The Conversation
The seas are coming for us in Kiribati. Will Australia rehome us?
If Australia plans to sell as much of its fossil fuels as possible, the least it can do is help us in Kiribati survive the rising seas.
Akka Rimon, PhD Student, Australian National University
Anote Tong, Distinguished Global Leader-in-Residence, University of Pennsylvania
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Why it's time to reconsider the ecological contribution of introduced species -- even in New Zealand
Introduced species that become invasive are clearly destructive, but many exotic species are not detrimental to the existing ecosystem – some become complementary or take on lost ecological roles.
Sebastian Leuzinger, Professor, Auckland University of Technology
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At long last, Australia has a bioenergy roadmap – and its findings are startling
The roadmap predicts that by the 2030s, the sector could boost Australia’s annual GDP by around A$10 billion, create 26,200 jobs and reduce emissions by about 9%.
Bernadette McCabe, Professor and Principal Scientist, University of Southern Queensland
Ian O'Hara, Professor, Queensland University of Technology
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Invasive species are threatening Antarctica's fragile ecosystems as human activity grows and the world warms
While some invasive animals have breached Antarctica, the continent is still pristine. Our challenge is keeping it that way.
Dana M Bergstrom, Principal Research Scientist, University of Wollongong
Shavawn Donoghue, Adjunct Researcher, University of Tasmania
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The ocean is essential to tackling climate change. So why has it been neglected in global climate talks?
For over a decade, the inclusion of oceans in climate talks has been piecemeal and inconsistent. And yet, the ocean is critical to help balance the conditions we need to survive.
Dr Sali Bache, Strategic Advisor in International Policy and Oceans , ClimateWorks Australia
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COP26 failed to address ocean acidification, but the law of the seas means states must protect the world's oceans
Carbon dioxide can be classed as pollution under the UN law of the sea and countries have an obligation to prevent it from entering the ocean.
Karen Scott, Professor in Law, University of Canterbury
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We must rapidly decarbonise road transport – but hydrogen's not the answer
We need to rapidly reduce global emissions before 2030. Developing hydrogen for low-emissions road transport won’t happen fast enough.
Robin Smit, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney
Enoch Zhao, PhD Candidate, University of Technology Sydney
Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology
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We've smelted a billion tonnes of recyclable aluminium. Do we need to make more?
Aluminium is hugely useful, but energy-intensive to produce. What if we didn’t have to smelt any more?
Guy Keulemans, Faculty Research Fellow, UNSW
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Stemming methane leaks from oil fields, pipelines and landfills could help us slow global warming quickly
Reducing methane emissions could slow global warming quickly and buy time for the world to wean itself off fossil fuels. But it must not distract from the challenge to cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar, National Center for Atmospheric Research
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I'm an expert in what makes good policy, and the Morrison government's net-zero plan fails on 6 crucial counts
We can evaluate the plan’s sincerity through a lens of good practice policy making. So how does the government’s net-zero plan rate?
Dr Nadeem Samnakay, Research fellow, Australian National University
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Electric cars alone won’t save the planet. We'll need to design cities so people can walk and cycle safely
Electric cars are hailed as the best way to cut transport emissions, but it’s an illusion to think we can reduce our environmental impact without changing the way we design and move about in cities.
Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland
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The embarrassingly easy, tax-free way for Australia to cut the cost of electric cars
Electric cars are expensive in Australia partly because European emission standards reward manufacturers for selling them there. There’s an obvious fix.
Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
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Deforestation can raise local temperatures by up to 4.5℃ – and heat untouched areas 6km away
A single tree in a tropical forest has the same cooling effect as two air conditioners. Imagine how hot it gets when a whole forest is felled.
Sally Thompson, Associate professor, The University of Western Australia
Débora Corrêa, Research fellow, The University of Western Australia
John Duncan, Research fellow, The University of Western Australia
Octavia Crompton, Postdoctoral researcher, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University
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COP26: the Glasgow climate summit demonstrates an appetite for change Australia simply can't ignore
Stabilising Earth’s climate depends on a lot more than deals struck at conferences like Glasgow. But those agreements set a frame for real-world decisions.
Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University
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Are you kidding, India? Your last-minute Glasgow intervention won't relieve pressure to ditch coal
Rather than slow the decline in coal use, India’s actions at COP26 ensure it and other polluting nations, including Australia, will be under even greater scrutiny.
Bill Hare, Director, Climate Analytics, Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University (Perth), Visiting scientist, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
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Where to find courage and defiant hope when our fragile, dewdrop world seems beyond saving
The hope we need is realistic – not wishful thinking, denial or delay disguised as naïve optimism.
John Wiseman, Professorial Fellow, The University of Melbourne
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The government's net-zero modelling shows winners, we've found losers as well
Forestry is a surprising winner in detailed projections prepared by Victoria University. Queensland has the most to lose from a move to net-zero.
Philip Adams, Professor at the Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University
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The ultimate guide to why the COP26 summit ended in failure and disappointment (despite a few bright spots)
From weak 2030 targets to controversial rules around carbon trading, let’s take a look at the summit’s defining issues.
Robert Hales, Director Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University
Brendan Mackey, Director of the Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Griffith University
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Government assumes 90% of Australia’s new car sales will be electric by 2050. But its a destination without a route
The sale of traditional vehicles would have to cease completely by 2038 to reach the government’s target. So where’s the plan to get there?
John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland
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Here's how the government's modellers concluded net-zero would leave us better off
Most of the $2,000 per year increase in income by 2050 is due to the success of a new hydrogen industry.
Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
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