The Conversation

Alarmingly, Earth’s climate will change for many centuries to come. But we must still push to reach net-zero emissions as quickly as possible. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Tilo Ziehn, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

On land, Australia has already passed 1.5°C of warming, bringing lower streamflows, more fire weather and marine heatwaves. Neil Sims, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Environment; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Have you heard the gruesome tale of flesh-eating fungus known as Cordyceps? It’s a real-life story of ghosts, mummies and zombies that springs to mind every Halloween. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia now has more than enough evidence that proposals to build big dams consistently underestimate both the construction costs and the harm they do. John Kandulu, Research Fellow, College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University Richard Kingsford, Professor, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Sarah Ann Wheeler, Matthew Flinders Professor in Water Economics, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A technique known as “enhanced rock weathering” promises to remove billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. But it’s crucial to be able to measure how much CO₂ is captured. Paul Nelson, Associate Professor of Soil Science, James Cook University Wolfram Buss, Research fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New genetic research shows dingoes are not breeding with domestic dogs in the wild. But that could change if lethal control measures continue to decimate populations in Victoria. Andrew Weeks, Associate Senior Research Scientist, The University of Melbourne Collin Ahrens, Visiting Fellow - Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pumped hydro and batteries can easily provide all the storage needed for 100% renewable electricity generation, eliminating the need for polluting gas power plants. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bringing the natural world back from the brink is more urgent than ever. Nature-positive policies offers a way to do so – if done properly. Yi Fei Chung, PhD candidate in Environmental Policy, The University of Queensland Hannah Thomas, PhD candidate in Environmental Policy, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fossil fuel exports are important to Australia. Now its neighbours are asking it to stop. Liam Moore, Lecturer in International Politics and Policy, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Cultural burning has enjoyed a strong resurgence in recent years. Now this cool burn technique is being used to ward off disastrous bushfires Bhiamie Williamson, Research Fellow, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The system operating in Australia from 2012 to 2014 was economically and environmentally efficient. Ross Garnaut, Professorial Research Fellow in Economics, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Getting off gas at home is healthier, cheaper and better for the planet. Now the Electrify 2515 community pilot project promises to demonstrate household electrification at scale. Gill Armstrong, Researcher in architecture and urban planning, Climateworks Centre Portia Odell, System Lead - Cities, Climateworks Centre Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Millions of litres of nutrient-rich whey go to waste every year. Collaboration can help turn this waste stream into useful products Jack Hetherington, Phd Candidate in circular business models, University of Adelaide Adam James Loch, Associate Professor, Centre for Global Food and Resources, University of Adelaide Pablo Juliano, Group leader, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New international research reveals climate change increased the proportion of wildfire smoke-related human deaths tenfold between the 1960s and 2010s. Here’s what that means for Australia. Fay Johnston, Professor, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As Australia’s domestic reliance on coal falls, our exports are bigger than ever – and new coal approvals suggest this won’t change soon. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Simplistic comparisons are misleading. Calculations based on the mix of electric and fossil-fuelled cars actually on our roads show any difference in mass is too small to be significant. Robin Smit, Adjunct Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Low-income households are attracted to more affordable housing in areas at higher risk of floods and other extreme events. But many then find they cannot afford soaring insurance premiums. Jens O. Zinn, T.R. Ashworth Associate Professor in Sociology, The University of Melbourne Julia Plass, Scientific Assistant, Bayreuth University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here’s what the ancient Greeks and Romans can teach us about the environment and ourselves. From Roman soldiers in crowded camps to emperors cleaning up rivers, there are many lessons to be learned. Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, researching Greco-Roman antiquity, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This week, unusually widespread thunderstorms are expected to bring rain, hail and intense winds to swathes of southern Australia. Here’s why – and what threat they can pose. Andrew Brown, Research Fellow in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Biodiversity credits could unlock new funding for nature restoration. But if this happens without consideration of Indigenous data sovereignty, it could create a new form of colonialism. David Hall, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology Mike Taitoko, Program Director, Toha Network, Indigenous Knowledge Nathalie Whitaker, Platform Designer, Toha Network, Indigenous Knowledge Renee Raroa, Establishment Director of East Coast Exchange, Indigenous Knowledge Tasman Turoa Gillies, Head of Operations, Takiwā, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.