Australia has committed to a long-term global average temperature increase to no more than two degrees Celsius – yet often envisions a future in which its is a major coal exporter.
EPA/FEDERICO GAMBARINI
When it comes to climate change and Australia’s economic future, different crystal balls can produce vastly different results.
Breaking the ice: while scientists increasingly understand why Antarctic sea ice is growing, it remains tricky to forecast.
Australian Antarctic Division
Antarctica’s sea ice is changing in ways that scientists didn’t predict, and is now causing headaches for Antarctic stations.
Every year millions of birds migrate between Australia and the northern Hemisphere.
Mdk572/Wikimedia
Five million shorebirds migrate between Australia and the northern hemisphere, threatened by habitat destruction, and rising seas. How can we protect this natural marvel?
Presidential debates around climate change will likely be a referendum on EPA proposals to lower carbon emissions from power plants.
powerplant via www shutterstock com
The American public appear to be of two minds on climate change in politics: supportive of policy action but unconvinced climate change is an urgent priority.
The drop in oil has not sparked the nadir of green energy.
David Clarke/flickr
Contrary to economic theory, data shows that the latest drop in energy prices does not undermine investment in renewable energy.
Mitigation efforts could help alleviate the impacts of climate change on food security and agriculture in Africa.
EPA/Herve Gbekide
Climate change is affecting all regions of the globe. But some places, such as Africa, are more vulnerable than others.
Rising sea levels are one of the clearest and most widespread manifestations of climate change.
Steven Godfrey
Since 1993, satellites have been used as well as tidal gauges to monitor sea level. A new calibration of this satellite record now shows that the rise in sea level is gathering pace.
Nations need to focus on the global carbon budget, not on what their neighbours are doing.
Andriano/Shutterstock.com
Australia’s emissions target will inevitably be compared with other leading nations. But a fair target should be calculated not on a basis of comparison, but on the world’s shared 2-degree climate goal.
With sea levels rising, a managed retreat from the coastline is necessary.
EPA/Kim Ludbrook
In areas vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges, developments are at increasing risk of inundation and permanent damage over coming years.
The cost of low emissions technology is falling faster than modelling five years ago expected, lowering the cost of reducing carbon emissions.
Bas/Flickr
Despite solid results from the first emissions reduction fund auction, Australia hasn’t yet got a climate policy to last.
Soren Dahlgaard and the Maldives Exodus Caravan Show, Mobile Maldives, 2013.
CLIMARTE
Scientists and policy makers are struggling in some countries to gain the support that will lead to meaningful action on climate change. Could art be the answer?
Bjorn Lomborg seems to irritate the hell out of many environmentalists.
AAP Image/Alan Porritt
Bjorn Lomborg seems to inspire anything but consensus, but is his approach all that bad?
Heat is costing the Australian economy through productivity losses.
Heat stress image from www.shutterstrock.com
Heat cost Australia nearly A$7 billion in 2014, which is bad news given climate forecasts of hotter and more frequent heatwaves.
Last year’s temperatures in England were the hottest in a continuous record dating back to 1659.
AAP Image/NEWZULU/STEPHEN CHUNG
An analysis of the world’s longest-running temperature record suggests that England is many times more likely to experience more record-breaking hot years like 2014 than it was a century ago.
The mountain rainforests of Australia’s Wet Tropics are extremely vulnerable to climate change.
kara brugman/Flickr
A new paper shows 1 in 6 species could be extinct due to climate change, and Australia will be particularly hard hit.
Can rhinos pray for rain?
Baron Reznik
A major new study looks at the risk global warming poses to the world’s plants and animals – it’s not good news.
Changes in environment health are invisible in the national accounts.
AAP Image/Richard Wainwrigh
The health of our environment is not included in national accounts data. And we are all poorer for it.
Recent extreme rains such as those that hit Sydney recently are actually decreasing, but extreme rain in summer is going up.
AAP Image/NEWZULU/LISA HOSKING
Extreme rainfall in Sydney is increasing - but only in summer, potentially leading to more flash floods in the city.
Yes, the environment can be a vote winnner.
Stefan Rousseau/PA
Labour leader didn’t bash Cameron as hard as predicted on Libya.
The SNP wants Westminster to learn from them.
Danny Lawson/PA
The SNP wants the UK to match Scotland’s commitments to carbon reduction.