The Conversation

Last month’s dire report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change may have left you feeling overwhelmed. But small changes at the household level really can make a world of difference. Andreas Chai, Associate Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

‘Shape shifting’ animals are evolving to deal with heat – by changing the size of their ears, tails, bills and other appendages. Sara Ryding, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Matthew Symonds, Associate professor, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Goby fish and coral rely on each other to survive. But new research found gobies are declining under climate change, dealing a double blow to Australia’s reefs. Catheline Y.M. Froehlich, PhD Fellow, University of Wollongong Marian Wong, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong O. Selma Klanten, Research Scientist, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From its inadequate safety provisions to vague wording around Native Title rights and interests, the bill leaves us wanting. Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Tina Soliman Hunter, Professor of Energy and Natural Resources Law, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The research, focused on the Jordan Springs estate in Western Sydney, found houses were built close together and made from materials which exacerbate hot weather. Victoria Haynes, Research Officer, University of Sydney Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Emma Calgaro, Research Associate, Sydney Policy Lab, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Meet the parma wallaby: for decades it was presumed extinct, until it turned up in New Zealand. Today, its failure to charm Australians may have doomed it – for good. Elliott Dooley, PhD Candidate, University of Newcastle Matt Hayward, Professor of Conservation Science, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This is the first time researchers have calculated the amount of carbon released from the world’s decaying wood. They found insects play an enormous role. Marisa Stone, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Kurtis Nisbet, Scientific Officer, Griffith University Sebastian Seibold, Adjunct Teaching Professor, Technical University of Munich Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research also identified steps people wished they’d taken to prepare for disaster, such as protecting sentimental items, planning a meeting place and better managing stress. Agathe Tiana Randrianarisoa, PhD student and Senior Researcher, RMIT University John Richardson, Honorary Fellow, Child and Community Wellbeing Unit, Beyond Bushfires Research Program, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Adopt, neuter and return, or kill? There’s no easy way to deal with Australia’s stray cat problem, and we compare the main options. Trish Fleming, Professor, Murdoch University Heather M. Crawford, Assistant researcher, Murdoch University Mike Calver, Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, Murdoch University Tida Nou, Project officer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The push for a new environmental crime has attracted high-profile backers including French President Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg. But we must get the details right. Anthony Burke, Professor of Environmental Politics & International Relations, UNSW Danielle Celermajer, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new book says Australia’s 20-year water trading experiment is sucking hundreds of millions of dollars each year out of the Murray-Darling Basin and directing water away from productive land. Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, The University of Melbourne Stuart Kells, Adjunct Professor, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s alpine region warmed for about 600 years. What makes this climate change particularly interesting is that it bears striking similarity to today. Zoë Thomas, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Haidee Cadd, Research associate, University of Wollongong Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Imagine flying for five days straight, arriving at your destination emaciated and exhausted, only to find your habitat has disappeared. Such is the plight of the Latham’s Snipe. Birgita Hansen, Senior Research Fellow, Federation University and Better Data for Better Decisions Constellation Leader, Food Agility CRC, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

They argued the NSW Environment Protection Authority should take action on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In an Aussie first, the court agreed. Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s conservation needs to consider the long-term impact of climate change and focus not only on protecting native species but on preserving ecological richness. Tom Womack, PhD Candidate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Major coal generators say the proposal will help shore up energy supplies. But opponents say it will pay coal plants for simply existing and delay the clean energy transition. Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University Joel Gilmore, Associate Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s a clash that might rival Crocodile Dundee in New York City. While both iconic birds of prey are similarly sized, one is bolder and more ferocious. Dominique Potvin, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Understanding the moral dimensions of climate decisions could help promote fairer and more effective climate action Jacqueline Lau, Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Andrew Song, Lecturer / ARC Discovery Early Career Research Fellow (DECRA), University of Technology Sydney Jessica Blythe, Assistant Professor, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, Brock University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This fluffy-eared marsupial was listed as ‘vulnerable’ under the national environment law in 2016. Five years later, it meets the criteria to be listed as ‘endangered’. Australia must do better. Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Kita Ashman, Threatened Species & Climate Adaptation Ecologist, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Greenland’s melting ice sheets threaten to significantly hamper humanity’s efforts to mitigate climate change. Willow Hallgren, Adjunct Research Fellow, Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.