The Conversation

Our research shows the world is not on track to achieve any of the Sustainable Development Goals. But with decisive action, we can still achieve a fairer, more sustainable and prosperous future. Cameron Allen, Research Fellow, Monash University Shirin Malekpour, Senior Lecturer and Research Lead, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The northern summer was marked by intense fires and heat. Now it’s our turn to face the heat. Celeste Young, Collaborative Research Fellow, Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities (ISILC), Victoria University Nima Izadyar, Lecturer, Victoria University Roger Jones, Professorial Research Fellow, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report explores options for managing the period after global warming exceeds 1.5℃. This is called ‘climate overshoot’, because we’re pushing past the safe zone into dangerous climate change. Jonathan Symons, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reports of electric vehicle fires might lead some people to fear the growing numbers of these vehicles will increase fire risk. In fact, replacing petrol and diesel vehicles is likely to reduce it. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We used satellite data to create global maps of where and how fires are burning. Fire season lasts two weeks longer than it used to and fires are more intense. But there are regional differences. Luke Kelly, Associate Professor in Quantitative Ecology, The University of Melbourne David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Ella Plumanns Pouton, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne Grant Williamson, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, University of Tasmania Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Professor in Biogeography, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What makes a great climate leader and why are we not seeing more of them? I’ve been searching for good examples of climate leaders. This is the subject of our new documentary, Climate Changers. Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many researchers are exploring high-tech ways to help reefs survive the climate crisis. But low-tech solutions like manually pulling out seaweed have a place too. Hillary Smith, Senior Research Officer, James Cook University David Bourne, Professor of Marine Biology, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Chlamydia is devastating for koalas, but the vaccine to prevent infection requires a booster shot. Recapturing the animals for their booster shot is costly and stresses them, but there’s a solution. Kenneth W Beagley, Professor of Immunology, Queensland University of Technology Tim Dargaville, Professor of Polymer Chemistry, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has almost 1.8 million farm dams – and some are home to threatened frog species Martino Malerba, ARC DECRA Fellow, Deakin University Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Nick Wright, Research scientist, Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development, The University of Western Australia Peter Macreadie, Professor of Marine Science & Founder/Director of Blue Carbon Lab, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the atmosphere warms, it can hold more moisture. This brings more intense downpours but also accelerates warming – because water vapour is a powerful greenhouse gas. Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliate Faculty, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sea ice around Antarctica has always followed a predictable seasonal cycle. Now, we’ve experienced a sudden dramatic loss, and the changes are here to stay. Edward Doddridge, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania Ariaan Purich, Lecturer in Climate Variability and Change, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

July was the hottest month on record – and took us past 1.5 degrees. But one month isn’t the same as failing to meet our Paris Agreement goals Ailie Gallant, Senior Lecturer, School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The federal government has been challenged to provide $100 billion over the next ten years to boost the renewables sector. But will policymakers respond to the challenge? Elizabeth Thurbon, Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Sydney Alexander M. Hynd, PhD candidate, UNSW Sydney Hao Tan, Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We all know climate change makes extreme weather more likely. But it’s also loading the dice for quick-forming drought, sudden and intense rainfall and fast-forming tropical storms. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew Dowdy, Principal research scientist, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s kelp forests provide food and shelter for many marine species of commercial and cultural value. But they are at risk from warming oceans, run-off from land and marine invaders. Christopher Cornwall, Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Wendy Nelson, Senior Research Fellow, Auckland War Memorial Museum Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mistletoes are ecological keystones that boost habitat value for wildlife, so we added them to established plane trees in the inner city. David M Watson, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Rodney van der Ree, National Technical Executive in Ecology at WSP Australia Pty Ltd. Adjunct Associate Professor, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most fire climate regimes in Australia shifted abruptly around the year 2000 –  greatly increasing fire risk. Roger Jones, Professorial Research Fellow, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tandem solar cells promise to revolutionise the clean energy transition – but a shortage of materials means they must urgently be redesigned. Bruno Vicari Stefani, CERC Fellow, Solar Technologies, CSIRO Matthew Wright, Postdoctoral Researcher in Photovoltaic Engineering, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australians are trading pest plants online, potentially breaking the law without even realising it. Jacob Maher, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Phill Cassey, Australian Research Council Industry Laureate Fellow, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian government has at last produced a serious plan to control an introduced predator that is a big reason this country has one of the world’s worst records for species extinctions. Sarah Legge, Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Australian National University Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University John Woinarski, Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.