The Conversation

El Niño events can affect millions of people around the world, causing drought in Australia and floods in the Americas. Mandy Freund, PhD Researcher, University of Melbourne Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne David Karoly, Leader, NESP Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub, CSIRO Helen McGregor, ARC Future Fellow, University of Wollongong Nerilie Abram, ARC Future Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences; Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just in case you needed another reason to love dogs. Julia Mynott, Research Officer, Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tasting like a smoky sundried tomato, the desert raisin has been a staple for Australian desert communities for thousands of years. Dr Angela Pattison, Research scientist at Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor's policies have to get a lot more ambitious if they want to see real reductions in emissions. Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Climate Strike movement shows us loud and clear that youth not only care about climate change, but that it needs to be brought to the table to cement their vote. Hannah Feldman, PhD Researcher in Science Communication, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The move has been likened to putting the country on a "war footing", with climate and the environment at the very centre of all government policy, rather than being on the fringe of political decisions. Chris Turney, Professor of Earth Science and Climate Change, ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Climate Strike movement shows us loud and clear that youth not only care about climate change, but that it needs to be brought to the table to cement their vote. Hannah Feldman, PhD Researcher in Science Communication, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor hopes their six-point plan could turn around Australia's poor international reputation on animal welfare. Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science, University of Sydney Clive Phillips, Professor of Animal Welfare, Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Yeelirrie uranium mine is the latest instalment in Australia's long tradition of ignoring the dignity and welfare of Aboriginal communities in the pursuit of nuclear fuel. Jessica Urwin, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Adani has promised to fix its groundwater plan – but that might not be possible. Matthew Currell, Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University Adrian Werner, Professor of Hydrogeology, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Relocating communities to safer, less exposed areas can help people manage climate hazards, but it's not a viable solution for everyone. Annah Piggott-McKellar, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Karen Elizabeth McNamara, Senior lecturer, The University of Queensland Patrick D. Nunn, Professor of Geography, School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest update on the environment highlights that New Zealand has the world's highest proportion of indigenous wildlife species either threatened or at risk of extinction. Michael (Mike) Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Sylvie McLean, Masters Student in Environmental Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Vets can often grapple with 'convenience euthanasia', where a client brings in a pet because it may, for instance, interfere with their lifestyle. Simon Coghlan, Senior lecturer in health ethics, University of Adelaide; Research fellow in robot ethics, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Management practices that don't consider the history, ecology and social circumstances of dingo populations help drive their aggression towards people. Katie Woolaston, Lawyer, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Stygofauna, Australian animals that live in underground water, are under threat from the newly approved uranium mine. Gavin Mudd, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With unusual inflated winged fruits growing on "sickness country", the tree flummoxed local botanists who had not seen anything like it before. Gregory John Leach, Honorary Fellow at Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hundreds of scientists and Indigenous leaders have asked the EU to demand tougher imports standards to protect Brazil's rainforests, wetlands and savannahs. Claire F.R. Wordley, Research Associate in Conservation Evidence, University of Cambridge Laura Kehoe, Researcher in Conservation Decision Science and Land Use, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Don't believe what you read on the label: 'biodegradable' bags might not break down in landfill. M. Leigh Ackland, Professor in Molecular Biosciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The controversy over the water purchase is based on old story; the election has enabled it to be resurrected for a powerful fresh spin around the political circuit. Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest Murray-Darling Basin scandal calls into question whether the government is using public money wisely. Lin Crase, Professor of Economics and Head of School, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.