The Conversation

Australian winemakers have lost smoke-tainted crops and political leaders apparently cannot solve the Murray Darling crisis. Perhaps climate change is getting the better of us. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Morrison's hope for clear air for his messages is being stymied by the crisis around deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie, as more damaging information emerges against her in the sports rorts affair. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Without an emergency cull of feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park, the land cannot recover from the bushfires – and threatened species are at grave risk of being annihilated. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

By all means, rescue an injured koala. But by pulling out weeds after the fires, you could also help rescue a whole ecosystem. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

My year of buying almost nothing saved me thousands of dollars – but also taught me valuable lessons as a teacher, including about the benefits of failure. Ellen Heyting, PhD student in Education and Head of Years 11 and 12, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

How can a bushfire be described as "under control" if it's still burning? Here's an explanation of what the terms mean. Thomas Duff, Postdoctoral Fellow, Forest and Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Indigenous kinship networks link each plant to the next and connect us to Country. Honouring this way of being and engaging in fair collaboration might give power to our heartbreak. Vanessa Cavanagh, Associate Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Communities, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When a bushfire burns is one country, smoke drift means it can become the world's problem. But the law lacks the teeth to hold those responsible to account. Eric Kerr, Lecturer, National University of Singapore Malini Sur, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is a real risk a national inquiry could get bogged down in politics, or not lead to real change. But we need more federal action on bushfires. Our old approaches are broken. David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Ross Bradstock, Professor, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To be clear, I'm not advocating compulsory population control, here or anywhere. But we do need to consider a future with billions more people, many of them aspiring to live as Australians do now. Mark Beeson, Professor of International Politics, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For decades Australian scientists have, clearly and respectfully, warned about the risks to Australia of a rapidly heating climate. After this season's fires, perhaps it's time to listen. Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The nature of our fires is changing rapidly, and the adaptation of our plants and animals won't be able to keep pace. Cris Brack, Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The destruction of recent fires is challenging our belief that with enough time, love and money, every threatened species can be saved. But there is plenty we can, and must, now do. Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's been a deadly summer for Australia's wildlife. But beyond the fires, we need to act now to protect bats -- which make up a quarter of Australian mammal species -- from a silent overseas killer. Christopher Turbill, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Justin Welbergen, President of the Australasian Bat Society | Associate Professor of Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Forest thinning is a good way to lower the risk of fire, but there are potential downsides. Rod Keenan, Professor, University of Melbourne Chris Weston, Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne Luba Volkova, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Approximately 70 nationally threatened species have had at least 50% of their range burnt, while nearly 160 threatened species have had more than 20% burnt. Michelle Ward, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Aaron Greenville, Lecturer in Spatial Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Brooke Williams, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Emily Massingham, PhD Student, The University of Queensland Helen Mayfield, Postdoctoral Research Fellow School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Jim Radford, Principal Research Fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University Laura Sonter, PhD Candidate in Global Environmental Change, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When ecosystems aren't able to repair themselves, it's up to us to intervene. Lucy Commander, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Western Australia Heidi Zimmer, Research associate, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A technological arms race in the 80s resulted in a world-first solar cell, that today underpins half the world's solar power. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An old political maxim is to 'never waste a crisis', but sometimes a crisis isn't enough. John Daley, Chief Executive Officer, Grattan Institute Emily Millane, Senior Associate, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In time Australia's AAA credit rating will be at risk. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.