"Nine years ago, a rice paddy in eastern Java suddenly cleaved open and began spewing steaming mud. Before long, it covered an area twice the size of Central Park; roads, factories and homes disappeared under a tide of reeking muck. Twenty lives were lost and nearly 40,000 people displaced, with damages topping $2.7 billion."

"Tony Abbott was ousted as prime minister of Australia on Monday, raising the prospect of a more progressive national stance on climate change."

"Tony Abbott faces a cool reception when he flies to Port Moresby this week from Pacific Island leaders who say global inaction on climate change threatens their existence."

"Conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Tuesday announced cuts to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions that were immediately criticized by environmental groups and opposition politicians for lagging behind other advanced economies."

"Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's hostility to 'visually awful' wind farms has sent a chill through the industry and could jeopardize the country's biggest renewable energy project, a $2 billion-plus wind and solar plant in the country's north."

"The University of Western Australia has handed back $4m in federal government funding to host a “consensus centre” with climate contrarian Bjørn Lomborg, saying that lack of support among its academics made the centre untenable."

"Residents of the southern Vanuatu island of Tanna said they were running out of food and basic supplies on Tuesday, after a huge cyclone tore across the South Pacific nation wreaking widespread devastation but not the heavy death toll initially feared."

"Reports from the outer islands of Vanuatu on Monday painted a picture of utter destruction after a monster cyclone tore through the South Pacific island nation, flattening buildings and killing at least eight people."

"A maximum category five tropical cyclone was heading towards the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Friday, packing destructive winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph) and heavy rain, Vanuatu Meteorological Services (VMS) warned."

"How an unsuspecting farmworker from Kiribati became the brand ambassador of climate change — despite barely knowing what it was."