Volume 5 Issue 7, July 2024

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) will be an essential part of the energy transition. Over 45 pilot projects are underway to reduce the technical and regulatory risks of UHS, but negative perceptions must be addressed to ensure that hydrogen’s role in achieving net zero targets can be realized.

Using carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) for carbon removal is crucial to climate policy, but implementation at scale is at risk owing to political obstacles. Climate policies must avoid relying on empty promises of CCS for carbon removal without necessary financial resourcing and support emissions reductions separately from carbon removal.

To explore career opportunities outside of academia, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment interviewed Allen Pope about their career path from research scientist to programme director at the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Laura Wainman explains how drones can be used to sample the composition and dynamics of volcanic plumes.

Falk Oraschewski describes how phase-sensitive radio echo sounding can be used to measure melting at the base of ice shelves and englacial ice crystal orientations.

Fire can increase the rates of geomorphic processes leading to rapid landscape change and sediment-related hazards. This Review outlines the factors and processes that influence the magnitude, temporal persistence and extent of fire-induced geomorphic changes.

Treated wastewater (TW) reuse for irrigation could alleviate water imbalances and boost food production in water-scarce regions, thus promoting global food and water security. This Review discusses the potential and challenges of widespread TW reuse for agriculture in a circular economy framework.

Climate change and human activities are increasing the exposure of deltaic communities to natural hazards. This Review discusses lessons that the Asian mega-deltas can share to develop long-term resilience strategies.

Degradation and loss of blue carbon ecosystems contributes to climate change, weakens coastal protection and threatens biodiversity. This Perspective outlines the actions required to achieve goals to restore and protect these ecosystems.