River on fire: even if it's not coal seam gas we should still be concerned
May 03, 2016 07:12 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Astonishing footage of a river in Queensland on fire has once again stoked the coal seam gas (CSG) debate. The video shows NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham setting fire to methane seeping from the Condamine...
World's biggest investors risk another more severe global financial crisis
May 02, 2016 02:42 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Financial markets are again misunderstanding or ignoring risk, and are certainly under-pricing it, both as individual institutions and systemically. The risk is another global financial crisis. The GFC of 2008 had its...
Phasing out fossil fuels for renewables may not be a straight forward swap
May 02, 2016 01:34 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature
To have any chance of preventing dangerous climate change, the world needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero or even negative by mid-century. Many experts suggest this means we need to completely phase out...
How London’s next mayor could fix air pollution – and save lives
Apr 29, 2016 15:16 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics Nature
Each year, nearly 9,500 people die due to Londons air pollution. Its one of the biggest challenges for the capitals next mayor literally a matter of life and death. The problem has been around for decades. In fact,...
Apr 29, 2016 10:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Nature
Its more than a little disconcerting to wake every hour or so, gasping for air, suffocating. It happened to me during a field season in southern Tibet camped at about 5400 metres above sea level. With my normal sleep...
Firms in greener countries pay less to borrow money – new study
Apr 27, 2016 08:30 am UTC| Research & Analysis Nature
After years of pressure from consumers, employees and activists, the business world is increasingly convinced of the importance of improving its impact on society and the natural environment. In a UN/Accenture survey from...
Great Barrier Reef bleaching stats are bad enough without media misreporting
Apr 27, 2016 01:47 am UTC| Nature
The widespread bleaching event occurring across the Great Barrier Reef is unprecedented in scale and severity. It has rightly gained global media attention. Sadly, however, some of the headlines it has generated are...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects