The Conversation

To keep up with climate-related disasters, we need transformational solutions. These range from ‘sponge cities’ and floating houses to putting out bushfires minutes after they start. Roslyn Prinsley, Head, Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As the costs of disasters climb, working out who will finance climate adaptation has become increasingly urgent for developing nations. Johanna Nalau, Research Fellow, Climate Adaptation, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The report synthesises the latest science about Australia’s climate – and paints a worrying picture. Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research shows rewilding with invertebrates – insects, worms, spiders and the like – can go a long way in bringing our degraded landscapes back to life. Peter Contos, PhD Candidate, La Trobe University Heloise Gibb, Professor, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Lyrebirds learn their songs from other lyrebirds. But when they’re raised in captivity, they learn our songs and sounds. Alex Maisey, Postdoctoral research fellow, Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s important that citizen science projects engage volunteers from across society, including young people. A new Australian initiative is doing just that. Judy Friedlander, Adjunct Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney Thomas Mesaglio, PhD candidate, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bioarchitecture draws on design principles from nature to construct buildings that work in ways that help tackle climate change and reverse environmental damage. Aysu Kuru, Lecturer in Architecture and Construction, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It can be hard to grasp the changes climate change is bringing. To see it in your own life, look at the shifting seasons. Edward Doddridge, Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

What steps is the state government taking to bring Brisbane closer to being a smart city while managing rapid growth? And what differences can city residents expect to see for themselves? Davina Jackson, Visiting Scholar, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s most important public financial institution, the Reserve Bank, runs on rules from the 1950s. For a 21st century economy, managing climate change needs to be added to its 3 key objectives. Toby Phillips, Public Policy Researcher, University of Oxford Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ageing brick apartment buildings of two to three storeys are being redeveloped in many suburbs. Typically, they are knocked down to be replaced by much bigger developments. But here’s an alternative. Guillermo Fernández-Abascal, Academic Fellow in Architectural Practice, University of Sydney Urtzi Grau, Senior Lecturer, Director of The Master of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The big news of COP27 was agreement to establish a fund for ‘loss and damage’. But many lamented the summit’s overall outcome, saying it falls short of a sufficient response to the climate crisis. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

About a third of Victoria’s land-based plants, animals and ecological communities face extinction. We look at what the political parties have promised ahead of the state election. Sarah Bekessy, Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning, Leader, Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Research Group (ICON Science), RMIT University Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The embryo is frozen in liquid nitrogen until a suitable female donkey is found to grow it into a baby. Andres Gambini, Senior Lecturer, School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We’ll need clear and well updated information to gauge flood risk as climate change intensifies floods. Mark Gibbs, Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Major new policies are still needed to accelerate the road transport transition. There’s good news, however: Australian motorists have been promised more choice soon. Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When it comes to loss and damage, COP27 negotiations seem likely to reach a dead end. But as we enter the final days of the summit, anything can happen. Jacqueline Peel, Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most single-use plastics produced worldwide since the 1970s have ended up in landfills and the natural environment. Recycling is not a silver bullet. Anya Phelan, Lecturer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Bats host many viruses dangerous to humans. But it’s only when their habitats are destroyed that we’re at risk. Alison Peel, Senior Research Fellow in Wildlife Disease Ecology, Griffith University Peggy Eby, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Sydney Raina Plowright, Professor, Cornell University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The rain comes as coal demand surges and pressure mounts for the industry to wind back production to help tackle climate change. Lurion De Mello, Senior Lecturer in Finance, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.