The Conversation

Removing engine idling would be like removing up to 1.6 million cars from the road. Robin Smit, Adjunct associate professor, University of Technology Sydney Clare Walter, PhD Candidate, Honorary Research Fellow, Advocacy Consultant., The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government has shown during the pandemic that it is prepared to impose great financial burdens for the sake of our health. We need them to do the same for another crisis: climate change. Judith Brett, Emeritus Professor of Politics, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has failed to ratify an international treaty to reduce harmful mercury emissions. Mercury exposure can cause kidney damage and brain impairment, especially in children. Larissa Schneider, DECRA fellow, Australian National University Cameron Holley, Professor, UNSW Darren Sinclair, Professor, University of Canberra Simon Haberle, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The number of visitors to the restored wetlands is increasing each year, as is the wildlife. Max Finlayson, Adjunct Professor, Charles Sturt University Lance Lloyd, Honorary Research Fellow, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Renewable energy projects are often in direct competition with fossil fuels for the hearts and minds of communities. There's a way to win people over though, with ongoing local employment. Tom Morton, Associate Professor, Journalism, Stream Leader, Climate Justice Research Centre, University of Technology Sydney James Goodman, Professor in Political Sociology, University of Technology Sydney Jonathan Paul Marshall, Future Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Katja Müller, Postdoctoral Researcher in Anthropology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Riikka Heikkinen, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the bushfire royal commission examines whether to expand the use of indigenous fire techniques, overseas countries are already on board. Sam Johnston, Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In my 24 years of research, including visiting most sites, I've yet to see a successful rehabilitation case study of Australia's uranium mines. Gavin Mudd, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The rules governing Australia's electricity market are more than 20 years old and no longer serve consumers, or climate action. But big energy companies are using COVID-19 to delay reform. Daniel J Cass, Research Affiliate, Sydney Business School, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Research shows communities become more resilient to future crises when people have access to basic services such as supermarkets, hospitals and schools. Tom Logan, Lecturer of Civil Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I was a federal environment official for 13 years. Streamlining approvals for big infrastructure projects is a big environmental risk, unless it's done properly. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If long-nosed potoroos can co-exist with one of the world's most deadly predators, then it's time we rethink our conservation strategies. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Amy Coetsee, Threatened Species Biologist, University of Melbourne Anthony Rendall, Associate Lecturer in Conservation Biology, Deakin University Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney Vivianna Miritis, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia ranks third in the world in climate change deniers. It's a bronze medal we don't want. Caroline Fisher, Co-author of the Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Deputy Director of the News and Media Research Centre, and Assistant Professor of Journalism, University of Canberra Sora Park, Lead Author of Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Arts & Design, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

All of Australia's 71 wine regions will become warmer this century. That means big changes for the industry. Tasmania, for example, may become better known for shiraz than pinot noir. Gabi Mocatta, Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Rebecca Harris, Senior lecturer, Manager, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania Tomas Remenyi, Climate Research Fellow, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tree planting projects that use non-native trees risk releasing more carbon back into the atmosphere, undermining efforts to fight climate change. Lauren Waller, Postdoctoral Fellow, Lincoln University, New Zealand Warwick Allen, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish must be released into good quality water, with suitable habitat and lots of food. These conditions have been quite rare in Murray Darling rivers in recent years. Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Jamin Forbes, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Katie Doyle, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The plant takes its name from the colonial botanist Joseph Banks, but the coastal banksia's history goes way back to ancient times. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Governments are throwing billions of taxpayer dollars on stimulus measures after COVID-19. But they must do it diligently, and transparently. Thomas Longden, Research Fellow, Crawford School, Australian National University Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Zeba Anjum, PhD student, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An El Niño event in 2015-16 led to the lowest ever catch in redlegs. Fisheries must work with research to climate-proof their management. Eva Plaganyi, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Laura Blamey, Research Scientist, CSIRO Robert Kenyon, Marine Ecologist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We must stop using biosolids for farmlands immediately, especially when alternative ways to recycle wastewater sludge already exist. Abbas Mohajerani, Associate Professor, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It was June last year when the first bushfires started in what became known as the Black Summer that claimed lives and destroyed homes. Kevin Tolhurst, Hon. Assoc. Prof., Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.