The Conversation

Victoria’s iconic mountain ash forests are reeling from decades of logging and fire. They’re not recovering on their own. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Chris Taylor, Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Elle Bowd, Research fellow, Australian National University Kita Ashman, Adjunct research associate, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Suicide rates jumped in the Murray Darling Basin following extreme drought and hotter temperatures, a new study shows. The findings highlight the need for action to manage climate change impacts. Sarah Ann Wheeler, Professor in Water Economics, University of Adelaide Alec Zuo, Associate Professor, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide Ying Xu, Research Fellow, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Biden Administration’s signature climate legislation is unleashing a wave of clean energy investment, along with some opportunities and risks for countries like Australia. Alan Finkel, Chair of ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Biotechnology, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One night, someone cut down a tree. It wasn’t just any tree. The loss of the Sycamore Gap tree sent a nation into grief. But why? Rebecca Banham, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows turning northern rivers inland to irrigate Australia’s dry interior would not increase rainfall. This is another argument against the Bradfield scheme. Kaighin McColl, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering, Harvard University Dongryeol Ryu, Professor, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When economists model climate impacts, they look to what past weather shocks have done to the economy. But this does not remotely capture what climate change could do. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We sampled 118 rivers and creeks before and after the Black Summer bushfires, searching for platypus DNA. Here’s what we found. Emily McColl-Gausden, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Andrew Weeks, Associate Senior Research Scientist, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For Australia’s saltwater people, the migration routes of humpback whales represents an important songline Jack Pascoe, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Anthony McKnight, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong Teagan Goolmeer, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many people are asking if Australian authorities are ready for the fire season. The real question to ask is – are we ready as individuals? Graham Dwyer, Course Director, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s time to reconsider our relationship with the dingo. By collaborating and drawing from both Indigenous and Western knowledge, we can find ways to live in harmony with our apex land predator. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Bradley Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Kylie M Cairns, Research fellow, UNSW Sydney Sonya Takau, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation Communications Officer and Founder of Dingo Culture, Indigenous Knowledge Whitney Rassip, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation Indigenous Protected Areas Coordinator and Acting Executive Officer, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If we want to live in a world with Emperor penguins, we need to cut emissions steeply and protect parts of the ocean around Antarctica where climate change will have the biggest impact. Sara Labrousse, Chercheuse en écologie polaire, Sorbonne Université Michelle LaRue, Associate Professor in Conservation Biology, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The widespread pessimism about our ability to solve climate change is misplaced. Australia is putting in place the fundamentals of a net zero future. Now we need to go faster. Anna Skarbek, CEO, Climateworks Centre Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The rising climate crisis presents an existential threat to humanity yet our government and political system are on a go-slow response. Is this issue too hard for humans to solve? Judith Brett, Emeritus Professor of Politics, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

People who switch from gas to reverse-cycle air conditioning to heat their homes still want to feel comfortable. Some don’t. Home electrification programs must tackle the causes of the problem. Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Nicola Willand, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Sara Vihaji, Lecturer, School of Engineering, RMIT University Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A group of agricultural and soil scientists has serious concerns about the way credits are awarded for soil carbon sequestration in Australia. Aaron Simmons, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, University of New England Annette Cowie, Adjunct Professor, University of New England Beverley Henry, Adjunct Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology Brian Wilson, Professor, University of New England David Pannell, Director, Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy, The University of Western Australia David Rowlings, Professor, Queensland University of Technology Elaine Mitchell, Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Matthew Tom Harrison, Associate Professor of Sustainable Agriculture, University of Tasmania Peter Grace, Professor of Global Change, Queensland University of Technology Raphael Viscarra Rossel, Professor of Soil & Landscape Science, Curtin University Richard Eckard, Professor & Director, Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, The University of Melbourne Warwick Badgery, Research Leader Pastures an Rangelands, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If you were pregnant or parenting during Australia’s 2019–20 summer of smoke and fire, chances are you felt acutely anxious – and grappling with impossible responsibility. Mary Lou Rasmussen, Professor, School of Sociology, Australian National University Celia Roberts, Professor of sociology, Australian National University Louisa Allen, Professor, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland Rebecca Williamson, Research Officer, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Holding climate change to 1.5 might be possible – but in the best case, we’ll blow past the limit first and then backpedal. Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s environment does not have sufficient legal protection from climate change, as outlined in a new report from the Climate Council Australia. David Karoly, Professor emeritus, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Citizen science is coming of age. The data are pouring in from observations by naturalists and birders. Erin Roger, Sector Lead, CSIRO Cameron Slatyer, Project Manager, Atlas of Living Australia, CSIRO, CSIRO Dax Kellie, Science Lead | Data Analyst, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If a whale comes across a patch of kelp, it may well start playing with it. This practice may also be useful to rid whales of unwanted passengers. Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.