Drought is inevitable, Mr Joyce

Aug 28, 2018 12:56 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Barnaby Joyce, Australias new special envoy for drought assistance and recovery, will have to be careful he doesnt do more harm than good. Government funding of agriculture during a drought typically falls into three...

The Lord Howe screw pine is a self-watering island giant

Aug 27, 2018 15:36 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

If youd like more content like this, sign up for the Beating Around the Bush newsletter for a dose of nature news every two weeks. Pandanus forsteri, a species of screw pine endemic to Lord Howe Island, grows tall like...

Curious Kids: Do butterflies remember being caterpillars?

Aug 27, 2018 15:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

This is an article from Curious Kids, a series for children. The Conversation is asking kids to send in questions theyd like an expert to answer. All questions are welcome serious, weird or wacky! You might also like the...

Here's how to reset New Zealand’s cultural diplomacy in the Pacific

Aug 27, 2018 15:16 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

As part of a renewed approach to diplomacy in the Pacific region, the New Zealand budget this year included a funding boost for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) - NZ$150 million additional operational...

Rising seas will displace millions of people – and Australia must be ready

Aug 24, 2018 03:55 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Sea-level rise is already threatening some communities around the world, particularly small island states, as it exacerbates disasters resulting from storm surges and flooding. If greenhouse gas emissions continue...

Tons of plastic trash enter the Great Lakes every year – where does it go?

Aug 21, 2018 16:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

Awareness is rising worldwide about the scourge of ocean plastic pollution, from Earth Day 2018 events to the cover of National Geographic magazine. But few people realize that similar concentrations of plastic pollution...

What Australian states can learn from Trump dismantling climate change policy

Aug 21, 2018 16:00 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature

The Trump administrations withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement was greeted with dismay around the world. Less well known, but probably just as damaging to emissions reductions, was freezing standards for carbon...