2015 was a year where we expanded our view of the universe, embraced new technologies and got a hint of the profound changes to come.
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Climate change – Analysis and Comment
Forest conservation has been a contentious issue in international climate change discussions for years, but now developing countries are embracing the need to protect their forests.
The inclusion of a 1.5°C goal in the Paris climate deal might have surprised some observers. But in reality, the diplomatic groundwork was laid years before.
The Paris Agreement recognizes the reality of global environmental pacts: the private sector must lead transition to low-carbon technology and civil society must keep up the pressure to act.
With the public’s confidence in the news media wavering, it’s a tough line to toe.
Research universities and nongovernmental organizations have an important role to play in helping countries reach their goals.
Artwork – from knitting birds and amateur science to listening to the trees – might empower us to remake climate science from below.
Scientists need to be comfortable dealing with subjective views, rather than empirical data, and people’s feelings to make progress in addressing climate change.
The Paris climate deal has been criticised for not being strong enough. But behavioural economics studies show weak deals can work out better in the long run.
Could future presidents unravel the commitments to cut emissions the US has made at the Paris climate summit?
The Paris climate summit was historic as a political achievement but it’s not clear how and when the hard problems of emission cuts and climate finance get tackled.
The Paris Agreement is an extraordinary achievement. But there is much work to be done to ensure global warming does not exceed dangerous levels.
The Paris Agreement will leave activists demanding direct action on fossil fuels and energy market reform.
Recent maps shows many Australian cities will be affected by sea level rise, but how should we plan for these dire forecasts.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change finally came to an agreement. Here are the key points.
The climate will change, no matter what’s agreed in Paris.
From making renewable energy practical to revolutionising farming, the chemicals industry could make a huge contribution to the environment.
China has many climate issues, but the steps the country is taking to combat these issues is being recognised worldwide.
2015 will likely be a degree warmer than before people started pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The last time the world was this hot wasn’t great for civilisation.
The business presence at COP21 may be on the sidelines but support for climate change is strong.
The US-China relationship is crucial to any global deal on climate change. How strong is their common commitment to working on climate change, and can it last?
Poor planning can make natural disasters much, much worse.
Africa needs to work on adaption strategies if it is to overcome the harmful effects of climate change.
1.5 or 2 degrees? What matters is how we get there.
Things can change disturbingly quickly – just ask the people who once farmed the Sahara.