The Conversation

From an effigy hanging from a noose to an angry opponent wielding scissors, those who've sought to protect the precious Australian Alps have always been up against it. Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Birdwatchers have long known that to conserve nature, we need not only the intellectual expertise of science but also an emotional affinity with the living things around us. Russell McGregor, Adjunct Professor of History, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Western science often focuses on specific parts of complex ecosystems, but Indigenous knowledge systems consider all parts as interconnected and inseparable. This achieves better conservation results. Aisling Rayne, PhD candidate, University of Canterbury Channell Thoms, University of Canterbury Levi Collier-Robinson, PhD Student, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Try a few star jumps every hour, it'll make a massive difference to your warmth. Peter Osman, Scientist, Energy Efficiency & Renewables, CSIRO Peta Ashworth, Professor and Chair in Sustrainable Energy Futures, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the near future, we may see electric cars supplying power to smart grids or communities with their own independent microgrids. Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From a Hugh Jackman-esque spider to honouring traditional Indigenous words, these species have memorable names. Anthea Batsakis, Deputy Editor: Environment + Energy, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the first time, scientists have been able to quantify how much climate change contributed to glacial melt, using more than 40 years of data from New Zealand's retreating glaciers. Lauren Vargo, Research Fellow in the Antarctic Research Centre, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Western solutions to Pacific Island issues often end in failure. These countries must build their autonomy to survive climate change. Patrick D. Nunn, Professor of Geography, School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast Roselyn Kumar, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In Australia, coastal flooding is expected to be worse along the northern coast in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Ebru Kirezci, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Ian Young, Kernot Professor of Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Historically, basking sharks were caught as bycatch in New Zealand fisheries and seen in their hundreds in some inshore areas. They have disappeared and we don't know why. Adam Smith, Senior Lecturer in Statistics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand's electricity generation is already more than 80% renewable, but experts warn a 100% target would require significant over-building of renewable generation that would rarely be used. Janet Stephenson, Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Aboriginal people once used native grasses to produce bread. So let's resurrect Australia's ancient breadmaking tradition. Angela Pattison, Research scientist at Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney, University of Sydney Rebecca Cross, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Sydney Tina Bell, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research has found the window of opportunity for hazard reduction burns won’t actually get smaller, but instead change seasons. Giovanni Di Virgilio, Research associate, UNSW Annette Hirsch, Post Doctoral Research Fellow, UNSW Hamish Clarke, Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Jason Evans, Professor, UNSW Jason Sharples, Professor of Bushfire Dynamics, School of Science, UNSW Canberra, UNSW Melissa Hart, Graduate Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Jane Goodall is a pioneering primatologist who redefined what it means to be human. She spoke to Clive Phillips, a professor of animal welfare. Clive Phillips, Professor of Animal Welfare, Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Small mammals in northern Australia have been rapidly vanishing for the last 30 years, and scientists weren't sure why. Now, a major new study found feral livestock are largely to blame. Alyson Stobo-Wilson, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Charles Darwin University Brett Murphy, Associate Professor / ARC Future Fellow, Charles Darwin University Graeme Gillespie, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Jaana Dielenberg, Science Communication Manager, The University of Queensland John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To limit warming to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels, we'll need to cut global emissions by 7.6% each year this decade. It's difficult, but not impossible. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many scientific concepts, including bushfires and climate change, happen at scales outside human perception. So how can we ever understand them? Nanda Jarosz, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Carbon emissions are chilling the atmosphere 90km above Antarctica, at the edge of space John French, Atmospheric physicist, University of Tasmania Andrew Klekociuk, Principal Research Scientist, Australian Antarctic Division and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania Frank Mulligan, National University of Ireland Maynooth Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate-related financial risks have already entered the corporate boardroom. With this case, they’ve now come knocking at the government's door. Jacqueline Peel, Professor of Environmental and Climate Law, University of Melbourne Rebekkah Markey-Towler, Research assistant, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A public debate recently erupted among global taxonomists. Strongly-worded ripostes were exchanged. A comparison to Stalin was floated. But eventually, they worked it out. Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Les Christidis, Professor, Southern Cross University Richard L. Pyle, Associate lecturer, University of Hawaii Scott Thomson, Research associate, Universidade de São Paulo Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.