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.

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?

How are we doing on a ‘Green New Deal?’

As the IPCC publishes its new report on global warming of 1.5 degrees, we need a political and economic stock-take on the measures we’re taking to fight climate change.

Stronger winds could trigger rapid change in Southern Ocean

A new IMAS study has found that an increase in average wind speeds could lead to abrupt physical changes in the Southern Ocean, with significant implications for climate change.

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 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.

Cooling Darwin to save lives

Urban overheating threatens the lives of people in Darwin, but researchers from UNSW’s Faculty of Built Environment have calculated how many lives could be saved by changing the city.

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.

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.

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.