Humankind has much to celebrate. Our intellect has taken us to the moon, deciphered the code that defines us and created sublime works of art and music. But our intellect has also delivered us the means of our own destruction. In the last few hundred years we have not only…

The human race is staggering relentlessly toward catastrophe. We have now exceeded the planetary boundaries in at least three of nine identified domains, climate change being the most urgent. This is an appeal to the better angels of our nature. …

Climate change is the quintessential Tragedy of the Commons1 problem of our time. We are collectively exploiting the world’s resources and producing pollution and greenhouse gases beyond critical limits while ignoring the likely consequences. Climate disasters are already happening year on year, and we may already have crossed critical tipping…

First published in Meanjin Quarterly (Summer 2011) 70 (4): 50–57 and online at http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=712333786624872;res=IELLCC. (ISSN: 0025–6293) Helen Camakaris on how our evolutionary instincts are shaping our future on the planet. Some 150 years ago Charles Darwin enunciated the fundamental truth that underpins our understanding of the evolution of life on earth. Those individuals with the most appropriate genetic adaptations for a particular environment survive…

First published in The Conversation in 2012 Don't trust your Stone Age brain: it's unsustainable Cognitive dissonance is that uncomfortable feeling we have when we know we should invest in solar panels but the 46″…theconversation.com Cognitive dissonance is that uncomfortable feeling we have when we know we should invest in solar panels but the 46″ wide screen TV wins out; we know we should catch the bus but we take the car anyway. It’s that sense of discord…

How little things have changed in the last six years. Back in 2013 I wrote an article for The Conversation called “ Wanted: political leader with a vision for a sustainable future “. Like most people, I hoped climate policy would improve, but years of infighting and adversarial politics have…

How do we escape our evolutionary shortcomings to avoid climate catastrophe? Humankind is facing existential environmental problems: the climate is changing and, indeed, change has become the new norm. Global temperatures are increasing, the Arctic is melting and oceans are rising. Reports of catastrophic weather events are now a regular…

A sustainable future remains within our grasp but — thanks to the way human brains work — only governments can implement many of the necessary strategies. Our political leaders have a unique responsibility. Consensus politics and compromise may well be the only way that we can deal with existential threats…