The Conversation

Australia’s move towards net zero emissoions by 2020 is in danger of stalling. If it is not to fail, the nation urgently needs a government plan, aligned with industry and with public support. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A climate overshoot that creates warmer oceans with lower oxygen levels will reduce the suitable habitat for many marine species long after CO₂ levels have peaked and declined. Tilo Ziehn, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Andrew Lenton, Director Permanent Carbon Locking Future Science Platform (CarbonLock), CSIRO Environment, CSIRO Yeray Santana-Falcón, Postdoctoral research fellow, CNRM, Météo-France (Toulouse, France) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s spring, but many street trees look stressed and sick. Heat and insect attack are arriving early. But our cities are also steadily losing canopy cover. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most of us see only the dry treeless plain and spectacular sea cliffs. But beneath the surface there’s a precious world of caves and unique species that could be lost without better protection. Jess Marsh, Research Fellow, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Clare Buswell, Adjunct Lecturer, History, Archaeology, Indigenous Studies and Geography, Flinders University Liz Reed, Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide Susan White, Adjunct Research Fellow, Environment, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While the Great Barrier Reed needs nutrients to support the ecosystem, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Douglas Tait, Senior Researcher, Southern Cross University Damien Maher, Professor, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Policies and funds to decarbonise high-emitting industries and electrify transport are already delivering emissions cuts. But they are at risk of being disestablished or weakened. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Ian Mason, Adjunct Senior Fellow in Renewable Energy Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Voice to Parliament could advise on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges can help the country prepare for and lessen the damage of natural disasters such as bushfires. Claire Hooker, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator, Health and Medical Humanities, University of Sydney Michelle Dickson, Director, The Poche Centre for Indigenous Health Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The preliminary global-average temperature anomaly for September is a shocking 1.7°C. These are the drivers of current record-breaking heat. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria’s iconic mountain ash forests are reeling from decades of logging and fire. They’re not recovering on their own. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Chris Taylor, Research Fellow, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Elle Bowd, Research fellow, Australian National University Kita Ashman, Adjunct research associate, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Suicide rates jumped in the Murray Darling Basin following extreme drought and hotter temperatures, a new study shows. The findings highlight the need for action to manage climate change impacts. Sarah Ann Wheeler, Professor in Water Economics, University of Adelaide Alec Zuo, Associate Professor, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide Ying Xu, Research Fellow, School of Economics and Public Policy, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Biden Administration’s signature climate legislation is unleashing a wave of clean energy investment, along with some opportunities and risks for countries like Australia. Alan Finkel, Chair of ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Biotechnology, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

One night, someone cut down a tree. It wasn’t just any tree. The loss of the Sycamore Gap tree sent a nation into grief. But why? Rebecca Banham, Postdoctoral fellow, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows turning northern rivers inland to irrigate Australia’s dry interior would not increase rainfall. This is another argument against the Bradfield scheme. Kaighin McColl, Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science and Engineering, Harvard University Dongryeol Ryu, Professor, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When economists model climate impacts, they look to what past weather shocks have done to the economy. But this does not remotely capture what climate change could do. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We sampled 118 rivers and creeks before and after the Black Summer bushfires, searching for platypus DNA. Here’s what we found. Emily McColl-Gausden, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Andrew Weeks, Associate Senior Research Scientist, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For Australia’s saltwater people, the migration routes of humpback whales represents an important songline Jack Pascoe, Research fellow, The University of Melbourne Anthony McKnight, Senior Lecturer, University of Wollongong Teagan Goolmeer, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many people are asking if Australian authorities are ready for the fire season. The real question to ask is – are we ready as individuals? Graham Dwyer, Course Director, Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s time to reconsider our relationship with the dingo. By collaborating and drawing from both Indigenous and Western knowledge, we can find ways to live in harmony with our apex land predator. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Bradley Smith, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Kylie M Cairns, Research fellow, UNSW Sydney Sonya Takau, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation Communications Officer and Founder of Dingo Culture, Indigenous Knowledge Whitney Rassip, Girringun Aboriginal Corporation Indigenous Protected Areas Coordinator and Acting Executive Officer, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If we want to live in a world with Emperor penguins, we need to cut emissions steeply and protect parts of the ocean around Antarctica where climate change will have the biggest impact. Sara Labrousse, Chercheuse en écologie polaire, Sorbonne Université Michelle LaRue, Associate Professor in Conservation Biology, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The widespread pessimism about our ability to solve climate change is misplaced. Australia is putting in place the fundamentals of a net zero future. Now we need to go faster. Anna Skarbek, CEO, Climateworks Centre Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.