The Conversation

Under a rapidly changing climate, it's not just about keeping the lights on. We not only want energy, but we want to breathe clean air, have enough food and live in a sustainable community. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There are fundamental knowledge gaps around coral in the Great Barrier Reef, including how many species live there and where they're found. Our new study finally starts to fill those gaps. Tom Bridge, Senior Curator - Corals, James Cook University Andrea Quattrini, Researcher, Smithsonian Institution Andrew Baird, ARC Future Fellow, James Cook University Peter Cowman, Research Fellow in Ecosystem Dynamics, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After the Black Summer bushfires, heavy rains extinguished many fires but turned high quality water in our rivers to sludge. This is how we better prepare for next time. Paul McInerney, Research scientist, CSIRO Anu Kumar, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Gavin Rees, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Klaus Joehnk, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Tapas Kumar Biswas, Senior scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's in everyone's interests to ensure our environment stays healthy – including farmers. What did the Nats think they'd gain from this destructive game of brinkmanship? Tanya M Howard, Senior Research Fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These results finally provide scientific evidence to what was considered common knowledge about our beloved pets. Frank Nicholas, Emeritus Professor of Animal Genetics, University of Sydney Claire Wade, Professor, Chair of Computational Biology and Animal Genetics, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Supercomputing, frequent flying and powering up observatories: astronomy has an enormous carbon footprint. Adam Stevens, Research Fellow in Astrophysics, University of Western Australia Sabine Bellstedt, Research Associate in Astronomy, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These teens are finding creative avenues to pursue action, even if it means taking a long shot. And beating the odds is exactly how the law tends to evolve. Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Whale breaches and tail slaps look great from a distance. But they can pose a threat if you want to get up close and swim with these giants of the ocean. Chantal Denise Pagel, Doctoral student | Marine Wildlife Tourism Professional, Auckland University of Technology Mark Orams, Acting Dean, Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Michael Lueck, Professor of Tourism, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The report by the World Meteorological Organisation shows that with large and rapid emissions cuts, we can still avoid the most severe climate change. But worryingly, we also have time to make it far worse. Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Rob Jackson, Chair, Department of Earth System Science, and Chair of the Global Carbon Project, Stanford University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With a bit of political vision, risk-taking and a national strategy led by government, Australia too can kickstart investment in the post-COVID recovery. Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Fellow and Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

About half of environmental scientists working for government had been prohibited from communicating scientific information. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Bob Pressey, Professor and Program Leader, Conservation Planning, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Noel D Preece, Adjunct Asssociate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Methane is a live-fast, die-young greenhouse gas but its impact on the climate can last for hundreds or even thousands of years Zebedee Nicholls, PhD Researcher at the Climate & Energy College, University of Melbourne Tim Baxter, Fellow - Melbourne Law School; Senior Researcher - Climate Council; Associate - Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Compassionate conservationists believe no animal should be killed in the name of conservation. This idea is a death knell for Australia's native species. Kaya Klop-Toker, Conservation Biology Researcher, University of Newcastle Alex Callen, Post-doctoral researcher, University of Newcastle Andrea Griffin, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Newcastle Matt Hayward, Associate professor, University of Newcastle Robert Scanlon, PhD Candidate in Restoration Ecology, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The blocks can be used to run steam turbines at power stations as a clean alternative to burning coal, and at a fraction of the price of storing energy in batteries. Erich Kisi, Professor of Engineering , University of Newcastle Alexander Post, Conjoint Lecturer, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We enjoy and appreciate animals and are disturbed by violence against them. But we also perpetrate this violence, and that needs to change. David Killoren, Research Fellow, Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Robert Streiffer, Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics, University of Wisconsin-Madison Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These trees are too important to be destroyed in the name of the forestry industry. This is why my husband Steve Pearce and I climb, explore and photograph them. Jennifer Sanger, Research Associate, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The government has chosen a route not backed by evidence, and which will deliver a bad deal to taxpayers and the environment. 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.

Three recent studies shed new light, as understanding how the behaviour of Australia's wildlife changes at night can help scientists better protect them. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Courtney Marneweck, Postdoctoral Researcher in Carnivore Ecology, Clemson University Grant Linley, PhD Candidate, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some skinks have been known to kill their babies – but one remarkable species goes to any lengths to save them. Gregory Watson, Senior Lecturer, Science, University of the Sunshine Coast Jolanta Watson, Lecturer in Science, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With targeted conservation action, we might just save many of these species before it's too late. Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University David Chapple, Associate Professor in Evolutionary and Conservation Ecology, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.