The Conversation

Australia has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to fix environmental law. A new Wentworth Group report says the cumulative impacts from multiple projects must be considered. Rebecca Louise Nelson, Associate Professor in Law, The University of Melbourne Martine Maron, Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Preliminary findings show that managed retreat, structural flood protection and climate-resilient development projects are most at risk of maladaptation. Ritodhi Chakraborty, Lecturer of Human Geography, University of Canterbury Claire Burgess, Research Assistant, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has the world’s biggest carbon footprint from fashion. This is one area where changing our personal clothing choices can make a big difference, just as it did in the second world war. Rachael Wallis, Research Assistant, Youth Community Futures, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the cost-of-living crisis bites into our household budgets, growing or foraging food can save you money. Kate Neale, Researcher, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For towns built on mining, mine closures have huge impacts. Because mines inevitably close, communities should be involved from the start in planning for that time. Kimberley Crofts, Doctoral Student in Sustainable Transitions, School of Design, University of Technology Sydney Liam Phelan, Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s road to net zero must pass through Indigenous-held land, which is likely to host many clean energy projects. First Nations people want partnerships that help them protect their Country. Lily O'Neill, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Brad Riley, Research Fellow, Australian National University Ganur Maynard, Indigenous Knowledge Holder, Indigenous Knowledge Janet Hunt, Honorary Associate Professor, CAEPR, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Support for road-user charging strengthens when people are assured that revenue goes into reducing traffic congestion, maintaining transport infrastructure, improving public transport. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Hadi Ghaderi, Associate Professor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Swinburne University of Technology Tariq Munir, PhD Candidate, Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure and Digital Construction, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Storing energy in large pumped hydro schemes sounds simple. But engineering and terrain challenges have put Snowy 2.0 well off track – while grid-scale batteries get better and better Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For some countries, climate change has already pushed most of their territory into a different climate zone. Our research shows what’s already happened – and what’s yet to come. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Hylke Beck, Assistant Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Pablo Rozas Larraondo, Research fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Understanding how animals think, learn and interact with one another can inform the science of ecology, as predator and prey shape their world. Eamonn Wooster, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University Erick Lundgren, Postdoctoral fellow, Aarhus University, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If Australia is to meet its net zero targets it must move fast and build massive industrial infrastructure. But those projects are provoking fierce hostility. Is there a way through the green dilemma? Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Newly announced closures of Glencore’s copper and zinc mines in Mt Isa will add to a huge number of former mines in Australia. A 2020 study by Monash University’s Resources Trinity Group found more than… Mohan Yellishetty, Co-Founder, Critical Minerals Consortium, and Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University Peter Marcus Bach, Senior Research Scientist, Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, and Adjunct Research Fellow, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Stringent measures are needed to prevent plastic pollution. But concerns about carbon leaching from plastic waste would be better aimed at emissions from producing more plastic in the first place. Karin Kvale, Senior Scientist, Carbon Cycle Modeller, GNS Science Andrew Weaver, Professor, School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria Natalia Gurgacz, Graduate Student, University of Victoria Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To build drought resilence, Sydney must invest in rainfall-independent water supplies. Stuart Khan, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Taxing electric vehicles was always a bad idea. But the High Court’s ruling against Victoria’s law could make state-based road user charges impossible. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nature’s ultimate coral predator could benefit from climate change by surviving heatwaves and lie in wait for the right moment to feast on the reef. Matt Clements, PhD Student, University of Sydney Maria Byrne, Professor of Developmental & Marine Biology, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Of all Australia’s climate policies, the Renewable Energy Target has been the most effective. Why have Australian governments moved away from it, and how can they revive it? Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University Joel Gilmore, Associate Professor, Griffith University Tahlia Nolan, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ecological overshoot is driven by human consumption and a belief in endless economic growth. Could the marketing and media industries that feed those habits also help change them? Mike Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Phoebe Barnard, Affiliate Full Professor, University of Washington; Research Associate, African Climate & Development Initiative and FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town; Founding CEO, Stable Planet Alliance, University of Washington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Solar power generation varies greatly depending on the weather. A new study suggests in some parts of Australia, solar has a bright future. Shukla Poddar, Senior Research Fellow, School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The first comprehensive assessment of trends in Southern Ocean ecosystems reveals an urgent need to address climate change. The summary for policymakers can guide decision-makers. Andrew J Constable, Adviser, Antarctica and Marine Systems, Science & Policy, University of Tasmania Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Transdisciplinary Researcher & Knowledge Broker, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.