Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re going…
Category: Environment
The government wants to fast-track approvals of large infrastructure projects – that’s bad news for NZ’s biodiversity
In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to be of national or regional significance….
how Australia’s environment fared in the world’s hottest year
Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year and numerous weather disasters occurred as climate…
Oil firms want to drill in four of the UK’s areas of outstanding natural beauty
Think of onshore oil fields and images of oil derricks and “nodding donkeys” may spring to mind, perhaps in Texas or the Middle East. So it might come as a surprise to…
Four ways to eat less meat that are better for the planet, your health and your bank balance
Do I choose the meat in my local store or drive out of town for tofu instead? Shall I add honey to my winter porridge or would strawberries or mango be better?…
Even as the fusion era dawns, we’re still in the Steam Age
Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. But while the steam…
Smart meters haven’t delivered the promised benefits to electricity users. Here’s a way to fix the problems
Billions of dollars are being spent worldwide to modernise electricity grids with smart meters. These meters promise to save households money by making it easier for us to understand and manage our…
Emissions impossible? How the transport sector can help make the 2050 net-zero goal a reality
Meeting Canada’s ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2050 necessitates significant technological, behavioural and systemic changes in the transportation sector, a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Indeed, the transportation sector…
Elephant calves have been found buried – what does that mean?
The myth of elephant graveyards has pervaded popular culture, and recent observations of buried Asian elephant calves may finally give that legend some credence. In the research published in the Journal of…
Haiku has captured the essence of seasons for centuries – new poems contain a trace of climate change
A successful haiku could be described as a half-finished poem. Originating in Japan in the 17th century, the haiku uses a combination of sensory language, seasonal references, a sense of contrast and…