The Conversation

Those endless cups of tea while working from home are unlikely to add much to your electricity bill. But coronavirus poses other problems for the electricity sector. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Kelly Burns, Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University Steven Percy, Senior research fellow, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Restoring the reef represents one of the most significant science and technology challenges in the history of nature conservation. Paul Hardisty, CEO, Australian Institute of Marine Science Christian Roth, CSIRO Great Barrier Reef Coordinator & Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Damien Burrows, Director of TropWATER, James Cook University David Mead, Executive Director of Strategic Development at Australian Institute of Marine Science, Australian Institute of Marine Science Ken Anthony, Principal Research Scientist, Australian Institute of Marine Science Line K Bay, Senior Research Scientist and Team Leader, Australian Institute of Marine Science Mark Gibbs, Director, Knowledge to Innovation; Chair, Green Cross Australia, Queensland University of Technology Peter J Mumby, Chair professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The spectacle of glowing dolphins should serve as a timely reminder of our need to conserve the darkness we have left. Dr Vanessa Pirotta, Marine scientist and science communicator, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A switch to electric transport is one of New Zealand's key climate strategies. It will increase demand on the national grid, but might also help increase renewable electricity generation. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The data shows a big improvement of pollution levels over some cities – but in others, pollution has, perhaps surprisingly, increased. Elena Sánchez-García, Postdoctoral researcher at LARS group, Universitat Politècnica de València Javier Leon, Senior lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Over the next 50 years, the arid zone – containing the areas of true desert – is projected to expand well into the Murray-Darling Basin and almost entirely envelope the Lake Eyre Basin. Zacchary Larkin, Postdoctoral Researcher in Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University Stephen Tooth, Professor of Physical Geography, Aberystwyth University Timothy J. Ralph, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

"I arrived in Perth and bought a foam mattress for the back of my car – my bed for half of the trip. I stocked up on tinned food, and I headed north in search of these tiny eight-legged gems." Joseph Schubert, Entomology/Arachnology Registration Officer, Museums Victoria Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There's little transparency or clarity about how much water states are allocated. This failure in communication and leadership across such a vital system must change. Daniel Connell, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Expanding planned burning is often touted as a way to lessen the risk of bushfires. But this burn-off season is bad news for the COVID-19 pandemic. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Brian Oliver, Research Leader in Respiratory cellular and molecular biology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Professor, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney Courtney Alice Waugh, Associate Professor in Immunology and Disease, Nord University Marcel Klaassen, Alfred Deakin Professor and Chair in Ecology, Deakin University Veerle L. B. Jaspers, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report on New Zealand's lakes and rivers confirms that many freshwater ecosystems are in decline and warns that climate change will exacerbate existing threats. Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The sight of empty shelves has led some Australians to look for alternative ways to feed themselves and their families. This is what history can teach us. Bethaney Turner, Associate Professor, Centre for Creative and Cultural Research, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Stressed animals are more likely to harbour new diseases because their immune systems are compromised. Clive Phillips, Professor of Animal Welfare, Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's heartening to see pet adoption rates surging during the pandemic, but opportunistic adoption can come with dangers of abandonment. Heather Fraser, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology Damien Riggs, Professor in psychology, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Flinders University Nik Taylor, Associate Professor in Sociology, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Buildings soak up the sun's heat, but research shows that white roofs and surfaces can reduce temperatures inside, particularly during heat waves. Nilesh Bakshi, Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Knee-jerk responses to water insecurity won't fix the basin. The harder and longer path is delivering real water reform, including transparent water planning enshrined in law. Quentin Grafton, Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The overwhelming majority of us say we care about animal welfare. But when it comes to shopping, our actions often take a different turn. Amelia Cornish, PhD student, University of Sydney Bidda Jones, Honorary Associate in Animal Welfare, University of Sydney Louise Grimmer, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, University of Tasmania Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There aren't enough international and domestic laws to address how the interests of humans and the needs of wildlife overlap. Katie Woolaston, Lawyer, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This year's twin crises have left Australians reeling. The concept of 'rupture' can help us understand what's happening. Sarah Milne, Senior Lecturer, Resources, Environment and Development, Australian National University Carolyn Hendriks, Associate Professor, Public Policy and Governance, Australian National University Sango Mahanty, Associate professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wildlife is returning to our deserted cities. But will they stay once life returns to normal? Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Alex Kusmanoff, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Inter-disciplinary Conservation (ICON) Science Research Group, RMIT University Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Ecology, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Casey Visintin, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Freya Thomas, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Georgia Garrard, Senior Research Fellow, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group, RMIT University Katherine Berthon, PhD Candidate, RMIT University Lee Harrison, Honorary Associate, University of Melbourne Matthew Selinske, Postdoctoral research associate conservation science, RMIT University Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We might need to ignore climate change right now if only to save our sanity, but it certainly hasn’t been ignoring us. Rod Lamberts, Deputy Director, Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Will J Grant, Senior Lecturer, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.