The Conversation

Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface, and their warming is gravely concerning. So how much is down to climate change? Moninya Roughan, Professor in Oceanography, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Does the government’s recent pledge to step up emissions cuts by as little as 1% really represent New Zealand’s ‘highest possible ambition’ to combat climate change? Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study of water quality in Australian rivers reveals surprising changes since the turn of the century: good for the Murray-Darling Basin but bad for the reef. Anna Lintern, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, specialising in water quality, Monash University Danlu Guo, Senior lecturer of Environmental Engineering, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Trees and greenspace can drive down urban temperatures – but they must be able to draw water from the soil to achieve these massive cooling effects. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers found the stop-start way we drive actually prolongs battery life. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Evidence suggests burning more coal and gas will damage many industries. So why are food distributors lobbying for more fossil fuels? Vivienne Reiner, PhD Candidate, Integrated Sustainability Analysis group, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Indigenous peoples have been largely excluded from the federal government’s planning for the arrival of H5N1. When will this change? Nell Reidy, Research Fellow, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Bhiamie Williamson, Research Fellow in Disaster Resilience, Monash University Vinod Balasubramaniam, Associate Professor (Molecular Virology), Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hopes for environmental law reform during the current term of federal government have been dashed, so what lies ahead for ‘nature positive’ next term? Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow in Biodiversity, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Feral cats, foxes and dingoes are routinely baited to protect wildlife and livestock. But does it matter what kind of bait is used? Do cats ignore it? Pat Taggart, Adjunct Fellow in Ecology, University of Adelaide Daniel Noble, Associate Professor in Evolutionary Ecology, Australian National University Yong Zhi Foo, DECRA Research Fellow in Biological Science, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Plans to knock down and rebuild 44 public housing towers are flawed. Retrofitting and upgrading is feasible, cheaper and better for people and the planet. Nigel Bertram, Practice Professor of Architecture, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Deadly floods have hit large areas of northern Queensland, from Townsville up to Cairns. Hotter seas and a late monsoon are key factors. Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Artificial lights at night are causing serious disruption to these insect night shift workers. That’s a problem for everyone. Tanya Latty, Associate Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Researchers mined the knowledge of politicians, public servants and environmental advocates to understand how everyday people can achieve real change for nature. Lily van Eeden, Lecturer, RMIT University Liam Smith, Director, BehaviourWorks, Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Crocodile farming in northern Australia began as a way to ensure crocodile leather could be sustainably sourced. But fashion houses and consumers are turning away. Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Enterprise, Torrens University Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Genetic diversity is being lost across many species – especially birds and mammals. But you can help stop the decline. Robyn Shaw, Research Fellow in Conservation Genomics, University of Canberra Catherine Grueber, Associate Professor in Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Katherine Farquharson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Bioinformatics, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Everyone thought koalas were solitary creatures. But a new paper reveals there is more to the social lives of koalas than previously thought. Darcy Watchorn, Threatened Species Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science Department, Zoos Victoria, and Visiting Scholar, School of Life & Environmental Science, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In 2010, an enormous marine heatwave devastated ocean life in Western Australia. Now another big one is taking hold – and heading towards Ningaloo. Sina Pinter, PhD Candidate in Ocean Dynamics, The University of Western Australia Matt Rayson, Senior Research Fellow in Oceanography, The University of Western Australia Nicole L. Jones, Professor of Physical Oceanography, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When authorities fight fires, they focus on human life and property. But animals are part of communities too – and disaster preparation should reflect this Danielle Celermajer, Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Sydney Anna Sturman, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Sydney Blanche Verlie, Horizon Research Fellow and Lecturer in Social Science, University of Sydney Freya MacDonald, Phd student in Gender and Cultural Studies, University of Sydney Natasha Heenan, Casual Lecturer, Political Economy and Climate Policy, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To listen deeply to nature is to become aware of behaviours, relationships and patterns of interaction between multiple species – and to learn from what we hear. Monty Nixon, PhD Student in Education, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Give a bacteria-fungi biofilm access to sweetened tea and you can make not only kombucha – but a fibre vital to making clothing. Rajkishore Nayak, Associate Professor , RMIT University Vietnam Donna Cleveland, Associate Professor of Sustainable Design, RMIT University Vietnam Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.