The Conversation

Indigenous water rights have been overlooked for a very long time. A bipartisan agreement on the Murray Darling Basin Plan may change that. Sue Jackson, Professor, ARC Future Fellow, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scott Morrison's budget speech held no surprises on energy, after months of debate over the National Energy Guarantee. The real news comes in July with the release of a crucial ACCC report on power prices. David Blowers, Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the face of shocking footage of animals dying on ships, it seems impossible that our live export trade will remain as it is. Here are three areas to address. Andrew Butt, Associate Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, RMIT University Andrew Fisher, Professor of Cattle & Sheep Production Medicine, University of Melbourne Shakira Hussein, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow; Writer and researcher, National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ecology is in the midst of a technological revolution. From tiny sensors that can be fitted to animals, to swarms of remotely-piloted drones, researchers have a host of new ways to study the natural world. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Blake Allan, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia depends on imported fuel to keep running. We never got around to setting up an official reserve, and that means we're already at risk. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the first time research has quantified the global carbon footprint of tourists. It's big – and getting bigger. Dr Arunima Malik, Lecturer in Sustainability, University of Sydney Dr Ya-Yen Sun, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Both short- and long-term solutions are needed to solve Australia's recycling crisis. State and federal ministers are pursuing some promising avenues, but they need to cast the net much wider. Monique Retamal, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Elsa Dominish, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Jenni Downes, Research Consultant, 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.

A toxic chemical produced by algae and linked to motor neuron disease has been detected in NSW rivers. Its presence - long suspected but now confirmed - could be linked to a disease hotspot in the Riverina. Brendan Main, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Under a new target, 100% of Australian packaging will be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025. But this is not enough - we also need to ensure that recyclable materials are actually recycled. Atiq Zaman, Lecturer, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Warnings that a tide of electric vehicles will cut Australia's tax income put the cart well before the (low-emissions) horse. Anna Mortimore, Lecturer, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A US$1.6 billion dollar dam in Sumatra threatens the recently discovered and desperately imperilled Tapanuli Orangutan. Bill Laurance, Distinguished Research Professor and Australian Laureate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The shareholder resolution on climate change at Rio Tinto's AGM is another indication of how much investor culture is tilting towards demanding that companies take a responsible climate stance. Anita Foerster, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Jacqueline Peel, Professor of Environmental and Climate Law, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government's new $500 million funding package for the Great Barrier Reef seems predominantly focused on the tactics that are already being tried, without much success. Jon Brodie, Professorial Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has always suffered heat and flood, but a detailed seasonal rainfall reconstruction of the last 800 years shows the extremes are intensifying. Mandy Freund, PhD student, University of Melbourne Ben Henley, Research Fellow in Climate and Water Resources, University of Melbourne Kathryn Allen, Academic, Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Patrick Baker, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rat baits are widely used to keep rodent pests at bay. But many Australian reptiles are resistant to the poison, potentially spreading these deadly compounds up the food chain. Michael Lohr, PhD Student - Wildlife Ecology, Edith Cowan University Robert Davis, Senior Lecturer in Vertebrate Biology, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been politically fraught and mired in scandal. But environmental monitoring suggests that the health of the rivers is indeed improving - even if it will take decades. Angus Webb, Senior Lecturer and quantitative ecologist, University of Melbourne Darren Ryder, Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Restoration, University of New England Fiona Dyer, Associate professor, University of Canberra Michael Stewardson, Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources, Melbourne School of Engineering, University of Melbourne Mike Grace, Associate Professor, Monash University Nick Bond, Professor, La Trobe University Paul Frazier, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of New England Qifeng Ye, Principal Scientist, Inland Waters and Catchment Ecology Program Rick Stoffels, Senior Scientist, CSIRO Robyn J Watts, Professor of Ecology, Charles Sturt University Samantha Capon, Research Fellow in Ecology, Griffith University Skye Wassens, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Endangered bandicoots have been found in the outskirts of Melbourne. Euan Ritchie, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Sarah Maclagan, PhD candidate, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The puffer jacket has become an iconic staple of many people's winter wardrobe. Here are some ways to shop for yours in the most eco-friendly and ethical way. Alice Payne, Senior lecturer in Fashion, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists have been naming species after well-known people since the 18th century, often in a bid for publicity. But the issue deserves attention – 400,000 Australian species are yet to be described. Kevin Thiele, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

China new cleanliness standards for the recyclable materials it imports are so stringent that they are tantamount to a total ban. Australian councils are now in crisis mode as the rubbish piles up. Jenni Downes, Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.