The Conversation

It's heartening to see pet adoption rates surging during the pandemic, but opportunistic adoption can come with dangers of abandonment. Heather Fraser, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology Damien Riggs, Professor in psychology, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Flinders University Nik Taylor, Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Buildings soak up the sun's heat, but research shows that white roofs and surfaces can reduce temperatures inside, particularly during heat waves. Nilesh Bakshi, Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Knee-jerk responses to water insecurity won't fix the basin. The harder and longer path is delivering real water reform, including transparent water planning enshrined in law. Quentin Grafton, Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The overwhelming majority of us say we care about animal welfare. But when it comes to shopping, our actions often take a different turn. Amelia Cornish, PhD student, University of Sydney Bidda Jones, Honorary Associate in Animal Welfare, University of Sydney Louise Grimmer, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of Tasmania Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There aren't enough international and domestic laws to address how the interests of humans and the needs of wildlife overlap. Katie Woolaston, Lawyer, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This year's twin crises have left Australians reeling. The concept of 'rupture' can help us understand what's happening. Sarah Milne, Senior Lecturer, Resources, Environment and Development, Australian National University Carolyn Hendriks, Associate Professor, Public Policy and Governance, Australian National University Sango Mahanty, Associate professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wildlife is returning to our deserted cities. But will they stay once life returns to normal? Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Alex Kusmanoff, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Inter-disciplinary Conservation (ICON) Science Research Group, RMIT University Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Ecology, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Casey Visintin, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Freya Thomas, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Georgia Garrard, Senior Research Fellow, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group, RMIT University Katherine Berthon, PhD Candidate, RMIT University Lee Harrison, Honorary Associate, University of Melbourne Matthew Selinske, Postdoctoral research associate conservation science, RMIT University Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We might need to ignore climate change right now if only to save our sanity, but it certainly hasn’t been ignoring us. Rod Lamberts, Deputy Director, Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Will J Grant, Senior Lecturer, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Before you stock the pantry with chocolate this Easter, think twice about whether it's ethically produced. Stephanie Perkiss, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong Cristiana Bernardi, Lecturer in Accounting, The Open University John Dumay, Associate Professor - Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The findings will help determine the age of whale sharks, protecting the endangered animals into the future. Mark Meekan, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Coral bleaching last summer was severe and widespread. And for the first time, severe bleaching has struck all three regions of the Great Barrier Reef. Terry Hughes, Distinguished Professor, James Cook University Morgan Pratchett, Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The coronavirus slowdown provides an opportunity to reset the economy to address climate change. John Hewson, Professor and Chair, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The risks to nature from man-made global warming – and the imperative to act – are clear. Andrew Glikson, Earth and paleo-climate scientist, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In past bushfire inquires, Aboriginal people have been mentioned only sparingly. When referenced now, it's only in relation to cultural burning. This must change. Bhiamie Williamson, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Australian National University Francis Markham, Research Fellow, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University Jessica Weir, Senior Research Fellow, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For puppies, looking at objects is the next best thing to touching them, and they can learn about their environment through short excursions to see traffic, pedestrians and other dogs. Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Jacqueline Norris, Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Microalgae taste like grass and are packed with nutrients. Martina Doblin, Senior Research Fellow, Plant Functional Biology & Climate Change, University of Technology Sydney Donna Sutherland, Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Peter Ralph, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Chimbu is a baby tree kangaroo, and he is the latest success in a complex web of international conservation. Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With a bit of sensible planning, you can retain plants close to your home without creating a huge bushfire risk. Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University Geoff Cary, Associate Professor, Bushfire Science, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

COVID-19 is the latest new infectious disease arising from our collision with nature. Fiona Armstrong, Executive Director, Climate and Health Alliance, Occasional Lecturer, School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, La Trobe University Anthony Capon, Director, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Ro McFarlane, Assistant Professor in Ecological Public Health, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The heatwave highlights the connectedness of our climate systems: from the monsoon tropics to the southernmost continent. Dana M Bergstrom, Principal Research Scientist, University of Wollongong Andrew Klekociuk, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania Diana King, Research officer, University of Wollongong Sharon Robinson, Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.