The Conversation

There would be no life on Earth without invertebrates, but they are understudied and underappreciated. The Bug of the Year competition aims to change that, so have your say and vote! Jennifer Jandt, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

More of us than ever want to see the ice continent. But is the environmental awakening many return with worth the emissions and possible environmental damage? Elizabeth Leane, Professor of English and Associate Dean, Research Performance, University of Tasmania Anne Hardy, Associate Professor, Tourism and Society, University of Tasmania Can Seng Ooi, Professor, University of Tasmania Carolyn Philpott, Senior Lecturer in Musicology, Conservatorium of Music, School of Creative Arts and Media; Adjunct Senior Researcher, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, University of Tasmania Hanne E.F. Nielsen, Lecturer, University of Tasmania Katie Marx, PhD Candidate, Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sugar water feeding in cities helps native nectar-eating birds in winter, but it’s important to use the right feeders to avoid pathogens. Daria Erastova, Doctoral researcher, University of Auckland Ellen Hume, Doctoral researcher of social ecological systems, University of Auckland Margaret Stanley, Associate professor, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australians buy so much stuff that they have run out of space in their homes for it all, so storage businesses are booming. Louise Grimmer, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing, University of Tasmania Gary Mortimer, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Queensland University of Technology Martin Grimmer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Professor of Marketing, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Swimming and surfing in the ocean is fun and invigorating. But sharing the water with animals comes with risks to us and them. Rebecca Olive, Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Urban green spaces are threatened by growing cities. But research shows the importance of protecting access to nature as housing densification increases. Elizabeth Elliot Noe, Postdoctoral Fellow, Lincoln University, New Zealand Ottilie Stolte, Senior Lecturer, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hamsters and gerbils could threaten not just native Australian animals, but also plants and broader ecosystems. Marta Hernandez-Jover, Professor in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, Charles Sturt University Andrew Peters, Associate Professor of Wildlife Health and Pathology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Soaring power bills add to people’s worries about keeping their homes cool, especially as their health can suffer if they don’t. Fortunately, there are effective and affordable ways to beat the heat. Ross Gordon, Professor, School of Advertising, Marketing & PR, Queensland University of Technology Gordon Waitt, Professor of Geography, University of Wollongong Theresa Harada, Research Fellow at Australian Centre for Culture, Environment, Society and Space, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For one, they’ll work as a team to dive bomb potential enemies, even vomiting or defecating on them. Grainne Cleary, Researcher, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wet weather is great for some species of bugs. But Christmas beetle swarms look to be a thing of the past Erin Siostrom, Associate Lecturer in Science Education, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The species at risk include flowering plants, moss and lichens, tough invertebrates and breeding seabirds. Jasmine Lee, Conservation biologist, Queensland University of Technology Iadine Chadès, Principal research scientist, CSIRO Justine Shaw, Conservation Biologist, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the struggle against aqua nullius, Indigenous people’s right to make decisions about water on Country is a priority. Kat Taylor, Water Justice Hub Research Fellow, Australian National University Anne Poelina, Adjunct Professor and Senior Research Fellow, University of Notre Dame Australia Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Several batches of palm kernel product imported for dairy farms contained certain chemicals above a safe limit – and there’s an ethical quandary in supporting an industry linked with deforestation. Hadee Thompson-Morrison, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science, University of Canterbury Brett Robinson, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, University of Canterbury Sally Gaw, Director of Environmental Science, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Converting to electric cars is going to take time. With transport being Australia’s fastest-growing source of emissions, action on all fronts – road, rail, sea and aviation – is needed. Philip Laird, Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia must recognise the complex risks associated with cascading natural disasters, and draw on the knowledge and experience of all citizens. Robert Glasser, Honorary Professor, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Mark Crosweller, Associate Professor in the Practice of National Security Leadership, Australian National University Mark Howden, Director, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The good news is the world’s coal use has peaked – and will soon rapidly decline. Australia is leading the way, and the rest of the world must soon follow. Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Anna Nadolny, Research Officer, 100% Renewable Energy Group, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s emerging green hydrogen industry requires a secure supply of high-quality water. Competing demands for this scarce resource mean careful planning is needed to meet all water users’ needs. Rebecca Lester, Professor, Aquatic Ecology and Director, Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University David Downie, Strategic Adviser, Regional Development, Deakin University Don Gunasekera, Research Fellow, Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics, Deakin University Wendy Timms, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The planet is entering its sixth mass extinction event. This global nature summit is our best change to stop this tide of destruction. Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne Jack Pascoe, The University of Melbourne James Fitzsimons, Adjunct Professor in Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Rachel Morgain, Senior Research Fellow, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Rebecca Spindler, Adjunct Professor, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fixed limits are set for household energy exports because of the uncertain impacts of so many variable generation sources on the network. New energy data and simulation systems may offer an answer. Richard Bean, Research Fellow, Centre for Energy Data Innovation, The University of Queensland Neil Horrocks, Professor and Director, Centre for Energy Data Innovation, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Until February 17 2023, you can have your say on the government’s plan for standardised company reporting of climate‑related risks, which would start in 2024-25. Anita Foerster, Associate Professor, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.