The Conversation

Last week, Victoria’s main gas storage facility was worryingly low. It’s another sign of the flaws associated with leaving gas supply to the market Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A campaign fought on climate and energy might benefit the Greens and the Teal independents – but the prevailing state of the economy will determine their ability to capitalise. Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We know some marine microbes produce enzymes that can break down certain types of plastics. But new research found areas of high plastic pollution don’t show high concentrations of these enzymes. Victor Gambarini, PhD Student in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Coalition’s nuclear plan is an unwelcome proposal which will slow the energy transition and increase our dependence on gas – a surefire way to drive up energy bills. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria’s government wants local governments to speed up development and get more homes built. But there are many questions around this goal. David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Offshore wind power can play a starring role in Australia’s future energy mix. It sure beats nuclear and coal, offering advantages in scale, availability and proximity to both users and the grid. Ty Christopher, Director Energy Futures Network, University of Wollongong Michelle Voyer, Principal Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Going nuclear in Australia would mean overcoming a set of almost impossible obstacles, from legal to financial, regulatory and workforce. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hybrid vehicles are having a real moment in Australia and overseas. The problem is, they’re not as clean as we think. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Coalition’s nuclear policy announcement leaves many burning questions. Exactly what kind of reactors will be built? Who will build them? And how much they will cost? John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Weakening climate ambition as China strengthens its climate targets would undercut Australia’s strategy in our Pacific region. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Norfolk Island green parrots are self-medicating with pepper tree bark and leaves, to rid themselves of parasites. But is there more to it? Birds are known to indulge in alcohol and take stimulants. Penny Olsen, Honorary Professor in Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For years, the ‘duck curve’ of low daytime demand due to cheap solar power has challenged energy planners. California is showing the solution is storage. Asma Aziz, Senior Lecturer in Power Engineering, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If Australia is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the Coalition needs to stump up with a plan to decarbonise the entire economy. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The government’s priorities are shifting towards adaptation to protect communities, jobs and industries. But the longer we wait to cut emissions, the more the costs of climate change will compound. Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Taking more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by stashing it in the ocean seems like a good idea, but it could backfire if tiny marine animals called zooplankton get extra hungry. Tyler Rohr, Lecturer in Southern Ocean Biogeochemical Modelling, IMAS, University of Tasmania Ali Mashayek, Professor, University of Cambridge Sophie Meyjes, PhD Candidate, University of Cambridge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Two states have banned native forest logging, but it’s still happening in the others. Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Howling winds take sea salt from the Southern Ocean and lay it down in Antarctica as snow, then ice. Hidden in these ice cores is a warning about Australian fire seasons. Danielle Udy, Research associate in Climatology, University of Tasmania Anthony Kiem, Associate Professor – Hydroclimatology, University of Newcastle Neil Holbrook, Professor of Ocean and Climate Dynamics, University of Tasmania Nerilie Abram, Professor in Climate Change and Paleoclimatology, Australian National University Tessa Vance, Palaeoclimatologist, Australian Antarctic Program Partnership, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Costing new sources of electricity sounds simple. But it’s enormously complicated – and CSIRO’s GenCost report promises certainty it cannot deliver Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Even the big oil companies are predicting global demand will decline within decades. With investment in oil exploration projected to decline too, New Zealand should be putting its energy elsewhere. Jen Purdie, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers found blood-lead levels in sparrows were a predictable indicator of blood-lead levels in children – showing how humans and nature are inextricably linked. Max M Gillings, PhD Candidate, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Simon Griffith, Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.