The Conversation

Climate change is making some parts of Australia unliveable or uninsurable. We need a national conversation about the planned relocation. A proposed National Relocation Authority can lead the way. Roslyn Prinsley, Head, Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Naomi Hay, Bachelor of Design (Honours) Convenor and Lecturer, School of Art and Design, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Understanding what to do when faced with flooding on the road is an important, yet often overlooked aspect of driver education, which could be the difference between life and death. Amy Peden, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health & co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, UNSW Sydney Kyra Hamilton, Associate Professor in Applied Psychology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Coalition’s pledge to build seven nuclear reactors poses serious questions about whether this nation can meet its international climate obligations. Sven Teske, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Millions of people are being urged to take part in Plastic Free July. Yet we know consumer choice is only one part of the picture. Eliminating plastic waste requires broader structural change. Bhavna Middha, ARC DECRA and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Ralph Horne, Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research & Innovation, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Only about 61% of dairy farm operators had reported their use of synthetic nitrogen a year after reporting rules came into force. Mike Joy, Morgan Foundation Senior Research Fellow in Freshwater Ecology and Environmental Science, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Megan Cornforth-Camden, Visiting Scholar, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Growing and changing demands for water and the increasing impacts of climate change are adding to the challenge of ensuring everyone has access to a safe and reliable water supply. Stuart Khan, Professor and Head of School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Over millions of years, a stable climate helped create this biodiversity hotspot. Climate change now threatens it. Sean Buckley, Lecturer in Molecular Ecology and Environmental Management, Edith Cowan University Luciano Beheregaray, Matthew Flinders Professor of Biodiversity Genomics, Flinders University Mark Allen, Post Doctoral Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch University Stephen Beatty, Research Leader (Catchments to Coast), Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A member of Australia’s Climate Change Authority, Lesley Hughes, explains what this body does – in light of high profile NSW politician Matt Kean’s appointment to the top job this week. Lesley Hughes, Professor Emerita, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

About a third of insects attracted to artificial lights die by morning, often from exhaustion. But we can help them, and the vital ecosystems they serve, by reducing light pollution. Janice Lord, Associate Professor in Botany, University of Otago Connal McLean, Natural History Technician – Invertebrates, Te Papa Tongarewa Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Public ownership is back in vogue, after the Coalition promised publicly owned nuclear plants in a decade. The problem is, the public service has been hollowed out. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Increasing coral bleaching will be worst for the most biodiverse reefs along the equator, impacting the livelihoods and nutrition of the people who depend on them. Camille Mellin, Senior Lecturer and ARC Future Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide Damien Fordham, Associate Professor of Global Change Ecology, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our purpose-built “frog saunas” allow amphibians to warm up in winter and bake off chytrid infections. You can even DIY and build a frog sauna for your own backyard with our step-by-step guide. Anthony Waddle, Schmidt Science Fellow in Conservation Biology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nuclear power stations produce high-level radioactive waste. It is dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years — and so far, the world has failed to deliver a safe, permanent storage method. Rosemary Hill, Adjunct Professor, James Cook University Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If Australia wants to maintain the world-heritage status of the Great Barrier Reef – indeed, if it wants to preserve the reef at all – we must act now to prevent more coral deaths. Jane Williamson, Professor in Marine Fisheries Ecology, Macquarie University Karen Joyce, Associate Professor - Remote sensing and geospatial technology, James Cook University Vincent Raoult, Senior lecturer in marine ecology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mining has not been particularly lucrative for New Zealand. It makes little economic sense to focus on digging for minerals, despite claims the new mines will aid in the country’s green transition. Glenn Banks, Professor of Geography, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There’s no mention of nuclear in Australia’s latest energy transition roadmap – because our energy market operator can only model power sources legal in Australia. Dylan McConnell, Senior Research Associate, Renewable Energy & Energy Systems Analyst, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Groundwater sustains life, from farming to wild animals. But we don’t fully know how quickly it recharges. Andy Baker, Professor, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Margaret Shanafield, Senior researcher, Hydrology/hydrogeology, Flinders University Marilu Melo Zurita, Associate Professor Human Geography, UNSW Sydney Stacey Priestley, Research Scientist, Environment Business Unit, CSIRO Wendy Timms, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our new report makes 12 recommendations for how industry, government, educators and First Nations communities can create jobs and fulfilling careers in clean energy. Chris Briggs, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Ruby Heard, PhD candidate in energy justice, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Coalition is sending mixed messages on community consultation when it comes to nuclear power. If the community never has the authority to influence the outcome, is it actually “consultation”? Diane Sivasubramaniam, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology Samuel Wilson, Associate Professor of Leadership, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An analysis of 88 million wildfire observations over the past 21 years shows a strong increase in the frequency and intensity of the most extreme fires around the world. Calum Cunningham, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Pyrogeography, University of Tasmania David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Grant Williamson, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.