Climate change and cell biology – five ways cells can help us solve planetary problems

Our changing climate poses increasingly severe threats to human and environmental health. Scientific research is essential for understanding and mitigating these effects, but how can cell biologists support this goal? In this Essay, Journal of Cell Science has invited cell biologists from across disciplines and career stages to share their perspectives on how cell biology can address climate-related questions. Their research ranges from practical innovations to fundamental functional studies. How can we re-route metabolic pathways to reduce industrial emissions? What can plankton-microbe interactions tell us about the impact of marine pollution? How can an in-depth understanding of cellular processes help us design more resilient crops to address specific challenges faced in West African countries? Could developments in stem cell biology help safeguard biodiversity? What can we learn from the way deep-sea squid adapt to changing environments on the cellular level? These examples illustrate an increasing drive to apply broad insights and techniques from the world of cell biology to this urgent, global challenge.