The Conversation

Research shows communities become more resilient to future crises when people have access to basic services such as supermarkets, hospitals and schools. Tom Logan, Lecturer of Civil Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I was a federal environment official for 13 years. Streamlining approvals for big infrastructure projects is a big environmental risk, unless it's done properly. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If long-nosed potoroos can co-exist with one of the world's most deadly predators, then it's time we rethink our conservation strategies. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Amy Coetsee, Threatened Species Biologist, University of Melbourne Anthony Rendall, Associate Lecturer in Conservation Biology, Deakin University Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney Vivianna Miritis, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia ranks third in the world in climate change deniers. It's a bronze medal we don't want. Caroline Fisher, Co-author of the Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Deputy Director of the News and Media Research Centre, and Assistant Professor of Journalism, University of Canberra Sora Park, Lead Author of Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Arts & Design, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

All of Australia's 71 wine regions will become warmer this century. That means big changes for the industry. Tasmania, for example, may become better known for shiraz than pinot noir. Gabi Mocatta, Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Rebecca Harris, Senior lecturer, Manager, Climate Futures Program, University of Tasmania Tomas Remenyi, Climate Research Fellow, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tree planting projects that use non-native trees risk releasing more carbon back into the atmosphere, undermining efforts to fight climate change. Lauren Waller, Postdoctoral Fellow, Lincoln University, New Zealand Warwick Allen, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fish must be released into good quality water, with suitable habitat and lots of food. These conditions have been quite rare in Murray Darling rivers in recent years. Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Jamin Forbes, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Katie Doyle, Freshwater Ecologist, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The plant takes its name from the colonial botanist Joseph Banks, but the coastal banksia's history goes way back to ancient times. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Governments are throwing billions of taxpayer dollars on stimulus measures after COVID-19. But they must do it diligently, and transparently. Thomas Longden, Research Fellow, Crawford School, Australian National University Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Zeba Anjum, PhD student, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An El Niño event in 2015-16 led to the lowest ever catch in redlegs. Fisheries must work with research to climate-proof their management. Eva Plaganyi, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Laura Blamey, Research Scientist, CSIRO Robert Kenyon, Marine Ecologist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We must stop using biosolids for farmlands immediately, especially when alternative ways to recycle wastewater sludge already exist. Abbas Mohajerani, Associate Professor, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It was June last year when the first bushfires started in what became known as the Black Summer that claimed lives and destroyed homes. Kevin Tolhurst, Hon. Assoc. Prof., Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You can reduce your fuel consumption by 15-20% with improved driving habits alone – reducing emissions and saving money at the same time. Ralph Sims, Professor, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Kylie Tennant's hut is fondly remembered by locals, tourists and aspiring writers who have visited since the 1980s. Brigid Magner, Senior Lecturer in Literary Studies, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Imagine being able to detect a smell from more than a kilometre away. Dogs can sniff out things from a greater distance than that. Susan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Eduardo J Fernandez, Visiting Assistant Professor, Florida Institute of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As climate change increases the frequency and scale of bushfires, our models suggest the habitats in Victoria's Central Highlands may be hard to come by. Craig Nitschke, Associate Professor - Forest and Landscape Dynamics, University of Melbourne Andrew Robinson, Managing Director for Biosecurity Risk Research, University of Melbourne Melissa Fedrigo, Remote Sensing Scientist and Ecological Modeller, University of Melbourne Patrick Baker, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Melbourne Raphael Trouve, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow Ecosystem And Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand is pumping millions of dollars into environment projects as part of its COVID-19 recovery. Australia's recovery plan seems more destructive than reconstructive. Lachlan G. Howell, PhD Candidate | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle John Clulow, Associate Professor, University of Newcastle John Rodger, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle & CEO FAUNA Research Alliance, University of Newcastle Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The fate of a Queensland mine extension could be sealed today with a ruling on the ongoing case by Australia's highest court. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pangolins are illegally traded, linked to the coronavirus pandemic and driven to extinction in some areas. That's why it's vital to reintroduce this threatened species back into the wild. Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Research Associate, Griffith University Christopher O'Bryan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Duan Biggs, Senior Research Fellow Social-Ecological Systems & Resilience, Griffith University Raymond Jansen, Professor: Zoology & Ecology, Tshwane University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Older records can tell us a lot about Australia's pre-industrial climate, before the large-scale burning of fossil fuels tainted global temperature records. Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Linden Ashcroft, Lecturer in climate science and science communication, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.