The Conversation

Recent rains have not eliminated the threat of a repeat of last summer's mass fish deaths. Lee Baumgartner, Professor of Fisheries and River Management, Institute for Land, Water, and Society, Charles Sturt University Max Finlayson, Adjunct Professor, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The surprise decision is an important win for many Australians, but reform of Australia's offshore petroleum laws is urgently required to protect marine environments. Madeline Taylor, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney Tina Soliman Hunter, Professor of Petroleum and Resources Law Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just as thermal coal can be replaced with clean energy from renewables, we can use low-emissions steel manufacturing to phase out metallurgical coal. Dominique Hes, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sun Cable could provide Australia an alternative to the export business of coal and gas, and even reduce our export dependence on China. John Mathews, Professor of Strategic Management, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Macquarie University Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Fellow and Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Hao Tan, Associate professor, University of Newcastle Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Modern History, Politics & International Relations, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In all the strategies and tactics of the climate wars, the most disturbing development is that the carbon pricing became roadkill. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Perhaps 2℃ doesn't sound like much, but if you look through history, 2℃ temperature changes have had huge effects on the planet and people. Alan N Williams, Associate Director/National Technical Leader-Aboriginal Heritage, EMM Consulting Pty Ltd, UNSW Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Haidee Cadd, Research associate, UNSW James Shulmeister, Professor, The University of Queensland Michael Bird, JCU Distinguished Professor, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, James Cook University Zoë Thomas, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The absence of climate drivers – specifically, the Indian Ocean Dipole and La Niña – explains why Australia has gone so long without heavy rains. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, UNSW Anna Ukkola, Research Fellow, Australian National University Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Josephine Brown, Lecturer, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's important to remember that most of this greening is due to growth of grasses, which respond more rapidly after rain. Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Simple maths reveals Labor's policy, if replicated by all other nations, would not avert dangerous global warming. Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In NSW, honeybees are listed as a key threatening process to biodiversity. Patrick O'Connor, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Dr Richard V Glatz, Associate research scientist, University of Adelaide James B. Dorey, PhD Candidate, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some people might think it's a ridiculous conversation, but for the sake of the planet we need to talk about ending capitalism. Samuel Alexander, Research fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the blue corner is the extremely venomous Black Mamba – top snake of Africa – and in the red corner is the muscular Inland Taipan – Australia's alpha snake. Timothy N. W. Jackson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We all want to help native animals recover after bushfires, but giving a koala a drink from your water bottle can cause more harm than good. Here are some helpful things you can do. Marissa Parrott, Reproductive Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria, and Honorary Research Associate, BioSciences, University of Melbourne Dale Nimmo, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, Charles Sturt University Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This summer's bushfires have sparked a fiery debate about hazard-reduction burning. Scientists are still debating whether it really helps prevent bushfires – here's why. Kevin Tolhurst, Hon. Assoc. Prof., Fire Ecology and Management, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The current state of our climate shouldn't be dismissed as a 'new normal'. The hard truth is many of our ecosystems will not recover from the damage. Grant Williamson, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, University of Tasmania Gabi Mocatta, Research Fellow in Climate Change Communication, University of Tasmania Rebecca Harris, Climate Research Fellow, University of Tasmania Tomas Remenyi, Climate Research Fellow, Climate Futures Programme, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In a warming world, trees can play a major role in keeping cities and your home cool. If you plan it right, they can even save you money and protect your home from bushfires. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

First come the beetles, then the birds: how nature is surviving, and thriving, after a summer of fires. Kathryn Teare Ada Lambert, Adjunct Lecturer/ Ecologist, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Stikeez, the latest collection of plastic collectables from Coles, flies in the face of the company's plan to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket. Carla Liuzzo, Sessional Lecturer, School of Business, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some parts of Australia have enjoyed excellent rainfall this year, but others have not. Drought relief is still slow and patchy. David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Head of Long-range Forecasts, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Chantal Donnelly, Head of Water Investigations, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Lynette Bettio, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Matthew Coulton, Manager Water Sector Engagement, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We analysed what the world's top 58 airlines – such as American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas – are doing about climate change. Even the best airlines are not doing anywhere near enough. Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Director, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.