From remote Antarctica to the towering Himalayas, accelerating ice loss under climate change casts a stark shadow over ecosystems, coastlines, and the equilibrium of our global environment. Glaciologists like Professor Andrew Mackintosh work to understand past glacier and ice sheet changes to improve future predictions – and that future looks bleak.
On the 3rd of July, the record for the average global air temperature was broken. The northern hemisphere’s summer reminds us that extreme heat events may be just around the corner. A 50°C day, which climate scenarios gave small comfort was still some time off, could happen any time. How prepared is Victoria’s food system?
Fire patterns are linked to climate conditions, and have been undergoing changes in tandem with anthropogenic climate change. We must understand these changes to more effectively forecast and manage fires for both human safety and the preservation of biodiversity. Kate Bongiovanni explores Dr Luke Kelly’s work on “pyrodiversity.”
Climate Notes was an emotive, interactive exhibition and performance work that explores how we feel about climate change through music, letter writing and film. Developed by the Royal Botanic Gardens with funding from the Inspiring Victoria program, the project commissioned six Australian composers from different cities to write works evoking feelings about climate change and responding to the letters.
A significant, urgent and sustained reduction in emissions is required to reach greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. A target of 50% reduction relative to 2005 levels by 2030 for Australia would be consistent with the required rate of emissions reductions to meet the Paris Agreement targets of limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
