Technological advances like the Himawari-8 launched by Japan in 2014 have made significant improvements to our ability to measure the atmosphere, according to the latest State of the Environment Report.
As cities go, Australia's have some of the best air quality in the world. But even the relatively clean air of Australia can contain enough pollutants to impact on our health.
There will be huge environmental impact if we keep using raw materials as we did in the 20th Century. There is a way to build more sustainably.
Our newest laboratory will help develop and test innovative ways to plan and build Australia’s future cities.
Communities, governments and businesses in Australia need to work together on innovative strategies that will help adapt their coastal environments so they will be more resilient as extreme weather events driven by climate become more frequent.
The cost of replacing essential infrastructure damaged by disasters will reach an estimated $17 billion in the next 35 years. It is essential we systematically build disaster resilience in Australia.
Constant, complex changes in cities and mine sites are hard to monitor. Drawing on digital aerial photography, it's now possible to track land-use and vegetation changes in areas as small as 10-20cm.
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?
Increasingly, throughout the world, cities are being thought of not just as haphazard groupings of population, but as machines for creating prosperity and productivity.