The Conversation

Climate change is a super-wicked problem. With a growing sense of urgency to act on climate change, it is vital we strike a balance between encouraging action and limiting pushback. David Hall, Senior Researcher in Politics, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Planting any tree is more important than planting a particular tree when it comes to removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Sebastian Leuzinger, Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate deniers have joyously laboured to create a world potentially uninhabitable for our children. Our activism has failed, and rebellion may be the only answer. Tim Flannery, Professorial fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Paddy Manning's new book charts the challenges faced by the Greens (and greenies in general) with admirable clarity and detail. Marc Hudson, Researcher, University of Manchester Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Billions of bogong moths are setting out from Queensland, but not reaching Victoria. We need citizen scientists to help figure out where they're ending up. Sally Sherwen, Director Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos Victoria, University of Melbourne Therésa Jones, Lecturer in Evolution and Behaviour, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The UN has asked world leaders to bring concrete climate action plans to this week's summit - and Australia is likely to cop heavy criticism. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The state of Australia's energy and climate change policy is reason to despair. But there may be a nuclear solution that keeps both sides happy. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When it comes to improving Indigenous policies and programs, Indigenous communities should be the ones evaluating government – rather than the other way around. Elizabeth Strakosch, Lecturer in Public Policy and Governance, The University of Queensland Alissa Macoun, Lecturer in Political Science and International Studies, The University of Queensland Chelsea Bond, Senior Research Fellow, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland David Singh, Senior research fellow, The University of Queensland Zoe Staines, Research fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's top scientist Alan Finkel says too many poor quality research papers are being published in Australia, and the system may inadvertently encourage academics to behave badly. Alan Finkel, Australia’s Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We all know that climate change is hurting the Great Barrier Reef. But scores of other less-publicised threats also threaten the future of the natural wonder. Jon C. Day, PSM, Post-career PhD candidate, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Scott Heron, Senior Lecturer, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ice cream company Ben & Jerry's will close its Australian stores for this month's global climate strike and pay staff to attend the protest, telling customers "if it's melted, it's ruined". Ian McGregor, Lecturer in Management, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Regenerative agriculture has the potential to build production and reducing pollution, but it needs a clearer definition. Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change makes every risk factor for major bushfires worse, which means massive, intense fires will only become more likely. Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A staggering 7.7 million hectares of critical habitat has been destroyed since environment laws were enacted - and 93% was not referred to the federal government for assessment. Michelle Ward, PhD Student, The University of Queensland April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Jeremy Simmonds, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Jonathan Rhodes, Associate Professor, The University of Queensland Martin Taylor, Adjunct senior lecturer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government this week heralded Australia's renewable energy performance. But the outlook leaves little cause for celebration. Dylan McConnell, Researcher at the Australian German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Each spring, winds circling the South Pole weaken. If they weaken enough, they can actually reverse – causing rapid warming. Harry Hendon, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Manager of Long-range Forecast Services, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Eun-Pa Lim, Senior research scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Griffith Young, Senior IT Officer, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A proposed plan to clean up New Zealand's waterways draws clear limits on the expansion of dairy farming and irrigation, as well as on the use of nitrogen fertiliser in some key areas. Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hurricane Dorian has devastated the Bahamas, with the death toll expected to rapidly rise as rescue work gets under way. Dale Dominey-Howes, Professor of Hazards and Disaster Risk Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

All plants take up carbon dioxide when they grow, but when they are harvested or cut down, they release the greenhouse gas back into the atmosphere. Sebastian Leuzinger, Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is one of the sunniest and windiest countries on the planet, but emissions are still rising. How do you justify that? Tim Baxter, Fellow - Melbourne Law School; Senior Researcher - Climate Council; Associate - Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.