Content Types

To submit one of the following content types, please read the formatting details below, then follow the submission guidelines:

  • Article
  • Analysis
  • Brief Communication
  • Registered Report
  • Correspondence*
  • Review*
  • Perspective*
  • Comment*
  • Matters Arising – see specialist submission process here.

For more information on these content types, please contact Nature Climate Change:

  • News and Views*    
  • Book & Arts Review*
  • Feature*

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.

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Article

An Article is a substantial novel research study, with a complex story often involving several techniques or approaches. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 3,000 words, excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends.
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Article should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Online Methods. ​
  • Results and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
  • Articles include received/accepted dates. 
  • Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Articles are peer reviewed.

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Analysis

An Analysis is a new analysis of existing data or describes new data obtained in a comparative analysis that leads to novel and arresting conclusions of importance to a broad audience. 

Format

  • Main text – up to 3,000 words, excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends.
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Analysis should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Online Methods. ​
  • Results and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
  • Analyses include received/accepted dates. 
  • Analyses may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Analyses are peer reviewed.

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Brief Communication

A Brief Communication reports a concise study of high quality and broad interest. 

Format

  • Brief unreferenced abstract – 3 sentences, up to 70 words.
  • Title – up to 10 words (or 90 characters). 
  • Main text – 1,000-1,500 words, excluding abstract, references and figure legends, and contains no headings. 
  • Display items – up to 2 items, although this may be flexible at the discretion of the editor, provided the page limit is observed. 
  • Online Methods section should be included
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 20.
  • Brief Communications include received/accepted dates. 
  • Brief Communications may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Brief Communications are peer reviewed.

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Registered Report

A Registered Report is a form of empirical article in which the methods and proposed analyses are pre-registered and reviewed prior to data collection. The format is offered for hypothesis-driven quantitative research with primary research data. We also welcome submissions proposing secondary analyses of existing data sets, provided that the authors have had no prior access to the data in question. Note that we do not consider systematic reviews and meta-analyses for the Registered Report format. High quality protocols are provisionally accepted for publication before data collection (or data analysis, for submissions involving secondary analyses of existing datasets) commences. Please contact the journal for detailed guidelines (including instructions for Stage 1 submissions).

Format (Stage 2 submission)

  • Main text – up to 3,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Registered Reports should be divided as follows: 
    • Introduction (without heading) 
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Online Methods. ​
  • Results and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.
  • References – we do not place limits on reference lists.
  • Registered Reports include received/accepted dates. 
  • Registered Reports may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Registered Reports are peer reviewed (in two stages).

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Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journal’s community. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis. 

Format

  • Correspondence – between 300-800 words.
  • Display items – 1 item.
  • References – up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. 
  • Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. 

Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers; these should be submitted as Matters Arising.

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Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in . These comments should ideally be based on contemporary knowledge rather than subsequent scientific developments.

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

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Review

A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. 

The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single research group, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Format

  • Main text – 3,000-5,000 words.
  • Illustrations are strongly encouraged.
  • References – up to 100 (exceptions are possible in special cases). 
  • Citations – these should be selective and, in the case of particularly important studies (≤ 10% of all the references), we encourage authors to provide short annotations explaining why these are key contributions.
  • Reviews include received/accepted dates. 
  • Reviews are peer reviewed.

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Perspective

A Perspective is a format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Commentary but do not meet the criteria for a Review—either because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing work primarily from one group. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy are normally published as Perspectives. 

Format

  • Main text – 3,000-5000 words. 
  • References – up to 100.
  • Citations – these should be selective and, in the case of particularly important studies (≤ 10% of all the references), we encourage authors to provide short annotations explaining why these are key contributions.
  • Perspectives include received/accepted dates.
  • Perspectives are peer reviewed.

 

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News and Views

News and Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in climate change, as reported in recently published papers or at scientific meetings.  They may be linked to articles in Nature Climate Change, or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. Unsolicited contributions will not normally be considered, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals.

News and Views are not peer reviewed.

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Policy Brief

Policy Briefs are arranged by invitation only. They provide a summary of the policy implications of a paper published in Nature Climate Change for a policy audience.

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Comment

A Comment is a very flexible format, focusing on the scientific, commercial, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding climate change. Comment articles should be topical, readable, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. 

Format

  • Length – varies but maximum of 1,500 words.
  • There are no specific structural guidelines.
  • Comments do not contain primary research data, although they may present limited published data to support the perspective offered . 
  • References should be used sparingly – up to 15.
  • Article titles are omitted from the reference list.
  • Peer review is at the editors' discretion.

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Feature

A Feature encompasses both the technical and commercial aspects of any topic relevant to our readership. This format is intended to complement the emerging scientific developments reported in the research section, and also to provide a forum for regulatory and business topics that would otherwise not be covered in the journal. 

Nature Climate Change welcomes ideas for future topics.

Format

  • Length – up to 3,000 words.
  • Use of tables and figures is strongly encouraged.
  • Written in a journalistic style, accessible to a wide range of non-specialist readers. 

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Books & Arts Reviews

The Books & Arts section comprises timely reviews of books and other cultural and pedagogical resources of interest to the climate change community. They are usually commissioned, though unsolicited contributions will be considered.