The Conversation

We rely on climate data to help us make important decisions for our future, such as building infrastructure. But what if a region's climate has long been more volatile than we realised? Jack Coates-Marnane, Post-doctoral research fellow, Griffith University Joanne Burton, Adjunct Research Fellow, Griffith University John Tibby, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Change, University of Adelaide Jon Olley, Professor of Water Science, Griffith University Joseph M. McMahon, PhD candidate, Griffith University Justine Kemp, Senior Research Fellow in Geomorphology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest annual survey from the Lowy Institute shows that 59% of Australians support strong climate action, and 84% want the government to embrace renewable energy even if it's more expensive. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The new Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council aims to overcome a management problem faced by many traditional owners: the fact that major rivers flow through lands home to many different groups and languages. Sue Jackson, Professor, ARC Future Fellow, Griffith University Sarah Laborde, Postdoctoral Researcher, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Waste byproducts from rice and glass combined with fungus can create a construction material with the potential to save lives and the planet. Tien Huynh, Senior Lecturer in the School of Sciences, RMIT University Mitchell Jones, PhD Student, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Puppies and kittens are born without teeth, but by around two months of age they have a full set of baby teeth. Anne Fawcett, Lecturer, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More logging will occur in NSW if conservation areas are rezoned by the state government. Oisín Sweeney, Senior Ecologist at the National Parks Association of NSW, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia's business-as-usual plan will not be enough to achieve our 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Shirin Malekpour, Research Leader in Strategic Planning and Futures Studies, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The work honey bees do is critical for our ecosystems, but it comes at a high personal cost. Amélie Cabirol, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Trento Andrew Barron, Associate Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For decades, China and India have clashed over their disputed Himalayan border. This clash is also playing out via a development boom that threatens the health of one of the world's biggest river catchments. Ruth Gamble, David Myers Research Fellow, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wollemi pines have survived for hundreds of millions of years. Once covering Australia, they now survive in a few isolated spots – but they're coming back in a big way. Cris Brack, Assoc Professor Forest measurement & management, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A government proposal for weather radars to share frequencies with telecommunications providers has prompted fears for the accuracy of the Bureau of Meteorology's weather radar. Andrew Dowse, Director, Defence Research and Engagement, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study shows that workers exposed to solvents in the vehicle collision repair industry are at greater risk of adverse health effects than other blue-collar workers. Samuel Keer, Research officer, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Jeroen Douwes, Professor of Public Health; Director, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What will Antarctica look like in 2070? Will the icy wilderness we know today survive, or will it succumb to climate change and human pressure? Our choices over the coming decade will seal its fate. Steve Rintoul, Research Team Leader, Marine & Atmospheric Research, CSIRO Steven Chown, Professor of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Since 1995, several ice shelves off the Antarctic Peninsula have abruptly disintegrated. A new analysis suggests that these events are triggered when ice shelves lose their buffer of floating ice. Luke Bennetts, Lecturer in applied mathematics, University of Adelaide Rob Massom, Leader, Sea Ice Group, Antarctica & the Global System program, Australian Antarctic Division and Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, Australian Antarctic Division Vernon Squire, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Professor of Applied Mathematics, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The poisoning of dozens of wedge-tailed hawks in Victoria could affect the entire wild population. Simon Cherriman, Ornithology, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Households that are most likely to go solar are those that can afford solar panels, but aren't so rich that they don't have to worry about their electricity bill at all, says a survey of 8,000 homes. Adam McHugh, Honorary Research Associate, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Brumbies have a devoted following among high country locals, despite the fact that they were despised by colonial settler farmers. Their mythical status today owes a lot to cultural figures such as Banjo Paterson. Pete Minard, Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of the Inland, La Trobe University., La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research has suggested a fresh way to account for greenhouse gases with different lifetimes in the atmosphere. Dave Frame, Professor of Climate Change, Victoria University of Wellington Adrian Henry Macey, Senior Associate, Institute for Governance and Policy Studies; Adjunct Professor, New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute. , Victoria University of Wellington Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science, Leader of ECI Climate Research Programme, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For decades, state and federal governments have shed environmental budgets and staff. Now it's up to volunteers to fill the gap. Matthew H Webb, Dr Matt Webb, Australian National University David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Dejan Stojanovic, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Southern Australia's debate may be exacerbated by climate change, but it's not that simple. Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, University of Melbourne Anna Ukkola, Research Associate, Climate Change Research Centre, Australian National University Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.