The Conversation

Black Saturday in 2009 was Australia's worst bushfire tragedy. But climate projections predict more bushfire danger in the future, threatening our water supplies as well as homes. Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the years after Black Saturday, climate adaptation research was in full swing, creating knowledge in how to deal with the risks. But a series of funding cuts have left this research in decline. Rod Keenan, Professor, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria's Country Fire Authority was founded in the aftermath of a previous bushfire tragedy – the 1939 Black Friday blazes. But its creation was a bigger political saga than many people realise. James (Jim) McLennan, adjunct professor, School of Psychology & Public Health, La Trobe University, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is making Tasmania more vulnerable to brutal fire conditions. Nick Earl, Postdoctoral associate, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne Peter Love, Atmospheric Physicist, University of Tasmania Rebecca Harris, Climate Research Fellow, University of Tasmania Tomas Remenyi, Climate Research Fellow, Climate Futures Group, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate scientist predict that the combined effect of ice loss in Greenland and Antarctica will be more extreme weather, with impacts on agriculture, infrastructure and human life itself. Nick Golledge, Associate Professor of Glaciology, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The flood zone around Townsville extends for hundreds of kilometres, making monitoring difficult even from the air. But scientists are testing a new satellite method that can peer through the clouds. Linlin Ge, Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite bans around the world, there's no empirical evidence sunscreens cause coral bleaching. Terry Hughes, Distinguished Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A scathing report about the Murray Darling Basin Authority highlights the importance of climate change risks to public sector companies. Arjuna Dibley, Graduate Fellow, Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, Stanford University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This retiring violet tucked away in the Australian bush holds the key to future generations of medically-engineered plants. Bronwyn Smithies, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Edward Kalani Gilding, Postdoctoral Research Officer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Murray-Darling is not just a food bowl, yet the South Australian Royal Commission has found the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is failing its mission to protect the environment as well as irrigators. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Banning fishing in no-take marine reserves on the Great Barrier Reef does not protect sharks as well as received wisdom would tell you. Justin Rizzari, Lecturer in Fisheries Science, Deakin University Ashley J Frisch, Research Coordinator at Reef HQ / GBRMPA, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's government insists it is on track to surpass its emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement. But while that may be true, it will only happen with some clever accounting. Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Neither of the two federal investigations into fish deaths in the Darling River include any Indigenous representation. Bradley J. Moggridge, Indigenous Water Research, University of Canberra Ross M Thompson, Chair of Water Science and Director, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just one out of a possible 775 development approvals was refused on the basis that it would harm the southern black-throated finch, despite this endangered species being protected by federal law. April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Eric Vanderduys, Research Projects Officer, CSIRO James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Since China stopped accepting Australia's recyclable plastic, the majority of exported plastic waste is now going to developing nations in South East Asia. Monique Retamal, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Le Xuan Thinh, Director, VNCPC Nguyen, Anh Tuan, Senior researcher Samantha Sharpe, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Analysis of last summer's heatwaves shows it killed farmed salmon and decimated kelp forests, as well as shifting grape harvests and fish spawning times forward by several weeks. Jim Salinger, Honorary Associate, Tasmanian Institute for Agriculture, University of Tasmania James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (climate science), Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New satellite-based research shows there is at least as much value in knowing how much water is left for plants to use as there is in knowing how much rain may be on the way. Siyuan Tian, Postdoctoral fellow, Australian National University Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Move over Benedict Cumberbatch, there's another oddly shaped pale figure stealing the limelight. Elizabeth Joyce, PhD candidate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nitrate in drinking water has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. That could have implications for some parts of New Zealand where nitrate levels are high. Michael (Mike) Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Michael Baker, Professor of Public Health, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Much of Australia is sweltering due to a high pressure system parked over the Tasman Sea – and there's no sign it's moving any time soon. Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.