The Conversation

There's still a very good chance of recovery for most of these species, but only with new targeted conservation effort. Michael F. Braby, Associate Professor, Australian National University Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University Phillip John Bell, University Associate, School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania Richard V Glatz, Associate research scientist, University of Adelaide Roger Kitching, Emeritus Professor, Griffith University Tim R New, Retired: Emeritus Professor in Zoology, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Morrison government and South Australian government struck this landmark deal ahead of the Biden Summit last week. Let's take a hard look at the good and bad bits. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the first time, political will and global public opinion seem focused on profound climate action. This decade will be a decisive one. Gabi Mocatta, Lecturer in Communication, Deakin University, and Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania Rebecca Harris, Senior Lecturer in Climatology, Director, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There was palpable relief as Biden brought the US back to the table on global climate action, warning "we have to get this done". Depressingly, Morrison showed little sign of hearing the message. Lesley Hughes, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our team discovered clear changes in the distribution and strength of ocean eddies. These changes have never been detected before. Navid Constantinou, Research Fellow, Australian National University Adele Morrison, Research Fellow, Australian National University Andrew Kiss, Research fellow, Australian National University Andy Hogg, Professor, Australian National University Josué Martínez Moreno, P.h.D. candidate, Australian National University Matthew England, Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow; Deputy Director of the Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC); Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Climate System Science, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Avenues of Honour were planted to remind us of the sacrifice and suffering of our servicemen and women. But as the years wore on, many declined or disappeared. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We'd lose coal exports but benefit from a lower Australian dollar. Philip Adams, Professor at the Centre of Policy Studie, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world, accustomed to Australia's shifty climate stance, is unlikely to fall for Morrison's diversion tactics at Biden's climate summit this week. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealanders pay the costs of poor environmental and infrastructural governance, but have little opportunity to influence policy in the first place. Here's how that could change. Nicolas Pirsoul, Policy Analyst and Research Assistant, University of Auckland Maria Armoudian, Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some flood dangers can be hard to spot initially – to planners, developers and home-buyers. Sometimes, the danger comes from underground. Ana Manero, Research Fellow, Australian National University Anneliese Sytsma, PhD Candidate, University of California, Berkeley Margaret Shanafield, Senior researcher, Hydrology/hydrogeology, Flinders University Sally Thompson, Associate professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yellow crazy ants are one of the world's worst invasive species. And it turns out they have unique systems of reproduction that make life in the queendom more complicated than we realised. Pauline Lenancker, Research scientist, James Cook University Lori Lach, Associate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

During the European Middle Ages, parts of the world experienced warming similar to that between 1960 to 1990. But the rising temperatures we're observing now are global and exceed the past record. Frédérik Saltré, Research Fellow in Ecology for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Native deciduous trees are rare in Australia, which means many of the red, yellow and brown leaves we associate with autumn come from introduced species. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If a bill before the US Congress succeeds, it would further suppress global demand for kangaroo products and lead to more animal suffering, not less. George Wilson, Honorary Professor, Australian National University John Read, Associate Lecturer, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive species have been invading foreign territories for centuries. By quantifying the mammoth economic impacts, we hope political leaders will start to take notice. Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Boris Leroy, Maître de conférences en écologie et biogéographie, Muséum national d’histoire naturelle (MNHN) Camille Bernery, Doctorante en écologie des invasions, Université Paris-Saclay Christophe Diagne, Chercheur post-doctorant en écologie des invasions, Université Paris-Saclay Franck Courchamp, Directeur de recherche CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rare-earth metals are currently mined or recovered via e-waste recycling — methods with drawbacks including high cost, environmental damage, and risks to human safety. This is where we come in. Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo, Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria's plan has flaws, but it's still likely to bring the feral horse problem under control, and will do a lot better than the very low benchmark set by NSW. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia must treble its emissions reduction targets and reach net-zero emissions by 2035. Without this and other radical global action, the chance to hold warming to well below 2℃ will pass us by. Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many flood-affected Sydneysiders live in what amounts to a bathtub. With the next flooding season on their doorstep, they can expect more frequent, devastating floods. Tom Hubble, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists are starting to use genetic information from bacteria to measure the health of vast areas of the ocean. Eric Jorden Raes, Postdoctoral researcher Ocean Frontier Institute, Dalhousie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.