In the Arctic, the risks of the permafrost thaw are perceived differently by communities, and key hazards include infrastructure failure, mobility disruption, decreased water quality and food security, and exposure to diseases, according to a transdisciplinary analysis based on workshops and a thematic network approach.

Analysis of historical earthquake records and interseismic deformation across the East Anatolian Fault Zone suggests that coseismic slip in the 2023 earthquakes strongly corresponded to the slip deficits accumulated since the preceding major fault ruptures.

The transport of hydrothermal products within Enceladus, inferred from Cassini observations, is incompatible with numerical models, which predict ocean stratification beneath Enceladus’ South Pole, unless its ice shell is not in steady state.

Climate change mitigation through biomass crops for carbon capture and storage outside agricultural land is strongly limited when considering other critical Earth system dimensions, such as biosphere integrity and land-system change, as global biogeochemical modelling shows.

Half of the population of Central Amazon river-floodplain communities are subject to an unstable riverscape, according to an assessment of compound risk which integrates environmental hazard observations with regional socio-economic information.

Coastal subsidence in Hawai’i exacerbates flooding risks, with certain areas experiencing rates up to 25 mm/year, potentially expanding flood exposure by 53% by 2050, according to analysis of satellite data from 2006 to 2024 and digital elevation models to measure subsidence rates.

Modelled ocean mixing distributions show that mixing in the deep ocean does not align with observational estimates, according to a global modelling study of ocean mixing.

Atmospheric forcing governs summer marine heatwave onsets in the northeast and southwest Red Sea, whereas horizontal advection is key in the southeast and northwest, according to high-resolution ocean model simulations.

Vegetation responses to solar farm installations are often attributed to the altered microclimates, but climate change also determines habitat changes and vegetation growth, according to an analysis that uses satellite data of enhanced vegetation index and harmonic regression model.

In China, authorities need to coordinate the afforestation with emission reduction and focus on suitable and cost-optimal areas to overcome the financial challenges of meeting carbon neutrality targets, according to an analysis combining land use integrated assessment and cost models.

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.

This paper is a call to action. By publishing concurrently across journals like an emergency bulletin, we are not merely making a plea for awareness about climate change. Instead, we are demanding immediate, tangible steps that harness the power of microbiology and the expertise of researchers and policymakers to safeguard the planet for future generations.

Plastics pollution, persistent chemical contamination and inadequately treated wastewater are three key aspects that hinder access to safe and affordable water for all. This Comment argues that a strong priority on pollution avoidance, research for remediation, and tighter regulation and monitoring must be implemented to make progress.

Tracking global deforestation is key to the implementation of forest conservation and emissions reduction policies. This Comment suggests forest extent and deforestation must be defined in a way that is simple, transferable, and applicable.