Environmental science hit with severe funding cuts in Coalition universities overhaul

Academics warn cuts of nearly 30% will affect Australia's ability to cope with drought, bushfires, coral bleaching and global heating

Environmental science degrees have been hit with funding cuts of nearly 30%, as experts warn that it will affect Australia's ability to cope with drought, bushfires, mass extinction, coral bleaching and the effects of global heating.

Prof Dianne Gleeson, the president of the Australian Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (Acedd), said the cut to environmental sciences was one of the largest funding cuts to any university course", and had flown under the radar.