The Conversation

Australia has almost 1.8 million farm dams – and some are home to threatened frog species Martino Malerba, ARC DECRA Fellow, Deakin University Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Nick Wright, Research scientist, Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development, The University of Western Australia Peter Macreadie, Professor of Marine Science & Founder/Director of Blue Carbon Lab, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more moisture. This brings more intense downpours but also accelerates warming – because water vapour is a powerful greenhouse gas. Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliate Faculty, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sea ice around Antarctica has always followed a predictable seasonal cycle. Now, we’ve experienced a sudden dramatic loss, and the changes are here to stay. Edward Doddridge, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania Ariaan Purich, Lecturer in Climate Variability and Change, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

July was the hottest month on record – and took us past 1.5 degrees. But one month isn’t the same as failing to meet our Paris Agreement goals Ailie Gallant, Senior Lecturer, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government has been challenged to provide $100 billion over the next ten years to boost the renewables sector. But will policymakers respond to the challenge? Elizabeth Thurbon, Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Sydney Alexander M. Hynd, PhD candidate, UNSW Sydney Hao Tan, Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We all know climate change makes extreme weather more likely. But it’s also loading the dice for quick-forming drought, sudden and intense rainfall and fast-forming tropical storms. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew Dowdy, Principal research scientist, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s kelp forests provide food and shelter for many marine species of commercial and cultural value. But they are at risk from warming oceans, run-off from land and marine invaders. Christopher Cornwall, Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Wendy Nelson, Senior Research Fellow, Auckland War Memorial Museum Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mistletoes are ecological keystones that boost habitat value for wildlife, so we added them to established plane trees in the inner city. David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Rodney van der Ree, National Technical Executive in Ecology at WSP Australia Pty Ltd. Adjunct Associate Professor, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most fire climate regimes in Australia shifted abruptly around the year 2000 –  greatly increasing fire risk. Roger Jones, Professorial Research Fellow, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tandem solar cells promise to revolutionise the clean energy transition – but a shortage of materials means they must urgently be redesigned. Bruno Vicari Stefani, CERC Fellow, Solar Technologies, CSIRO Matthew Wright, Postdoctoral Researcher in Photovoltaic Engineering, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australians are trading pest plants online, potentially breaking the law without even realising it. Jacob Maher, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Phill Cassey, Australian Research Council Industry Laureate Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian government has at last produced a serious plan to control an introduced predator that is a big reason this country has one of the world’s worst records for species extinctions. Sarah Legge, Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Australian National University Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University John Woinarski, Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research reveals drowning risk increases during Australian heatwaves, especially severe heatwaves. Here’s who is most at risk and what we can all do to stay safe. Amy Peden, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health & co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, UNSW Sydney Hannah Mason, Research assistant, James Cook University Jemma King, Lecturer, Public Health Richard Franklin, Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mounting evidence shows seismic surveys can harm a range of marine animals. Ryan Day, Senior research fellow, University of Tasmania Jayson Semmens, Professor, Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration, University of Tasmania Robert McCauley, Professor at the Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A controversial new city project in northern California has echoes of past utopian plans – but idealism and commercial reality have always been uneasy partners. Iain White, Professor of Environmental Planning, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reducing air pollution is one of the best investments for Australians’ health, the environment, the economy and social equity. But achieving cleaner air requires a new approach from government. Deren Pillay, Researcher and Advanced Trainee in Public Health Medicine, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania Bill Dodd, Knowledge Broker, Centre for Safe Air (NHMRC CRE), and Adjunct Researcher, Media School, University of Tasmania Bin Jalaludin, Conjoint Professor, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A recently settled class action lawsuit against the Australian government could help drive greater disclosure of climate financial risk by governments, central banks and companies. Arjuna Dibley, Head of Sustainable Finance Hub, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Compared to roughly 80% in the US, UK and NZ, only 11% of Australian homes have high-performance windows. Installing them can transform a household’s comfort, energy use and emissions. Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Lisa de Kleyn, Research Fellow, Climate Change Adaptation Lab, La Trobe University Tom Simko, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our research has found 30,000 farm dams which could be used as energy storage. Solar by day, hydro by night. Nicholas Gilmore, Lecturer in Engineering Design, UNSW Sydney Martino Malerba, ARC DECRA Fellow, Deakin University Thomas Britz, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s biosecurity system is on high alert for alien invaders. Here’s a hit list of eight baddies we believe pose the greatest threat to Australia’s biodiversity. Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University Patrick O'Connor, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.