Topics tagged with 'Science'

Giving rivers more room to move could benefit people and nature
26 Mar 2025
Media release | Giving rivers space to roam rather than increasing conventional flood infrastructure to control them would help keep human settlements safer in a changing climate while also supporting freshwater ecosystems, says University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha (UC) School of Biological Sciences Associate Professor Jonathan Tonkin.

'Profound' drop in oxygen in the world's lakes in past 20 years
24 Mar 2025
Media release | Globally, dissolved oxygen levels in lakes are dropping due to climate change and heatwaves, modeling suggests.

'Our world is melting'
20 Mar 2025
Signs of human-induced climate change reached new heights in 2024, with some of the consequences irreversible over hundreds if not thousands of years, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation.

Extreme atmospheric rivers could double in future climate
19 Mar 2025
Media release | New Zealand could face twice as many of the most extreme atmospheric rivers by the end of the century, according to new research by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Trump officials decimate climate protections and consider axeing key greenhouse gas finding
14 Mar 2025
EPA takes aim at almost every major pollution rule in what environmentalists call act of 'malice toward the planet.'

The pot is already boiling for 2% of the world's amphibians
6 Mar 2025
Media release | Amphibians are increasingly vulnerable to global warming, according to new research.

Odds favour a warmer than usual autumn for parts of NZ
5 Mar 2025
Media release | Seasonal air temperatures are expected to be above average for the north and west of both the North and South Islands, according to NIWA's Season Climate Outlook for March-May 2025, with about equal chances for near average or above average seasonal temperatures for the east of the North Island and the east of the South Island.

NZ tops list of countries most at risk of urban fire in severe warming scenario
4 Mar 2025
New Zealand will be one of the countries worst affected by fires as a result of climate change, with fires expected to increase by over 40% by 2100 under extreme climate scenarios, according to new research.

Atlantic Ocean currents might withstand future warming
27 Feb 2025
Media release | The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may be able to withstand future global warming and could avoid collapse, a modelling study presented in Nature suggests.

Carbon capture framework coming
24 Feb 2025
The government wants to bring carbon capture and storage into the Emissions Trading Scheme, with plans to introduce legislation for a Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage framework this year.

Harvesting fog?
24 Feb 2025
Media release | A field study spanning a year showed that water collected from fog could ease water scarcity.

Invasive pines triple seed supply to spread across Aotearoa
21 Feb 2025
Lodgepole pines, a major weed in Aotearoa, have three times more seeds here than in their native North America, according to new research.

Kiwi climate solutions up for Earthshot Prize
20 Feb 2025
An ocean remediation project, a predator-free blueprint, cleaner greenhouses, and a company recovering metals from waste are all New Zealand-based nominees for one of five NZD$1.9m Earthshot Prizes.

There isn't enough 'sustainable' aviation fuel to make a dent in our emissions - and there won't be for years
13 Feb 2025
Burning SAF actually emits a similar amount of CO2 to fossil jet fuel. Most emissions 'savings' come from how we account for the waste and renewable energy that is used to produce it.

As Trump administration purges climate data and web pages, research groups scramble to save information
13 Feb 2025
The Trump administration has directed federal agency staff to remove climate references and scientific data from many web pages. Researchers are rushing to archive it.

Researchers look to underground future for hydrogen
5 Feb 2025
Kiwi researchers are modelling the injection, storage and extraction of 10,000 tonnes of underground hydrogen at a natural gas storage site in Taranaki.

Hundreds of native species highly vulnerable to climate change
3 Feb 2025
Media release | A major assessment released by DOC shows many of New Zealand's native plants and animals are in for a rough time as climate change impacts increase.

Higher temperatures may result in 2.3m extra deaths in European cities by 2100
24 Jan 2025
Temperature-related deaths in European cities could increase by up to 50% to reach up to 2.3 million additional deaths by the end of the century if we fail to tackle climate change, warn international researchers.

Siloed thinking hindering solutions to climate, health, and food crises – report
19 Dec 2024
'Siloed thinking' is holding back solutions to biodiversity, human health, climate change, water, and food security, according to a new report.

Cuts to science funding will hurt climate response
12 Dec 2024
Scientists and academics have slammed the government’s “horrifying” decision to cut humanities and social science funding, with some saying it will hinder the country’s ability to combat climate change.

2024 is the hottest year on record, EU scientists say
10 Dec 2024
This year will be the world's warmest since records began, with extraordinarily high temperatures expected to persist into at least the first few months of 2025, European Union scientists said on Monday.

Scientists find huge trove of rare metals needed for clean energy hidden inside toxic coal waste
10 Dec 2024
Millions of tons of coal ash left over from burning the planet’s dirtiest fossil fuel are sitting in ponds and landfills, able to leach into waterways and pollute soil. But this toxic waste may also be a treasure trove for the rare earth elements needed to propel the world toward clean energy.

NZ wildlife among most vulnerable to climate-driven extinction
6 Dec 2024
New Zealand species are among the most vulnerable to extinction in a warming world, according to a global analysis of 30 years of research.

Scientists find link between temperature and carbon storage rates
4 Dec 2024
Media release | A huge global study has used teabags to measure carbon storage in wetlands.

Missed opportunity to stop plastic pollution
3 Dec 2024
Countries failing to agree on a global treaty to curb plastic pollution after a week of talks in South Korea is a missed opportunity, according to a New Zealand plastics expert.

Investment lagging in climate action – report
27 Nov 2024
A new report looks at the barriers to investment at the core of the priorities of COP29.

We can't afford to be complacent about the effects of tropical cyclones – experts
26 Nov 2024
A symposium currently taking place in Rotorua will bring together recent research on tropical cyclone ecology, with a special focus on the ecological impacts of last year's Cyclone Gabrielle.

Microbes behind unprecedented surge in methane emissions
26 Nov 2024
Media release | Microbes - such as those living in wetlands, landfills or the digestive tracts of livestock - are behind unprecedented spikes in methane emissions, according to new research from the University of Colorado and NIWA.

Study finds four global policies could eliminate >90% of plastic waste and 30% of linked carbon emissions by 2050
25 Nov 2024
A study released in Science determines that just four policies can reduce mismanaged plastic waste—plastic that isn't recycled or properly disposed of and ends up as pollution—by 91% and plastic-related greenhouse gases by one-third.

Carbon tax best for lower emissions, economy – study
21 Nov 2024
A carbon tax is the most effective way for New Zealand to cut emissions while supporting a stable economy, according to a University of Auckland study.

New Zealand drops in global ranking on climate action
21 Nov 2024
Media release | Greenpeace is accusing the New Zealand government of ‘quiet quitting’ on climate change as the country drops seven points in the global rankings on climate action.

Scientists develop tool to monitor coastal erosion in fine detail
21 Nov 2024
Media release | An online tool developed by scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland allows for detailed monitoring of the nation’s coastal erosion from satellite imagery.

Plastic waste to double by 2050 – study
18 Nov 2024
New modelling published in Science suggests plastic waste will double by 2050 if we stick to business as usual, reaching an estimated 121 million metric tonnes.

We study climate change. We can’t explain what we’re seeing
15 Nov 2024
The Earth has been exceptionally warm of late, with every month from June 2023 until this past September breaking records. It has been considerably hotter even than climate scientists expected.

Govt ring-fences $60 million to investigate new geothermal energy
14 Nov 2024
The government is putting aside $60 million to investigate new geothermal energy generation technology, which has the potential to boost renewable energy output and slash emissions.

What 1.5C overshoot would mean for climate impacts and adaptation
14 Nov 2024
With average global temperatures set to see another record high this year, the chances of holding warming to no more than 1.5C continue to dwindle.

New research reveals that microplastics could be changing Earth’s climate
14 Nov 2024
Scientists discovered that microplastics act as ice nucleating particles in clouds, potentially influencing weather, climate, and even aviation safety. Microplastics in the atmosphere may alter precipitation and cloud formation, affecting climate patterns.

Zero chance NZ pulls out of climate agreement: Upton
13 Nov 2024
If Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the Paris Agreement, it’s not likely other countries such as New Zealand will follow, according to Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton.

Climate researchers drill deep for Antarctic climate clues
13 Nov 2024
Media release | Kiwi climate researchers are part of an ambitious mission to recover critical geological records to help forecast future sea-level rise.

NZ can do better on climate policy, says auditor general
8 Nov 2024
New Zealand’s legislative framework is a strength of its response to climate change, however it is not doing so well in other areas, according to a new report.

Trump stranglehold adds to growing doubts at climate talks
8 Nov 2024
Nearly 200 nations will soon gather for the annual COP29 summit, where efforts to increase funding for poor countries and slash emissions will run against the reality of a hostile American president.

UN report obscures meat’s true climate impact
4 Nov 2024
A United Nations climate report made headlines last week with a stark warning: the planet is on track to heat by 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius within the century.

California's schools are embracing vegan meals
1 Nov 2024
How have plant-based lunches spread so successfully? Credit environmentally conscious students — and a handful of state funding programmes.

Carbon credits essential part of decarbonisation toolkit: new report
31 Oct 2024
Carbon credits remain at the heart of global efforts to limit dangerous climate change, with prices predicted to rise towards US$125 by 2035, according to new analysis.

Gisborne community team up with experts to combat climate challenges
31 Oct 2024
Media release | University of Auckland researchers are working with a Gisborne iwi to tackle the pressing issues facing their remote community.

NZ adopts 'underwhelming' Commonwealth Ocean Declaration
30 Oct 2024
Commonwealth nations including Aotearoa and Pacific Island states have adopted the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration.

Carbon removal no solution if world overshoots warming target, scientists say
15 Oct 2024
Even greater efforts to strip carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will fail to avert climate change catastrophe as rising global temperatures threaten to cross a key threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

NZ air quality improving, but 'no safe level' for most pollutants
10 Oct 2024
While air quality is improving around Aotearoa, pollutants are still at levels that are above WHO guidelines, with climate change likely to worsen levels of pollen, wildfire smoke, and windblown dust.

Emissions reductions low priority for dairy farmers: new report
9 Oct 2024
New Zealand dairy farmers continue to prioritise financial viability over emissions reductions, despite generally accepting the threat of human-induced climate change, according to a new study.

World on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster, scientists warn
9 Oct 2024
An international team of scientists is warning that the Earth is stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis, with environmental conditions that have never been encountered in human history.