The Conversation

The Western Australian government's decision to green-light fracking in selected areas aims to walk a line between industry interests and community opposition. But across Australia the picture varies widely. Hanabeth Luke, Lecturer, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University Martin Brueckner, Senior Lecturer in Sustainability, Murdoch University Nia Emmanouil, Research associate, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Indian mining firm Adani has announced scaled-down plans for its planned Queensland coal mine, which it will now fund itself. But there are still many questions hanging over the project. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As leaders and negotiators head to Katowice, Poland for this year's round of UN climate talks, it is clear that there is still much work to be done to meet the goals set in Paris three years ago. Edward Morgan, Research Fellow in Environmental Policy and Planning, Griffith University Brendan Mackey, Director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Griffith University Johanna Nalau, Research Fellow, Climate Adaptation, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's unclear exactly what mix of technologies will drive the zero-emission vehicles of the future. But in terms of 'well-to-wheel' efficiency, electric batteries outperform hydrogen. Jake Whitehead, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Robin Smit, Adjunct professor, The University of Queensland Simon Washington, Professor and Head of School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An Australian steer named Knickers broke the internet this week. The heavyweight Holstein-Friesian weighs as much as a small car, but genetically speaking he's within the normal range (just). Sonja Dominik, Research scientist in animal breeding and genetics, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is the world centre for sexual deception in plants, tricking wasps along the way. Ryan Phillips, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A year ago, the world's largest lithium-ion battery began dispatching power to South Australia's grid. It has been a remarkable success but there are some concerns that have so far escaped scrutiny Aleesha Rodriguez, Phd Student, Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The summer forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology predicts a hot, dry summer. Catherine Ganter, Senior Climatologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bushfires across Queensland are fanned by high winds pushed north by a strong low in NSW. Claire Yeo, Supervising Meteorologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study involving leaving animal carcasses strewn across Tasmania shows that in places where devils have dwindled, other scavengers are stepping up to fill the gap, with nasty knock-on effects. Calum Cunningham, PhD candidate, University of Tasmania, University of Tasmania Christopher Johnson, Professor of Wildlife Conservation and ARC Australian Professorial Fellow, University of Tasmania Menna Elizabeth Jones, Associate professor, University of Tasmania Tracey Hollings, Senior Scientist, Ecological Modelling at Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, and Honorary Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Making the transition to a sustainable energy future also means ensuring that affected communities - such as Australia's coal workers - aren't left by the wayside. Franziska Mey, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Chris Briggs, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research has shown how to measure conservation progress for Australia's 238 endangered bird species Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Alienor Chauvenet, Lecturer, Griffith University April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Brendan Wintle, Professor Conservation Ecology, University of Melbourne David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Elisa Bayraktarov, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland Hayley Geyle, Research Assistant, Charles Darwin University Hugh Possingham, Professor, The University of Queensland Ian Leiper, Geospatial Scientist, Charles Darwin University James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Jim Radford, Principal Research Fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Les Christidis, Professor, Southern Cross University Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Associate Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Molly K Grace, Postdoctoral Fellow in Zoology, University of Oxford Paul McDonald, Associate professor, University of New England Sarah Legge, Associate Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Labor Party's newly announced energy policy could finally set Australia's electricity sector on the path to a renewables-driven future. But policies are still needed to cut emissions elsewhere. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Innovation should mean solutions that work for everyone, not just economists. Professor Lars Coenen, City of Melbourne Chair in Resilient Cities, University of Melbourne Cathy Alexander, Research Fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Federal Labor has promised to give rebates of up to $2,000 to 100,000 households to install batteries to store power from solar panels. Is this good energy policy, or just middle-class welfare? Guy Dundas, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Trading rhino horn has been legalised in a bid to undercut poachers and the black market. Hubert Cheung, PhD Candidate in Conservation Biology, The University of Queensland Duan Biggs, Senior Research Fellow Social-Ecological Systems & Resilience, Griffith University Yifu Wang, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If you see moths and their larvae near your clothes, it's a sign that it's time to wash all your clothes and air them out in the sun. Andreas Zwick, Molecular Systematist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Drinking water in Australia can be contaminated by natural and manmade processes, especially in communities. Innovation is needed to ensure water is ‘fit for purpose, place and people’. Nina Lansbury Hall, Lecturer, Environmental Health Unit, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Susan Mott, Senior Research Officer, The University of Queensland Wendy Hoy, Professor of Medicine; Director, Centre for Chronic Disease, and Director, NHMRC CKD.CRE, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

At an international summit in Egypt this month, nations will hopefully make progress towards recognising the economic value of wildlife and other environmental assets. Michael Vardon, Associate Professor at the Fenner School, Australian National University Carl Obst, Honorary Research Fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Despite its global importance, the rainy 'Maritime Continent' around Indonesia is hard to capture using global climate models. But fear not - new research shows how to improve our forecasts. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Claire Vincent, Lecturer in Atmospheric Science, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.