The Conversation

Why do governments still give billions to encourage fossil fuel production? The answer is often to shore up energy supplies. Bernard Njindan Iyke, Lecturer in Finance, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Coral restoration is, at best, a feel-good measure – and at worst, a dangerous distraction from climate action. Robert Paul Streit, Research Fellow in Just Ocean Governance, The University of Melbourne David Roy Bellwood, Professor, James Cook University Tiffany Morrison, Professorial Research Fellow, James Cook University and Professor, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s live export trade is controversial. Have you ever wondered how it perpetuates? New research shows it comes down to corporate power dynamics. Similar forces operate in Brazil and the US. Katherine Sievert, Research Fellow in Food Systems, Deakin University Christine Parker, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Disasters are never entirely natural. They can be far worse if they hit unprepared cities, as Manila has just found out. Emily Nabong, PhD Researcher in Civil Engineering, University of Sydney Aaron Opdyke, Senior Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The only way to reduce soaring transport emissions is to shift as much travel as possible to the lowest-emission option. Robin Smit, Adjunct Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

You’ve probably heard the arguments against electric cars, but most of them are getting weaker as the technology, markets and infrastructure mature. John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney Andrea Pelligrini, Lecturer, Sustainable Mobility, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s Chris Bowen was among a select group of ministers meeting in Wuhan, China this week to progress global climate negotiations. Here’s why China is taking climate so seriously. Xu Yi-chong, Professor of Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In theory, time-of-use pricing should nudge households to use electricity when it’s cheaper and more plentiful, saving on bills and grid costs. In practice, it isn’t working well for many households. Lee White, Senior Lecturer and Horizon Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mounting evidence shows rainfall is becoming increasingly variable, making the dry times drier and the wet much wetter. New findings confirm research into rainfall variability in Australia. Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Anna Ukkola, ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Paris games are shaping up as the greenest games yet. But some critics say even more needs to be done. Tony Heynen, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Energy, The University of Queensland Prabhakaran Vanaraja Ambeth, PhD student, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Determining the global average temperature on any given day is complex. It involves thousands of observations, high-tech equipment and sophisticated computer models. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What do you know about your national currency? How about the cash used overseas? We studied wildlife imagery on banknotes around the world. Here’s what we found. Guy Castley, Associate Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Clare Morrison, Lecturer in Ecology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An endangered rodent and a thorny, impenetrable weed doesn’t sound like a good match. But stick-nest rats have made homes out of African boxthorn Annie Grace Kraehe, PhD candidate, Australian National University Kathryn Hill, Research associate, plant ecophysiology, Adelaide University Robert S. Hill, Executive Dean, Faulty of Sciences, Adelaide University Vera Weisbecker, Associate Professor, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reconstructing the demise of New Zealand’s extinct moa can help conserve the country’s remaining flightless birds, which are retreating to the same final places - cold, isolated mountaintops. Damien Fordham, Associate Professor of Global Change Ecology, Adelaide University Jamie Wood, Senior Lecturer, Ecology and Evolution, Adelaide University Mark V. Lomolino, Professor emeritus, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Sean Tomlinson, Research Associate, Ecology and Evolution, Adelaide University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report challenges the notion that repairing our continent is a task too big and expensive to tackle. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Bradley J. Moggridge, Professor of Science and Associate Dean (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement), University of Technology Sydney Martine Maron, Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Small modular reactors promise to make nuclear power cheaper and safer. But our new report shows they’re still a long way off. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Kylie Walker, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The lethal strain of highly pathogenic bird flu is everywhere – except Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Here’s how we’re planning for its arrival Tiggy Grillo, COO, Wildlife Health Australia; Adjunct Lecturer, Charles Sturt University Simone Vitali, Wildlife Health Australia Program Manager (Emergencies); Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study shows up to 90% of floating plastic rubbish is captured in estuaries and inner shorelines. Local community cleanups can make a real difference by stopping pollution at its source. Melissa Bowen, Associate Professor in Physical Oceanography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Gaoyang Li, Research Assistant in Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Giovanni Coco, Professor of Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Zheng Chen, PhD Candidate in Physical Geography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If you’re worried about pollution in the air we breathe, water we drink and food we eat, take time out to explore the evidence of harm and digest some practical advice on how to reduce your exposure. Oliver A.H. Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a new way to firm up the world’s electricity grids - and they could be a game-changer. Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.