The Conversation

Australia is losing mammals faster than any other country, as well as plenty more plants and animals besides. Extinction is theft from future generations – it's time to treat it as such. John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin 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.

Buildings and human disturbance in Antartica is clustered in an ice-free zone that is essential to most of the continent's biodiversity. Shaun Brooks, PhD Candidate, University of Tasmania Julia Jabour, Leader, Ocean and Antarctic Governance Research Program, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Marine heatwaves, like their land counterparts, are growing hotter and longer. Sea species in southeastern Australia, southeast Asia, northwestern Africa, Europe and eastern Canada are most at risk. Dan Smale, Research Fellow in Marine Ecology, Marine Biological Association Thomas Wernberg, Associate professor, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's current greenhouse emissions target is not ambitious enough, and we're not on track to hit even this modest goal. But the potential is there to hit zero emissions by mid-century if we try. Anna Skarbek, CEO at ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University Anna Malos, Project Manager, climate and energy policy, ClimateWorks Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Molluscs that have shells - like pipis, clams and oysters - have to build their own shell from scratch. And they keep building it their whole life, using chemicals from the sea and their own bodies. Aurelie Moya, Research Fellow, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Firewood banksia don't just survive in Western Australia's sandy plains, they thrive, showing off with vibrant, pink-red flower spikes. Rachel Standish, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Murdoch University Lauren Svejcar, PhD Candidate, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The hottest Australian summer on record is ending, and it's likely we've got a warm, dry autumn to come. David Jones, Climate Scientist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Lynette Bettio, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Skie Tobin, Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Too much recyclable packaging is still finding its way into landfill - and plastic is the biggest culprit, with two-thirds going unrecovered, according to a new analysis. Ben Madden, Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Nick Florin, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rewilding is gaining popularity around the world, as a means to restore ecosystems to their ancient state. But just like Vegemite, Australian rewilding projects need to have a unique flavour. Oisín Sweeney, Senior Ecologist at the National Parks Association of NSW, Research Fellow, University of Sydney John Turnbull, PhD Candidate, UNSW Menna Elizabeth Jones, Associate professor, University of Tasmania Mike Letnic, Professor, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Thomas Newsome, Lecturer, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scott Morrison's pledge to spend billions on a Climate Solutions Fund is a thinly veiled rehash of the widely criticised Emissions Reduction Fund, which had much of its work undone by fine print. Ian A. MacKenzie, Senior Lecturer in Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reducing emissions doesn't have to conflict with a growing economy, as these 18 developed nations show. Pep Canadell, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Corinne Le Quéré, Professor, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia Glen Peters, Research Director, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Jan Ivar Korsbakken, Senior Researcher, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Robbie Andrew, Senior Researcher, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian wheat growers need to boost yields to stay competitive in the face of climate change. They could do this by sowing earlier, but need new varieties of wheat to help them do it. James Hunt, Associate Professor, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This native succulent is a tasty bush food. Bronwyn Barkla, Associate Professor of Plant Protein Biochemistry, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A bee the size of a human thumb was first described in Victorian times, but hadn't been seen since 1981. That is, until four biologists teamed up on a trek to Indonesia's North Molucca islands. Simon KA Robson, Honorary Professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The plan to kill 2 million feral cats nationwide by 2020 makes for good headlines. But it's also a simplistic goal that won't necessarily deliver conservation benefits to native species. Tim Doherty, Research Fellow, Deakin University Dale Nimmo, Associate professor/ARC DECRA fellow, Charles Sturt University Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Ricky Spencer, Associate Professor of Ecology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

China's refusal to take Australia's rubbish has started to bite, and it's clear we're not ready to deal with the consequences. Trevor Thornton, Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As soon as white colonists began farming sheep in Australia, they looked for a way to eradicate dingoes. Justine M. Philip, Doctor of Philosophy, Ecosystem Management, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What do the recent Townsville floods and Tasmanian heatwave have in common? Both were caused by weather systems that stayed put for days or weeks on end. And global warming could worsen that trend. Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's easy to whip out the fly spray, but our fondness for pesticides can bring knock-on effects such as increased resistance, and harming beneficial insects in and around our homes. Lizzy Lowe, Postdoctoral researcher, Macquarie University Cameron Webb, Clinical Lecturer and Principal Hospital Scientist, University of Sydney Manu Saunders, Research fellow, University of New England Tanya Latty, Senior Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wander in the dark forest and you might spot the radioactive glow of the ghost fungus. Alison Pouliot, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.