The Conversation

A new assessment found substantial warming is much more solidly assured than we thought. Steven Sherwood, ARC Laureate Fellow, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Eelco Rohling, Professor of Ocean and Climate Change, Australian National University Katherine Marvel, Associate Research Scientist, NASA Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Recent shark-related deaths fuel the debate around the best way to keep people safe in the water, without hurting marine wildlife. Debra Stokes, Lecturer in Environmental Science, Southern Cross University Andrew Colefax, Postdoctoral research fellow, Southern Cross University Betty Weiler, Professor, School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University Kirin Apps, Associate lecturer, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

National governments are using political lobbying and empty symbolic efforts to stave off an "in danger" listing for their World Heritage sites. Tiffany Morrison, Professorial Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Katrina Brown, Professor of Social Sciences, University of Exeter Maria Lemos, Professor of Environmental Justice, Environmental Policy and Planning, Climate + Energy,, University of Michigan Neil Adger, Professor of Human Geography, University of Exeter Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tropical cyclones account for almost four in five natural disasters across Pacific Island nations. But a new forecasting tool now gives up to four months warning for the upcoming cyclone season. Andrew Magee, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Newcastle Andrew Lorrey, Principal Scientist & Programme Leader of Climate Observations and Processes, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Anthony Kiem, Associate Professor – Hydroclimatology, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In places where reusable cups are allowed, coffee drinkers, cafe owners and local governments can use insights from behavioural science to discourage use of throwaway cups. Sukhbir Sandhu, Senior Lecturer in Sustainability and Ethics, University of South Australia Robert Crocker, Senior Lecturer, Sustainable Design Theory, University of South Australia Sumit Lodhia, Professor of Accounting, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I was a federal environment official for 13 years. I know the huge undertaking involved in the proposed environment reforms, and they should not be rushed. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Moss is part of an elite squad of detection dogs that will locate threatened species in the wild and help endangered species breed in captivity. La Toya Jamieson, Wildlife Detection Dog Specialist, La Trobe University Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It would be the first concrete runway in Antarctica and have the biggest footprint of any project in the continent's history. Shaun Brooks, University Associate, University of Tasmania Julia Jabour, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The sugar glider is an icon of the Australian bush. But discovering it's actually three distinct species has big consequences for its conservation. Teigan Cremona, Research Associate, Charles Darwin University Alyson Stobo-Wilson, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Charles Darwin University Andrew Baker, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Steve Cooper, Principal Researcher , South Australian Museum Sue Carthew, Provost and Vice President, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

"Frankly, why should any hospital purchase coal-fired energy when it produces toxic air pollution that harms health?" Anthony Capon, Director, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Arunima Malik, Lecturer in Sustainability, University of Sydney David Pencheon, Honorary Professor, Exeter UK / Adjunct Professor, Monash Sustainable Development Institute / Visiting Professor, Surrey UK Helga Weisz, Professor of Industrial Ecology and Climate Change, Humboldt University of Berlin Manfred Lenzen, Professor of Sustainability Research, School of Physics, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Protecting the continent’s remaining pristine wilderness areas is urgent, but achievable. Rachel Leihy, PhD candidate, Monash University Steven Chown, Professor of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

They're more used to taking visitors to the reefs, but COVID-19 gave tour operators time to help check the condition of the corals. What they found doesn't bode well. James Paton Gilmour, Research Scientist: Coral Ecology, Australian Institute of Marine Science Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In Australia, methane emissions from fossil fuels are rising due to expansion of the natural gas industry, whereas agriculture emissions are falling. Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Ann Stavert, Project Scientist Ben Poulter, Research scientist, NASA Marielle Saunois, Enseignant-chercheur, Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l’environnement (LSCE), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) – Université Paris-Saclay Paul Krummel, Research Group Leader, CSIRO Rob Jackson, Chair, Department of Earth System Science, and Chair of the Global Carbon Project, globalcarbonproject.org, Stanford University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If agricultural land was used to grow crops, it would limit methane emissions from livestock, but not store a substantial amount of carbon. Growing trees is what makes the difference. Sebastian Leuzinger, Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Having a carbon price is linked to lower emissions growth. A larger price cuts emissions by more. Paul Burke, Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Rohan Best, Lecturer in Economics, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Kangaroo Island dunnart was listed as critically endangered before fires ripped through 95% of its habitat. Those that survived the fires now face the threat of feral cats. Rosemary Hohnen, Adjunct associate, Charles Darwin University Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists and bureaucrats moved logistical mountains to rescue the eastern bristlebird from bushfires this year. As climate change worsens, wildlife evacuations will become more common. Rohan Clarke, Director, Monash Drone Discovery Platform, and Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Monash University Katherine Selwood, Threatened Species Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria and Honorary Research Fellow, Biosciences, University of Melbourne Rowan Mott, Biologist, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The story of the Kangaroo Island Micro-trapdoor spider offer insight into the challenges ahead for invertebrates – the tiny engines of Australia's biodiversity – after this year's cataclysmic fires. Jess Marsh, Research fellow at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I've worked in threatened fish conservation and management for more than 35 years, but this species is special to me. Mark Lintermans, Associate professor, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Kaputar rock skink is thought to have have one of the smallest ranges of any reptile in New South Wales – at the summit of a single extinct volcano, Mount Kaputar. Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.