The Conversation

A CSIRO study has found 39% less plastic pollution in and around Australian coastal cities over ten years. It also found more places with no rubbish at all. Stephanie Brodie, Research Scientist in Marine Ecology, CSIRO Britta Denise Hardesty, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Environment, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The trade war is likely to lead to more energy-intensive goods produced in the US, and dampen international investment in renewable energy. Rakesh Gupta, Associate Professor of Accounting & Finance, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As Australia confronts biodiversity loss, this research underscores the importance of listening to those who know Country best. Hayley Geyle, Ecologist, Charles Darwin University Cathy Robinson, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Christine Schlesinger, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, Charles Darwin University Helen Wilson, Lead Ranger, North Tanami Rangers, Indigenous Knowledge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many native plants are missing from habitats where they should thrive – even in wilder areas. Why? Human actions such as logging, poaching and setting fires. Cornelia Sattler, Research Fellow in Ecology, Macquarie University Julian Schrader, Lecturer in Plant Ecology, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Three experts consider what’s required to protect and conserve Australia’s natural wonders, from fighting invaders to stopping habitat loss and saving species. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University John Woinarski, Professor of Conservation Biology, Charles Darwin University Martine Maron, Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

To date, projections of how climate change will affect global GDP have been massively underestimated. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Huge volumes of rain have made parts of western Queensland an inland sea, threatening livestock. Soon, this water will trigger an explosion of life in Lake Eyre. Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Supercritical geothermal is worth exploring and drilling might soon be technically feasible. But its value will be limited if wind and solar energy costs continue to fall. David Dempsey, Associate Professor in Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most of Australia’s plants rely on a hidden underground network of fungi for water and minerals. They could be in trouble – but we don’t have the data to know Adam Frew, Lecturer in Mycorrhizal Ecology, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Both major parties agree Australia must reach net-zero emissions. That’s why winding back the safeguard mechanism would be reckless policy. Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law, Taxation and Climate Change, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Peter Dutton says co-hosting the 2026 UN climate summit is ‘madness’. But Australia would be mad to miss out on the benefits, including investment in renewables. Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Brisbane 2032 was supposed to be the first ‘climate-positive’ Olympic Games. But a quiet change to the host contract puts the commitment in doubt. Marcus Foth, Professor of Urban Informatics, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ants outnumber humans by an almost unimaginable margin. There’s probably one near you right now. Tanya Latty, Associate Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A gas reservation scheme could help to ease supply concerns in Australia, but expanding gas production is a folly. Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The 2022 floods triggered shifts in the Coorong’s microbiome—similar to our gut bacteria on new diets—revealing why freshwater flows are vital to wetland health. Christopher Keneally, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Microbiology, University of Adelaide Justin Brookes, Director, Water Research Centre, University of Adelaide Matt Gibbs, Senior Research Scientist in Hydrology, CSIRO Sophie Leterme, Professor of Biology, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

➡️ View the full interactive version of this article here. Ruby Ekkel, PhD student in Australian History, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the federal election looms, Labor is running out of time to show it cares about Australia’s precious natural environment. Timothy Neal, Senior lecturer in Economics / Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After shelving plans to reform Australia’s nature laws, the prime minister wants to walk back existing protections with new legislation introduced this week. Phillipa C. McCormack, Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Protecting 30% of Australian lands sounds good – but what matters much more is whether we’re protecting dwindling habitat for endangered species. James Watson, Professor in Conservation Science, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A marine heatwave has hit Ningaloo Reef hard – and the northern Great Barrier Reef is now bleaching too. Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow in Marine Biology, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.