The Conversation

The Superb Lyrebird is famous for its song and dance, but what is less known is their extraordinary role as world-class ecosystem engineers. Alex Maisey, PhD Candidate, La Trobe University Andrew Bennett, Professor of Ecology, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d like an expert… Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Building renewable energy infrastructure involves mining for materials such as lithium, graphite and cobalt. If not done responsibly, that could cause huge environmental damage. Laura Sonter, Lecturer in Environmental Management, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Richard K Valenta, Director - WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre - The Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yesterday, the bushfire royal commission handed down interim observations. But there's a glaring omission. Robert Glasser, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It shouldn't have been the case that business groups only acted when the problem became undeniable and started to hurt profits. Marc Hudson, Research Associate in Social Movements, Keele University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Marking farms more water-efficient pushes up prices twice as much as buying water back. Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) David Galeano, Assistant Secretary, Natural Resources, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Steve Hatfield-Dodds, Executive Director, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tesla founder Elon Musk has described hydrogen-powered cars as "mind-bogglingly stupid". So is he right? Jake Whitehead, Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow & Tritum E-Mobility Fellow, The University of Queensland Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Thomas Bräunl, Professor of Robotics; Director, WA Electric Vehicle Trial, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

California's bushfire disaster is eerily reminiscent of Australia's Black Summer. We share the same fiery fate, and must learn to adapt. David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Ross Bradstock, Professor, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In a recent survey, 64% of youths said they've experienced bushfires, heatwaves and drought in the past three years. But 88% believe they're not taught to protect themselves and their communities. Annette Gough, Professor Emerita of Science and Environmental Education, RMIT University Briony Towers, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An official report on Thursday said blackouts are not expected this summer. But consumers will still have to pay through the nose to make the system more reliable. Dylan McConnell, Research Fellow at the Australian German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Anne Kallies, Senior Lecturer, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Damage to septic tanks is one of the major health hazards people face when they return to their bushfire-affected homes. It was simply dumb luck a disease outbreak didn't happen last summer. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers have collated measurements made by satellites, field sensors and people, to get a picture of the nature's recovery while we've been in lockdown. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We should stop developing into high-risk areas, as the associated land clearing is too significant to our ecosystems and may still result in houses being lost. Mark Maund, Research Affiliate, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Kim Maund, Discipline Head – Construction Management, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle SueAnne Ware, Professor and Head of School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Thayaparan Gajendran, Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Trump presidency has been a godsend for an Australian government apparently uninterested in significant climate action. But with Trump well behind in the polls, that's set to change. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Investment in gas will not herald Australia's economic recovery. It's likely to hinder it. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Good downpours in eastern Australia this year have been good for crops and some dams. But when it comes to drought, Australia is not out of the woods yet. Lynette Bettio, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Shannon Symons, Hydrologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Japanese government will retire its fleet of old, inefficient coal-fired generation by 2030. If Japan's commitment to coal weakens, our exports can expect a big hit. Llewelyn Hughes, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A clean energy transition is vital in Australia, but big projects like Forest Wind must take local communities with them. Tom Morton, Associate Professor, Journalism, Stream Leader, Climate Justice Research Centre, University of Technology Sydney James Goodman, Professor in Political Sociology, University of Technology Sydney Katja Müller, Postdoctoral Researcher in Anthropology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Riikka Heikkinen, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The "last glacial period" saw huge, rapid climate changes. Our new research found they happened all around the world, and each time within just a few decades. Ellen Corrick, PhD Candidate, University of Melbourne John Hellstrom, U-Series Geochemistry Specialist, University of Melbourne Russell Drysdale, Associate Professor , University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The National Farmers' Federation has called on the Morrison government to commit to net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050. Richard Eckard, Professor & Director, Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.