The Conversation

Could tectonic processes in the early Earth have contributed to the rise of oxygen? David Mole, Postdoctoral fellow, Earth Sciences, Laurentian University Adam Charles Simon, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan Xuyang Meng, Postdoctoral Fellow, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Andrews government has signalled a major shakeup of Victoria’s energy sector. But are they enough to bring the state’s energy prices down and reduce emissions? Ariel Liebman, Ariel Liebman Director, Monash Energy Institute and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here are four reasons their victory is so significant. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To lose such a friend is not just to have sudden hole where they used to be. There are constant reminders of time spent together, threads in the tapestry of daily life left ragged and loose. Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The best thing to do is to stop emitting carbon. However, preserving a safe climate will likely require us to go further. Jonathan Symons, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Seeing an animal in distress after disaster makes us want to help. But feeding them doesn’t always make the situation better. Samantha Finnerty, Postdoctoral Research Associate - Wildlife Ecology, University of Sydney Catherine Herbert, Associate professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Inbreeding usually leads to an accumulation of genetic defects, but evolution on a small archipelago may have helped the severely inbred Chatham Island black robin to avoid this fate. Nicolas Dussex, Postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Palaeogenetics, Stockholm University Michael Knapp, Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology, Coastal People: Southern Skies Centre of Resarch Excellence, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To keep up with climate-related disasters, we need transformational solutions. These range from ‘sponge cities’ and floating houses to putting out bushfires minutes after they start. Roslyn Prinsley, Head, Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the costs of disasters climb, working out who will finance climate adaptation has become increasingly urgent for developing nations. Johanna Nalau, Research Fellow, Climate Adaptation, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The report synthesises the latest science about Australia’s climate – and paints a worrying picture. Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows rewilding with invertebrates – insects, worms, spiders and the like – can go a long way in bringing our degraded landscapes back to life. Peter Contos, PhD Candidate, La Trobe University Heloise Gibb, Professor, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Lyrebirds learn their songs from other lyrebirds. But when they’re raised in captivity, they learn our songs and sounds. Alex Maisey, Postdoctoral research fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s important that citizen science projects engage volunteers from across society, including young people. A new Australian initiative is doing just that. Judy Friedlander, Adjunct Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Thomas Mesaglio, PhD candidate, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bioarchitecture draws on design principles from nature to construct buildings that work in ways that help tackle climate change and reverse environmental damage. Aysu Kuru, Lecturer in Architecture and Construction, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It can be hard to grasp the changes climate change is bringing. To see it in your own life, look at the shifting seasons. Edward Doddridge, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What steps is the state government taking to bring Brisbane closer to being a smart city while managing rapid growth? And what differences can city residents expect to see for themselves? Davina Jackson, Visiting Scholar, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s most important public financial institution, the Reserve Bank, runs on rules from the 1950s. For a 21st century economy, managing climate change needs to be added to its 3 key objectives. Toby Phillips, Public Policy Researcher, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ageing brick apartment buildings of two to three storeys are being redeveloped in many suburbs. Typically, they are knocked down to be replaced by much bigger developments. But here’s an alternative. Guillermo Fernández-Abascal, Academic Fellow in Architectural Practice, University of Sydney Urtzi Grau, Senior Lecturer, Director of The Master of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The big news of COP27 was agreement to establish a fund for ‘loss and damage’. But many lamented the summit’s overall outcome, saying it falls short of a sufficient response to the climate crisis. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

About a third of Victoria’s land-based plants, animals and ecological communities face extinction. We look at what the political parties have promised ahead of the state election. 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 Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.