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What's love got to do with it?
With our newsfeeds covering the triple planetary crisis — climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution —in real time, the story about our environment is often one of doom, gloom and loss.
For decades, the climate wars have raged in Australian politics. In its most recent instalment, the Liberal Party formally abandoned the net zero by 2050 climate target earlier this month.
It is unsurprising that more than 2 of 3 young Australians are affected by 'eco-anxiety', manifesting as stress, sadness, anger, or feelings of helplessness about the future.
But what if the stories we tell each other and ourselves about nature stand in the way of protecting it?
Amidst the crises, Natalie Kyriacou OAM's new book Nature's Last Dance reveals a hidden world of survival and wonder, curiosity and courage, joy and even hilarity. Can falling back into love with nature help us chart a new course for nature and show us why it is worth fighting for?
This Folio Conversation will examine the current and future state of nature, biodiversity and conservation in Australia and beyond. It is part of a collection of events and curated content on the theme 'State of Nature', exploring sustainability and our species' complex and evolving interrelationships with the natural world we inhabit. Think climate wars, biodiversity, conservation, and Australia's politically contentious transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
Conversation Leader - Natalie Kyriacou OAM
Natalie is an award-winning environmentalist, presenter, and charity director on a mission to spark curiosity about the natural world. She is the author of Nature's Last Dance.
Natalie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Forbes 30 Under 30 Honour for her services to wildlife and environmental conservation in 2018. She was a United Nations Environment Programme Young Champion of the Earth Finalist. She is one of LinkedIn’s 2022 'Top Green Voices' and named as one of The Australian’s 2022 'Top Innovators'. In 2025, she was named as a Marie Claire 'Women of the Year' nominee.
Natalie is the Founder and Chair of My Green World, a Board Director at Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, a former Board Director at CARE Australia, a W20 Delegate (official G20 engagement group), and a UNESCO Green Citizens Pathfinder. She sits on the XPRIZE Global Brain Trust for Biodiversity and Conservation. She is a National Ambassador for the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Event Format
First time joining a Folio Conversation?
Folio Conversations explore the big issues of our times in a welcoming and trusted setting.
These unique small-group gatherings:
- connect people from all walks of life with inspiring thinkers and doers
- prioritise open, honest and inclusive dialogue
- limit seat numbers so everyone can meaningfully participate
- encourage curiosity, active listening, and sharing of ideas, perspectives and experiences
Our main goal is to help you better understand the issues, each other, and the world around us.
Folio is an independent, non-partisan, and not-for-profit social enterprise. We exist to strengthen democracy through connected, citizen-led dialogue. Democracy evolves one conversation at a time. Our mission is to have better conversations, more often.
