Board

Mercedes Bustamante, University of Brasilia, Brazil

Deliang Chen, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Helen Cleugh, WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) & Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia

Fatima Denton, United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, Ghana

Kristie Ebi, Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE), University of Washington, USA

Eleanor Fisher, The Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden

Huang-Hsiung Hsu, Anthropogenic Climate Change Center, Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taipei

Johan Rockström, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Lizzie Sayer, International Science Council, France

Peter Schlosser, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA

Detlef B. Stammer, Centrum für Erdsystemforschung und Nachhaltigkeit (CEN), University of Hamburg, Germany

Editor-coordinators

Clea Edwards, The Earth League & Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State  University, USA 

Helmke Hepach, The Earth League & Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Hamburg, Germany 

Erik Pihl, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Sweden

Editor-coordinators

Clea Edwards, the Earth League & Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA

Helmke Hepach, the Earth League & Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Hamburg, Germany

Erik Pihl, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Sweden

Chapter lead authors, coordinators

Insight 1:

Damon Matthews, Concordia University, Montreal,  Canada 

Joeri Rogelj, Imperial College London, UK; International  Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria 

Aaron Redman, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures  Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA 

Insight 2: 

Nadine Mengis, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean  Research Kiel, Germany 

Sophie Hebden, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Sweden 

Insight 3: 

Rachael Nolan, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment,  Western Sydney University, Australia 

Helmke Hepach, Climate Service Center Germany  (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany 

Insight 4: 

Jonathan F. Donges, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany; Stockholm Resilience Centre,  Stockholm University, Sweden 

Maria A. Martin, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany 

Insight 5: 

Milena Büchs, University of Leeds, School of Earth and  Environment, UK 

Clea Edwards, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures  Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA

Insight 6: 

Sylvia Lorek, Sustainable Europe Research Institute and  ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies, Germany 

Aaron Redman, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures  Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA 

Insight 7: 

Jessica F. Green, University of Toronto, Canada

Erik Pihl, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Sweden 

Insight 8: 

Sabine Fuss, Mercator Research Institute on Global  Commons and Climate Change (MCC), Germany;  Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany 

Juliana Gärtner, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany 

Insight 9: 

Heike Lotze, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada 

Helmke Hepach, Climate Service Center Germany  (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany 

Insight 10: 

Kathryn Bowen, Melbourne Climate Futures, Melbourne  Law School, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of  Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne,  Victoria, Australia 

Giles B. Sioen, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Japan;  National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan

James Woodcock, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Chapter lead authors, coordinators
Insight 1:
H. Damon Matthews, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Joeri Rogelj, Imperial College London, UK; International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria
Aaron Redman, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA
Insight 2:
Nadine Mengis, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
Sophie Hebden, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Sweden
Insight 3:
Rachael Nolan, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Australia
Helmke Hepach, Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany
Insight 4:
Jonathan F. Donges, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany; Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden
Maria A. Martin, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany
Insight 5:
Milena Büchs, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment, UK
Clea Edwards, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA
Insight 6:
Sylvia Lorek, Sustainable Europe Research Institute and ZOE Institute for Future-Fit Economies, Germany
Aaron Redman, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA
Insight 7:
Jessica F. Green, University of Toronto, Canada
Erik Pihl, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Sweden
Insight 8:
Sabine Fuss, Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC), Germany; Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
Juliana Gärtner, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany
Insight 9:
Heike Lotze, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada
Helmke Hepach, Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany
Insight 10:
Kathryn Bowen, Melbourne Climate Futures, Melbourne Law School, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Giles B. Sioen, Future Earth Global Secretariat, Japan; National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan
Contributing authors

Olga Alcaraz Sedra, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya,  Barcelona, Spain 

Ana Bastos, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry,  Germany 

Nico Bauer, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany 

Christoph Bertram, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany 

Thorsten Blenckner, Stockholm Resilience Centre,  Stockholm University, Sweden 

Paulo M. Brando, University of California, USA 

Tanya Brodie Rudolph, South Africa Centre for  Sustainability Transitions (CST), University of Stellenbosch,  South Africa 

Purnamita Dasgupta, International Centre for Integrated  Mountain Development, Nepal 

Felix Kwabena Donkor, Faculty of Social Sciences,  Department of Geography, University of Education Winneba, Ghana 

Hongbo Duan, School of Economics and Management,  University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 

Carlos M. Duarte, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), and  Computational Biosciences Research Center (CBRC), King 

Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),  Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

Anja Engel, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean  Research Kiel, Germany 

Andrew Gettelman, National Center for Atmospheric  Research (NCAR), USA 

Cécile A.J. Girardin, University of Oxford, UK 

Nicholas R. Golledge, Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria  University of Wellington, New Zealand 

Michael R. Grose, CSIRO, Australia 

Masahiro Hashizume, The University of Tokyo, Japan

Marina Hirota, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil 

Satoshi Kojima, Institute for Global Environmental  Strategies, Japan 

Sharachchandra Lele, Centre for Environment &  Development, ATREE, Bengaluru, India

Darren McCauley, Erasmus University of Rotterdam,  Netherlands 

Desta Mebratu, South Africa Centre for Sustainability  Transitions (CST), University of Stellenbosch; Addis Ababa  University Institute of Technology, Ethiopia 

Stefan Rahmstorf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany 

Colleen E. Reid, University of Colorado Boulder, USA 

Marielle Saunois, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat  et de l’Environnement, LSCE-IPSL (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ),  Université Paris-Saclay, France 

Joachim H. Spangenberg, Sustainable Europe Research  Institute (SERI) Germany, Cologne, Germany 

Thomas N.S. Sterner, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Nicola Stevens, University of Oxford, UK 

Kirsten Thonicke, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact  Research (PIK), Germany 

Hanqin Tian, International Center for Climate and Global  Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences,  Auburn University, USA 

Ricarda Winkelmann, Potsdam Institute for Climate  Impact Research (PIK), Germany; University of Potsdam,  Germany

Contributing authors

Olga Alcaraz Sedra, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Ana Bastos, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Germany

Nico Bauer, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Christoph Bertram, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Thorsten Blenckner, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden

Paulo M. Brando, University of California, USA

Tanya Brodie Rudolph, South Africa Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

Purnamita Dasgupta, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal

Felix Kwabena Donkor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography, University of Education-Winneba, Ghana

Hongbo Duan, School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Marina Hirota, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Satoshi Kojima, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan

Sharachchandra Lele, Centre for Environment & Development, ATREE, Bengaluru, India

Darren McCauley, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Netherlands

Desta Mebratu, South Africa Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST), University of Stellenbosch; Addis Ababa University Institute of Technology, Ethiopia

Stefan Rahmstorf, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Colleen E. Reid, University of Colorado Boulder, USA

Marielle Saunois, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement, LSCE-IPSL (CEA-CNRS-UVSQ), Université Paris-Saclay, France

Joachim H. Spangenberg, Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) Germany, Cologne, Germany

Thomas N.S. Sterner, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Nicola Stevens, University of Oxford, UK

Kirsten Thonicke, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany

Hanqin Tian, International Center for Climate and Global Change Research, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, USA

Ricarda Winkelmann, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany; University of Potsdam, Germany

10 New Insights in Climate Science

A year of climate-related science in review

Each year we consult researchers and carry out a horizon scan in fields related to climate change on what the latest findings and most important new emerging fields are. We summarize this in 10 important scientific insights, and the result has always been a rich and valuable scientific synthesis for policy and society at large, a testament to the ever-expanding and improving knowledge of our planetary climate systems and the interactions with the human world.
Download PDF

Extras

Definition of terms
References
Resources for media
Partners
Academic article

Acknowledgements

The making of this report has been led by Future Earth, The Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We also gratefully acknowledge support from Arizona State University (ASU), GERICS Climate Service Center Germany (an institution of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon),

 We acknowledge the work of the following individuals in their respective capacities:

Produced by: Future Earth, The Earth League, and the World Climate Research Programme
Website, graphics and publication design: Cultivate Communications

10 New Insights in Climate Science

A year of climate-related science in review

Each year we consult researchers and carry out a horizon scan in fields related to climate change on what the latest findings and most important new emerging fields are. We summarize this in 10 important scientific insights, and the result has always been a rich and valuable scientific synthesis for policy and society at large, a testament to the ever-expanding and improving knowledge of our planetary climate systems and the interactions with the human world.
Download PDF

Extras

References
Resources for media
Partners

Acknowledgements

The making of this report has been led by Future Earth, The Earth League and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). We also gratefully acknowledge support from Arizona State University (ASU), GERICS Climate Service Center Germany (an institution of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon),

 We acknowledge the work of the following individuals in their respective capacities:

Produced by: Future Earth, The Earth League, and the World Climate Research Programme
Website, graphics and publication design: Cultivate Communications