The Conversation

Australia has one of the highest rooftop solar installation rates in the world, which is great news for our efforts to reduce emissions. But can the grid keep up? Christina Nikitopoulos, Associate professor, Finance Discipline Group, University of Technology Sydney Alan Rai, Adjunct professor, University of Technology Sydney Muthe Mwampashi, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Companies may be using the positive impacts of sport to divert attention from their roles in furthering climate change. Robin Canniford, Department of Management & Marketing, The University of Melbourne Tim Hill, Lecturer in Marketing, University of Bath Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Sponges are ancient marine animals and have already shown robustness against stresses from climate change. New research now shows they can also tolerate low-oxygen conditions. James Bell, Professor of Marine Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Rob McAllen, Professor of Marine Conservation, University College Cork Valerio Micaroni, PhD Candidate in Coastal and Marine Biology and Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australians tend to be fairly relaxed about the tsunami risk. But warnings from authorities to stay away from foreshore areas should not be ignored. Hannah Power, Associate Professor in Coastal and Marine Science, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There’s a lot of buzz around green hydrogen. But we need to get the groundwork right - and pick the best spots to produce it Steven Percy, Senior Research Fellow, Victorian Hydrogen Hub, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Extreme heat over 50℃ is likely to become more common, giving us yet another reason for Australia to act fast on climate change. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In this era of mega-fires, diverse strategies are urgently needed so we can safely live with fire. Rachael Helene Nolan, Senior research fellow, Western Sydney University Grant Williamson, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, University of Tasmania Katharine Haynes, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires, University of Wollongong Mark Ooi, Senior Research Fellow, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After 150 years of selective breeding in captivity, the domestic budgie would now be almost unrecognisable to its wild cousin. So who would win in the unlikely event of a fight? Penny Olsen, Honorary Professor in the Division of Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Addressing urgent and complex problems such as climate change involves research across the full spectrum of society – and that includes Australia’s young people. Philippa Collin, Associate Professor, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Brendan Churchill, ARC Research Fellow and Lecturer in Sociology, The University of Melbourne Faith Gordon, Associate Professor in Law, Australian National University Judith Bessant, Professor in School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Michelle Catanzaro, Senior Lecturer in Design / Senior Research Fellow (YRRC), Western Sydney University Rob Watts, Professor of Social Policy, RMIT University Stewart Jackson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These iconic honeyeaters once ruled the flowering gum trees in massive numbers. But habitat loss means they’re on the edge of extinction. Rob Heinsohn, Professor of Evolutionary and Conservation Biology, Australian National University Dejan Stojanovic, Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University Ross Crates, Postdoctoral fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of animals on the planet. Their demise will have dramatic consequences for freshwater environments worldwide. Alan Lymbery, Professor, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A unique design-science collaboration turns ecological data into an immersive digital portrait of a precious wetland. Mitchell Whitelaw, Professor of Design, School of Art and Design, Australian National University Skye Wassens, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

2021 was NZ’s hottest year on record, and the current summer heatwave is a reminder that our biodiversity is already being affected. Cate Macinnis-Ng, Associate Professor, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

important decisions must be made today for urban greening programs to succeed in a warmer world. Renée M. Prokopavicius, Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Ecophysiology, Western Sydney University David S. Ellsworth, Professor, Western Sydney University Sebastian Pfautsch, Research Theme Fellow - Environment and Sustainability, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What should climate scientists do in the face of ever rising emissions? They could continue providing more evidence, join climate activists – or stop work in protest against government inaction. Bruce Glavovic, Professor, Massey University Iain White, Professor of Environmental Planning, University of Waikato Tim Smith, Professor and ARC Future Fellow, University of the Sunshine Coast Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Surfing’s benefits to well-being aren’t often studied in economics terms. This is a major gap in our knowledge we’re now trying to fill. Ana Manero, Research Fellow, Australian National University Alaya Spencer-Cotton, Research assistant, The University of Western Australia Javier Leon, Senior lecturer, University of the Sunshine Coast Neil Lazarow, Senior Research Consultant, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These fascinating spiders only live for about a year and have particularly interesting family arrangements. Jess Marsh, Research fellow at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Animals are surprisingly good at avoiding fire - but can they survive the unprecedented megafires we now face? Chris J Jolly, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Charles Sturt University Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A draft plan for Sydney’s water supplies includes expanding desalination and potentially adding highly treated sewage to drinking water. All options must be on the table as the climate warms. Ian Wright, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Trace metal exposure can lead to concerning neurocognitive effects in people of all ages. Cynthia Faye Isley, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Science, Macquarie University Kara Fry, Academic Casual, Macquarie University Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.