The Conversation

Antarctica is no longer the sleeping giant of sea level rise. New research delved into the past and found when the Earth warms, its ice sheets can melt extremely quickly. Fiona Hibbert, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Australian National University Eelco Rohling, Professor of Ocean and Climate Change, Australian National University Katharine Grant, ARC DECRA Postdoctoral Research fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Eminent economist Ross Garnaut says if climate action fails, he fears the consequences 'would be beyond contemporary Australia'. But zero-emissions iron and aluminium could be the way forward. Ross Garnaut, Professorial Research Fellow in Economics, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What if the nightly news had regular updates on forest clearing, ocean temperatures and fossil fuel consumption? These indicators sit alongside temperatures as signs of climate change. Thomas Newsome, Lecturer, University of Sydney William Ripple, Distinguished Professor and Director, Trophic Cascades Program, Oregon State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The atmosphere of Mars is more than 96% carbon dioxide, but the planet is cold because its atmosphere is extremely thin, very dry and further away from the Sun. Paulo de Souza, Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research confirms that what the world pumps into the atmosphere today has grave long-term consequences. Governments - especially Australia's - must urgently ramp up efforts to reduce emissions. Bill Hare, Director, Climate Analytics, Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University (Perth), Visiting scientist, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new business is skipping recycling in favour of returning, washing and reusing sturdy containers for common groceries. Rachael Wakefield-Rann, Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Jenni Downes, Research Fellow, BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), Monash University Nick Florin, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The government has the activist group Market Forces squarely in its sights as it considers ways to stop environmental organisations persuading financial and other businesses to boycott companies in the… Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish may not have eyelids to close, but they sleep – and perhaps even dream. Culum Brown, Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists are uncovering the secrets of a giant undersea rock shelf, parts of which lie four kilometres below the ocean's surface. James Dell, Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is a myth that dingoes are extinct and wild dogs are all that remain in Australia. Our results show dingoes in New South Wales persist despite some mixing with domestic dogs. Kylie M Cairns, Research fellow, UNSW Brad Nesbitt, Adjunct Research Fellow, University of New England Mathew Crowther, Associate professor, University of Sydney Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Shawn Laffan, Associate professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Drought has both natural and human causes, but deep cuts in our greenhouse gas emissions are urgently needed, regardless. Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Anna Ukkola, Research Fellow, Australian National University Murray Peel, Senior lecturer, University of Melbourne Q J Wang, Professor, University of Melbourne Rory Nathan, Associate Professor Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The New Zealand government's decision to partner the farming sector to encourage voluntary reductions in farm emissions failed to acknowledge that agricultural emissions also affect water quality. Michael (Mike) Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

On the issue of a retreat from coal, Albanese is trying to walk both sides of the highway by wandering down the middle. Peter Christoff, Associate Professor, School of Geography, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley has announced a review of Australia's nature laws. The poor state of our biodiversity shows we must do a better job of protecting the places we love. Jan McDonald, Professor of Environmental Law, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our prevailing relationship with nature is based on framing the living world as a set of natural resources. This utility-based worldview perpetuates the drivers of ongoing biodiversity loss. Matthew Hall, Associate Director, Research Services, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Aside from their intrinsic value, common bird species might be one of the only ways we connect with nature in our everyday lives. But these opportunities are under threat. Jeremy Simmonds, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Alvaro Salazar, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating accumulation of rubbish the size of a continent, has whales and dolphins in its heart. Chandra Salgado Kent, Associate Professor, School of Science, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Huge gum tree plantations shelter big koala populations, but when the trees are cut down the koalas flood into nearby habitat. Kita Ashman, PhD candidate in koala conservation, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The New Zealand robin has learnt to hide left-over food for later consumption, and it turns out that male birds with the best spatial memory have the greatest breeding success. Rachael Shaw, Rutherford Discovery Fellow, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our reaction to the horse-slaughter scandal show a double standard, and suggest we care more about what racehorses mean to us than what's best for the animal. Cathrynne Henshall, PhD Candidate, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.