The Conversation

Emissions from Australia's electricity sector have dropped markedly during the pandemic. But a recession could cloud the renewables outlook. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Mousami Prasad, Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Roaming pet cats kill 390 million animals per year in Australia. Most of the animals are native to Australia. Jaana Dielenberg, Science Communication Manager, The University of Queensland Brett Murphy, Associate Professor / ARC Future Fellow, Charles Darwin University Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Leigh-Ann Woolley, Adjunct Research Associate, Charles Darwin University Mike Calver, Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, Murdoch University Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Earth's has gone through major climate changes in the past. They happened on time scales of millions of years and triggered mass extinctions. Our emissions are changing the climate much faster. James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (climate science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some species, including blue whales, spend little time at the surface. So despite their overwhelming size, they can be hard to find and tough to study. Grace Russell, PhD Candidate, Southern Cross University Daniele Cagnazzi, Researcher, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The review examined hundreds of studies and concluded the lower Murray should remain a freshwater ecosystem, or severe environmental and economic damage will result. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Bruce Thom, Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney Celine Steinfeld, Acting Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists & Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW Sydney Eytan Rocheta, Policy Analyst, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists & Adjunct Associate Lecturer at UNSW Sydney Nicholas Harvey, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research reveals how governments ignored decades' worth of scientific advice on how the Adani mine threatened to damage precious water supplies. Matthew Currell, Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University Adrian Werner, Professor of Hydrogeology, Flinders University Chris McGrath, Associate Professor in Environmental and Planning Regulation and Policy, The University of Queensland Dylan Irvine, Senior lecturer in hydrogeology, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Two hundred years of forced dispossession cannot erase millennia of land ownership and connection to country. Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Associate Professor in Biogeography, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The imperative to keep a roof over our head keeps us wedded to economic growth. If we want to halt climate change, we need another way Samuel Alexander, Research fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne Alex Baumann, Casual Academic, School of Social Sciences & Psychology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Expanding numbers of feral horses roaming the Australian Alps threaten the alp's ecosystems, soils and unique species. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Dick Williams, Adjunct Professorial Fellow, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate action is a vital protection against further global shocks, especially as governments plan their post-pandemic stimulus packages. Anna Skarbek, CEO at ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Environmentalists say the new film has caused untold damage at a time when change has never been more urgent. So why is it so controversial? Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The response of individual nations to coronavirus has largely been ad hoc, piecemeal and in many cases, lethally ineffective - just like climate action. Sunil Venaik, Associate Professor of International Business, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Food choices make a difference to the climate impact of our diet. Every step towards eating a more plant-based diet results in lower emissions, better population health and reduced healthcare costs. Alexandra Macmillan, Associate Professor Environment and Health, University of Otago Jono Drew, Medical Student, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The findings point to how Australia's most important river system might be altered by future sea level rise. Hannah Power, Senior Lecturer in Coastal Science, University of Newcastle Anna Helfensdorfer, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney Tom Hubble, Associate professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sheep exported live for slaughter in the Middle East are routinely exposed to high temperatures. Clive Phillips, Professor of Animal Welfare, Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The international tourism crisis offers New Zealand the opportunity to reimagine domestic tourism - if operators and consumers can adapt. Sabrina Seeler, Postdoctoral Researcher, Nord University Michael Lueck, Professor of Tourism, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's more freshwater than what the population of the Greater Sydney region uses, but finding this out wasn't easy. Ian Overton, Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Colossal squid have eyes the size of soccer balls, and can weigh up to 700kg. That's a lot of calamari! Culum Brown, Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government is spending $94 million to buy cheap oil. Instead, Australia should use the money to manufacture our own energy. Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Fellow and Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern History, Politics & International Relations, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian bats are getting unfairly targeted. Here’s why we should be giving them a fair go instead. Pia Lentini, Research Fellow, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Alison Peel, Senior Research Fellow in Wildlife Disease Ecology, Griffith University Hume Field, Science and Policy Advisor for China & Southeast Asia, EcoHealth Alliance | Honorary Professor, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland Justin Welbergen, President of the Australasian Bat Society | Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.