The Conversation

Koalas will need our help more than ever this summer as hot, dry conditions force them to seek water. Here’s how to help keep them safe and what to do if you encounter a koala in distress. Edward Narayan, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report from the Biodiversity Council reveals the disturbing effects of artificial light on Australia’s nocturnal animals. Here’s how you can help wildlife at Christmas and all year round. Jaana Dielenberg, University Fellow, Charles Darwin University Loren Fardell, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

This year, China has built renewables at a truly staggering pace. But can its tech-first approach actually cut emissions – and find common ground at COP28? Xu Yi-chong, Professor of Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The proliferation of Antarctic research stations – 77 in all – is increasing knowledge of the continent but also the human impacts. A new study has identified the best ways to limit these impacts. Shaun Brooks, Fieldwork Coordinator/Research Technician, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

El Niño looms large as we head into the Australian summer. But can everyone expect hot and dry weather? What drives the weather in your state? Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The pilot project opening in Sydney will use the best available evidence to keep vulnerable people cool on the hottest of days. Jane Currie, Professor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology Jo River, Associate Professor, Mental Health Drug and Alcohol, UTS & Northern Sydney LHD, University of Technology Sydney Timothy English, Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealand’s new government has vowed to explore ‘blue carbon’ options for removing atmospheric CO₂ to meet net zero goals. But first we need a national strategy for this developing field of science. Rebecca J McLeod, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Ecology, University of Otago Cliff Law, Principal Scientist, National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), University of Otago Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Until now, planning and housing regulations have stood in the way of using tiny houses as permanent homes. That’s starting to change as councils look for solutions to the housing crisis. Hing-Wah Chau, Course Chair in Building Design & Senior Lecturer in Built Environment, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen lands in Dubai for COP28, Australia has announced an extra A$150 in climate finance with a focus on the Pacific region. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Banning public funding for overseas fossil fuel projects will boost Australia’s climate leadership. But can it take the next step and do it domestically? Christian Downie, Associate Professor, Australian National University Maxfield Peterson, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Conditions this year have been perfect for a cabbage white population boom, but you can do a few things to stop their caterpillars from shredding your plants. Nigel Andrew, Professor of Entomology, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nature, everyone agrees, is in trouble. But can Australia’s new market-based mechanism help? Patrick O'Connor, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most Aussie homes are not suited to the current climate, let alone future extremes. But they can be upgraded. A new report identifies the most common housing types and benefits of renovating. Gill Armstrong, Researcher in architecture and urban planning, Climateworks Centre Michael Ambrose, Research Team Leader, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Record emissions are fast shrinking the remaining amount of carbon dioxide we can emit if we are to limit global warming. At current rates, we’ll use up the budget for a 1.5°C outcome in seven years. Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Environment; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Corinne Le Quéré, Royal Society Research Professor of Climate Change Science, University of East Anglia Glen Peters, Senior Researcher, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Judith Hauck, Helmholtz Young Investigator group leader and deputy head, Marine Biogeosciences section a Alfred Wegener Institute, Universität Bremen Julia Pongratz, Professor of Physical Geography and Land Use Systems, Department of Geography, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Philippe Ciais, Directeur de recherche au Laboratoire des science du climat et de l’environnement, Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA) Pierre Friedlingstein, Chair, Mathematical Modelling of Climate, University of Exeter Robbie Andrew, Senior Researcher, Center for International Climate and Environment Research - Oslo Rob Jackson, Professor, Department of Earth System Science, and Chair of the Global Carbon Project, Stanford University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We can’t prevent continued global warming without reaching net zero carbon dioxide emissions. New climate simulations show what might happen when we get there. Liam Cassidy, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Josephine Brown, Senior Lecturer, The University of Melbourne Tilo Ziehn, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A recently signed Australia-Tuvalu citizenship agreement offers people displaced by climate change a chance to ‘move with dignity’. But staying with dignity has to be an option too. Dalila Gharbaoui, Postdoctoral Climate Crisis Research Fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

El Niño usually brings hot, dry weather to Australia. But the rains that have drenched eastern Australia are normal too. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s latest climate change statement shows we have little hope of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. There’s good news on the 2030 target, but then what? John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the proposed Great Koala National Park to actually help koalas, logging should stop and plantations should be added to the park. Tim Cadman, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow with the Law Futures Centre and the Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law, Griffith University Danielle Clode, Associate Professor (adjunct) in Creative Writing, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australian governments have invested a lot of hope in hydrogen to help drive the net zero transition, but concrete policies are urgently needed or we will lose our hydrogen advantage to other nations. Alison Reeve, Deputy Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.