The Conversation

The race to build the tallest timber building makes the news, but mid-rise construction is where using timber can make the biggest sustainability impact. Lisa Ottenhaus, Lectuer in Structural Timber Engineering, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The important change sends a direct signal for more investment in renewable energy, and comes not a moment too soon. Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our ability to cool the planet takes humanity into unchartered territory. In a new paper published today, researchers discuss the big unknowns in a post net-zero world. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Celia McMichael, Senior Lecturer in Geography, The University of Melbourne Harry McClelland, Lecturer in Geomicrobiology, The University of Melbourne Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Kale Sniderman, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Kathryn Bowen, Professor - Environment, Climate and Global Health at Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne Tilo Ziehn, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Zebedee Nicholls, Research Fellow at The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Indonesia’s foot-and-mouth outbreak shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s been decades in the making – just the latest consequence of biosecurity shortcomings in the region. Robyn Alders, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s first adaptation plan gives local councils clearer guidelines, but it doesn’t tackle crucial questions about who should pay and how to future-proof major investments. Anita Wreford, Professor Applied Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A bid to amend plans for the final stage of the Barangaroo project would once again favour developers’ interests over the public interest. It shows how badly the planning process has been undermined. Dallas Rogers, Head of Urbanism and Associate Professor of Urban Studies, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney Cameron Logan, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney Chris Gibson, Professor of Geography, University of Wollongong Crystal Legacy, Associate Professor of Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Almost 35 years after the US Senate was first warned about climate change, it has passed a bill. Here’s what it means for Australia. Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Antarctica’s ice shelves have helped insulate it from dangerous levels of ice loss. But this is changing. Alexander Fraser, Senior Researcher in Antarctic Remote Sensing, University of Tasmania Chad Greene, Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Opposition from vested interests – including oil refineries and the car dealership industry – has held Australia back on fuel efficiency. The onus is now on the Albanese government to intervene. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some of these trees can be over 30 metres high. Others, can live for centuries or, for the Huon pine, up to an astonishing ten millennia. Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Savanna grasslands are burnt early in the dry season to reduce the chance of large fires later. But it’s making air pollution worse. Penelope Jones, Research Fellow in Environmental Health, University of Tasmania David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Fay Johnston, Professor, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Only 200 years ago, Australian waters were full of oyster and shellfish reefs. Then they collapsed. Now large scale restoration efforts are underway. Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Chris Gillies, Adjunct Associate Professor in marine ecology, James Cook University Christine Crawford, Senior research fellow in marine biology, University of Tasmania Ian McLeod, Professorial Research Fellow in Marine Biology, James Cook University Sean Connell, Professor, Program Director of Stretton Institute, Program Director of Environment Insitute, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Lead levels in backyard hen eggs are often much higher than in eggs bought in the shops. A new study of soil lead, chickens and eggs locates the high-risk areas in our biggest cities. Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, Macquarie University Dorrit E. Jacob, Professor, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University Vladimir Strezov, Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the world’s energy crisis intensifies, there’s renewed interest in uranium and nuclear power. Erik Eklund, Professor of History, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Before the pandemic, our cities had a simple plan: let population growth drive economic activity. But the world is changing and the perpetual growth mindset has to change with it. Kate Shaw, Honorary Senior Fellow in Urban Geography and Planning, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New data shows coral cover in the Great Barrier Reef is at a record high, despite a disturbing decade of marine heatwaves, cyclones and floods. While the data is robust, it can be deceptive. Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The people hardest hit by climate change are invariably those who are more vulnerable. We need to pay more attention to the root causes of vulnerability and address poverty and inequity. Bruce Glavovic, Professor in Natural Hazard Planning, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Will spring bring an end to the cold and the rain? Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Greens backed Labor’s moderate emissions cuts to avoid being seen as unwilling to compromise. But it’s only the start of a new wrestle over climate ambition. Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Seeing Japanese parents send toddlers out on their own to do errands has shocked viewers. But not that long ago our neighbourhoods were also child-friendly, and we can make them so again. Rebecca Clements, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Sydney Elizabeth Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning & Design, Monash University Hulya Gilbert, Lecturer in Planning and Human Geography, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.