The Conversation

Most people try their best to avoid snakes. This snake photographer couple spends their free time searching for them. Chris Hay, Honorary Fellow, The University of Queensland Christina N. Zdenek, Lab Manager/Post-doc at the Venom Evolution Lab, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The issues before us are too difficult, too important and too pressing to abandon them to political point-scoring or ideological zealotry. 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.

We can’t let communities face climate change alone. We must get better at adapting to the new climate, and do it before disasters not during. Johanna Nalau, Research Fellow, Climate Adaptation, Griffith University Hannah Melville-Rea, Research Fellow, Climate Resilience, Environmental Arts & Humanities, New York University Mark Howden, Director, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The big climate and biodiversity assessment reports are too few and far between. The world needs much more regular reporting for action and adaptation to keep pace. Mark John Costello, Professor, Nord University Katherine Kelly, Research Affiliate, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ultra long-haul flights make it possible to go Sydney to London non-stop. But does the world need them, given they are more polluting and less efficient? Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism and Director, Griffith Institute for Tourism, Griffith University Paresh Pant, PhD Candidate and Sessional Academic, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The budget will reveal some extra spending, but the Emissions Reduction Plan still treats climate change as merely a scientific, technical problem – when it has been a political problem all along. David Hall, Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology Melody Meng, Research Fellow, Auckland University of Technology Nina Ives, Climate change PhD student, Auckland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Driving into floodwater is the leading cause of flood-related death. So why do people do it? Amy Peden, Research fellow, UNSW Sydney Andrew Gissing, General Manager, Risk Frontiers, Adjunct Fellow, Macquarie University Kyra Hamilton, Associate Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Three years ago, Australia was much more divided on climate and environmental issues. Unprecedented fires and floods might have changed minds, our new polling suggests. Michelle Baddeley, Associate Dean Research/Professor in Economics, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our research shows NZ’s potential to burn forestry waste and capture the emissions in geothermal wells. But we’ll need new partnerships between power generators, manufacturers and the forestry sector. David Dempsey, Senior lecturer, University of Canterbury Karan Titus, PhD Student, University of Canterbury Rebecca Peer, Lecturer, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor and the Greens launched environmental policies last week. We take a close look at what was promised, and if they’re enough to tackle Australia’s extinction crisis. Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Ecology, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If a minority government needs backing from the ‘teal’ independents and the Greens, it better be prepared to shift the needle on climate policy. Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The UK wants gardeners to stop thinking of slugs and snails as pests and to embrace garden biodiversity. Is it worth considering in Australia? Bethaney Turner, Associate Professor, Centre for Creative and Cultural Research, Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra Valerie Caron, Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Efforts to save the reef aren’t tackling the main cause: climate change. What we need from our next federal government is strong leadership to avert the climate crisis. Jodie L. Rummer, Associate Professor & Principal Research Fellow, James Cook University Scott F. Heron, Associate Professor in Physics, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As sea levels rise, this natural form of beach replenishment might be an important factor in offsetting some of the damaging effects of climate change on beaches. Mitchell Harley, Scientia Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Gerd Masselink, Professor of Coastal Geomorphology, University of Plymouth Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Directing public funds to native forest logging is bad for the economy, the climate and biodiversity, and will increase bushfire risk. David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University Heather Keith, Senior Research Fellow in Ecology, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Western Sydney can be up to 10℃ hotter than the coast. Poorly constructed housing can’t handle the heat. Stephen Healy, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Abby Mellick Lopes, Associate Professor, Design Studies, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What’s pushing up coal and gas prices is pushing up electricity prices, but some states have better shields than others. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Critical minerals like cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements abound in Australia. But we’re not making the most of these in-demand resources. Mohan Yellishetty, Associate Professor, Resources Engineering, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We’re lagging behind on the shift to electric vehicles and clean transport. Here’s what we need to do. Jake Whitehead, E-Mobility Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Leader, Battery Storage & Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Donna Green, Associate Professor, Investigator for UNSW Digital Grid Futures Institute; Affiliated Investigator NHMRC Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research, Associate Investigator the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW Sydney Emma Rachel Whittlesea, Senior Research Fellow, Griffith University Liz Hanna, Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Which party really has young interests at heart? Let’s look at where the major players stand on youth and climate change policy. Hannah R. Feldman, Research Fellow, Institute for Water Futures, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.