The Conversation

Australian politicians have a history of opting for high-cost, high-emissions desalination projects. The Queensland government is still wary of using the largely untapped resource of recycled water. Margaret Cook, Lecturer in History, University of the Sunshine Coast Andrea Gaynor, Professor of History, The University of Western Australia Lionel Frost, Associate Professor of Economics, Monash University Peter Spearritt, Emeritus Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland Ruth Morgan, Associate Professor of History, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Biodiversity market schemes can help – but they are not a silver bullet, and can be gamed if poorly designed. Felicity Deane, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The flooding in Pakistan is the latest in a sequence of exceptional disasters in the Northern Hemisphere. How much is climate change to blame? Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

On-demand public transit can rival car ownership in convenience, while cutting emissions and cost, and simultaneously encouraging a mode shift towards public transport. Benjamin Kaufman, PhD Candidate, Cities Research Institute, Griffith University Ainsley Hughes, Honorary Associate Lecturer, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The tiny golden-tipped bat roosts in the nests of rainforest birds. But high intensity extreme fires can increasingly reach into their unburnt sanctuaries. Christopher Turbill, Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Like Australia, Chile is facing mounting environmental pressures, such as an escalating water crisis. If the constitution is approved in September it’ll deliver profound changes to the country. Ana Estefanía Carballo, Honorary Research Fellow in Mining and Society, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne Erin Fitz-Henry, Deputy Coordinator - Anthropology, Development Studies & Social Theory, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The first upgrade to minimum energy-efficiency standards in a decade will cut emissions and energy costs for the 5.5 million houses to be built by 2050. Retrofitting homes is an equally urgent task. Gill Armstrong, Senior Project Manager – Buildings, Climateworks Centre Alan Pears, Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University Margot Delafoulhouze, Cities System Lead, Climateworks Centre Trivess Moore, Senior Lecturer, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

China is in the midst of a devastating heatwave and drought. This has thrown the nation into an electricity crisis. And China has doubled down on coal investments to meet demand. Guangyi Pan, PhD candidate, UNSW Sydney Hao Yang, Sessional lecturer, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Synthetic milk offers dairy milk without the concerns such as methane emissions or animal welfare. But is it the whey forward? Milena Bojovic, PhD Candidate, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Wilderness gives our mental health a real boost. But growing private interests in national parks are stopping those less well off from free nature therapy. Ralf Buckley, International Chair in Ecotourism Research, Griffith University Alienor Chauvenet, Senior Lecturer, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand has no mandatory measures to prevent the bycatch of turtles. This is in stark contrast to Hawai'i, which has reduced its turtle bycatch by 90% using various mitigation measures. Matthew Hall, Senior Researcher, Environmental Law Initiative and Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Ingrid O'Sullivan, Senior Adviser, Environmental Law Initiative and Visiting Scholar, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The most controversial feature of the New Zealand flora is the plethora of small-leaved trees and shrubs with wiry interlaced branches. Can a synthesis of competing explanations solve this mystery? Chris Lusk, Associate Professor of Ecology, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The photographs show how climate change is disrupting our marine ecosystems – sometimes in ways previously unknown to marine scientists. Gretta Pecl, Professor, ARC Future Fellow & Director of the Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania Barrett Wolfe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Tasmania Curtis Champion, Research Scientist, Southern Cross University Jan Strugnell, Associate Professor Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University Sue-Ann Watson, Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A major fertiliser plant is set to be constructed in the Pilbara, potentially impacting as many as 20 ancient rock art sites. Nicole Curtin, PhD Candidate, Charles Darwin University Clinton Walker, Tourism operator, Indigenous Knowledge Tracy Woodroffe, Lecturer in Indigenous Knowledges, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Opening up new fossil fuel exploration will damage our longer-term security and undermine our climate imperatives. It is dangerous for the planet. Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Hot rooftops and a looming skills shortage – these are just a few challenges faced by crucial yet undervalued air-conditioning repair people. Chantel Carr, ARC DECRA Fellow, School of Geography and Sustainable Communities, University of Wollongong Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Only half of New Zealand’s roughly 4,000 mollusc species have been seen alive. Now geneticists can decode DNA from shells in museum collections to trace the life histories of extinct or rare species. Kerry Walton, Researcher, University of Otago Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Key to success will be transitioning to an ecologically sustainable economy, with greener technologies and industries. Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I attest these rather ordinary, mud-covered stingrays are beautiful, and I never tire of watching them. Unfortunately, they are at risk of decline and localised extinctions. Jaelen Nicole Myers, PhD Candidate, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The long delays in housing displaced flood victims point to the need to develop a permanent reserve of temporary housing to be available wherever and whenever disaster strikes. Mark Maund, WSP Team Lead Regional NSW & ACT / Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University of Newcastle Kim Maund, Deputy Head of School, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Thayaparan Gajendran, Associate Professor, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.