The Conversation
Fossil CO₂ emissions hit record high yet again in 2023
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
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What happens after net zero? The impacts will play out for decades, with poorest countries still feeling the heat
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
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COP28: with a ‘loss and damage’ fund in place, protecting climate refugees is more urgent than ever
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
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We're in an El Niño – so why has Australia been so wet?
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
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Two charts in Australia's 2023 climate statement show we are way off track for net zero by 2050
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
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A home among the gum trees: will the Great Koala National Park actually save koalas?
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
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Hyped and expensive, hydrogen has a place in Australia’s energy transition, but only with urgent government support
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
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Social media ads are littered with ‘green’ claims. How are we supposed to know they're true?
Many ‘green’ claims on social media ads are claims only. We need legislation to ensure green terms are clearly defined and based on the truth.
Christine Parker, Professor of Law, The University of Melbourne
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COP28 climate summit just approved a 'loss and damage' fund. What does this mean?
Through the Loss and Damage Fund, developed states and major emitters will compensate developing countries experiencing the most devastating effects of climate change. The fund is now operational.
Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland
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COP28: the climate summit’s first Health Day points to what needs to change in NZ
Nations struggle if the health of their population fails. But good health is seriously threatened by climate change. So putting health at the centre of climate action makes sense.
Alistair Woodward, Professor, School of Population Health, University of Auckland
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Can we sustainably harvest trees from tropical forests? Yes – here are 5 ways to do it better
We argue for an orderly transition from ‘timber mining’ to managed forestry in the tropics. Here’s a five-step plan to improve forest fates, with benefits for the climate, biodiversity and people.
Francis E Putz, Research Professor, University of the Sunshine Coast
Claudia Romero, University of the Sunshine Coast
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COP28: How will Australia navigate domestic climate wins and fossil fuel exports at the negotiating table?
New emissions projections bode well for Australia’s climate efforts – but our fossil fuel exports continue apace.
Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne
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What is a 'just' transition to net zero - and why is Australia struggling to get there?
Australia’s clean energy transition cannot succeed unless the government opens debate and decision-making to many more voices.
Robyn Eckersley, Redmond Barry Professor of Political Science, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Erin Fitz-Henry, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne
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We analysed citizen science to find Australia’s top 10 most elusive birds
Researchers used ‘citizen science’ birdwatching data to rank Australian species. Among the most elusive birds were ‘hide and seek’ champions and a few possibly headed for extinction.
Louis Backstrom, PhD Student, University of St Andrews
James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland
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As disasters and heat intensify, can the world meet the urgency of the moment at the COP28 climate talks?
In what’s likely to be the hottest year on record, nations are gathering to try and hash out faster action on climate change. Here are the three main issues facing negotiators.
Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University
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COP28: Earth's frozen zones are in trouble – we're already seeing the consequences
The world is on track to exceed 2°C warming within the next five years, with dire consequences for polar ice, mountain glaciers and permafrost – and human society.
Timothy Naish, Professor in Earth Sciences, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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3 reasons why removing grazing animals from Australia's arid lands for carbon credits is a bad idea
Carbon credits must be scrutinised – and none more so than credits for taking grazing animals off arid rangelands.
David John Eldridge, Professor of Dryland Ecology, UNSW Sydney
Andrew Macintosh, Professor and Director of Research, ANU Law School, Australian National University
David Alan George, Adjunct Assoc. Professor - Australian Rivers Institute - Earth scientist, Griffith University
Don Butler, Professor, Australian National University
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Driving a greener future: how your electric car could help power your neighbourhood
Using a ‘grid of grids’ network, New Zealand’s growing electric vehicle fleet could contribute to national energy resiliency, feeding electricity back into the system during peak demand.
Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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The government's Murray-Darling bill is a step forward, but still not enough
With the support of the Greens, there’s a chance the ‘Restoring Our Rivers’ Bill will pass. Will it be enough to put the Murray-Darling Basin Plan back on track?
Celine Steinfeld, Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists & Adjunct Lecturer, UNSW Sydney
Michael Vanderzee, Australian National University
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We've committed to protect 30% of Australia's land by 2030. Here's how we could actually do it
To protect nearly a third of Australia by decade’s end will mean expanding our national parks, Indigenous Protected Areas and protection across private land.
James Fitzsimons, Adjunct Professor in Environmental Sciences, Deakin University
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