The Conversation

More than 100 nations have pledged to end deforestation by 2030. But there’s no mention of the need for Indigenous people to give their prior informed consent. Robert Hales, Director Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University Rowan Foley, CEO of Aboriginal Carbon Foundation, Indigenous Knowledge Tim Cadman, Research Fellow with the Law Futures Centre and the Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law, Griffith University Toni Hay, Expert in Indigenous climate adaptation, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Targets for reductions in methane and other greenhouse gases should be guided by science, and set in line with the Paris deal. Mark Howden, Director, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand plans to shift to a circular economy but planning is split between agencies, is inconsistent and and contradictory, and it perpetuates a business-as-usual approach. Hannah Blumhardt, Senior Associate at the Institute of Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What really matters is domestic policy; if countries don’t change what they’re doing at home to bring fossil fuels emissions to zero and restore degraded lands, such declarations are meaningless. Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Can we breed kelp and other keystone species to survive warming and marine heatwaves? These techniques have promise – but they’re not a silver bullet. Cayne Layton, Postdoctoral fellow and lecturer, University of Tasmania Melinda Coleman, Principal Research Scientist Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A carbon tariff is a carbon tax applied to exports from countries such as Australian that don’t have one. Europe is planning to impose one. Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This Australian climate policy gives cause for hope, but will it really lead to a well-adapted Australia? Sarah Boulter, Associate professor of climate adaptation, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Here are four ways the current electricity system favours existing, higher emitting technologies. These must be overcome to rapidly cut Australia’s emissions. Lee White, Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand has announced a more ambitious pledge to cut emissions, but the commitment relies on buying credits from offshore. There is no system for doing this yet, or for ensuring genuine cuts. Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In the late 1990s, a mining company was planning to expand its Kakadu uranium mine into Jabiluka land. But the expansion ultimately failed, thanks to Yvonne Maragula and Jacqui Katona. Jacqui Katona, Lecturer, Victoria University Lily O'Neill, Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Battery electric cars are an ideal choice for light-duty and shorter commutes, but for long-haul trucks or buses, hydrogen fuel cells offer higher loads, shorter refuelling times and a longer range. Soheil Mohseni, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington James Hinkley, Senior lecturer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Leaders of the world’s wealthiest 20 countries failed to reach any major commitments on climate action, including a timeline to phase out fossil fuels. Caitlin Byrne, Director, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Susan Harris Rimmer, Professor and Director of the Policy Innovation Hub, Griffith Business School, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When Prime Minister Scott Morrison returns from the Glasgow climate summit, he must start a proper national conversation on net-zero. 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.

Helping developing nations pay for the expensive work of emissions reduction and adaptation benefits everyone on the planet. Melanie Pill, PhD candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Reach net zero requires policies spanning energy, industry, transport, agriculture, land use, even trade. Climate change is a whole-of-government issue. It’s every minister’s problem. James Ha, Associate, Grattan Institute Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Pacific nations look to New Zealand for climate leadership. It has enshrined carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 1.5℃ target in law, but, so far, emissions have continued to rise. Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Labor is not due to announce its full climate plan until after international climate talks in Glasgow. Rebecca Pearse, Lecturer, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s southwest is a biodiversity hotspot - and it’s also a climate change hotspot. Something has to give. Jatin Kala, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA felllow, Murdoch University Belinda Robson, Associate Professor, Murdoch University Joe Fontaine, Lecturer, Environmental and Conservation Science, Murdoch University Stephen Beatty, Research Leader (Catchments to Coast), Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Thomas Wernberg, Professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Restoring farmland is one of the best ways to tackle climate and environmental issues over the long-term. But this doesn’t appear to be part of the Nationals deal. Paul Martin, Director, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For a net-zero plan not to include a strategy to phase out this enormous contribution to climate change is an abrogation of responsibility. Jeremy Moss, Professor of Political Philosophy, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.