The Conversation

If mining workplaces are anything to go by, the clean energy sector will have their work cut out for them to retain women in the workforce. Emily Finch, Beamline Scientist at ANSTO, and Research Affiliate, Monash University Melanie Finch, Lecturer in Structural Geology and Metamorphism, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Past claims about the costs of 5-star and then 6-star home energy ratings were overblown. We are hearing similar claims about the new 7-star standard, but good design makes it a good deal for owners. Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Nicola Willand, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Every year, air pollution kills 2,600 Australians. Australia’s new climate policy regime must account for this and other harms climate change wreaks on society. Thomas Longden, Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Richard Norman, Associate Professor in Health Economics, Curtin University Sotiris Vardoulakis, Professor of Global Environmental Health Tom Kompas, Professor of Environmental Economics and Biosecurity, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Developing countries want industrialised countries to pay reparations for loss and damage caused by climate change. Even with disasters ramping up, wealthy nations are resisting. Melanie Pill, Research fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Exposure to diverse microbes boosts our immunity, while spending time in nature restores wellbeing. And COVID reminds us of the risks of new viruses when we intrude on and degrade natural habitats. Jake M Robinson, Ecologist and Researcher, Flinders University Christopher Daniels, Professor of Biology, University of South Australia Martin Breed, Senior Lecturer in Biology, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Heat pumps use a fraction of the energy of traditional electric or gas heaters, which means they slash both energy costs and emissions. Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When it comes to emissions reduction, Australia needs a proper national conversation and a long-term plan. The climate change bill about to pass parliament doesn’t provide this. Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Southern Ocean heat uptake accounts for almost all the planet’s ocean warming, thereby controlling the rate of climate change. Maurice Huguenin, PhD Candidate, UNSW Sydney Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), UNSW Sydney Ryan Holmes, Research fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Product standards have real power. We could use them to reduce waste at every part of the plastic lifecycle. Qamar Schuyler, Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmospheres, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The National Construction Code has no minimum ventilation requirements for schools, aged care institutions, pubs, restaurants and health-care facilities. Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct professor of architecture, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Fossil fuel subsidies from major economies nearly doubled in 2021, reaching almost US$700 billion. Here’s how Australia stacks up. Richard Denniss, Adjunct Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s impossible to escape exposure to microplastics and a new study confirms they'e in household dust around the world. But the health risks appear surprisingly low, and vacuuming makes a difference. Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Neda Sharifi Soltani, Academic Casual, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Scott P. Wilson, Chief Scientist, Earthwatch Australia, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate bills in Australia and the US promise progress without carbon taxes or markets. Here’s why. Ian A. MacKenzie, Associate Professor in Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A fast-growing population – 50% bigger than it was in 1990 – is causing, directly or indirectly, all of Australia’s serious environmental problems. These impacts must be central to decision-making. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The landmark change places Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies under immense pressure to follow suit. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A comparison of 42 urban areas in New Zealand with 500 towns and cities in the US shows how much better local urban design has to be if we’re serious about reducing reliance on cars. Tom Logan, Lecturer of Civil Systems Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia has more than 60 species of native rodents found nowhere else in the world. New research used museum specimens to find out how they got here. Emily Roycroft, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The scars many whales bear throughout their lives resulting from shark attacks are more than sufficient evidence sharks will have a go if an opportunity arises. Chandra Salgado Kent, Associate Professor, School of Science, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Coal plants are exiting the grid faster than expected. We’ll need to redouble efforts to add flexibility into our energy systems and build renewables and storage. Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Leader, Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electric vehicles were around long before their fossil fuel rivals. They are also set to outlast them because of advantages their advocates noted as early as a century ago. Timothy Minchin, Professor of History, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.