The Conversation
This is the most sobering report card yet on climate change and Earth's future. Here’s what you need to know
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its long-awaited report. From accelerating emissions to intensifying disasters to rising sea levels, its authors lay out the new findings.
Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO
Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University
Malte Meinshausen, A/Prof., School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Mark Hemer, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO
Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO
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Yes, a few climate models give unexpected predictions – but the technology remains a powerful tool
An article in the eminent US magazine Science has triggered debate over whether scientists should use climate models. Here’s what you should know about climate models ahead of today’s IPCC report.
Nerilie Abram, Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Deputy Director for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, Australian National University
Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, The University of Melbourne
Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW
Christian Jakob, Professor in Atmospheric Science, Monash University
Julie Arblaster, Chief Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Chief Investigator, ARC Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future; Professor, Monash University
Lisa Alexander, Chief Investigator ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and Professor Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW
Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, ARC Future Fellow, UNSW
Shayne McGregor, Associate professor, Monash University
Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW
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Monday's IPCC report is a really big deal for climate change. So what is it? And why should we trust it?
234 scientists from 66 countries reviewed over 14,000 research papers. It was gruelling and it was worth it: the report is the most important global assessment of climate change science yet.
David Karoly, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO
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Australians are 3 times more worried about climate change than COVID. A mental health crisis is looming
New research surveyed more than 5,000 Australians about their concerns. Its findings suggest an epidemic of mental health related disorders is on the horizon.
Rhonda Garad, Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow in Knowledge Translation, Monash University
Joanne Enticott, Senior Research Fellow, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Monash University
Rebecca Patrick, Director, Sustainable Health Network, Deakin University
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We asked landholders how they feel about biodiversity offsets — and the NSW government has a lot to learn
For biodiversity offsets to work, landholders need to be on board, but their diverse perspectives remain poorly understood.
Roel Plant, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney
Laure-Elise Ruoso, Senior Research Consultant, University of Technology Sydney
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Vineyard tourism is a big source of carbon emissions. Want to help? Then buy more wine
The Australian wine industry has already been forced to adapt to the effects of climate change. It must reduce its carbon footprint – including emissions generated by wine tourists.
Ya-Yen Sun, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
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Tuatara are ancient, slow and endangered. But their super speedy sperm could boost conservation efforts
The male anatomy of tuatara, the last representatives of an ancient lineage, is unique among reptiles. They lack a penis, which has made sperm collection a major challenge – until now.
Sarah Lamar, PhD Researcher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Diane Ormsby, Senior Lecturer, Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Jennifer Moore, Associate Professor of Biology and Natural Resources, Grand Valley State University
Nicola Jane Nelson, Professor of Conservation Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Susan N. Keall, Senior Technical Officer - Conservation Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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Complicated, costly and downright frustrating: Aussies keen to cut emissions with clean energy at home get little support
After $22,000 and four different electricians, Heather’s rooftop solar system is still not working. Her story illustrates the risks of having no support in the switch to clean energy at home.
Hugo Temby, Doctoral Researcher, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, Australian National University
Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Research Fellow, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University
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Dodgy tree loppers are scamming elderly homeowners and hacking up healthy trees. Here's what you need to know
As a tree scientist who works with urban trees, I can assure you some large, old trees are well worth leaving alone, even you find them annoying sometimes.
Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne
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Curious Kids: do penguins fly underwater?
They can’t fly through the air but they can fly underwater.
Belinda Cannell, Research fellow, Research Associate, The University of Western Australia
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Pest plants and animals cost Australia around $25 billion a year – and it will get worse
Without urgent action, Australia will continue to lose billions of dollars every year on invasive species.
Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University
Andrew Hoskins, Research scientist CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO
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Climate change is causing tuna to migrate, which could spell catastrophe for the small islands that depend on them
Climate change models predict tuna will leave the waters of Pacific Island nations, meaning they will lose a crucial revenue source.
Katherine Seto, Research Fellow, University of Wollongong
Johann Bell, Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of Wollongong
Quentin Hanich, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong
Simon Nicol, Adjunct professor, University of Canberra
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Dead, shrivelled frogs are unexpectedly turning up across eastern Australia. We need your help to find out why
It’s typically rare to see a dead frog. Yet, we’ve received a flurry of emails from people coming across them in this truly unusual, and tragic, mass death event.
Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, UNSW, Australian Museum
Karrie Rose, Australian Registry of Wildlife Health - Taronga Conservation Society Australia, University of Sydney
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Australian farmers are adapting well to climate change, but there's work ahead
New ABARES research examines the climate change challenge facing Australian farmers
Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
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More livestock, more carbon dioxide, less ice: the world's climate change progress since 2019 is (mostly) bad news
But with new commitments getting made by governments all over the world, we hope to see this progress improve soon.
Thomas Newsome, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney
Christopher Wolf, Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University
William Ripple, Distinguished Professor and Director, Trophic Cascades Program, Oregon State University
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Artificial refuges are a popular stopgap for habitat destruction, but the science isn't up to scratch
New research reviewed more than 200 studies, and found the science underpinning artificial refuges — think nest boxes and artificial burrows — must be improved.
Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University
Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University
Mitchell Cowan, PhD Candidate, Charles Sturt University
Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney
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Aggressive marketing has driven the rise of the double-cab ute on New Zealand streets — time to hit the brakes?
Eight of the ten top-selling passenger vehicles in New Zealand are now utes or SUVs. With carbon emissions reduction an urgent priority, that’s not a sustainable trend.
Kirsty Wild, Senior Research Fellow, Public Health, University of Auckland
Alistair Woodward, Professor, School of Population Health, University of Auckland
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A wet winter, a soggy spring: what is the negative Indian Ocean Dipole, and why is it so important?
Last week the Bureau of Meteorology declared a negative Indian Ocean Dipole — a natural climate phenomenon set to bring wet weather. Let’s look at what you can expect, and the role of climate change.
Nicky Wright, Research Fellow, University of Sydney
Andréa S. Taschetto, Associate Professor, UNSW
Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, The University of Melbourne
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Not declaring the Great Barrier Reef as 'in danger' only postpones the inevitable
Friday's decision from the World Heritage Committee doesn't change the irrefutable evidence that dangerous impacts are occurring on the Great Barrier Reef.
Jon C. Day, PSM, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
Scott F. Heron, Associate Professor, James Cook University
Terry Hughes, Distinguished Professor, James Cook University
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You may have heard the 'moon wobble' will intensify coastal floods. Well, here's what that means for Australia
The triple whammy of the moon's wobble, sea level rise and more intense storms will bring worse tidal floods into coastal communities in the 2030s. This includes in Australia.
Mark Gibbs, Principal Engineer: Reef Restoration, Australian Institute of Marine Science
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