‘Disconnect’ between Australians and scientists over need for urgent climate action

Survey reveals disconnect between Australians and scientists over the urgency for climate action
Repeated and increasingly frustrated calls from Australian climate experts are failing to activate the Australian population with the urgency communicated by scientists in Australia and globally. While most Australians accepted climate change was happening, only a minority thought it was an extremely serious problem.

Experts overwhelmingly blame one person for climate change confusion: ‘One of the greatest climate villains’
Climate scientists at the Australian National University have described Rupert Murdoch as Australia’s worst “climate villain”. Murdoch’s impact on the media landscape since the 1950s has had far-reaching and damaging consequences. “It’s hard to think of another person who has single-handedly done more to muddy the public’s understanding of climate change,” the scientists say.

Could 'marine cloud brightening' reduce coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef?
Australia’s Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program – a collaboration between several universities, CSIRO and the Australian Institute of Marine Science – is exploring whether cloud brightening could reduce coral bleaching. 

Inside the Pacific's CePaCT plant gene bank, a last line of defence for crop species loss
In a secure, temperature-controlled vault in Fiji's capital of Suva, stacks of tiny vials hold several plantations worth of sprouting plants. This represents a backup collection of the most important varieties of crops in the Pacific region. Of the 2,200 varieties of 18 crops, many are the last of their kind.

Africa and India push rich nations to phase out fossil fuels faster
Six weeks ahead of the Cop28 climate talks, negotiators from Africa and India have set out separate plans to push developed countries to do more to move away from fossil fuels.

Planet Earth III on BBC One review: animals dazzle against the odds in David Attenborough’s hopeful conclusion
David Attenborough’s most recent, more climate crises-focused documentary includes a visit to Raine Island, where conservationists talk to camera about their efforts to save the Australian island’s endangered green sea turtles.

Does Australia’s power generation make EVs dirty too?
Science journalist Ellen Phiddian investigates if Australia’s dirty power generation is ruining EVs’ sustainable credentials.

How one boatshed tells the story of Victorian coastal areas preparing for sea level rises
A planning application to build a small boatshed in the prestigious Sullivans Bay in Sorrento has become a flashpoint in the debate around how Victoria is preparing for rising sea levels.

Climate vulnerability study to examine insurance affordability in climate crisis
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has started a general insurance climate vulnerability assessment that is examining long-term implications for the affordability of household cover under different climate scenarios.