The Conversation

How do we ensure solutions to climate change doesn't make biodiversity loss worse? Fifty of the world's leading researchers on biodiversity and climate have sought to answer this question. Michelle Lim, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealanders have planted just over a quarter of a billion trees, about half of it native species, as part of an effort to increase carbon storage. Sebastian Leuzinger, Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Survey respondents who overestimated the amount and speed of sea-level rise were more likely to express greater concern. But concern is not always helpful in prompting action. Rebecca Priestley, Associate professor, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Richard Levy, Principal Scientist/Environment and Climate Research Leader, GNS Science Taciano L. Milfont, Reader in Environmental Psychology, University of Waikato Timothy Naish, Professor, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Zoë Heine, PhD Candidate, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the past, wildlife vigilantes have illegally moved Tasmanian devils off the island — an illegal practice known as "covert rewilding". They may well might try again. Michael Bode, Professor of Mathematics, Queensland University of Technology Zoe Nay, Research Associate, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's first 'land account' is a great example of the nation's environmental policy culture: we develop or adopt good ideas, but then tinker with, or even discard them. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Michael Vardon, Associate Professor at the Fenner School, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Barnaby Joyce's pro-mining stance is at odds with the more progressive quarters of the party, and puts the Nationals in a difficult position on global carbon tariffs. Geoff Cockfield, Professor of Government and Economics, and Deputy Dean, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sri Lanka is still grappling with the consequences of the cargo ship fire, which dumped tonnes of plastic and hazardous chemicals into the ocean. Claudio Bozzi, Lecturer in Law, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sacred trees are a cornerstone of our national identity. They transcend simple economics and sit at the centre of the sacred — sentinels in ceremony, birthing and burials. Rob N. Williams, Archaeologist & PhD Candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Advocacy groups play a crucial and neglected role in revealing systemic animal mistreatment. We need to make their actions unnecessary by with better transparency in the industries. Serrin Rutledge-Prior, PhD Candidate; Sessional Academic, Australian National University Tara Ward, Lecturer, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Alarmingly for the Morrison government, the public has well and truly registered its lack of action on climate change. Vlad Demsar, Lecturer of Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology Jason Pallant, Senior Lecturer of Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology Melissa A. Wheeler, Senior Lecturer, Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology Samuel Wilson, Associate Professor of Leadership, Swinburne University of Technology Sylvia T. Gray, Research Assistant and Casual Academic, Swinburne University of Technology Timothy Colin Bednall, Senior Lecturer in Management, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite their good intentions, cities rarely have the full set of skills and capabilities to turn their plans into a reality. Our research looks at what needs to change. Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Consider Ireland. Like New Zealand, it has high agricultural emissions and a poor climate track record so far, but it has adopted much stronger targets to cut emissions by 51% between 2018 and 2030. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research found power stations in the Latrobe Valley emit around 10 times more mercury than power stations in the Hunter Valley. The stark difference has a lot to do with regulations. Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University Anna Lintern, Lecturer, Monash University Cameron Holley, Professor, UNSW Darren Sinclair, Professor, University of Canberra Neil Rose, Professor of Environmental Pollution and Palaeolimnology, UCL Ruoyu Sun, Associate Professor Simon Haberle, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Egg production standards are about more than just a happy compromise. Hens are sentient, intelligent beings. Like us, they deserve a good life. Christine Parker, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne Lev Bromberg, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For Indigenous people, Country is more than a landscape. But climate change, and the natural disasters it produces, present a clear and present threat to Country, culture and heritage. Bhiamie Williamson, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal budget included $32 million to promote schemes in which farmers who adopt sustainable practices earn money on private markets. Evidence suggests the approach is plagued with problems. Philippa England, Senior Lecturer, Griffith Law School, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers found 16% of coral species have not been seen for many years. This finding is alarming, because local extinctions suggest global extinctions may be looming. Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Federal environment minister Sussan Ley wrote an opinion article saying the reef didn't deserve to be the poster child for climate change perils. We disagree. Terry Hughes, Distinguished Professor, James Cook University Jon C. Day, PSM, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Given the scale of the problem, five years was never enough time to turn things around. Clearly, we must reflect honestly on our successes and failures so far. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The broad-toothed rat rarely, if ever, gets its own story, so I want to introduce you properly to this fascinating, unique and beautiful species. It really needs our help. Chris Wacker, Postdoctoral Research Fellow - School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.