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The Antarctic is a delicate ecosystem, nurturing thousands of species on land and in the waters. It’s famous for its seemingly endless white landscapes and majestic icebergs. Alarmingly, it’s one of the fastest warming places on the planet. Warmer temperatures mean that ancient ice sheets are melting, contributing to rising sea levels and is having a big impact on much of the wildlife that call Antarctica and, its icy waters, home.
Changing landscapes are putting whole colonies of the famous Adélie penguin at risk, while researchers are trying to understand feeding patterns of the mysterious minke whales so more work can be done to protect their potentially threatened food supply.
To learn more, explore our stories below.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to see the world through the eyes of a whale?
For the first time ever, scientists in Antarctica have attached a camera to a minke.
A colony of over 18,000 pairs of Adélie penguins suffered a catastrophic breeding failure.
It takes a lot to be able to survive on the Antarctic continent, but penguins do it in style.
I am joining tens of thousands of Australians in switching off for Earth Hour 2020 and raising our voices for nature. I proudly stand as part of a community that supports stronger action on climate change. This summer, everyone in Australia was affected by the bushfire emergency that ravaged our country. Entire towns and cities choked on toxic smoke. At the same time, Australia’s abundant sources of sunshine and wind lie untapped. We have the potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse by exporting our energy, technology and expertise to the world. Acting on climate is not a choice between the economy or our environment. Research by Melbourne University has found that the cost of inaction on climate change is much greater than the cost of action. Indeed, Australia has the opportunity to prosper under a zero-emissions future due to our abundant land and renewable resources. Our scientists and businesses tell us we already have the solutions to climate change, and our firefighters tell us we need them today. What we need is you and your will to make them happen. This year, the 26th UNFCCC Conference of Parties on Climate will take place in Glasgow in November. At this pivotal conference, countries all around the world will step up to make stronger and more meaningful policies. World leaders will make decisions that will impact our world for years to come. I am writing to urge you to use your influence to do more to meet the challenges of climate change. We need Australia’s federal and state governments to take urgent action by: - In the next year, start implementing legislated plans to accelerate the transition to a net-zero carbon economy if we are to have the best chance at protecting our beautiful natural heritage. - By the end of 2020, develop a costed industry plan for renewable exports to capitalise on Australia’s abundant renewable resources and position Australia as a renewable export powerhouse. It is time to face the climate challenge head-on, and realise Australia’s potential to export sunshine to the world, for our children’s future. That time is now. Don’t let me down. Yours sincerely, To: