The Conversation

Australia’s latest climate change statement shows we have little hope of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. There’s good news on the 2030 target, but then what? John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the proposed Great Koala National Park to actually help koalas, logging should stop and plantations should be added to the park. Tim Cadman, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with the Law Futures Centre and the Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law, Griffith University Danielle Clode, Associate Professor (adjunct) in Creative Writing, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian governments have invested a lot of hope in hydrogen to help drive the net zero transition, but concrete policies are urgently needed or we will lose our hydrogen advantage to other nations. Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many ‘green’ claims on social media ads are claims only. We need legislation to ensure green terms are clearly defined and based on the truth. Christine Parker, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Through the Loss and Damage Fund, developed states and major emitters will compensate developing countries experiencing the most devastating effects of climate change. The fund is now operational. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nations struggle if the health of their population fails. But good health is seriously threatened by climate change. So putting health at the centre of climate action makes sense. Alistair Woodward, Professor, School of Population Health, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We argue for an orderly transition from ‘timber mining’ to managed forestry in the tropics. Here’s a five-step plan to improve forest fates, with benefits for the climate, biodiversity and people. Francis E Putz, Research Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast Claudia Romero, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New emissions projections bode well for Australia’s climate efforts – but our fossil fuel exports continue apace.  Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s clean energy transition cannot succeed unless the government opens debate and decision-making to many more voices. Robyn Eckersley, Redmond Barry Professor of Political Science, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne Erin Fitz-Henry, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers used ‘citizen science’ birdwatching data to rank Australian species. Among the most elusive birds were ‘hide and seek’ champions and a few possibly headed for extinction. Louis Backstrom, PhD Student, University of St Andrews James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In what’s likely to be the hottest year on record, nations are gathering to try and hash out faster action on climate change. Here are the three main issues facing negotiators. Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world is on track to exceed 2°C warming within the next five years, with dire consequences for polar ice, mountain glaciers and permafrost – and human society. Timothy Naish, Professor in Earth Sciences, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Carbon credits must be scrutinised – and none more so than credits for taking grazing animals off arid rangelands. David John Eldridge, Professor of Dryland Ecology, UNSW Sydney Andrew Macintosh, Professor and Director of Research, ANU Law School, Australian National University David Alan George, Adjunct Assoc. Professor - Australian Rivers Institute - Earth scientist, Griffith University Don Butler, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Using a ‘grid of grids’ network, New Zealand’s growing electric vehicle fleet could contribute to national energy resiliency, feeding electricity back into the system during peak demand. Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With the support of the Greens, there’s a chance the ‘Restoring Our Rivers’ Bill will pass. Will it be enough to put the Murray-Darling Basin Plan back on track? Celine Steinfeld, Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists & Adjunct Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Michael Vanderzee, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To protect nearly a third of Australia by decade’s end will mean expanding our national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and protection across private land. James Fitzsimons, Adjunct Professor in Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One set of ideas runs counter to the mainstream consensus that technology will save us from climate change. Can degrowth ever win enough converts to persuade humanity to change course? Mark Fabian, Assistant professor of public policy, University of Warwick Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers are finding alarming concentrations of persistent pollutants such as PFAS in Australian dolphins. These record-breaking levels are cause for alarm. Chantel Foord, Research Associate, Marine Mammal Foundation, PhD researcher, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian freshwater turtles are a vital part of healthy waterways, but we don’t know enough about them. A new roundup of turtle research aims to buck the trend. Deborah Bower, Associate Professor in Zoology and Ecology, University of New England Donald McKnight, James Cook University Eric Nordberg, Senior Lecturer (Applied Ecology and Landscape Management), University of New England James Van Dyke, Associate Professor in Biomedical Sciences, La Trobe University Michael B Thompson, Emeritus Professor in Zoology, University of Sydney Ricky Spencer, Associate Professor of Ecology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian Labor government’s expanded Capacity Investment Scheme gives us a better chance of hitting high renewable energy targets. It’s not without risk but well worth the rewards. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.