The Conversation

There are 85 'threatened ecological communities' listed under Australian environment law. But unrealistic criteria means they're not adequately protected. Manu Saunders, Lecturer, University of New England Deborah Bower, Lecturer in Ecosystem Rehabilitation, University of New England John Thomas Hunter, Adjunct Associate Professor in Landscape Ecology, University of New England Sarah Mika, Senior research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite the government spruiking a 'gas-led economic recovery', natural gas is clearly on the way out. It's time for a serious rethink on the way many Australians cook and heat our homes. Madeline Taylor, Lecturer, University of Sydney Susan M Park, Professor of Global Governance, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the world's largest rainforest, the Amazon is not only an important carbon sink, but also home to thousands of species of plants and animals and a crucial part of the water cycle. Sebastian Leuzinger, Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's high time the international shipping industry radically curbed its emissions. The industry must set a net-zero target and adopt a realistic plan to meet it. Christiaan De Beukelaer, Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Buffel grass causes just as much damage to native wildlife as feral cats. But with the right control measures, biodiversity can bounce back. Christine Schlesinger, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science and Ecology, Charles Darwin University Ellen Ryan-Colton, PhD candidate, Charles Darwin University Jennifer Firn, Professor, Queensland University of Technology John Read, Associate Lecturer, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We identify a few harmless spiders you've probably seen around the house and backyard — and a few that are best avoided. Lizzy Lowe, Postdoctoral researcher, Macquarie University Samantha Nixon, PhD, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The strange appearance of three humpback whales in a Kakadu river threw up many questions – including whether they'd come out on top in a fight with a crocodile. Vanessa Pirotta, Wildlife scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A changing climate means parts of Australia will get hotter, some drier, others wetter and we can expect more extreme fire days. Michael Grose, Climate Projections Scientist, CSIRO Lynette Bettio, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The groundbreaking legal case has changed the game for how Australia's $3 trillion superannuation industry invests, and how members are protected from climate risk. Anita Foerster, Senior Lecturer, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pink blood, green blood, or no blood at all – when it comes to what's inside a worm's body, the answer is more complicated – and fascinating – than you'd think. Mark Sandeman, Honorary Professor, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While much of the world moves towards zero-carbon economies, a NSW mega-plan for new renewables may set up the state as an energy superpower. Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University Joel Gilmore, Associate Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

At the start of the cyclone season in the Pacific, weather forecasters are changing their warnings to focus less on weather information and more on the damage expected from an impending storm. Sally Potter, Hazard and Risk Management Researcher, GNS Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If all, or even most, offspring of the survivors are shy, we could be facing an introduced pest population that is incredibly difficult to remove. Kyla Johnstone, PhD candidate, University of Sydney Clare McArthur, Professor, University of Sydney Peter Banks, Professor of Conservation Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

People tend to interpret things through a lens of their pre-existing beliefs. But they are not immune to changing their view, if you treat them with respect and understanding. Peter Ellerton, Senior Lecturer in Critical Thinking; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research involving CRISPR technology has furthered our understanding of corals' gene functions. Specifically, it has revealed a mechanism underpinning how corals withstand heat stress. Dimitri Perrin, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Jacob Bradford, Queensland University of Technology Line K Bay, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader, Australian Institute of Marine Science Phillip Cleves, Principal Investigator, Carnegie Institution for Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From property to local government, economic sectors are meeting the climate change challenge head on. Now the federal government must get on board. Anna Malos, Project Manager, climate and energy policy, ClimateWorks Australia Amandine Denis-Ryan, Head of National Programs, ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Life-cycle assessments of food packaging often omit the impact and possible toxicity of plastics leaking into the environment. Excluding these factors gives plastics an unjustified advantage. Trisia Farrelly, Senior Lecturer, Massey University Hannah Blumhardt, Senior Associate at the Institute of Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Takunda Y Chitaka, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of the Western Cape Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The royal commission made welcome and necessary recommendations around helping wildlife after hazards. But it's not enough to focus only on response. Ashleigh Best, PhD Candidate and Teaching Fellow, University of Melbourne Christine Parker, Professor of Law, University of Melbourne Lee Godden, Director, Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Under a Biden administration, fireside chats in the White House will come with new expectations that Australia significantly increases its ambitions under the Paris agreement. Christian Downie, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Smoke from the Black Summer fires likely caused more than 400 deaths. A national set of air quality categories is long overdue. Gabriel da Silva, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.