The Conversation

There is a real risk a national inquiry could get bogged down in politics, or not lead to real change. But we need more federal action on bushfires. Our old approaches are broken. 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.

To be clear, I'm not advocating compulsory population control, here or anywhere. But we do need to consider a future with billions more people, many of them aspiring to live as Australians do now. Mark Beeson, Professor of International Politics, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For decades Australian scientists have, clearly and respectfully, warned about the risks to Australia of a rapidly heating climate. After this season's fires, perhaps it's time to listen. Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The nature of our fires is changing rapidly, and the adaptation of our plants and animals won't be able to keep pace. Cris Brack, Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The destruction of recent fires is challenging our belief that with enough time, love and money, every threatened species can be saved. But there is plenty we can, and must, now do. Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's been a deadly summer for Australia's wildlife. But beyond the fires, we need to act now to protect bats -- which make up a quarter of Australian mammal species -- from a silent overseas killer. Christopher Turbill, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Justin Welbergen, President of the Australasian Bat Society | Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Forest thinning is a good way to lower the risk of fire, but there are potential downsides. Rod Keenan, Professor, University of Melbourne Chris Weston, Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne Luba Volkova, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Approximately 70 nationally threatened species have had at least 50% of their range burnt, while nearly 160 threatened species have had more than 20% burnt. Michelle Ward, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Aaron Greenville, Lecturer in Spatial Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Brooke Williams, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Emily Massingham, PhD Student, The University of Queensland Helen Mayfield, Postdoctoral Research Fellow School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Jim Radford, Principal Research Fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University Laura Sonter, PhD Candidate in Global Environmental Change, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When ecosystems aren't able to repair themselves, it's up to us to intervene. Lucy Commander, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Western Australia Heidi Zimmer, Research associate, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A technological arms race in the 80s resulted in a world-first solar cell, that today underpins half the world's solar power. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An old political maxim is to 'never waste a crisis', but sometimes a crisis isn't enough. John Daley, Chief Executive Officer, Grattan Institute Emily Millane, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In time Australia's AAA credit rating will be at risk. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There's logic in burying carcasses as they can harbour nasty diseases, but they also help landscapes recover from fire. Emma Spencer, Ph.D. student, University of Sydney Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney Philip Barton, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Thomas Newsome, Lecturer, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

F1 has promised a move to 'credible offsets and breakthrough C02 sequestration programs'. But there's a persistent lack of clear detail in the how, what and where. Michelle O'Shea, Senior Lecturer Sport Management, Western Sydney University Neil Perry, Research Lecturer, Western Sydney University Sarah Duffy, Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bushfire smoke accumulating over Australian cities contains a complex chemical mix which does all sorts of things to the human body. Gabriel da Silva, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wombats don't herd animals to shelter in their fire-proof burrows, they just tolerate uninvited house guests. Dale Nimmo, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Having fewer children is one of the most effective ways an individual can mitigate climate change. Melissa Pappas, PhD Candidate, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest bushfires cannot be compared to Ash Wednesday or Black Saturday. Our nation's fire history is being rewritten. Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Geoff Cary, Associate Professor, Bushfire Science, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fire debris flowing into Murray-Darling Basin will exacerbate the risk of fish and other aquatic life dying en masse in a repeat of the shocking fish kills of last summer. Paul McInerney, Research scientist, CSIRO gavin.rees@csiro.au, CSIRO Klaus Joehnk, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This is not the first time Australia's major cities have been shrouded in bushfire smoke. But this time, the culprits must held to account. Nancy Cushing, Associate professor, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.