The Conversation

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.

Researchers found barriers to a productive conversation in Australia about the just transition – not least, an almost complete absence of the federal government in talking about or planning for it. Gareth Edwards, Associate Professor, University of East Anglia Robert MacNeil, Lecturer in Environmental Politics, University of Sydney Susan M Park, Professor of Global Governance, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is the most pressing issue of our time – so what have the Coalition and the Labor party actually promised? Five experts grade different aspects of their climate policies. Jake Whitehead, E-Mobility Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Johanna Nalau, Research Fellow, Climate Adaptation, Griffith University Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Analysis of 5,500 apartment developments across Australia found many individual units were far below the average energy ratings for the complex as a whole. Michael Ambrose, Research Team Leader, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s native wildlife and habitats are at extreme risk, but there is a dangerous disconnect between strategic aspiration and planned action. Matthew Hall, Senior Researcher, Environmental Law Initiative and Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Allan Brent, Senior Legal Advisor, Environmental Law Initiative, and Visiting Scholar, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Managing the transition to a net-zero emissions economy must be a priority task for the next government. Our strategic and economic success depends on it. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive mammals have already removed some native bird species from our cities. It’s why urban forest restoration and predator control are crucial to support the ‘ghosts of predation past’. Elizabeth Elliot Noe, Postdoctoral Fellow, Lincoln University, New Zealand Andrew D. Barnes, Senior Lecturer in Community Ecology, University of Waikato Bruce Clarkson, Professor of Restoration Ecology, University of Waikato John Innes, Senior Research - Wildlife Ecology, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This long, uncharacteristically early heatwave has hit hundreds of millions of people in one of the world’s most densely populated and vulnerable regions. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Somehow, female birds manage to hold their families together despite predators, harsh conditions and sometimes, a less-than-attentive partner. Ayesha Tulloch, ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Christina N. Zdenek, Lab Manager/Post-doc at the Venom Evolution Lab, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Five ‘renewable energy zones’ planned for NSW represent a major opportunity for Aboriginal people. Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Chris Briggs, Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We don’t have to passively sit back and watch Australia’s species and ecosystems die. Here are five concrete steps the next government should take. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Ayesha Tulloch, ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology Megan C Evans, Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We compiled the first list of Antarctic species and where they were first found. This knowledge means we can now protect all of the icy continent’s species. Laura Phillips, Antarctic Scientist, Monash University Rachel Leihy, Ecologist, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Building houses better at withstanding the impacts of climate change is one way we can protect ourselves in the face of future catastrophic conditions. Deborah Ascher Barnstone, Professor, Head of School, School of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The goal of our new web app is to help users engage with their elected representatives and put imperilled species on the political agenda this election and beyond. Gareth Kindler, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Nick Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Interaction Design, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electric cars are important - but we can now electrify all land-based transport, from buses to bikes to trucks. We need good policy settings. Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Greens and Labor have a mixed record of working together, but can learn from past experience. Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.