The Conversation

The United Nations’ decision to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on countries’ climate obligations has been hailed as a ‘turning point in climate justice’. Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Zoe Nay, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While the ACCC, ASIC and a new senate inquiry begin to flush out greenwashing, we take a closer look at dodgy climate claims. Complaints and court cases are stacking up. Here’s what you need to know. Laura Schuijers, Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law and Lecturer in Law, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One key difference between kaitiakitanga and conservation is that the former considers people as part of the environment, while the latter manages nature as if people were separate from it. Tara McAllister, Research Fellow, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Cate Macinnis-Ng, Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, University of Auckland Dan C H Hikuroa, Senior Lecturer in Māori Studies, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When we stopped whaling, the whales recovered. But our vital kelp forests won’t return without our help Aaron Eger, Postdoctoral research fellow, UNSW Sydney Adriana Vergés, Professor in marine ecology, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The revised safeguard mechanism could form the basis of an economy-wide carbon price. Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In a plot reminiscent of the 2004 movie The Day After Tomorrow?, Australian scientists are warning that the Southern Ocean’s deep “overturning” circulation is slowing and headed for collapse. Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), UNSW Sydney Adele Morrison, Research Fellow, Australian National University Andy Hogg, Professor, Australian National University Qian Li, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Steve Rintoul, CSIRO Fellow, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fear and Wonder is a new climate podcast, brought to you by The Conversation, and sponsored by the Climate Council. In episode two, we discuss the latest advances for measuring climate change. Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Michael Green, Host + Producer, The Conversation Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s new climate deal contains wins for the Greens – but the negotiations were bruising Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Last year was great for plant growth and river flows. But Australia is still on the brink of losing a slew of plant and animal species. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Geoff Heard, The University of Queensland Mark Grant, Ecosystem Science Programs Lead, Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network, The University of Queensland Shoshana Rapley, Research assistant, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A chance discovery of an albino bush rat in Victoria’s Otway Ranges inspired a search for more fair beauties. Here’s what the survey of Aussie ecologists, museums and newspaper clippings revealed. Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Greens wanted Australia to rule out new coal and gas projects. Instead, we have a hard cap on emissions – and that should make many fossil fuel projects unviable Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Very hot days in Western Sydney are typically 5 degrees hotter than parts of the city close to the coast and are becoming more common, but only in the west. Four climate drivers explain the difference. Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Anjali Gupta, Lecturer, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Researcher, Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney Joanna Wang, Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Joshua Hartigan, PhD Candidate, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Lance M Leslie, Professor, School of Mathematical And Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We know the oceans are warming, but we have fewer measurements in coastal waters where most fisheries and aquaculture operate. Now the fishing industry is helping scientists to track the changes. Julie Jakoboski, Oceanographic Data Scientist, Moana Project's Te Tiro Moana Team Lead, MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi João Marcos Azevedo Correia de Souza, MetOcean Solutions Science Manager of the Research and Development Team. Moana Project Science Lead, MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi Malene Felsing, Moana Project Manager, MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reducing gas use in our homes will help avoid energy price hikes. But where is the best place to start? Rachel Goldlust, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Compostable food waste bin caddies are the main sustainable use for bioplastics at present. Almost all bioplastics are ending up in landfill. Elsa Dominish, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Fiona Berry, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Nick Florin, Associate Professor and Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Rupert Legg, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fear and Wonder is a new climate podcast, brought to you by The Conversation, and sponsored by the Climate Council. In episode one, we discuss how scientists know the climate is changing. Michael Green, Host + Producer, The Conversation Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The first comprehensive audit of marine life around Australia, deploying an army of volunteer research divers alongside scientists, has revealed southern reefs are suffering the most. Graham Edgar, Senior Marine Ecologist, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Not all La Niñas are wet, nor El Niños dry – especially if you live in Sydney. So here’s how to interpret what an El Niño forecast means for you. Carly Tozer, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Nandini Ramesh, Senior Research Scientist, Data61, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Unravelling the mystery of how life in Antarctica survived past ice ages involved sampling some of the oldest museum records. When combined with a dating database, a familiar story is revealed. Mark Stevens, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Andrew Mackintosh, Professor & Head, School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment; expert on glaciers and ice sheets, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Red tingle forests in south-western Australia have the lowest fire risk when they’ve not been subjected to prescribed burning. New research explains why Philip Zylstra, Adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin University, Research Associate at University of New South Wales, Curtin University Grant Wardell-Johnson, Adjunct Associate Professor, Molecular and Life Sciences and ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration., Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.