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"The highly anticipated iPhone 5 is finally in millions of people's hands.  Within three days of its September 21st launch, Apple had sold a record-breaking five million units. And within a year, analysts project that sales of the iPhone 5 will reach 170 million. The popularity of the new device got us thinking: how much juice does it take each year to charge a next-generation smartphone? And how does the energy consumption of smartphones compare to that of other consumer electronics? To find out, we got our hands on a new iPhone 5 and also a Samsung Galaxy S III - currently the hottest Android handset - then headed into the Opower Lab for some testing. Here's what we found, and our assessment of what it suggests about the energy impact of our increasingly on-the-go digital lifestyles…"

"Global drought has not increased significantly over the past 60 years, a report in Nature has found. Previous assessments of global drought have relied on the Palmer Drought Severity Index, which only accounts for temperature, and does not consider sunlight, humidity or wind. These assessments have falsely indicated that global drought will increase as the planet warms. The paper's authors show that when these additional factors are included, worldwide drought has actual changed very little since 1950."

"In 2008, the City of Yarra set a target to be carbon neutral by 2020. Not just council headquarters - the entire inner-city municipality. But how does a whole district go carbon neutral? It can't rely on government subsidies, or an unforeseen technological breakthrough, says Alex Fearnside, chief executive of Yarra Energy Foundation, the organisation established in 2010 to make it happen."

"- What does sustainability mean? - Why are we currently unsustainable? - What is an ecological footprint? - What's the problem with plastic? - What about water? - And biodiversity? - How are people faring? - How can we find a sustainable path? - What are some great sustainability initiatives? This video introduces the concept of sustainability and explains our current situation on this planet, even before any potential challenges from climate change are involved. From the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability (ARIES) at Macquarie University, Sydney. "

"If you're thinking about building green, keep this infographic nearby, as it covers thirteen elements that you'll want to consider in the design and construction of your home. Also keep in mind that this list isn't definitive; it does, however, demonstrate well that building green involves big-picture thinking beyond "Hey, let's put solar panels up.""

"Shining a Light on Sustainability is an introductory video from the Australian Research Institute for Environment and Sustainability at Macquarie University, Sydney.  This video introduces the concept of sustainability and explains our current situation even before any potential challenges from climate change are involved. What does sustainability mean? Why are we currently unsustainable? What is an ecological footprint? What's the problem with plastic? What about water? And biodiversity? How are people faring? How can we find a sustainable path? What are some great sustainability initiatives?"

Today, we produce about four billion metric tonnes of food per annum. Yet due to poor practices in harvesting, storage and transportation, as well as market and consumer wastage, it is estimated that 30-50% (or 1.2-2 billion tonnes) of all food produced never reaches a human stomach. Furthermore, this figure does not reflect the fact that large amounts of land, energy, fertilisers and water have also been lost in the production of foodstuffs which simply end up as waste. This level of wastage is a tragedy that cannot continue if we are to succeed in the challenge of sustainably meeting our future food demands.

"Gadgets get discarded at ever faster rates and account for millions of tons of consumer electronic waste every year. To feed production, more and more resources are claimed and we are beginning to suffer from the immense burden on the natural and social environment. What is the purpose of driving the technological advancement? Does it help us create something that will last? Where are we going so fast? We don't know. Or do we?"

"How much would you pay to avoid another $250 a year hike in your electricity bill? Does $15 a year sound like too much to reduce that risk?"

"Australia's carbon pricing mechanism has been vilified by the Federal Opposition and certain members of the business community, but it is a key part of Australia's response to climate change. So one year on, where does it stand? Far from being "absolutely catastrophic" and a "wrecking ball" to the economy as initially predicted by Tony Abbott, the Australian economy is still ticking over much as it was. Anyone with genuine concerns on the impacts of the carbon price should be comforted by experience to date, and those engaging in fear mongering will need to find a new story."

But how much can wind farms and solar panels contribute to a solution? Are they really the best option for Australia's energy future? And what part does the media play in the communication of all of this? The Science behind the headlines event (22 May 2012) held by RiAus attempted to answer these questions by combining a panel of scientists with experienced journalists - led by RiAus Programs Co-ordinator James Byrne. Each of the participants' knowledge of their specific field made for a varied and vibrant discussion that covered a wide range of topics. Is the public really aware of alternative energy options?

Which countries in the world emit the most carbon dioxide? How fast has China overtaken the US to reach the number one position? And why does Gibraltar have such high emissions per person? This interactive guide made for us by Craig Bloodworth of the Information Lab gives you a way to navigate the latest Energy Information Administration data

Climate change has altered the behaviour and interactions of many plants and animals, including when fish migrate and plants flower. But evidence has been lacking that such shifts have a genetic basis. Organisms often deal with environmental pressures by altering traits through a process known as phenotypic plasticity, which does not require genetic changes. But many organisms will need to evolve genetic adaptations to climate change to survive, and seasonal traits such as the timing of migration are those most likely to evolve as they are genetically heritable.

The Clean Energy Regulator is an independent statutory authority established by the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011. The Clean Energy Regulator does not sit within a Government Department although it is an agency within the Climate Change Portfolio

"Since the Waubra wind farm started generating power in 2009, the town has acquired a dubious reputation: the so-called `Waubra Disease' is now known internationally. But how much sense does it make? Whilst there's a small number of complainants among the population of 500, there are also 30 families hosting turbines on their land as well as many turbine neighbours -- including community leaders - who live happily with the turbines. Neil Barrett has been researching the Waubra situation for the past year. Whilst his attempts so far to understand the issues raised by complainants have been unsuccessful, it has become clear to him that the apparent good health and well-being of the turbine hosts and most of their neighbours deserves to be more widely known. "

Moveo is a foldable bicycle-weight scooter that becomes an everyday commodity by its flexibility, its simple storage, security, comfort, aesthetics or its ease of recharging. It is easy to use; it is efficient even in crowded urban traffic. It operates silently, with minimum energy consumption and does not pollute the environment directly.

"Superannuation (or pension) funds represent the single largest pool of money in the world, more than $30 trillion. What does that have to do with climate change? Taking a more active role in our investments and how they are managed represents a huge opportunity for securing a more sustainable, low-carbon future. This report consolidates analysis and review of the impact of climate and carbon risks on superannuation savings. It builds on work The Climate Institute has done with its partner organisation the Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP) and looks at the emerging civil economy movement, in the context of fossil fuel divestment campaigns and activism activities such as the The Vital Few campaign. On this page you'll find the report and related content including infographics, videos, podcasts, photo essays and presentations. "

"Over 2012 and 2013, parts of New Zealand experienced their worst drought in nearly 70 years. Drought is the costliest climate extreme in New Zealand; the 2012-2013 event depressed the country's GDP by 0.7-0.9%. The drought of 1988-1989 affected 5,500 farms, pushing some farmers to the wall. But what does a climate-changed future hold? Recent evidence confirms that New Zealand on the whole is getting dryer. And we're beginning to understand why - increasing greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases are driving changes in the atmosphere, with impacts far beyond New Zealand."

"Commerce knits the modern world together in a way that nothing else quite does. Almost anything you own these days is the result of a complicated web of global interactions. And there's no better way to depict those interactions and the social and political circumstances that give rise to them than with a map or two. Or in our case, 38. These maps are our favorite way to illustrate the major economic themes facing the world today. Some of them focus on the big picture while others illustrate finer details. The overall portrait that emerges is of a world that's more closely linked than ever before, but still riven by enormous geography-driven differences."