The Conversation

In 2000, fossil fuels were 80% of total energy consumption. In 2019, they were 81%. Renewables are simply not growing fast enough. It’s time to talk about cutting energy consumption. Mark Diesendorf, Honorary Associate Professor, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is already cutting crop yields. War and unrest are likely to compound these issues for food-importing nations. Ro McFarlane, Assistant Professor in Ecological Public Health, University of Canberra Nenad Naumovski, Associate Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Canberra Shawn Somerset, Professor of Public Health/Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

How can we, personally, prepare for a future with not only more frequent natural disasters, but one that will also profoundly change the environment, communities and the economy? Stefan Kaufman, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Celebrating the European honeybee is a misplaced opportunity to honour our forgotten native pollinators. Eliza Middleton, Laboratory Manager, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Caitlyn Forster, PhD Candidate, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After 25 years of carbon market experiments, it’s clear climate policy should not rely on offsets. Declan Kuch, Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

With temperatures plunging, rodents have started seeking the warmth and food inside our houses. Here’s how to deal with them effectively and humanely – without accidentally catching native animals. Robert Davis, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A return of mega cruise liners would go against the government’s express desire to create a new, sustainable tourism model. James Higham, Professor of Tourism, University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Coal producers in Australia have seen a sudden upswing in prices and demand amid an energy crisis. It can’t continue, as China moves to shore up energy independence and cut emissions. Jorrit Gosens, Research Fellow, Australian National University 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.

Australian policy is increasingly focused on what’s known as ‘successful ageing’ – helping people feel satisfied, happier and healthier as they age. But for that, you need access to affordable energy. Ross Gordon, Professor, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Although cats are evolved for night-time activity, during domestication they have adapted to human lifestyles. There’s plenty you can do to try and get your cat to stop waking you in the wee hours. Susan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Julia Henning, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Notwithstanding COVID, this political term has been framed by extreme events such as the Black Summer bushfires and floods – and it will show at the ballot box. Peter Christoff, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor, Melbourne Climate Futures initiative, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Until now, export credit agencies - publicly-owned banks - have gone under the radar on fossil fuel financing. That’s about to change. Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Let us introduce you to this shy performer and convince you that the Albert’s lyrebird is worthy of as much attention as its limelight-stealing sister species, the superb lyrebird. Fiona Backhouse, PhD Student in Behavioural Ecology, Western Sydney University Anastasia Dalziell, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Wollongong Justin A. Welbergen, Associate Professor in Animal Ecology, Western Sydney University Robert Magrath, Professor of Behavioural Ecology, Research School of Biology, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Variegated plants can be more expensive than their all-green counterparts. But there are ways to protect your investment. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Captive breeding of koalas could be done much more cheaply and avoid inbreeding issues if we embrace assisted reproduction. Lachlan G. Howell, Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University Ryan R. Witt, Postdoctoral Researcher and Honorary Lecturer | School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rocks deposited by vanishing glaciers in the Southern Alps thousands of years ago hold climate clues about the past, painting a bleak picture about the long-term survival of alpine ice in New Zealand. Andrew Lorrey, Principal Scientist & Programme Leader of Southern Hemisphere Climates and Environments, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Aaron Putnam, Associate professor, University of Maine David Barrell, Geologist and geomorphologist, GNS Science George Denton, Professor, University of Maine Joellen Russell, Professor, University of Arizona Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A scheme devised by the Morrison government to protect biodiversity and create new income for farmers may fail in its aims. Felicity Deane, Associate Professor, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Biologists have used ancient DNA, preserved in fossil bones for millennia, to study the evolution of large species, but now they can employ it to study small animals like lizards and frogs. Nic Rawlence, Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Lachie Scarsbrook, DPhil Student in Archaeological Science, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Only three specimens of the blue-grey mouse ever existed, and two are lost. We plunged into a search for the third, in the hope we might find the species isn’t extinct at all – just missing. Tyrone Lavery, Research fellow, Australian National University Chris Dickman, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, University of Sydney David Lindenmayer, Professor, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Even if all passenger vehicles sold today were electric, it would take more than ten years for the Australian road fleet to be fully electric. Robin Smit, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.