The Conversation

The extent of this achievement is staggering, almost incomprehensible in a southern Australia context after the summer's devastating bushfires. Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University Jon Altman, Emeritus professor, School of Regulation and Global Governance, ANU, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Future extremes from the Indian Ocean will be acting on top of global warming, giving a double whammy effect, like the record-breaking heat and drought we saw in 2019. Nicky Wright, Research Fellow, Australian National University Bethany Ellis, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Nerilie Abram, Professor; ARC Future Fellow; Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The drought has pushed many trees to the brink, and whole stands are now dying. The ecological consequences are huge. Rachael Helene Nolan, Postdoctoral research fellow, Western Sydney University Belinda Medlyn, Professor, Western Sydney University Brendan Choat, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University Rhiannon Smith, Research Fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish, frogs, turtles and platypus at major risk of extinction following the bushfires. So why aren't they getting much attention? Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

People should always evacuate early to ensure their safety. But when they do decide to stay or they're told it's too late to leave, having a plan B is extremely important. Sahani Hendawitharana, PhD Scholar, Queensland University of Technology Anthony Deloge Ariyanayagam, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Mahen Mahendran, Professor of Structural Engineering, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In this time of natural destruction, children's books featuring Australian wildlife are critical to fostering environmental awareness in the next generation. Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Kirsten Parris, Professor of Urban Ecology, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Each B&B is a green sanctuary for pollinators, containing pollinating plants and shelters like beehives and nesting boxes. Judith Friedlander, Post-graduate Researcher, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Autumn may bring wetter-than-average conditions in parts of southern Australia, indicating a gradual easing of the drought in some areas. Catherine Ganter, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Head of Long-range Forecasts, Australian Bureau of Meteorology David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Skie Tobin, Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study has reported the world will lose almost half of its valuable sandy beaches by 2100 as sea levels rise. But cutting our emissions could keep some intact. John Church, Chair Professor, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By 2030, no matter where Victorians live or visit, they'll have a consistent kerbside bin system. Jenni Downes, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The forestry industry wants to remove damaged logs from native forests after the bushfires. But our wildlife needs them now more than ever. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Doug Robinson, Honorary Visiting Fellow, Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These Aussie diggers boost the health of our soils. But up until recently, we didn't know just how much soil they can turn over (hint: it's a lot). 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 Duncan Sutherland, Deputy Director of Research, Phillip Island Nature Parks; Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Leonie Valentine, Research Associate, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Recent rains have not eliminated the threat of a repeat of last summer's mass fish deaths. Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Max Finlayson, Adjunct Professor, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The surprise decision is an important win for many Australians, but reform of Australia's offshore petroleum laws is urgently required to protect marine environments. Madeline Taylor, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney Tina Soliman Hunter, Professor of Petroleum and Resources Law Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just as thermal coal can be replaced with clean energy from renewables, we can use low-emissions steel manufacturing to phase out metallurgical coal. Dominique Hes, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sun Cable could provide Australia an alternative to the export business of coal and gas, and even reduce our export dependence on China. John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Fellow and Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern History, Politics & International Relations, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In all the strategies and tactics of the climate wars, the most disturbing development is that the carbon pricing became roadkill. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Perhaps 2℃ doesn't sound like much, but if you look through history, 2℃ temperature changes have had huge effects on the planet and people. Alan N Williams, Associate Director/National Technical Leader-Aboriginal Heritage, EMM Consulting Pty Ltd, UNSW Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Haidee Cadd, Research associate, UNSW James Shulmeister, Professor, The University of Queensland Michael Bird, JCU Distinguished Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, James Cook University Zoë Thomas, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The absence of climate drivers – specifically, the Indian Ocean Dipole and La Niña – explains why Australia has gone so long without heavy rains. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, UNSW Anna Ukkola, Research Fellow, Australian National University Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Josephine Brown, Lecturer, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's important to remember that most of this greening is due to growth of grasses, which respond more rapidly after rain. Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.