The Conversation

If you're doing something (even if you know you probably shouldn't), you're more likely to think lots of other people do it too. You also likely overestimate how much other people think it's OK. Brock Bergseth, Postdoctoral research fellow, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When disaster strikes, not everyone is affected the same way. Research shows the experiences of sexually and gender diverse people are frequently very different to those of heterosexual people. Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As recent political history shows, emissions reduction targets must be legally binding if we're to have any hope of reaching them. Tim Stephens, Professor of International Law, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A major new report from the Productivity Commission calls for an overhaul of Australia’s 17-year-old policy on water. 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.

Over six months, 73,991 tourists visited the continent. The potential to spread coronavirus to penguins, whales and other wildlife is enormous. Michelle Power, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University Meagan Dewar, Lecturer, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cats kill a staggering 1.7 billion native animals each year, and threaten at least 120 species with extinction. Five experts analyse a parliamentary report on the problem. Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Tida Nou, Project officer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mercury is a nasty toxin that harms humans and ecosystems. The gold and sugar-cane industries have tackled the problem, and it's time for coal to follow suit. Jenny Fisher, Associate Professor in Atmospheric Chemistry, University of Wollongong Peter Nelson, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

No-one says reducing emissions from the agriculture sector will be easy. But it must be done, or farmers will suffer the most. Rachelle Meyer, Postdoctoral Fellow (Farm Systems Analysis), University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new Morrison government plan sorely misses the point on electric vehicles. It's in stark contrast to Biden's ambitious EV strategy. Jake Whitehead, Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow & Tritum E-Mobility Fellow, The University of Queensland Dia Adhikari Smith, E-Mobility Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Thara Philip, E-Mobility Doctoral Researcher, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The damage mining causes to Sydney's water supplies is unsustainable, and the law has failed to stop it. Pete Dupen, PhD Student, University of Technology Sydney Rebecca Louise Nelson, Associate Professor in Law, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Perth's bushfires have destroyed 81 homes. It provides important lessons as we face a future of worsening climate. Joe Fontaine, Lecturer, Environmental and Conservation Science, Murdoch University Lewis Walden, Research associate, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Instead of telling people to buy more of the right type of insurance, we should be asking how insurance can work better for people. Kate Isabel Booth, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and Planning, University of Tasmania Chloe Lucas, Research Fellow, Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania Christine Eriksen, Senior Researcher, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A net-zero goal will provide clarity, ambition and focus. But Morrison must back the rhetoric with investment and policy commensurate with the task. Anna Malos, Australia - Country Lead, ClimateWorks Australia Anna Skarbek, CEO at ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As ecologists, we've seen first hand how Australia's nature laws have permitted environmental degradation and destruction to the point of extinction. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Ecology, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Emissions from road transport in New Zealand have doubled since 1990, and the Climate Change Commission recommends sweeping changes to switch to electric transport options. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

World-first research finds human disturbances, on average, restrict an animal's movements by 37%, or increases it by 70%. That’s like needing to travel an extra 11 km to get to work each day. Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Graeme Hays, Professor of Marine Science, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There's a growing push among businesses, including the finance sector, to protect the climate and nature. Megan C Evans, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The climate is changing and extreme weather disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. It's more important than ever to examine who is bearing the brunt of this change. Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Climate Change Commission releases New Zealand's first comprehensive plan to cut emissions, calling on the government to "pick up the pace". James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (climate science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You could hardly imagine a worse report on the state of Australia's environment, and the law's capacity to protect it, than that released on Thursday. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.