We must strengthen, not weaken, environmental protections during drought – or face irreversible loss

Australian rural communities face hardships during extended drought but subverting or weakening existing protective conservation management practices and policies will exacerbate the impacts of drought on natural environments and biodiversity.

Climate change tops the concerns of Gen X and Gen Y

Climate change is the number one cause for concern for both Generation X and Generation Y and they aren’t impressed by government efforts to tackle environmental challenges.

Rising seas will displace millions of people – and Australia must be ready

Climate change will provoke rises in sea levels unseen since the end of the last ice age. Vast numbers of people who currently live beside the sea will be threatened and Australia will have to play its part in managing the crisis to come.

Humanity has a big decision to make in the climate end-game

Humanity has a big decision to make very soon about its future on warming planet, but the Federal Coalition is still in denial that human-induced climate change even exists, let alone that the climate end-game is upon us.

The great climate depression

Imagine something similar to the Great Depression of 1929 hitting the world, but this time it never ends. Economic modelling suggests this is the reality facing us if we continue emitting greenhouse gases and allowing temperatures to rise unabated.

The sleepy lizard awakens new tools for climate change research

Understanding the factors which limit the distribution of animals – such as their need for water – can help model how populations will shift in the light of climate change.

Earth could be heading for a hothouse climate

An international study has found the Earth is at risk of entering a hothouse climate that could lead to global average temperatures of up to five degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial temperatures and long-term rises in the sea level of between 10 and 60 metres.

The cascading impacts of climate change

Earlier this month, the World Bank released a major study warning that more than 800 million people reside in areas that by 2050 will become dangerous climate hotspots. As bad as this seems, reports of this kind fail to take full account of the cascading impacts of a warming planet.

Australia faces more intense rain storms

A landmark study shows how heavy, short rain storms are intensifying more rapidly than would be expected with global warming. Researchers say this is likely to lead to increasing flash floods and urban flooding.

Ocean acidification challenges science, governments and communities

Researchers have found that in recent centuries, surface ocean pH has fallen ten times faster than in the past 300 million years and that impacts are being felt on ecosystems, economies and communities worldwide.

Thawing permafrost microbiomes fuel climate change

A University of Queensland-led international study could lead to more accurate predictions on the rate of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions produced by thawing permafrost in the next 100 years.

Why Tony Abbott is wrong about the Paris climate accord

We have to stand up and commit ourselves to the realities of climate change, and accept the daunting but achievable task of climate mitigation. We have the skills, knowledge, technology and capability. We just need better leadership.