The Conversation

Public interest in climate change and global warming peaks after bushfires and lasts for months, research reveals. But Australians do not respond to storms and floods in the same way. Christopher Crellin, PhD Student / FNRS Aspirant, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) Robert MacNeil, Lecturer in Environmental Politics, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The UN ‘30 by 30’ biodiversity strategy aims to set aside 30% of land as protected areas. New research shows these areas do support biodiversity, but big parks also increase it outside their borders. Matthew Scott Luskin, Researcher and Lecturer in Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Jedediah Brodie, Research Fellow, Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak; Associate Professor and John Craighead Endowed Chair of Conservation, University of Montana Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s not just ocean temperatures that determine whether we have El Niño or La Niña. Air circulation also plays a role, and it’s changing in unexpected ways. Georgina Falster, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s not always “worth it for the ‘gram”. People risk life, limb, and the environment for a selfie – and land managers can’t keep up. Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Amy Peden, NHMRC Research Fellow, School of Population Health & co-founder UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We can construct buildings that reduce atmospheric CO₂ by more than their lifetime emissions. They now don’t cost much more – and a project involving 1.2 million homes would drive costs down further. Jason Alexandra, Senior research fellow, Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Kate Lawrence, Climate Program Manager, Institute of Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Mark Howden, Director, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Both major parties are promising major road projects this election. Meanwhile, the potential for passenger and freight rail to help meet the country’s climate goals seems stuck at the station. Philip Laird, Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Knowing the ‘next drought is just around the corner’, Australia’s Water Minister Tanya Plibersek is striking a new agreement to return water and health to the Murray-Darling Basin. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Space exploration is often propelled by competition, driven by national pride and with little thought about consequence. It is time to consider space as a commons, not just a resource to exploit. Priyanka Dhopade, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland Carolle Varughese, Research Assistant, University of Auckland Lena Henry, Lecturer in Creative Arts, Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland Sarah Hendrica Bickerton, Research Fellow, University of Auckland Te Kahuratai Moko-Painting, Co-Director – Centre for Pūtaiao, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After several decades in research, including 22 years at the Australian Antarctic Division, this scientist is standing up for our icy continent. Here’s why Antarctic research needs ongoing funding. Dana M Bergstrom, Honorary Senior Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia is approving coal mine expansions because of their “very small” impact on global heating. It doesn’t stack up. Simon Campbell, Senior research fellow and lecturer, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In some cases, adding a battery to your rooftop solar system will pay off. But to be sure of this, households need information about many factors – and there’s no single reliable place to find it. Asma Aziz, Lecturer in Power Engineering, Edith Cowan University Daryoush Habibi, Professor and Executive Dean, School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Thinking about getting your home off gas, but don’t know where to begin? Here’s a few handy tips to get you on your way. Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Nicola Willand, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The 142 fossil fuel producers collectively exceeded the limits on coal, gas and oil production required to achieve the Paris Agreement goals by between 63% and 70%. Saphira Rekker, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Finance, The University of Queensland Belinda Wade, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Business, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The first sign of a new bird flu might be a dead seabird or marine mammal. Better surveillance of migratory birds and wildlife – and better public awareness – is crucial. Jemma Geoghegan, Professor and Webster Family Chair in Viral Pathogenesis, University of Otago Nigel French, Distinguished Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Public Health, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fire frequency is increasing in all ecosystems studied. But in some places, fires were occurring so often it put entire ecosystems at risk of collapse. 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 Maldwyn John Evans, Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University Philip Zylstra, Adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin University, Research Associate at University of New South Wales, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Just as Darwin’s finches evolved specialised beaks to target prey, 3D modelling of 61 museum specimens reveals albatross beaks vary in size and shape for different diets. They can also drink seawater. Jane Younger, Lecturer, Southern Ocean Vertebrate Ecology, University of Tasmania David Hocking, Adjunct Research Associate, Monash University Josh Tyler, Postgraduate Research Student, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The climate emergency is accelerating with breathtaking speed. The Greens and the teals are breathing down Labor’s neck. At this federal Labor conference, Albanese must go further on climate policy. Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study shows we can maximise the benefits of green roofs and rooftop solar systems by putting them together on the one roof. Peter Irga, ARC DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in Air and Noise Pollution, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Eamonn Wooster, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University Fraser R Torpy, Director, Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group, University of Technology Sydney Jack Rojahn, PhD Candidate, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra Robert Fleck, Research Scientist, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tasmania’s forestry wars aren’t over, if the uproar over the felling of a large mountain ash is anything to go by. Jamie Kirkpatrick, Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Access to fossil fuels allowed humanity to overshoot Earth’s biophysical limits. The crises we now face are all symptoms of this overshoot, and the only fix is to cut our demands on the biosphere. Mike Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.