The Conversation

Despite this year's coronavirus lockdowns, more CO2 has accumulated in the atmosphere than during the same period in 2017 or 2018. Zoe Loh, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Helen Cleugh, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Paul Krummel, Research Group Leader, CSIRO Ray Langenfelds, Scientist at CSIRO Atmospheric Research, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The deteriorating Western Grassland Reserve in Victoria represents a failure of imagination. When the grasslands are steeped with history and culture, imagine its potential. Adrian Marshall, Academic, Landscape Architecture and Urban Ecology, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With tarantula-like orchids and giant bananas, New Guinea is officially the most floristically diverse island in the world. Bruce Webber, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Barry J Conn, Researcher, University of Sydney Rodrigo Cámara-Leret, Researcher, University of Zürich Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The moment a chick hatches from its egg, maggots burrow into its skin to drink its blood, usually killing it. But scientists have found a way to stop the blood-sucking parasites. Fernanda Alves, PhD student, Australian National University Dejan Stojanovic, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Geothermal reservoirs supply more than 15% of New Zealand's electricity. The heat energy stored in geothermal fields is vast but not infinite. Susan Krumdieck, Professor and Director, Advanced Energy and Material Systems Lab, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The pending decision on the Narrabri Gas Project comes at a critical time for Australia's gas industry. Madeline Taylor, Lecturer, University of Sydney Susan M Park, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yes, transitioning Australia to a zero-carbon economy is essential, but the federal government must remedy this imbalance. Lily O'Neill, Research Fellow, Australian National University Brad Riley, Research Fellow, Australian National University Ganur Maynard, Visiting Indigenous Fellow, Australian National University Janet Hunt, Associate Professor, CAEPR, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hydrogen is hailed as a new clean fuel, but little attention has been paid to the potential environmental challenges presented by the energy shift. Graeme Pearman, Professorial Fellow, Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Michael Prather, Distinguished Professor of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Six hours of streaming video may be the equivalent of burning one litre of petrol. Michael Fuhrer, Professor of Physics, Monash University Errol Hunt, Senior Communication Coordinator, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From an effigy hanging from a noose to an angry opponent wielding scissors, those who've sought to protect the precious Australian Alps have always been up against it. Philip Gibbons, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Birdwatchers have long known that to conserve nature, we need not only the intellectual expertise of science but also an emotional affinity with the living things around us. Russell McGregor, Adjunct Professor of History, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Western science often focuses on specific parts of complex ecosystems, but Indigenous knowledge systems consider all parts as interconnected and inseparable. This achieves better conservation results. Aisling Rayne, PhD candidate, University of Canterbury Channell Thoms, University of Canterbury Levi Collier-Robinson, PhD Student, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Try a few star jumps every hour, it'll make a massive difference to your warmth. Peter Osman, Scientist, Energy Efficiency & Renewables, CSIRO Peta Ashworth, Professor and Chair in Sustrainable Energy Futures, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the near future, we may see electric cars supplying power to smart grids or communities with their own independent microgrids. Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

From a Hugh Jackman-esque spider to honouring traditional Indigenous words, these species have memorable names. Anthea Batsakis, Deputy Editor: Environment + Energy, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the first time, scientists have been able to quantify how much climate change contributed to glacial melt, using more than 40 years of data from New Zealand's retreating glaciers. Lauren Vargo, Research Fellow in the Antarctic Research Centre, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Western solutions to Pacific Island issues often end in failure. These countries must build their autonomy to survive climate change. Patrick D. Nunn, Professor of Geography, School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast Roselyn Kumar, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In Australia, coastal flooding is expected to be worse along the northern coast in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Ebru Kirezci, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Ian Young, Kernot Professor of Engineering, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Historically, basking sharks were caught as bycatch in New Zealand fisheries and seen in their hundreds in some inshore areas. They have disappeared and we don't know why. Adam Smith, Senior Lecturer in Statistics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand's electricity generation is already more than 80% renewable, but experts warn a 100% target would require significant over-building of renewable generation that would rarely be used. Janet Stephenson, Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.