Environment

Tree change for Melbourne, as the city plans for a warmer world

Dave Kendal under a Morton Bay Fig tree, a species which could become more abundant in a warmer Melbourne.

A warming climate means the days of Melbourne's boulevards being lined with exotic elm trees are numbered. Instead, the city's landmark boulevards will be lined with trees that can tolerate the higher temperatures forecast in the future. But don't think that automatically means gum trees.

'Amazing extremes' pushing plants to the brink

THE BIG PICTURE
Eventually, the drought can become a burden too great. This home near Ivanhoe was abandoned to the dust ...

Australia's inland plants are among those most likely to be affected by rising temperatures, challenging the concept that the country's weather extremes would make them less susceptible to global warming, a new study has found.