The Conversation

To achieve low or even no electricity bills, there are three areas owners of home solar systems should focus on getting right. Wasim Saman, Emeritus Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The latest Bureau of Meteorology forecast offers relief from record rain and floods brought about by La Niña. A longer-term outlook for El Niño is still up in the air – but its arrival would be disastrous. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Canberra fires showed even urban communities can be in danger if close enough to the bush. Andrew Gissing, CEO, Natural Hazards Research Australia, Adjunct Fellow, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian cities remain woefully unprepared for the more extreme weather we are already seeing with climate change. But some cities overseas stand out for having developed readymade solutions. Thami Croeser, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Both when disaster strikes and when climate change has more everyday impacts, community radio stations play a leading role in helping locals understand and adapt to the challenges they face. Bridget Backhaus, Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies, Griffith University Kerrie Foxwell-Norton, Associate Professor in Journalism, Media and Communication, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Kimberley region of Western Australia is currently being devastated by flooding. Remote communities need more support with prevention and recovery plans. Toni Hay, Expert in Indigenous climate adaptation, Indigenous Knowledge Courtney-Jay Williams, Principal Advisor at Indigenous Climate Change, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Birdsong plays a vital social role in the lives of these gregarious finches. Simon Griffith, Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University Hugo Loning, PhD candidate in Behavioural Ecology, Wageningen University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new gecko species in New Zealand was named te mokomoko a Tohu in consultation with a local Māori tribe. This could be a good example for how taxonomists might approach the naming of new species. Lachie Scarsbrook, DPhil Student, University of Oxford Kerry Walton, Researcher, University of Otago Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While this prominent and well funded project has gone into voluntary administration, those enthused about rapid decarbonisation and Australia’s renewable energy export potential need not despair. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Has climate action bogged down? Hardly. Nations are redoubling their efforts in visible and less visible ways. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ranging from 12 to 22 centimetres, these tiny octopus are extremely venomous and found all over Australia. Here’s what to do if you see someone get bitten. Zoe Doubleday, Marine Ecologist and ARC Future Fellow, University of South Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Globally, the air is getting hotter and drier, which means flash droughts and risky fire conditions are developing faster and more frequently. Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The tragic death of Steve Irwin in 2006 gave stingrays a reputation for being dangerous. But stingray-caused deaths are incredibly rare. Jaelen Nicole Myers, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Are our animal companions showing off when they share more than toys with us? And what should we do about it? Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For years, the ‘safeguard mechanism’ has been widely criticised for lacking teeth. Labor’s new reform doesn’t change that much. Rebecca Pearse, Lecturer, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Residents are living with the impacts of climate change and know it’s happening. But leaving their homes would strike at the heart of their identity. Merewalesi Yee, PhD Candidate, School of Earth and Environment Sciences, The University of Queensland Annah Piggott-McKellar, Research Fellow, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology Celia McMichael, Senior Lecturer in Geography, The University of Melbourne Karen E McNamara, Associate Professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More must be done to ensure the Albanese government truly delivers the emissions reductions it has promised. Andrew Macintosh, Professor and Director of Research, ANU Law School, Australian National University Don Butler, Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

But here’s why this seemingly unremarkable bird could save other, less obvious species from devastation. Dominique Potvin, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An overhaul of Aotearoa’s conservation laws could allow Māori to resume traditional harvesting practices of some native species. Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Kerry Walton, Researcher, University of Otago Richard Walter, Professor of Archaeology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If the situation doesn’t change, Africa – indeed, the world – may lose one of its most iconic animal species. Rachael Gross, PhD Scholar in Applied Conservation Ecology, Australian National University Rob Heinsohn, Professor of Evolutionary and Conservation Biology, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.