Post of the Day
Extinct species: These animals were lost forever in 2018
They’ve been on our planet for millions of years, but 2018 was the year several species officially vanished forever.
Today’s Celebration
2nd New Year’s Day Holiday – Russia, Romania, Taiwan
Ancestry Day / Forefather’s Day – Haiti
Bank Holiday – United Kingdom
Berchtold’s Day – Liechtenstein, Switzerland
Bridge Day – New Caledonia
Labor Day – Ukraine
New Year’s Day Holiday – Mauritius, New Zealand, North Korea, South Korea
Victory of the Armed Forces – Cuba
Kaapse Klopse – South Africa
Casse Gateau – Voudon
Gantan Sai (New Years) – Shinto
Motivation and Inspiration Day
International Brain Teaser Month
International Year of Indigenous Languages
Climate Change
Deadly weather: the human cost of 2018’s climate disasters – visual guide
Scientists say extreme weather events are getting worse as emissions rise and the planet warms
Climate change: see how much warmer winters in US cities could be by 2050
The dire consequences of having fewer days below freezing, explained.
6 glimmers of climate optimism for the end of a dark year
It was a year of frightening reports on the future of our planet.
Climate disasters damage bill $85b in 2018
The worst climate-linked disasters of 2018, which hit every continent, have caused about $US85 billion in damage, a British relief organisation says.
Bloomberg says he’ll insist presidential candidates have climate change plans
‘I don’t know whether I’m going to run or not, but I will be out there demanding that anybody that’s running has a plan,’ he said.
Examining the link between climate and weather
2018 was a year when scientists ratcheted up their warnings about the effects of a warming climate on weather.
2019 requires a new approach to climate change leadership in cities
2018 has been full of grim climate news.
Extreme weather in 2018 was a raging, howling signal of climate change
“Climate change is here, and it’s already costing tens of billions of dollars a year,” one expert said.
Global warming is melting the ice caps but there are fears it could lead to a new Cold War
Shipping times from China and Russia to Europe could be reduced by one third if vessels travel through the Arctic rather than sailing the traditional way – and many countries want to have control of the new route.
Rise of carbon dioxide–absorbing mountains in tropics may set thermostat for global climate
Indonesia’s mountains could be the cause of current glacial age.
The case for “conditional optimism” on climate change
Limiting the damage requires rapid, radical change — but such changes have happened before.
Himalayas warmer than thought at in upper reaches, finds study
Conditions in high Himalayas are likely to be warmer than estimated, scientists at G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and and Sustainable Development in Almora have found.
Scientists say climate change is real, but rest is debatable [$]
Andrew Bolt
Most scientists believe climate change is real and that man’s emissions tend to make the Earth warmer — but the rest is debatable.
Climate change obsession the new yo-yo mania [$]
Tim Blair
Climate change obsession is the yo-yo trend of 2018. Every time it appears that some degree of sanity may be settling in, the climate change wailing commences anew.
Climate Change, Social Entrepreneurs Are A Solution
Devin Thorpe
Billionaires may be contributing to climate change in the boardroom but we can look to social entrepreneurs for innovative solutions if we apply the lessons of The Innovator’s Dilemma, Clayton Christensen’s seminal work.
New scientific evidence strengthens case for regulating greenhouse gases
Noah S. Diffenbaugh, Christopher B. Field and Philip B. Duffy
Science supports climate action, not as a matter of politics, but as a matter of law.
Fighting climate change must be an intergenerational conversation
Michael A. Smyer
Confronting your family and leaving them upset is not the goal. Keep it positive, and you might be surprised by what happens next.
In 1993 my agency warned of climate change. In 1995 it was abolished
William Westermeyer
The US Office of Technology Assessment should be revived – in 2019 the world will need its expertise more than ever
We can’t lose sight of the most important story of the year
David Leonhardt
I wanted to write my last column of 2018 about the climate as a kind of plea: amid everything else going on, don’t lose sight of the most important story of the year.
National
Australia to miss 2030 emissions targets by vast margin, Coalition’s projections reveal
Emissions projections report shows Scott Morrison’s claims Australia will meet obligations under Paris agreement are incorrect
See the graph that shows Australia needs a huge drop in emissions to meet its Paris target
Melissa Price says she is convinced Australia will hit the emissions reduction target the Government committed to reach by 2030, despite projections released by the Department of Environment and Energy suggesting otherwise.
Renewables to be cheaper than coal even without climate policy, CSIRO says
The CSIRO and the energy market operator say existing coal plants are still one of the lowest cost forms of power but new wind and solar farms will soon be cheaper, even without a carbon price.
Coal is Australia’s most valuable export in 2018
Coal will replace iron ore as Australia’s most valuable export this financial year as supply concerns lead to a steep price rise for the core commodity.
Explainer: How fast can e-scooters go, and where are you allowed to ride them?
Scooter-sharing has landed in Australia and new rules are being drawn up to accommodate the “innovative” rideable devices. But they’re not quite legal in all states just yet. Here’s what you need to know.
The unstoppable force of clean energy [$]
Political fighting over energy policy once again blew up in the week before Christmas but out in the real economy, customers, producers and regulators are forced to manage and respond to a system in flux.
Morrison has nowhere to go on energy [$]
A triple pile-on on Scott Morrison government’s big stick energy policies last week leaves the government with nowhere to go.
‘Never seen any place like it’ – Guardian readers share their national park stories
From Wilsons Promontory to the Royal, you love the open spaces of our national parks – but you’re worried about them, too
Across 110 years, most of the people killed in bushfires died on just nine days
More than 100 years worth of data about when, where and why people have died in bushfires can tell us a lot about how to save lives this summer.
More than 50 Australian plant species face extinction within decade
Study finds just 12 of the most imperilled species are listed under national environment laws as critically endangered
Tyranny of distance: The renewable power disconnect
The renewable energy boom may be going to waste because the best place to put wind and solar is too far away to connect to the grid.
Christmas beetles are slowly disappearing, and we’re not sure why
Scientists say the decline in Christmas beetles in Australia is consistent with global decreases in insect populations and we do not yet know what effect this will have on the ecosystem.
Focus on climate change: Pacific [$]
Pacific Island nations want Scott Morrison’s $2bn infrastructure bank to fund cyclone shelters, port upgrades and sea walls.
Adelaide to Melbourne in just 30 minutes? [$]
Hyperloop Imagine being able to get to Melbourne in a little more than 30 minutes — and Sydney in less than an hour. Meet the Hyperloop — an ultra high-speed futuristic transportation system proposed to link many of Australia’s capital cities.
Labor rebuffs Elon Musk’s ‘hypothetical’ Hyperloop to solve Australia’s transport woes
Anthony Albanese says high-speed rail most ‘competitive’ and ‘proven’ option for eastern seaboard
In the hot seat: Joelle’s journey from the dole to a global role
“It felt like there was no distinction between what I was writing about and what was playing out across the country,” says climate scientist Joelle Gergis.
Australia isolated as ‘free rider’ during Kyoto climate talks
Declassified documents reveal the Howard government considered new climate change policies and launched a media campaign to boost its reputation amid global dissatisfaction with Australia’s commitments.
What’s changing on January 1? Here’s what you need to know
The new year means cheaper electricity prices, no more tampon tax and some higher transport costs. This is what else you can expect to see in 2019.
Brown coal drops to lowest level as solar, wind surge [$]
A resurgence in wholesale prices in the NEM shows the shows the transition to cleaner energy is still a work in progress.
Hot start to 2019 after Australia ends its third-warmest year
The searing end to 2018 for much of Australia will likely make it the third-hottest on record for maximum temperatures with little early relief in sight in the new year.
Emissions deal still a conundrum [$]
John Howard has warned that a “conundrum remains” in Australia’s approach to climate change.
The government sneaks one final energy lie into 2018
Chris Woods
The Coalition couldn’t let the year tick over without one last, glaring sign that they’ve abandoned their climate responsibility.
Collaboration key to gas growth [$]
Nigel Hearne
Domestic gas would be a big winner with the greater volumes of LNG coming to shore and powering homes and local industry.
Labor sets the right course on nuclear disarmament
Gem Romuld
It is beyond time for Australia to quit our role as a nuclear enabler for the United States.
Stick to the path, and stay alive in national parks this summer
Edmund Goh
Many Australians will take a trip to one of our national parks over the holidays. In New South Wales alone, there are more than 51 million visits to national parks each year. Few if any of us would expect not to make it out of one alive.
US shows the way on energy [$]
Nathan Vass
Cleaner power at affordable rates would ease pressure on Australian households and industry.
The capital cities that ate Australia
Shane Wright
The nation’s capital cities are swallowing the rest of the country, upending politics and the economy.
Blood in the water but all at sea [$]
Fred Pawle
It is increasingly dangerous to enter the surf but authorities are in denial.
Beware climate change cultists [$]
Peter Gleeson
Billions of dollars in projects and thousands of jobs are at risk as eco warriors game the system. These are people who are presiding over a modern day environmental Ponzi scheme.
In 2018 the Australian government chased its energy tail. Here’s a more hopeful story
Simon Holmes à Court
While the federal government dithered, business, the states and the public took matters into their own hands to dramatically change the energy picture
Electric cars are OK, but public transport is better
Rachel Lynskey
Switching our cars and trucks to electric vehicles fails to address the broader social and environmental implications of car-centric cities.
What the economy really needs more of: trees
Ross Gittins
Trees do far more for us than help with our greenhouse problem.
Forget sharks… here’s why you are more likely to be injured by litter at the beach
Marnie Campbell et al
Sadly, people plus beach equals litter, so be careful out there.
Victoria
Plans for our biggest wind farm get wings clipped for Brolga’s sake
Proposal to build Australia’s biggest wind farm has been scaled back by about 20% by the Victorian government, in a decision it says will protect the brolga.
Plan hatched to return Moonee Ponds Creek to its natural state
Thirteen groups are collaborating on a long-term plan to rehabilitate Moonee Ponds Creek, Melbourne’s most brutalised waterway.
Eight ways life in Melbourne will change in 2019
If you thought a lot happened in Melbourne this year, brace yourself for more. Big changes are on the way in 2019, affecting our roads, our trains, our shopping habits and even the city’s sacred sport, AFL football.
The next step in Victoria’s war against plastic [$]
New laws are set to wipe out all single-use lightweight plastic bags from shops by the end of next year, but Victoria’s plastic crackdown is set to be expanded even further. This is what’s next.
‘Concerning amount’ of dangerous chemicals found
Security remains at an Epping warehouse after the EPA discovered dangerous liquid chemicals.
Illegal chemicals found in West Footscray fire probe [$]
Investigation Illegally stored chemicals have been found at multiple sites in Epping and Campbellfield as part of an investigation into the West Footscray warehouse fire earlier this year, that left black smoke billowing across parts of Melbourne.
Land unlocked to provide homes for 55,000 [$]
Land for 55,000 people has been unlocked on Melbourne’s northwest fringe, creating two new communities that will give a boost to the job market as well as Victorians looking to build their dream home.
Power bill relief for loyal customers [$]
Thousands of Victorian households will see their power bills drop by up to $560 per year from today as energy companies finally pass on their savings to loyal customers. This is why.
Next year beckons a time of change [$]
Matt Johnston
Labor’s big state election win in Victoria — and a looming federal election — pave the way for a big year ahead, with energy supply likely to be a major continuing issue
New South Wales
Bottle refund scheme loses sparkle [$]
The NSW drinks container deposit scheme has cost consumers about $250 million in increased prices.
Meet the people who control your power
Hidden away in a bunker in a western Sydney suburb,there’s a room that powers every aspect of your life – the nerve centre for Australia’s electricity supply.
NSW largest solar farm gets government’s green light
A solar farm which will be the largest in NSW and be big enough power a city of almost a million people is a step closer to reality after getting the green light from planning authorities.
Cash for cans scheme survives confusion, rorting claims
The NSW Government’s signature litter reduction program weathered harsh criticism in its first year of operation, but how much of it was justified?
Powered by poo: How this power station keeps the lights on
How does the power station that provides electricity for one in ten Australians get ready for one of the most challenging summers on record?
While watching the yachts spare a thought for the harbour
Linda Bergin
Sydney Harbour provides a spectacular backdrop to the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, but such beauty should not be taken for granted.
Liberals seize a clean energy future while our federal colleagues fail
Oliver Yates
With no clarity of a carbon emissions pathway, the Morrison government has left its NSW counterparts no option but to follow the Labor states.
ACT
Dark water: how brumbies will destroy everything Canberra was built on
Out in the mountain ranges west of Canberra, the rivers are running full and the clouds hang low over the ridges.
Doubts over ACT government’s urban infill offensive
The basis for the ACT government’s urban infill offensive has been called into question, as new figures show the territory might have enough housing in the construction pipeline to meet demand for the next 15 years.
$30,000 for a bird’s eye view of light rail
Monthy drone flyovers are among the $7 million worth of extra work added to the contract to build the first stage of Canberra’s light rail.
Without analysis, waste paper risks becoming throwaway policy
Leo Dobes
Deeper analysis is needed otherwise the ACT government’s information paper on producing power and fuel from household waste is only fit for the bin.
Queensland
Ministers to clash in new year over giant Cape York land clearing bid
A cattle station owner wants to clear a further 1800 hectares as conservationists claim
Legal threat as Adani forced to hurry up and wait [$]
As heavy equipment moves in to begin construction on Adani’s controversial Carmichael megamine, the company has threatened legal action against a Government it says is sending mixed signals.
Could taking koalas back to where they existed 100 years ago save them?
Researchers hope reintroducing koalas to areas where they historically thrived could help to conserve them.
Adani approval delayed by two months [$]
Indian energy giant Adani will miss its Christmas deadline to begin construction of its controversial $2 billion Carmichael mine after the Palaszczuk Labor government commissioned a new independent review.
Poll reveals mining attitudes in crucial seats [$]
As inner-city activists ratchet up their opposition to coalmining, an exclusive poll has revealed whether they have had any impact on attitudes in Queensland’s mining heartland.
Public role in saving reef [$]
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation is preparing to seek up to $400 million in corporate and public donations.
Solar home battery warning after Brisbane house fire
Fire crews who battled a Boxing Day blaze in inner Brisbane have warned of the dangers of solar-charged home batteries.
Appeal to bankrupt Adani protester [$]
Mega mine Adani is trying to bankrupt a traditional land owner who fought to stop its $2 billion Carmichael mine in the courts.
Adani unwittingly provided evidence of ‘illegal’ water bores, lawyers say
Mining firm Adani has unwittingly provided “persuasive” evidence for a Queensland Government investigation into allegedly illegal dewatering bores on its Carmichael mine site, environmental lawyers say.
Adani ‘conservation area’ for endangered finch sits on proposed Clive Palmer mine
Environmental group calls plan to protect black-throated finch an ‘elaborate hoax’
Queensland fought to stop Daintree’s world heritage listing, cabinet papers reveal
In 1988, Mike Ahern’s government was also trying to distance itself from corruption under Joh Bjelke-Petersen and establish a greenhouse gas policy to combat climate change
Peter Ridd
Too many scientists exaggerate risks posed to the Great Barrier Reef by climate change.
Government must pick and stick on Adani [$]
Sarah Vogler
The Queensland Labor Government has defused the Adani megamine as an issue, but must refine its position on mining and the Galilee Basin.
Adani’s lawfare against activist is a bad look [$]
Matthew Stevens
The motivation of Adani Mining’s decision to launch bankruptcy proceedings against Adrian Burragubba is plain. But it’s also an ugly look.
South Australia
Defence ‘lied’ on nuclear waste [$]
A Centre Alliance senator says Woomera must be revisited as a potential site for Australia’s first nuclear waste dump.
We’ll get power and space to grow, Premier vows [$]
Premier Steven Marshall is “certain” the State Government’s new power plan, led by massive investments in renewable technologies, will cut prices for all households and called for a new national energy consensus that puts outcomes above ideology.
How to save koalas from the heat [$]
What do you do if you find a koala suffering in the heat? Fauna Rescue SA say they’ve been inundated with calls, and have some advice for refreshing the marsupials.
Tesla enters SA solar battery scheme [$]
Solar batteries are being installed in more than 400 SA homes under the first phase of a plan to cut power bills, as new players including US giant Tesla get set to enter the market.
Tasmania
Production value of Tasmania fisheries tops nation and keeps rising
Tasmania’s fisheries production value has jumped to almost one third of the national total, according to the latest report on the nation’s fisheries.
Bruny Island bushfire under control despite poor conditions, drone
A bushfire on Bruny Island is under control, despite poor conditions and a drone hampering the efforts of emergency services personnel.
Climate change warning for eastern quolls [$]
Extreme rainfall linked to climate change could one day diminish the eastern quoll’s winter staple meal, potentially threatening the species, new research says.
Tasmania exports 110 GWh of power to mainland over November
The state’s potential power supply is lower than the same time last year, according to the Tasmanian Energy Regulator.
Tassie’s wicked war on wildlife [$]
Charles Wooley
Recently a man who didn’t want to be named blew the whistle on one of Tasmania’s darkest secrets.
Northern Territory
Fracking could fuel Top End water infrastructure expansion, NT Government says
Acting NT Natural Resources Minister Lauren Moss says she would welcome water resource initiatives after a Curious Darwin investigation raised questions about how the Territory’s water supply could be used to develop the region.
$5b mine for NT heads closer to production [$]
The proposed $5 billion Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron project 230 kilometres from Alice Springs goes into 2019 with many significant hurdles cleared.
NT cabinet records reveal much has changed since 1988 — and plenty hasn’t
The just-released 1998 Northern Territory cabinet records reveal many of the issues being debated today were occupying the minds in the inner circles of government back then: Commonwealth funding, land rights, and how to grow international tourism in the heart of nature.
Western Australia
Djoorabiddi is one of 22 wedge-tailed eagles fitted with a crowdfunded satellite tracker.
$1b Bill: Cost of Shorten’s green energy plan revealed
WA consumers will pay almost $1 billion extra in energy costs a year under Bill Shorten’s plans for a 50 per cent renewable energy target, previously secret modelling has found.
Woodside seeks approval for gas project near WA’s Dampier marine reserves
Federal environment department publishes proposal on Christmas Eve and public has only 10 business days to comment
World’s largest floating LNG platform starts production in WA
Royal Dutch Shell said on Wednesday it has begun output at its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility in Western Australia, the world’s largest floating production structure and the last of a wave of eight LNG projects built in the country over the last decade.
Studying the habitats of juvenile sharks near WA shorelines is one of the latest research projects to be funded by the Federal Government.
Synergy abusing market power on electricity prices: ERA
WA’s economic watchdog has blasted electricity provider Synergy, accusing the State-owned firm of abusing its market power to artificially inflate power prices.
Eco hit list urges WA to ditch plastic
The State Government wants West Australians to stop buying balloons, Christmas crackers and party poppers.
WA retailers warned against flouting plastic bag ban as fines for offenders come into effect
A statewide plastic bag ban applying to all retail outlets — not just supermarkets — comes into effect in Western Australia today, and consumers are being urged to dob in retailers who do the wrong thing.
Sustainability
Why eating less meat is the best thing you can do for the planet in 2019
Eating meat has a hefty impact on the environment from fueling climate change to polluting landscapes and waterways
There’s one realistic thing we can do to survive the new era of giant blazes: build smarter communities that can take the heat.
Plastic pollution: Do beach clean-ups really make a difference?
Picking up trash from river beds and beaches has become a popular activity around the world. But do clean-ups really help tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution?
The high-rise building that isn’t just eco-friendly, it’s a vertical forest
There’s a green high-rise in Milan that is turning heads right around the world.
Robert Bullard: ‘Environmental justice isn’t just slang, it’s real’
The ‘father of environmental justice’ spoke to the Guardian about how the civil rights movement has spilled into environmentalism.
Scientists modify pothos ivy houseplant to filter hazardous compounds from air
Using smart biology, scientists have succeeded where technology has failed to control indoor pollution.
How 12 communities are fighting climate change and what’s standing in their way
They’re using renewable energy, urban planning, their voices and the law to try to rein in climate change that’s already in their front yards.
Collecting clean water from air, inspired by desert life
A pair of new studies from researchers at The Ohio State University offers a possible solution to water scarcity, inspired by nature.
World’s first no-kill eggs go on sale in Berlin
Scientists can now quickly determine a chick’s gender before it hatches, potentially ending the need to cull billions of male chicks worldwide
Lean electrolyte design is a game-changer for magnesium batteries
Researchers from the University of Houston and the Toyota Research Institute of America have discovered a promising new version of high-energy magnesium batteries, with potential applications ranging from electric vehicles to battery storage for renewable energy systems.
How hard is a low-carbon lifestyle? A Berlin family tells all
For the past year, Karin Beese and her family have been on a low-carbon diet in an effort to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and head off the worst effects of climate change. And it’s changed their lives.
Swimmable garden ponds making a splash in the suburbs
Backyard pools are a great way to keep cool, but some people believe you can save time and money by ditching the chlorine and pool cleaner to go natural.
Amazon launches ‘sustainable data initiative’ to promote sustainability research and innovation
Amazon today announced the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative to promote sustainability research, innovation, and problem-solving by making key data easily accessible and even more widely available.
How much plastic is in your body?
Oysters are master water filterers. A single oyster can filter up to 1.3 gallons of water per hour. They process much of what ends up in Long Island Sound. That includes the ever-increasing load of tiny pieces of waste plastic.
Stopping climate change starts in the kitchen
Food waste is one of the most significant contributors to climate change — and everyone can do something about it.
Farewells to Germany’s last black coal mine are not because of pollution, but are the result of a wave of cheaper imports.
Charge of the electric cars [$]
Finally, the major brands are producing EVs with style and substance.
Residents of Russian city protest ‘black sky’ air pollution
Residents of Chelyabinsk are expressing worry over industrial pollution after heavy smog enveloped the Ural Mountains city this month and remained for two weeks.
China shows off massive solar power plant
The molten salt tower-type solar power plant covers a field of 7.8 square kilometers, with a heat-absorbing tower rising 260 meters above the ground. Using 12,000 large-sized reflection mirrors, the power plant is capable of generating power all day round, providing 390 million kWhs of electricity per year.
New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration as part of ‘carbon-neutral future’
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern says move ‘will essentially take effect in 30 or more years’ time’
Green New Deal: what is the progressive plan, and is it technically possible?
The idea, central to Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign, aims to eliminate greenhouse gas pollution – but lacks key political support
The tiny insect that holds major clues for improving renewable energy
Scientists have discovered that a wood-eating crustacean may hold the secret to unlocking a huge source of renewable energy from wood.
The most exciting corporate sustainability shifts of 2018
It’s been quite the year for companies–from Apple to UPS to Ikea–trying to lighten their environmental footprints.
Leafy green neighborhoods tied to better heart health
People who live in neighborhoods with more green spaces may have less stress, healthier blood vessels and a lower risk of heart attacks and strokes than residents of communities without many outdoor recreation areas, a small study suggests.
Is it safe to use baby powder after asbestos claims and cancer lawsuits?
Lucia Stein
There has been increasing debate in recent years about the safety of talcum powder. So we’ve had a look at how it’s made and if you should stop using it.
Don’t waste your dog’s poo — compost it
M. Leigh Ackland
A medium-sized dog produces about 180 kilograms of poo a year and with 9 million dogs in Australia, it can really start to pile up. But we can make the most of it.
Indians promised benefits of 100 smart cities, but the poor are sidelined again
Sujeet Kumar
Indians were promised they would be included in planning 100 smart cities and that everyone would benefit. But many of the millions of slum residents have had no say in their homes being destroyed.
Organic, free-range, fairtrade or vegan: how ethical consumption got so selective
Michal Carrington
We all have the blinkers on when shopping with our ethics.
The answer to plastic pollution is to not create waste in the first place
Monica Wilson
With China refusing foreign waste under its new policy, countries are forced to handle their own plastic pollution.
China leads green finance revolution [$]
Chanticleer
When Ma Jun, a member of the monetary policy committee of China’s central bank, put forward a radical idea to halve the amount of capital held on bank balance sheets against green loans there was barely a ripple of international interest.
Thinking of going vegan for the new year? Think again
Elizabeth Farrelly
It’s likely a lot less healthy – for you and for the planet – than is commonly believed.
Nature Conservation
Irrigation and climate change are strangling one of the world’s holiest rivers
Israel is bringing desalinated seawater to the drought-stricken Jordan Valley, where irrigation and climate change are strangling one of the world’s holiest rivers.
Scotland considers continental wildcats to save native species from extinction
Releasing ‘pure’ animals could counter interbreeding with domestic cats, experts say
Japan to restart commercial whaling in its waters
Frustrated with the deadlock between pro- and anti-whaling nations at the International Whaling Commission, the Japanese Government confirms it will exit the organisation and restart commercial whaling in July.
Historical genomes reveal recent changes in genetic health of eastern gorillas
The critically endangered Grauer’s gorilla has recently lost genetic diversity and has experienced an increase in harmful mutations. These conclusions were reached by an international team of researchers who sequenced eleven genomes from eastern gorilla specimens collected up to 100 years ago, and compared these with genomes from present-day individuals.
Copper mine destroying forests in Panama’s Mesoamerican Biological Corridor
From the air one can observe the destruction wrought by an open-pit mining project in Cerro Petaquilla and on the ground people talk about its environmental consequences.
We need to talk about palm oil
Our insatiable demand is wreaking havoc on the planet – and our climate.
Surprising changes will affect biodiversity in 2019
Experts reveal 15 emerging trends that will significantly influence plants, animals and ecosystems—for better and worse
These nine measures reveal how forests are controlled by climate
One of the first studies to examine how climate is influencing functional traits in forest communities on a global scale found evidence of major changes.
Devastating Laos dam collapse leads to deforestation of protected forests
One of the companies involved with the dam reportedly blamed heavy rain and flooding for the collapse, but many have questioned their liability and believe the companies should be providing compensation.
The top 10 ocean conservation victories of 2018
(Just kidding, there were only three this year)
Vital ecosystems in tidal flats lost to development and rising sea levels
First global coastline survey shows 16% of tidal flats lost between 1984 and 2016
There aren’t plenty of fish in the sea, so let’s eat all that we catch
Aysha Fleming and Ingrid van Putten
Our preference for a limited variety of seafood drives up prices and threatens the industry’s sustainability.
One of the world’s rarest birds gets a new home
A team of British conservationists have released a small group of Madagascar pochards, one of the world’s rarest birds, at a lake in the north of Madagascar.
Conservation push yields results for UK sea life but challenges remain
Wildlife Trusts report comeback of rare seahorse breed and nudibranch slugs but plastic pollution still poses grave risk
Human waste, rubbish overwhelm some US national parks in shutdown
Officials are shutting some campgrounds and facilities but with large numbers of visitors arriving at parks across the country, locals are pitching in to clean toilets and empty bins.
Extinct species: These animals were lost forever in 2018
They’ve been on our planet for millions of years, but 2018 was the year several species officially vanished forever.
5 reasons to feel hopeful about the oceans in 2019
Here are five reasons to be optimistic about the oceans’ well-being in 2019.
Coral can take the heat, unlike experts crying wolf
Peter Ridd
This is why corals are one of the least likely species to be affected by climate change, irrespective of whether you believe the climate is changing by natural fluctuations or because of human influence.
Flash photography doesn’t harm seahorses – but don’t touch
Maarten De Brauwer et al
Our latest research, published in Nature Scientific Reports, shows that flash photography does not damage the eyes of seahorses, but touching seahorses and other fish can alter their behaviour.
Now for something completely different …
My magnificent seven. Seven really bright ideas (and one as old as time itself) from 2018
Peter Martin
Australians are full of good ideas. Many made their debut in the pages of The Conversation.