Issue 214

A bushfire is one of the most terrifying natural phenomena that anyone is likely to experience in Australia. To be caught in a bushfire is to witness a true hell on earth — conditions hot enough to melt metal, heat fluxes that literally vaporise vegetation, and smoke plumes so dense they turn day into night.

The ‘fire behaviour triangle’ – topography, weather and fuel – represents the three key factors that influence how a bushfire behaves. Weaken any one of these and a bushfire becomes more manageable.

Building bushfire resilience to preserve life and property requires consideration of buildings, individuals, communities and the environment.

New molecular techniques have shown that the population dynamics of yellowfin tuna in the Pacific Ocean are not as we thought. Further application of these techniques may herald a more scientific approach to management of ocean fisheries, and help curb illegal fishing.

While most Australians believe climate change is real, many think they won't be impacted as much as others – according to CSIRO's latest climate attitudes survey.

Ngadju people and CSIRO are bringing old and new ways of fire management together to help protect one of the most unique woodlands on the planet, Western Australia's Great Western Woodlands.

The Paris Agreement is an extraordinary achievement. But there is much work to be done to ensure global warming does not exceed dangerous levels.

Despite robust global economic growth over the past two years, worldwide carbon emissions from fossil fuels grew very little in 2014, and might even fall this year.

The only thing certain is change. But in the face of urban growth and associated chronic stresses, how do we strengthen our resilience, preserve community wellbeing and foster acceptance of change?