Preparing for our new extremes

Australia has a well-earned reputation for being a land of extremes – from cyclones to bushfires and floods to drought. This high variability can make it difficult to prepare for all eventualities. But scientists are gaining a better understanding of the likelihood and consequences of extreme events.

Australian experts call for more climate action

Twenty two eminent Australian scholars and health experts have signed a letter demanding the Federal Government phase out coal by 2050 following its rejection of a United Nations (UN) report warning that world has 12 years to limit a climate change catastrophe.

We have so many ways to pursue a healthy climate – it’s insane to wait any longer

Humanity faces a wide spectrum of “wicked” environmental challenges, from sustaining food production to providing clean water and maintaining wildlife diversity and the green environments that ensure the survival of complex life on Earth but there are many practical measures we can and should take now to start making things better.

Did climate change wipe out the Australian lion?

Scientists now believe Thylacoleo carnifex was probably a victim of the drying out of Australia, which began about 350,000 years ago, rather than from the impact of humans.

The climate threat to cities past and present

The fall of Angkor has long puzzled historians, archaeologists and scientists, but now a University of Sydney research team is one step closer to discovering what led to the city’s demise — and it comes with a warning for modern urban communities.

What the past can tell us about the future of climate change

For several millennia during the last interglacial period, temperatures were higher than pre-industrial levels. Given the dire forecasts of global warming’s impact, what can the historical record tell us about the future of our climate?

Will 2018 be the year of climate action?

As climate extremes mount, let’s reflect on Victorian London’s ‘Great Stink’ sewage crisis – when things finally became so bad authorities were forced to accept evidence, reject sceptics, and act.

Climate change will create strange bedfellows on deep ocean reefs

By 2060, deep ocean reefs in the cooler waters off south eastern Australia are likely to be substantially different, becoming more tropical in response to climate driven ocean warming.

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.