How do heatwaves affect biodiversity?
By Cate Macinnis-Ng New Zealand summers are getting hotter – and humans aren’t the only ones feeling the effects. It’s not a mirage, our summers are getting hotter on average and we are experiencing more extremely hot days. News from NIWA that 2021 was New...
What caused the Tongan volcano eruption and what will happen next?
By Shane Cronin Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next. The Kingdom of Tonga doesn’t often attract global attention, but a violent eruption of an underwater volcano on January 15 has spread shock waves, quite literally, around half...
Are oceans the key to combating climate change?
By Maria Armoudian & Simon Thrush Oceans have already slowed the rate of global warming for decades, but unless we shift our approach to focus on them we will lose that capacity to solve the planetary overheating problem. As often happens with big meetings of...
How can we make our air cleaner and fresher?
Our researchers investigate what’s really in the air we breathe and how we can make it cleaner and fresher in our urban areas. The wood burner crackles away merrily, spreading warmth throughout your home. Its smoke goes up the chimney and out of sight. But you may be...
For silent nature: Why is birdsong declining across continents?
By Enzo Rodriguez-Reyes Supporting local initiatives of conservation, such as, predator control programs, reforestation in regional parks, planting native trees in your backyard and keeping your cat indoors can make a huge difference for our native birds. Hiking or...
Why are invasive species threatening Antarctica’s ecosystems?
By Dana M. Bergstrom & Shavawn Donoghue Invasive species are threatening Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems as human activity grows and the world warms. We tend to think Antarctica is isolated and far away – biologically speaking, this is true. But the continent is...
Do we need a fundamental rethink into how we address climate change?
By Anne Salmond The way the Government is investing in tackling climate change is scientifically ill-informed, and economically ill-considered. It needs a fundamental rethink, writes Dame Anne Salmond. My heart sank when I read about the commitments that New Zealand...
COP26: Does New Zealand’s latest climate pledge go far enough?
By Robert McLachlan New Zealand’s new climate pledge is a step up, but not a ‘fair share’. As the Glasgow climate summits gets underway, New Zealand’s government has announced a revised pledge, with a headline figure of a 50% reduction on gross 2005 emissions by the...
Is a healthy environment a human right?
By Nathan Cooper How the new human right to a healthy environment could accelerate New Zealand’s action on climate change. Last week’s formal recognition by the United Nations Human Rights Council that the right to a healthy environment is an essential human right has...Subscribe by Email
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