The Conversation

The energy transition could be scuppered by community scepticism. Communities have to see the benefits. Simon Wright, Senior Research Fellow, Energy & Circularity, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Even with the best intentions, policies from different government departments can clash. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Catherine Lovelock, Professor of Biology, The University of Queensland Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Geoengineering proposals to cool the ocean would indeed reduce ice loss from West Antarctica’s glaciers, but not enough to stop sea-level rise or allow the ice sheet to regrow. Alanna Alevropoulos-Borrill, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Nick Golledge, Professor of Glaciology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Natural variability in Australian rainfall can produce “mega-droughts” lasting 20 years or more. Add in human-caused climate change, and future droughts may be far worse than imagined. Georgina Falster, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University Nerilie Abram, Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Deputy Director for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science; Deputy Director for the Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, Australian National University Nicky Wright, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Marsupial rescue, rehabilitation and release statistics from New South Wales and Kangaroo Island during Black Summer fires reveal poor survival rates, despite the courageous efforts of volunteers. Catherine Herbert, Associate professor, University of Sydney Chris Dickman, Professor Emeritus in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney Holly Cope, Honorary Research Associate, University of Sydney Rachael Gray, Associate Professor in Veterinary Pathology, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bushwalkers with smartphones could help scientists track a fungus lethal to many of Australia’s most loved trees. Erin Roger, Sector Lead, CSIRO Alyssa Martino, PhD Candidate , University of Sydney Rebecca Paxton, Doctoral student, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There’s so much we still don’t know about whales. Here’s 3 amazing new things we’ve learnt about whales lately: how humpback whales have sex and give birth – and how baleen whales sing underwater. Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What would it mean to bring solar manufacturing back on shore in Australia? Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney Fiacre Rougieux, Senior Lecturer, Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Marine protection represents our best strategy to reverse declining biodiversity. But protected areas also provide a low-tech and cost-effective way for the fishing industry to safeguard stocks. Mark John Costello, Professor, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some Aussie beaches are being reshaped and coastal dunes are marching inland. We used data from aerial photography, field surveys, laser mapping and drones to study incredible rates of change. Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Marcio D. DaSilva, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The amended rules will slow the reduction in emissions from Australia’s polluting road transport sector and reflect alarming trends, here and abroad. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report has found the marine reserve covering the Heard and McDonald islands must urgently be expanded. Ian Cresswell, Adjunct professor, The University of Western Australia Andrew J Constable, Adviser, Antarctica and Marine Systems, Science & Policy, University of Tasmania Keith Reid, Honorary Research Associate, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Serious air pollution is a common problem in stations around Australia and the world. But solutions already exist, and some can be applied immediately to protect station staff and commuters. Magnus Moglia, Associate Professor in Systems Science and Sustainable Urbanism, Swinburne University of Technology Christian A. Nygaard, Professor in Social Economics and Urban Studies, Swinburne University of Technology Hadi Ghaderi, Associate Professor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Swinburne University of Technology Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Winemakers need to understand the full extent of climate change impacts on the industry, including how changes in temperature and humidity may affect the microbes that ferment grapes. Stephen On, Professor of Microbiology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Manpreet K Dhami, Senior Researcher, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We could make our hot cities cooler with white roofs and light roads. But progress has been glacially slow. Sebastian Pfautsch, Research Theme Fellow - Environment and Sustainability, Western Sydney University Riccardo Paolini, Associate Professor, School of Built Environment, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The closure of Australia’s coal-fired power stations will be challenging. The car industry experience provides lessons on how to protect workers and families. Vigya Sharma, Senior Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland Julia Loginova, Research fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia committed to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030 when we signed the global biodiversity framework. But what does that really mean? It’s open to interpretation. So let’s be ambitious. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ten years of data from Australia’s comprehensive national flying-fox monitoring program reveals the grey-headed flying fox (fruit bat) population is stable. It’s good news for this threatened species. Eric Vanderduys, Research Projects Officer, CSIRO Adam McKeown, Experimental Scientist in Ecology, CSIRO Chris R. Pavey, Principal Scientist in Ecology, CSIRO John Martin, Adjunct associate and ecological research scientist, University of Sydney Peter Caley, Senior Research Scientist in quantitative ecology, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our plant species are pickier about their preferred temperature range than you would expect. That means many will have to move south, seeking cooler climes. Julian Schrader, Lecturer in Plant Ecology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many measures commonly thought to reduce the toll of animals injured and killed on our roads aren’t effective. But there is evidence to support other solutions. Graeme Coulson, Honorary Principal Fellow, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne Helena Bender, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Social Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.