The Conversation

Mulga is an Aussie icon: hardy, adaptable, and absolutely everywhere. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You can barely communicate with your kids, but these creatures are sending complex interspecies instructions. Alyssa Weinstein, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Federal environment minister Sussan Ley said the environment doesn't necessarily need all its water, whereas farmers do. But denying rivers even part of their water can harm their health in many ways. Paul Humphries, Senior lecturer in Ecology, Charles Sturt University R. Keller Kopf, Research fellow, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government claims that Australia's rising emissions are offset by savings around the globe when Australian gas exports replace other fossil fuels. But the numbers don't stack up like that. Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Salim Mazouz, Research Manager, Crawford School of Public Policy; and Director at EcoPerspectives, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yes, Australia's greenhouse emissions are a small part of the global total. But we're a rich, emissions-intensive country that could and should be setting a much better example to the world. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia urgently needs to prepare for a coming tsunami of solar panel and battery waste. Rodney Stewart, Professor, Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University Hengky Salim, PhD Candidate, Griffith University Oz Sahin, Senior Research Fellow, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs have raw and untreated sewage from 3,500 people discharged directly into the Tasman Sea. Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University Andrew Fischer, Senior Lecturer, University of Tasmania Boyd Dirk Blackwell, Adjunct Researcher, University of Tasmania Qurratu A'yunin Rohmana, Research Analyst, University of Tasmania Simon Toze, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The leaves, when boiled, can be eaten like spinach. The seeds can be roasted for a coffee substitute, and the pulp can be fermented to make beer. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's been years in the making, but Adani's controversial Queensland coal mine is finally shovel-ready. Yet significant scientific questions remain, such as the impact on the region's aquifers. Adrian Werner, Professor of Hydrogeology, Flinders University Matthew Currell, Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A recent global survey found almost 600 plants have gone extinct. And this figure is likely to be an underestimate. David Coates, Adjunct Professor and Research Associate, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ten years ago, politicians such as Tony Abbott would routinely voice disdain for climate science. Now, while the policy debate remains fierce, the battleground has shifted to economics and jobs. Michael J. I. Brown, Associate professor in astronomy, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Leeches need blood to grow and reproduce- they can do this easily as all leeches are both male and female at the same time. They still have to mate with another leech but both partners can lay eggs. Mark Sandeman, Honorary Professor, Federation University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A recent report on the state of New Zealand's environment painted a bleak picture of species losses and freshwater pollution. Budget 2019 signals a shift, but more in intention than sufficient funding. Troy Baisden, Professor and Chair in Lake and Freshwater Sciences, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the end, climate policy didn't swing the federal election, and for those on the losing side it can be tempting to play the blame game. But listening and respect are much better ways to move forward. Chloe Lucas, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Tasmania Adam Corner, Research Director, Climate Outreach & Honorary Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff University Aidan Davison, Associate Professor, University of Tasmania Peat Leith, Research Fellow, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Murray-Darling Basin might not survive future climate change shocks without changes to the plan. Barry Hart, Emeritus Professor Water Science, Monash University Martin Thoms, Professor - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences , University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This massive red gum has stood for 300 years, as if in defiance of the modern world and the development that has encircled it. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ladybirds do not have tails because they have no backbones. Heshani Edirisinghe, PhD student, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are at 414 parts per million. But thanks to a recalculation of methane's warming power, the total amount of greenhouse gases is now equivalent to more than 500. Zoe Loh, Research Scientist, CSIRO Blagoj Mitrevski, Research scientist, CSIRO David Etheridge, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Nada Derek, Research Projects Officer, Oceans and Atmosphere, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Paul Fraser, Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Paul Krummel, Research Group Leader, CSIRO Paul Steele, Honorary Fellow, CSIRO Ray Langenfelds, Scientist at CSIRO Atmospheric Research, CSIRO Sam Cleland, Officer in Charge, Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's new emissions data for the December 2018 quarter show a rise on the previous quarter, although the raw figures actually dropped. Here's what that all means. Tim Baxter, Fellow - Melbourne Law School; Associate - Australian-German Climate and Energy College, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here's how climate change affects recovery efforts for the elusive western ground parrot. Shaun Molloy, Associate research scientist (Ecology), Edith Cowan University Robert Davis, Senior Lecturer in Vertebrate Biology, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.