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Updated: 1 hour 43 min ago

Axing the Auckland fuel tax reveals the lack of a real transport plan for NZ’s biggest city

Wed, 2024-02-14 04:05
By moving to scrap the Auckland regional fuel tax, the government continues a decades-long pattern of transport policy U-turns that leave the city – and country – without a sustainable way forward. Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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‘Fascinating and troubling’: Australians would rather save a single human life than prevent an entire species from becoming extinct

Tue, 2024-02-13 12:34
Survey respondents overwhelmingly prioritised saving a human life – even if that person had been repeatedly told to evacuate and even if, as a consequence, a snail or shrub species became extinct. John Woinarski, Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The world’s spectacular animal migrations are dwindling. Fishing, fences and development are fast-tracking extinctions

Tue, 2024-02-13 05:10
Wildebeest herds churning dust. Sturgeon seeking spawning grounds. Shorebirds flying from Siberia. These iconic animal migrations could soon be a memory. Richard Fuller, Professor in Biodiversity and Conservation, The University of Queensland Daniel Dunn, A/Prof of Marine Conservation Science & Director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland Lily Bentley, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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One of NZ’s most contentious climate cases is moving forward. And the world is watching

Tue, 2024-02-13 05:09
By allowing a case against local greenhouse gas emitters to go ahead, the Supreme Court of New Zealand has opened the door to a new front in climate law – one that takes tikanga Māori into account. Vernon Rive, Associate professor, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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First Peoples’ land overlaps with 130 imperilled bird species – and this knowledge may be vital to saving them

Mon, 2024-02-12 14:05
Australia’s First Peoples have a strong and continuing connection to the land. Their determination to maintain this connection provides important opportunities for conservation. Our new research explored… Amanda Lilleyman, Adjunct associate, Charles Darwin University Jack Pascoe, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The good news: 25 Australian birds are now at less risk of extinction. The bad news: 29 are gone and 4 more might be

Mon, 2024-02-12 13:40
It’s hard work saving birds from extinction, but we have the evidence of successful interventions to show we can avoid further losses. John Woinarski, Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University Sarah Legge, Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Australian National University Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Permaculture showed us how to farm the land more gently. Can we do the same as we farm the sea?

Mon, 2024-02-12 05:04
As we go from fishing to fish farming, we should borrow restorative approaches from permaculture. Scott Spillias, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Love a good light and sound show? Spare a thought for the animals whose homes you’re invading

Fri, 2024-02-09 05:17
Imagine if a music and light show, and thousands of people, turned up at your house every night for weeks on end. How would you feel? Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Loren Fardell, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Therésa Jones, Professor in Evolution and Behaviour, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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First Nations people must be at the forefront of Australia’s renewable energy revolution

Thu, 2024-02-08 13:13
Australia lags the US and Canada when it comes to involving Indigenous people in projects on their land. With the growth of renewable energy we have an opportunity to make a fresh start. Adam Fish, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Media, UNSW Sydney Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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The Nationals want renewables to stay in the cities – but the clean energy grid doesn’t work like that

Thu, 2024-02-08 05:18
There’s grumbling in the bush about hosting big new renewable projects to power cities. We can do this smarter. Andrew Gunn, Lecturer, Monash University Christian Jakob, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Wholesale power prices are falling fast – but consumers will have to wait for relief. Here’s why

Thu, 2024-02-08 05:18
Power prices surged two years ago – and now are falling sharply. Why does it take so long to see relief? Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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If plants can pick fungi to help fight pests and diseases, it opens a door to greener farming and ecosystem recovery

Wed, 2024-02-07 10:57
Despite its 500-million-year history, the plant-fungi alliance holds mysteries that, once unravelled, could revolutionise agriculture and ecosystem management. Adam Frew, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Carlos Aguilar-Trigueros, Research Fellow, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä Jeff Powell, Professor and ARC Future Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Natascha Weinberger, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Stephanie Watts-Fawkes, Research Fellow, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Labor’s fuel-efficiency standards may settle the ute dispute – but there are still hazards on the road

Wed, 2024-02-07 05:08
The road to fuel-efficiency reform in Australia is a bumpy one – and the Albanese government has hazards to negotiate before its proposal becomes law. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Climate change will strike Australia’s precious World Heritage sites – and Indigenous knowledge is a key defence

Tue, 2024-02-06 15:02
Researchers, managers and Traditional Owners are joining forces to understand and combat climate threats to Australia’s many unique World Heritage sites. Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Transdisciplinary Researcher & Knowledge Broker, CSIRO Brenda Lin, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Lance Syme, Secretariat at the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on World Heritage, Indigenous Knowledge Mandy Hopkins, Adjunct industry fellow, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Is it time for a Category 6 for super cyclones? No – warnings of floods or storm surges are more useful

Tue, 2024-02-06 09:46
Cyclones and hurricanes are getting more intense. But introducing new categories of storm may not be the answer. Liz Ritchie-Tyo, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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‘A deeply troubling discovery’: Earth may have already passed the crucial 1.5°C warming limit

Tue, 2024-02-06 05:11
Keeping the average global temperature rise below 1.5°C since pre-industrial times is a goal of the 2015 Paris climate deal. New research suggests that opportunity has passed. Malcolm McCulloch, Professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Dangerous climate tipping points will affect Australia. The risks are real and cannot be ignored

Tue, 2024-02-06 05:11
We don’t yet fully understand what global climate tipping points mean for Australia. But we know enough to conclude the impacts of passing one or more tipping points must now be considered. Michael Grose, Climate Projections Scientist, CSIRO Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Governments spend US$22 billion a year helping the fishing industry empty our oceans. This injustice must end

Fri, 2024-02-02 21:04
Governments all over the world are propping up overfishing. Now scientists have penned an open letter calling on trade ministers to implement stricter regulations against harmful fisheries subsidies. Vania Andreoli, PhD Candidate, The University of Western Australia Dirk Zeller, Professor & Director, Sea Around Us - Indian Ocean, The University of Western Australia Jessica Meeuwig, Wen Family Chair in Conservation, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Horses, camels and deer get a bad rap for razing plants – but our new research shows they’re no worse than native animals

Fri, 2024-02-02 05:04
Introduced water buffalo and camels trash native plants – don’t they? Our research shows megafauna herbivores have the same impact wherever they are. Erick Lundgren, Adjunct Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Consulting firms provided low-quality research on crucial water policies. It shows we have a deeper problem

Fri, 2024-02-02 05:03
A comprehensive review of research into the economic consequences of controversial water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin reveals many studies are of poor quality. Better standards are needed. 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.
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