The Conversation

Green hydrogen produced using New Zealand's mostly renewable electricity sounds like a great idea, but a high-tech smart rail and urban tram network is a more obvious and sustainable option. Susan Krumdieck, Professor and Director, Advanced Energy and Material Systems Lab, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I helped survey coral reefs in Norfolk Island for the first time in eight years, and snapped marine life we didn't expect to see there. John Turnbull, Postdoctoral research associate, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yallourn power station, Australia’s oldest and dirtiest coal plant, will close four years ahead of schedule. Without a national policy, coal workers are left dangerously exposed. Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Global conservation efforts have suffered during the COVID-19 outbreak. It's sadly ironic, because avoiding habitat loss is a cost-effective way to prevent pandemics. Marc Hockings, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If octopuses simply started evolving a smarter brain, what stops them from ruling over humans? Why has this not happened already? An expert explains what these cephalopods might be capable of. Culum Brown, Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When scientists first thought to deceive predators with bird smells, the idea seemed crazy. But after seeing how fake news messes with the minds of both humans and animals, it now makes sense. Peter Banks, Professor of Conservation Biology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Catherine Price, Postdoctoral Researcher in Conservation Biology, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Environmentalism is, for the most part, the domain of the white middle class. We must recognise the contributions migrants already make, and how their power can be further harnessed. Sukhmani Khorana, Senior Research Fellow, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plastic products that claim to be 'compostable' aren't great either. Jenni Downes, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), Monash University Kim Borg, Research Fellow at BehaviourWorks Australia, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Nick Florin, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Putting affected people and communities at the centre of difficult relocation decisions must be a priority under laws that replace the old Resource Management Act. Christina Hanna, Lecturer, Environmental Planning, University of Waikato Bruce Glavovic, Professor, Massey University Iain White, Professor of Environmental Planning, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The election of the Biden administration raised hopes of a new dawn in US environmental protections. But left-right views will continue to stymie progress, just as they do in Australia. John Carr, Senior Lecturer, Environment and Society Group, UNSW Tema Milstein, Associate Professor of Environment & Society, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Excavator, farmer, matchmaker: echidnas provide a host of benefits to nature. So let's harness the potential. David John Eldridge, Professor of Dryland Ecology, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Experts reviewed the literature on climate change and gender in developing countries, and found many unhelpful, outdated assumptions are still kicking around. Jacqueline Lau, Research fellow, James Cook University Pip Cohen, Research Leader of Small-scale Fisheries at WorldFish, CGIAR, and Adjunct Research Fellow at ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Sarah Lawless, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The global pandemic caused an unprecedented drop in global emissions. But this is likely to rebound as economies start to recover. Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Corinne Le Quéré, Royal Society Research Professor, University of East Anglia Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Matthew William Jones, Senior Research Associate, University of East Anglia Pierre Friedlingstein, Chair, Mathematical Modelling of Climate, University of Exeter Robbie Andrew, Senior Researcher, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Rob Jackson, Professor, Department of Earth System Science, and Chair of the Global Carbon Project, Stanford University Steve Davis, Professor of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some plastic sent overseas for recycling ends up as pollution, or goes up in toxic smoke. But there are steps we can take to ensure our waste is processed as intended. Monique Retamal, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Nick Florin, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Rachael Wakefield-Rann, Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tackling climate change involves changes in behaviour that would significantly improve people's general health — and save money. Nick Wilson, Professor of Public Health, University of Otago Caroline Shaw, Associate Professor in Public Health, University of Otago Jude Ball, Research Fellow in Public Health, University of Otago Michael Baker, Professor of Public Health, University of Otago Simon Hales, University of Otago Tim Chambers, Senior Research Fellow in the Health Environment & Infection Research Unit (HEIRU), University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researcher and photographer Claire Greenwell explains why people are the biggest threat to nesting shorebirds, and the simple ways you can help keep them safe next time you're at the beach. Claire Greenwell, PhD Candidate, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The transition to 100% renewable energy will require a lot of land – mostly in regional Australia. This presents big challenges, and opportunities, for the farming sector. Bonnie McBain, Lecturer, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers strapped tracking devices to 20 powerful owls in Melbourne and learned these apex predators are increasingly choosing to sleep in urban areas, from backyard trees to golf courses. Nick Bradsworth, PhD Candidate, Deakin University John White, Associate Professor in Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Deakin University Raylene Cooke, Associate Professor, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Iconic ecosystems, from coral reefs to Tasmania's ancient forests, are collapsing across the continent and into Antarctica. It's not too late to act — in fact, our lives depend on it. Dana M Bergstrom, Principal Research Scientist, University of Wollongong Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Lesley Hughes, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Michael Depledge, Professor and Chair, Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

During the Texas cold snap prices jumped 30,000%. We can't allow it to happen here. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.