The Conversation

The last time global carbon dioxide levels were around 400ppm was four million years ago. On average, the world was 3℃ warmer, but in high northern latitudes, it was up to 14℃ warmer than today. James Shulmeister, Professor, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's painfully clear nature is buckling under the weight of farming's demands. There's another way – but it involves accepting nature's limits. Sue McIntyre, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Koalas are notoriously difficult to detect. Traditional methods are costly and labour intensive. So we found a more efficient way to locate koalas in eastern NSW, using drones. Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Adam Roff, Conjoint Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Chad T. Beranek, PhD candidate, University of Newcastle Lachlan G. Howell, PhD Candidate | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the world warmed from the last ice age, a rise in carbon dioxide levels stalled for nearly 2,000 years. That's always puzzled scientists, but now they think they know what happened. Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, Director of the Changing Earth Research Centre and the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle Facility at UNSW, and Node Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Chris Fogwill, Professor of Glaciology and Palaeoclimatology, Head of School Geography, Geology and the Environment and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Keele University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the planet continues to warm, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall are becoming more frequent, intense and longer, according to global weather data. Jim Salinger, Honorary Associate, Tasmanian Institute for Agriculture, University of Tasmania Lisa Alexander, Chief Investigator ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science and Associate Professor Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government today announced $1 billion plan to divert more than ten million tonnes of waste from landfill. But waste management is about more than just recycling. Trevor Thornton, Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Heatwaves have become longer, hotter and more frequent. This trend is accelerating from climate change. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some coal workers have the right skills and work in the right location to get a job in renewables. But many, such as semi-skilled machine operators, cannot. Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Jay Rutovitz, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Berejiklian government must step up to the challenge of saving koalas in NSW from their predicted fate: extinction in the wild by 2050. Dr Christine Hosking, Conservation Planner/Researcher, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia abandoned its moral obligations under Kyoto. By carrying our mistakes into the Paris deal, we risk firming our status as a global climate pariah. Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Associate Professor James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Latest research explores how a warming ocean circulates underneath Antarctica's floating ice shelves and how this contributes to future sea level rise. Craig Stevens, Associate Professor in Ocean Physics, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Christina Hulbe, Professor and Dean of the School of Surveying (glaciology specialisation), University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Up to 8,000 spectacled flying-foxes, around 12% of the species' population, will be forced to leave their home in central Cairns. Justin A. Welbergen, President of the Australasian Bat Society | Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Noel D Preece, Adjunct Asssociate Professor, James Cook University Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Associate Professor James Cook University and University Fellow Charles Darwin University, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The drop in traffic during COVID-19 lockdowns reduced global emissions. If we keep encouraging cycling and working from home beyond the pandemic, our climate goals may become more achievable. Simon Kingham, Professor, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pacific communities have always been resilient, surviving on islands in the middle of oceans for more than 3,000 years. But climate change is an unprecedented challenge. Rachel Clissold, Researcher, The University of Queensland Annah Piggott-McKellar, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Melbourne Karen E McNamara, Associate professor, The University of Queensland Patrick D. Nunn, Professor of Geography, School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast Roselyn Kumar, University of the Sunshine Coast Ross Westoby, Research Fellow, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A law to fast-track development consents is being fast-tracked itself. Before it's too late, politicians should insist on greater protection against long-term environmental damage. Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Over the past 30 years, the South Pole has been one of the fastest changing places on Earth, warming more than three times quicker than the rest of the world. Kyle Clem, Research Fellow in Climate Science, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The study examined patterns of Twitter rage in hot and cold weather. Given anger spreads through online communities faster than any other emotions, the findings are important. Heather R. Stevens, Doctoral student in Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University Ivan Charles Hanigan, Data Scientist (Epidemiology), University of Sydney Paul Beggs, Associate Professor and Environmental Health Scientist, Macquarie University Petra Graham, Senior Research Fellow, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As a former environment official, I've been involved with the EPBC Act for more than 20 years. But I was still shocked by the scathing report card. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The controversial HomeBuilder scheme could come with a big upside: making old homes more energy efficient. Peter M Graham, Associate Professor - Architectural Performance, Monash University John Thwaites, Chair, Monash Sustainable Development Institute & ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Michael Li, Senior Project Manager (Cities & Policy), ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Illegal hunters are damaging farm property, shooting at buildings and killing livestock. So why do farm trespass laws target animal activists? Kyle J.D. Mulrooney, Lecturer in Criminology, Co-director of the Centre for Rural Criminology, University of New England Alistair Harkness, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Centre for Rural Criminology, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.