The Conversation

As part of its target to cut emissions, New Zealand aims for a 20% reduction in driving by 2035, mainly through better urban planning and travel options. Why doesn’t the plan mention intercity rail? Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University Paul Callister, Senior Associate Institute of Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The rest of the nation should follow the ACT’s lead. Incentives to boost the transition to electric vehicles are one of the best ways to tackle Australia’s fastest-growing source of emissions. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We can now monitor coastal changes across thousands of beaches over the last 40 years, from Australia, New Zealand and Japan, to Chile, Peru, Mexico and California. Here’s what our new tool uncovered. Kilian Vos, Research Associate, UNSW Sydney Mitchell Harley, Scientia Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The mine was not refused on climate change grounds. So without legal reform, other fossil fuel projects may still go ahead. Justine Bell-James, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Even as renewables boom like never before, our reliance on fossil fuels remains stubbornly high. One problem? The rebound effect Hao Tan, Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If decision makers don’t have up-to-date information about urban water use and demand, any policies they design are unlikely to deliver for communities or the environment. Julia Talbot-Jones, Senior lecturer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Thomas Benison, Research Analyst, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The people of the Hunter have a clear picture of the future they want. But to unlock the region’s future opportunities, we must first clean up the costly legacy of its coal-mining past. Kimberley Crofts, Doctoral Student, School of Design, University of Technology Sydney Liam Phelan, Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If there’s an unprecedented heatwave outside, do you turn up the aircon and pretend unwelcome change isn’t happening? If so, you’re not alone Hannah Della Bosca, PhD Candidate and Research Assistant at Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As we modernise Australia’s power grid, we should look to superconducting cables to save energy, cut emissions and future-proof the system Ian Mackinnon, Professor and Director, Centre for Clean Energy Technologies and Practices, Queensland University of Technology Richard Taylor, Principal research fellow Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In one finding, fire authorities chose to save a few farm sheds over 5,000 hectares of national park. Clearly, our fire management needs a reset. Libby Rumpff, Senior Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne John Woinarski, Professor (conservation biology), Charles Darwin University Sarah Legge, Professor, Australian National University Stephen van Leeuwen, Indigenous Chair of Biodiversity & Environmental Science, Curtin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Your super is likely exposed to major nature-based risks. How big a risk? We don’t know - because to date, banks and super funds haven’t looked into it. But that’s likely to change Madeline Combe, Doctoral student, University of Technology Sydney Megan C Evans, Senior Lecturer and ARC DECRA Fellow, UNSW Sydney Nathaniel Pelle, Honorary Associate, Sydney Environment Institute, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Solar panels can provide places for animals to rest, shelter and breed – potentially benefitting both the land and farmers. Eric Nordberg, Senior Lecturer (Applied Ecology and Landscape Management), University of New England Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Building too close to cliffs and slopes, weak soils, lack of vegetation and increased rainfall all played a part in the massive storm damage to Auckland. The city needs to change the way it uses land. Martin Brook, Associate Professor of Applied Geology, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When species naturally hybridise, the influx of genes can reduce their risk of extinction as climate change shrinks their habitats. Luciano Beheregaray, Matthew Flinders Professor of Biodiversity Genomics, Flinders University Chris Brauer, Postdoctoral Fellow Molecular Ecology Lab, Flinders University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Should the capsule not be found immediately, we can’t just write it off as lost. A long term system of monitoring is needed to protect humans and the environment. Madison Williams-Hoffman, PhD Candidate in Environmental Radioactivity, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Mountaineer and scientist Will Steffen said climbing was similar to science: “That’s the buzz you get in science when you solve a big problem and suddenly see how it all fits together” John Finnigan, Leader, Complex Systems Science, CSIRO Pep Canadell, Chief Research Scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Steven J Lade, Resilience researcher at Australian National University, Stockholm University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our research looked at data from the government’s annual baking competition. Upon close analysis, we find a dangerous lack of diversity and biases towards cute, cuddly mammals. Eliza Middleton, Biodiversity Management Officer, University of Sydney Caitlyn Forster, Associate Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Dieter Hochuli, Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Culling water buffalo is expensive. What if land managers could earn carbon credits for controlling the numbers of these methane-belching animals? Hugh Davies, Research Associate, Charles Darwin University Brett Murphy, Professor, Charles Darwin University Clément Duvert, Senior Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University Georgina Neave, PhD candidate, Charles Darwin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Proponents of mining in space often point to the potential benefits for Earth and its people. But this research casts doubt on many of them. Juliana Segura-Salazar, Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Kathryn Moore, Senior Lecturer in Critical and Green Technology Metals, University of Exeter Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Levels of trace metals inside can be higher than the sources of contamination outside. It underscores the need for households to take care to prevent those contaminants being brought indoors. Mark Patrick Taylor, Victoria's Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Carlos Ibañez del Rivero, PhD candidate, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Kara Fry, Adjunct Fellow, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.