The Conversation

This knowledge is particularly important if we want to help reefs recover devastating events such as mass bleaching and cyclones. Marine Gouezo, Postdoctoral research fellow, Southern Cross University Christopher Doropoulos, Senior research scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sadly, the chances of survival for the remaining whales is very low – and time is fast running out. Kate Sprogis, Adjunct Research Fellow, UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s marine policies are scattered across multiple laws and regulatory institutions. A dedicated ministry would overcome this fragmentation and help protect vital ecosystems and resources. Elizabeth Macpherson, Associate Professor of Law, University of Canterbury Karen Fisher, Associate Professor in Human Geography, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

No one plans a European holiday thinking of fleeing from fire or sheltering from intense heat. But the climate crisis is forcing a reckoning – tourism as we knew it will have to change. Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University Johanna Loehr, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Feral honeybees have become a major problem in Australia. It’s time to develop effective and practical control measures. Amy-Marie Gilpin, Research Fellow, Ecology, Western Sydney University James B. Dorey, Adjunct Lecturer, Flinders University Katja Hogendoorn, Research fellow, University of Adelaide Kit Prendergast, Native bee ecologist, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has a lot of wind and sun, but will we actually become a world leader in renewable energy generation? Paul Graham, Chief economist, CSIRO energy, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Small island developing states are seeking a legal ‘advisory opinion’ from an international tribunal on whether climate change falls under the international law of the sea. Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb, Lecturer and Research Fellow in Ocean Governance, University of Melbourne and Postdoctoral Researcher, UEF Law School, University of Eastern Finland, The University of Melbourne Margaret Young, Professor, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If we build homes on a production line, we could make them cheaper, faster and more sustainable. Louise Dorignon, Vice-Chancellor Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria has a plan for the state to electrify, but how do we make the transition fair and equitable for everyone? New research suggests a way forward. Sangeetha Chandrashekeran, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, The University of Melbourne Julia de Bruyn, Associate Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s not as well-known as the Hills Hoist clothesline, but here’s another Aussie invention worth celebrating: Glide poles are reconnecting severed landscapes for a special group of marsupials. Brendan Taylor, Adjunct Research Fellow in the Faculty of Science & Engineering, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Deep sea metallic nodules could help us shift to clean energy. But we don’t know how much damage it will do to ecosystems Claudio Bozzi, Lecturer in Law, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Foulden Maar is one of only two sites in New Zealand that preserve fossils showing ecological interactions and features such as eyes, skin, stomach contents and original colour patterns. John G Conran, Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology, University of Adelaide Daphne Lee, Honorary Associate Professor in Geology/Paleontology, University of Otago Uwe Kaulfuss, Geologist (PhD), Georg-August-Universität Göttingen Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A non-fatal crocodile attack on a tourist last week made headlines. But talk of culling is an over-reaction to a fairly isolated incident. Brandon Michael Sideleau, PhD student studying human-saltwater crocodile conflict, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our activities now affect the entire planet. But there’s a vital debate over when we started disrupting these systems. Was it 1950 – or hundreds and thousands of years earlier? Noel Castree, Professor of Society & Environment, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The predicted El Niño is a worry, but it doesn’t guarantee the record-breaking heat we’re seeing in parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Projects have not been delivered. States are bickering. If the Albanese government is to uphold its election promise to deliver the Murray plan, hard tradeoffs are needed. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Toys are the most plastic-intensive consumer goods in the world. So how can we avoid movie tie-in fads adding to the surging plastic waste problem? Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Too much red meat – and especially processed meat – is linked to cancer and heart disease. But moderation is the key – alongside better farming practices Katherine Sievert, Research Fellow in Food Systems, Deakin University Gary Sacks, Professor of Public Health Policy, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Drone use has increased dramatically, but what effect will this have on our endangered shorebirds? New research shows the eastern curlew is easily startled, prompting others to take flight. Joshua Wilson, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Growing ship numbers and reductions in the industry’s total emissions add up to big emission cuts per ship – as much as 60% by 2030 and 91% by 2040. The days of fossil-fuelled ships are now numbered. Christiaan De Beukelaer, Senior Lecturer in Culture & Climate, The University of Melbourne Tristan Smith, Reader in Energy and Transport, UCL Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.