The Conversation

The new threat from cyclones can come from behind you – flooding from more intense rainfall. Jonathan Nott, Professor of Physical Geography, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We crave certainty in our weather forecasts. But that’s only possible for big weather events such as cyclones and major storms. Everything else is probability. Christian Jakob, Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our super funds say they want to invest more in the net zero transition but that regulation blocks them. It’s time to put them to the test, and turn their piles of money toward a greener future. Arjuna Dibley, Head of Sustainable Finance Hub, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Without urgent action, Earth is heading for climate catastrophe. Yet there are reasons for hope in 2024 – including a possible peak in global greenhouse gas emissions. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Floodwaters pulsing into the sea normally clear within six days. But the 2022 floods in eastern Australia were different. Neil Malan, Research associate, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Moninya Roughan, Professor in Oceanography, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To fight global warming we will soon have to try to remove carbon dioxide from the skies or find ways to reflect the Sun’s heat. Such radical paths must be examined, but risky experiments avoided. Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most of the 1 billion people in informal settlements are in the tropics where the threat of humid heat is rising. Poor weather station coverage that misses local hotspots puts them even more at risk. Emma Ramsay, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Nanyang Technological University, and Research Affiliate, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An essential part of managing a growing global waste problem is sorting, recovering and recycling it. But you won’t see this on children’s shows that feature waste collection. Salman Shooshtarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Battery electric trucks offer larger and more certain emission cuts than trucks powered by hydrogen in the quest to reduce Australia’s stubbornly high transport emissions. Robin Smit, Adjunct Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Even a small rise in sea level can have big impacts on coastal properties, so we must do all we can to limit the changes while taking them into account in coastal land-use planning. Thomas Mortlock, Adjunct Fellow, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To date, the effects of climate change on global rainfall has been uncertain. New research overcomes this uncertainty – with alarming results. Ralph Trancoso, Adjunct Associate Professor in Climate Change, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sometimes when taking these actions, however, carbon storage is prioritised at the expense of biodiversity. But that need not be the case. Patrick O'Connor, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Anthelia Bond, Research Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Surveys on cat personality are filled out by people. As such, results are affected by human perspectives, projections and biases. Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Julia Henning, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Visitor numbers to national parks are increasing. It means masses of people are being funnelled into potentially dangerous locations for which they may be unprepared. 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.

Modular building techniques offer sustainable, affordable and adaptable solutions for a rapidly changing world. Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Parisa Ziaesaeidi, Associate Lecturer in Architecture, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While running it briefly and intermittently at a very low temperature may feel thrifty, it will not be the most energy efficient choice. Here’s what to do instead. Mark Goldsworthy, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The impacts of record heat on the global water cycle were severe and wide-ranging – and the trend will continue in 2024. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A heatwave in 2022 redefined scientific expectations of the Antarctic climate. Now the global community must prepare for what a warmer world may bring. Dana M Bergstrom, Honorary Senior Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia leads the world in rooftop solar per head. Can this small-scale power source be the secret weapon to fire up our struggling transition to net zero? Anna Bruce, Associate Professor in the Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets and the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney Baran Yildiz, Senior Research Associate, UNSW Sydney Dani Alexander, CEO, UNSW Energy Institute, UNSW Sydney Mike Roberts, Senior Research Fellow in the Collaboration on Energy and Environmental Markets and the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Conservation dogs perform vital roles across Australia. Some are guardians protecting wildlife from predators while others put their powerful sense of smell to use as sniffer dogs or detection dogs. Romane H Cristescu, Researcher in Koala, Detection Dogs, Conservation Genetics and Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.