Public interest in climate change and global warming peaks after bushfires and lasts for months, research reveals. But Australians do not respond to storms and floods in the same way.
Even ‘climate havens’ face a riskier future, and infrastructure often isn’t built to handle climate change. But there are steps cities can take to prepare.
The 142 fossil fuel producers collectively exceeded the limits on coal, gas and oil production required to achieve the Paris Agreement goals by between 63% and 70%.
Fire frequency is increasing in all ecosystems studied. But in some places, fires were occurring so often it put entire ecosystems at risk of collapse.
Humans (particularly those in the Northern Hemisphere) generally prefer the heat, a bias which has hampered effective climate communications for decades.
Middle-aged people in equatorial regions have lived through the most perceptible warming in their lifetimes. But many others may experience unrecognisable changes in their local climate later in life.
As I hear reports of the fire tearing through Maui, I feel utterly depressed. As a fire scientist, I know the unfolding horror is just the beginning in our warmer world.
Many heat-related health problems can be avoided by adopting a healthy, active lifestyle. But the younger generation is less active than previous generations, and therefore more vulnerable.
Recent headlines around the supposed impending collapse of the Atlantic currents remind us of the importance of avoiding sensationalism in facing global warming.
More than a century of research shows that burning fossil fuels warms the climate – that’s exactly why granting new North Sea oil and gas licenses is a bad idea.
Heat exposure is inevitable for those who work or are active outdoors. A heat acclimation protocol, combined with heat-mitigating strategies, is the best defence against heat-related injuries.
Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Deputy Director for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science; Deputy Director for the Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, Australian National University