The Conversation

Fuming, burnt out, drained. Can our smoky cities spark a change in the political atmosphere? Blanche Verlie, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The point of an argument can become lost when debating climate change. Greta Thunberg show us how to stay on-topic. Peter Ellerton, Lecturer in Critical Thinking; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Burning non-recyclable waste to generate energy sounds like a great idea – but incineration plants need an ongoing waste stream to be viable, which perpetuates the make-use-dispose mentality. Jeff Seadon, Senior Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Unprecedented fires are devastating koalas along Australia's east coast. These sudden drops in population put the survivors at risk of inbreeding. Ryan R. Witt, Conjoint Lecturer | Conservation Biology Research Group, University of Newcastle Chad T. Beranek, PhD candidate, University of Newcastle John Clulow, Associate Professor, University of Newcastle John Rodger, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle & CEO FAUNA Research Alliance, University of Newcastle Lachlan G. Howell, PhD Candidate | Conservation Biology Research Group, University of Newcastle Robert Scanlon, PhD Candidate in Restoration Ecology, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Nationals have stoked opposition to the Murray Darling Basin Plan at every opportunity. Now they cannot contain the fury of rural voters. Daniel Connell, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After a decade of increasing electricity bills, prices are projected to fall due to increased supply of new renewable generation. Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University Alan Rai, Industry Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor continues to be hung up on a decade-old Greens' decision to oppose an emissions trading scheme in 2009. But responsibility for Australia's climate policy void lies elsewhere. Rebecca Pearse, Lecturer, Department of Political Economy, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Insects are vital to sustaining life on Earth – and their numbers are falling fast. So consider ditching the fly spray and see what you can do to help. David Yeates, Director of the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO Katja Hogendoorn, University of Adelaide Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Carbon emissions will hit a record high for the second year in a row, but there is a small silver lining: the rate of emissions growth has slowed dramatically. Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Corinne Le Quéré, Royal Society Research Professor, University of East Anglia, University of East Anglia Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Pierre Friedlingstein, Chair, Mathematical Modelling of Climate, University of Exeter Robbie Andrew, Senior Researcher, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Rob Jackson, Chair, Department of Earth System Science, and Chair of the Global Carbon Project, globalcarbonproject.org, Stanford University Vanessa Haverd, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Weeks out from summer, new research says there is no evidence shark nets keep us safe from sharks. Leah Gibbs, Senior Lecturer in Geography, University of Wollongong Lachlan Fetterplace, Environmental Assessment Specialist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Quentin Hanich, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand is a net exporter of many fruit and vegetables. While climate-change induced food shortages are not an imminent risk, some crops may be affected by rising temperatures and extreme weather. Julian Heyes, Head of School of Food and Advanced Technology@ISHS_CMFV, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s threatened birds have declined by 59%, on average, between 1985 and 2016 based on 400,000 surveys at more than 17,000 locations according to Australia's world-first Threatened Bird Index. Elisa Bayraktarov, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland Jaana Dielenberg, Science Communication Manager, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plant-based meats are disrupting the food market and some companies. Samuel Becher, Associate Professor of Business Law, Victoria University of Wellington Jessica C Lai, Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Recent bushfires and extreme weather are just a small taste of what is to come if this week's climate negotiations in Madrid fail to deliver. Robert Hales, Director Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Coal and gas have been proposed as a way to make 'clean' hydrogen. But that road is full of challenges. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Australian National University Fiona J Beck, Senior research fellow, Australian National University Thomas Longden, Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research has revealed 100 plant and animal species have become extinct in the past two centuries – a far higher number than previously thought. John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Brett Murphy, Associate Professor / ARC Future Fellow, Charles Darwin University Dale Nimmo, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, Charles Sturt University Michael F. Braby, Associate Professor, Australian National University Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Species counts drive conservation science and policy, yet a major component of biodiversity is excluded from the data: non-native species. Arian Wallach, Lecturer, Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney Chelsea Batavia, Postdoctoral research associate, Oregon State University Danielle Celermajer, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney Daniel Ramp, Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney Erick Lundgren, PhD Student, Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney Esty Yanco, PhD Candidate, Centre for Compassionate Conservation, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is heading into a scorching summer, but the factors causing the hot and dry weather are expected to ease later in the season. Catherine Ganter, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Andrew B. Watkins, Head of Long-range Forecasts, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's capital cities have collectively lost 30% of their stored water over the last six years. But this loss is not evenly distributed across the country. Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University Jason Reynolds, Research Lecturer in Geochemistry, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A researcher who's worked for decades to improve the health of the Murray Darling Basin fears the coming months will be among the worst in history. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.