We need a global assessment of avoidable climate-change risks

Nature

by Peter A. Stott

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A global assessment of avoidable climate-change risks is urgently needed to provide policymakers and citizens with a clear understanding of the severity and urgency of these threats. While some risks are recognized, such as rising sea levels or extreme heatwaves, the full extent of their impact remains unclear. Without this comprehensive analysis, decision-makers lack the critical information needed to prioritize actions that can mitigate these risks effectively. Current efforts, like those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), focus primarily on scientific assessments rather than detailed risk evaluations. While valuable, they do not provide a full picture of potential worst-case scenarios or the likelihood of adverse outcomes over time. For instance, while policymakers might plan for flood defenses in cities like London, they may underestimate the possibility of entire city areas becoming uninhabitable due to sea-level rise. A global risk assessment would address these gaps by evaluating the full range of possible climate impacts, including long-term and near-term risks. This approach would help identify which threats are most critical and how their likelihood changes as global temperatures increase. Such an assessment could be modeled after established methods used in fields like public health or engineering, focusing on worst-case scenarios and using the best available data to inform priorities. The absence of this global perspective hinders efforts to advocate for proportional climate action.

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Originally published on Nature on 2/26/2026