The Conversation

Australia committed to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030 when we signed the global biodiversity framework. But what does that really mean? It’s open to interpretation. So let’s be ambitious. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ten years of data from Australia’s comprehensive national flying-fox monitoring program reveals the grey-headed flying fox (fruit bat) population is stable. It’s good news for this threatened species. Eric Vanderduys, Research Projects Officer, CSIRO Adam McKeown, Experimental Scientist in Ecology, CSIRO Chris R. Pavey, Principal Scientist in Ecology, CSIRO John Martin, Adjunct associate and ecological research scientist, University of Sydney Peter Caley, Senior Research Scientist in quantitative ecology, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our plant species are pickier about their preferred temperature range than you would expect. That means many will have to move south, seeking cooler climes. Julian Schrader, Lecturer in Plant Ecology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many measures commonly thought to reduce the toll of animals injured and killed on our roads aren’t effective. But there is evidence to support other solutions. Graeme Coulson, Honorary Principal Fellow, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne Helena Bender, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Social Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The result shows climate change education in schools must become more holistic and empowering, and children should be allowed to shape the future they will inherit. Chloe Lucas, Lecturer and Research Fellow, School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences. Coordinator, Education for Sustainability Tasmania, University of Tasmania Charlotte Earl-Jones, PhD Candidate, University of Tasmania Gabi Mocatta, Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania, and Lecturer in Communication, Deakin University Gretta Pecl, Professor, at IMAS and Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania Kim Beasy, Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Tasmania Rachel Kelly, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Future Ocean and Coastal Infrastructures (FOCI) Consortium, Memorial University, Canada, and Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our tallest trees are world champions when it comes to capturing and storing carbon, but they don’t like the heat. Climate change will trigger mass tree deaths in Tasmania. Here’s what can be done. Tim Wardlaw, Research Associate, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Monitoring methods based on environmental DNA are faster, more comprehensive and cheaper than traditional ecological surveys. They help fill gaps in New Zealand’s data on river health. Michael Bunce, Honarary Professor in Environmental Genomics, University of Otago Simon Jarman, Professor of Environmental Genomics, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

China’s two largest EV battery makers are pledging to slash the cost of their batteries this year. Behind the pledge is a cost war – and new battery chemistries. Muhammad Rizwan Azhar, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University Waqas Uzair, Research associate, Edith Cowan University Yasir Arafat, Senior research associate, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many common insects seem to disappear during autumn and winter – but they are still around. Making your garden a good winter habitat can help these vital pollinators survive and thrive. 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.

We’ve known about dryland salinity for a century. But while we’ve made progress, the problem hasn’t yet been solved. Nik Callow, Associate Professor - Geography, The University of Western Australia David Pannell, Professor and Director, Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy, The University of Western Australia Ed Barrett-Lennard, Professorial fellow, Murdoch University Richard George, Honorary fellow, The University of Western Australia Tom Hatton, Adjunct professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In states with competition between retailers, the energy regulator is promising savings for most customers on the default plan. But it’s small change compared to price hikes. Here’s what to expect. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s plants and animals are globally unique and underpin primary production and tourism. The government’s fast-tracking proposal threatens to erode the natural capital the economy relies on. Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Jo Monks, Lecturer in Ecology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Conditions deteriorated in 2023 but were stlil relatively good for ecosystems and agriculture. Unfortunately, the alarming decline of threatened species continued. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Shoshana Rapley, Research Assistant, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Tayla Lawrie, Project Manager, Threatened Species Index, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the 19th century, the world ran on steam. In the 21st century, little has changed. Every thermal power plant still relies on steam as a final stage. Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The amount of detailed real-time data a smart grid needs to manage the push for electrification and renewables presents challenges – but there’s an affordable solution. Ali Pourmousavi Kani, Senior Lecturer of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide Rui Yuan, Industry PhD Candidate, School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We know fast fashion is bad for the environment. Ultra-fast fashion makes matters worse. This disturbing trend towards disposable clothing is the opposite of sustainable. Here’s what must be done. Taylor Brydges, Research Principal, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Blink and you’ll miss it. The kowari is a charismatic marsupial carnivore that needs our help. Katherine Moseby, Associate Professor, UNSW Sydney Katherine Tuft, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We scanned the tree canopy with lasers and found birds much prefer the branches of big old trees. Stanislav Roudavski, Senior Lecturer in Digital Architectural Design, The University of Melbourne Alex Holland, Researcher at Deep Design Lab and PhD Candidate at Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne Jason Thompson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The two alpine regions projected to suffer the greatest loss of snow cover in the world are in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Adrian McCallum, Discipline Lead - Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electric vehicles have long come at a premium. But as cheaper models arrive, outer suburban residents are taking to EVs to save on petrol Park Thaichon, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.