The Conversation

This is up to 35 times more than the estimated weight of plastic pollution on the ocean’s surface. Britta Denise Hardesty, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Chris Wilcox, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Justine Barrett, Research assistant, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand's climate policy is largely copied from other countries, and when judged against objectives such as the 1.5°C target, its actions remain inadequate. David Hall, Senior Researcher in Politics, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A used electric vehicle can be yours for well under A$20,000. But supply is limited and, like with any major purchase, there are potential pitfalls. Alina Dini, Industry Fellow at the Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is known as the 'land of the lizards'. These photos show why they deserve more of your attention. Kristian Bell, PhD candidate, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We counted the number of standard trees in Australia. It turns out that since 1990, we've actually been gaining trees faster than losing them. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Cris Brack, Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Pablo Rozas Larraondo, Research fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Achieving a radically different tomorrow will require more than a purely technocratic approach. So now, imagine you are in the year 2050 ... Michelle Lim, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University Carina Wyborn, Fellow, Australian National University Federico Davila, Research Principal (Food Systems), University of Technology Sydney Laura Pereira, Researcher/Lecturer at the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, Stellenbosch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This mine has destroyed thousands of lives and livelihoods in Bougainville, an island in Papua New Guinea. It’s time Rio Tinto cleaned up its mess. Matthew G. Allen, Professor of Development Studies, The University of the South Pacific Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand voters are divided on climate policy along party lines, with the majority on one side of the political spectrum calling for urgent action while at the other end most recommend caution. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With their vibrant blooms and a lineage tracing back to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, wattles have a lot going for them. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our intention to buy climate-friendly products does not always match our buying behaviour, especially when we pay more for such products. Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The weather is warming up, and snakes are coming out to bask in the sun. But we don't need to tell tall tales to appreciate snakes – the truth is far more fascinating. Damian R. Michael, Senior research fellow, Charles Sturt University Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Skye Wassens, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

My research focuses on how to support children with a parent who must travel afar for work. Strategies that boost understanding and maintain connection with the absent parent build resilience. Marg Rogers, Lecturer, Early Childhood Education, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some 45 frog species, included some rare and threatened, were recorded calling after the fires. Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum Will Cornwell, Associate Professor in Ecology and Evolution, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This stroke of serendipity shows how much there is still to be learned about the natural history of Australia. Surely more surprises are out there waiting for us. Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn, Research Scientist, CSIRO Ben Gooden, Plant ecologist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We must make ensure that puppies born into the greyhound racing don't slip through the cracks. Alexandra McEwan, Lecturer: Law, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To fully understand why droughts begin, persist and end, we need to answer the question: where does Australia’s rainfall come from? It may seem basic, but the answer isn't so simple. Chiara Holgate, Hydrologist & PhD Candidate, Australian National University Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Jason Evans, Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than 70% of New Zealanders agree that industries receiving substantial financial assistance as part of the COVID-19 recovery should be required to lower their carbon emissions. Jagadish Thaker, Senior Lecturer, School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's encouraging that the federal government recognises its role in industry policy. But its choice to support some technologies is disappointing. Llewelyn Hughes, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Jorrit Gosens, Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Leaded petrol hasn't been used since 2002, but new research found traces of it end up back in the air after bushfires. Cynthia Faye Isley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Science, Macquarie University Mark Patrick Taylor, Professor of Environmental Science, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More than 450 long-finned pilot whales are stranded in Tasmania. Saving them is a race against time. Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.