The Conversation

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.

Global climate models don’t let us zoom in on the fine details. A new set of high-resolution climate models for Australia is solving this problem. Ralph Trancoso, Adjunct Associate Professor in Climate Change, The University of Queensland Jozef Syktus, Professorial Research Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Sarah Chapman, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Leeds Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Carbon farming has its problems, but we shouldn’t write it off. After all, good projects can store carbon – and bring back habitat. Rachel Standish, Associate Professor, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More Australians than ever live in rented homes, many of which get far too hot. With summers getting longer and hotter, keeping millions of people cool should be a national housing policy priority. Zoe Goodall, Research Associate, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology Sungkavi Selvakumaran, PhD Candidate, Swinburne University, and Lecturer in Public Health, Torrens University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Daily global temperature records keep falling. It’s a sign we’re on a rapidly warming planet. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate denial is passe. But why do so many of us know the climate crisis is upon us – and live like it isn’t? Celeste Young, Collaborative Research Fellow, Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities (ISILC), Victoria University Roger Jones, Professorial Research Fellow, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Experimenting with climate messaging reveals the best ways to inspire individual action. Here’s how to talk about the Great Barrier Reef this summer. Yolanda Lee Waters, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Angela Dean, Lecturer, School of Agriculture and Food Science & Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.