The Conversation

The latest IPCC report makes it clear we can no longer stop the seas from rising, but we can still control how much and how fast sea levels change. Nick Golledge, Professor of Glaciology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia may warm by 4℃ or more this century, the IPCC has found. As these IPCC authors explain, there is no going back from some changes in the climate system. Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Roshanka Ranasinghe, Professor of Climate Change impacts and Coastal Risk Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

IPCC authors go beyond the headlines to explain how 1.5℃ warming is measured – and why there’s still reason to hope, and act, if Earth exceeds that limit. Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO Malte Meinshausen, A/Prof., School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Zebedee Nicholls, PhD Researcher at the Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its long-awaited report. From accelerating emissions to intensifying disasters to rising sea levels, its authors lay out the new findings. Pep Canadell, Chief research scientist, Climate Science Centre, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; and Executive Director, Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Joelle Gergis, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, Australian National University Malte Meinshausen, A/Prof., School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne Mark Hemer, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Michael Grose, Climate projections scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

An article in the eminent US magazine Science has triggered debate over whether scientists should use climate models. Here’s what you should know about climate models ahead of today’s IPCC report. Nerilie Abram, Chief Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Deputy Director for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, Australian National University Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, The University of Melbourne Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, UNSW Christian Jakob, Professor in Atmospheric Science, Monash University Julie Arblaster, Chief Investigator, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes; Chief Investigator, ARC Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future; Professor, Monash University Lisa Alexander, Chief Investigator ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and Professor Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, ARC Future Fellow, UNSW Shayne McGregor, Associate professor, Monash University Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

234 scientists from 66 countries reviewed over 14,000 research papers. It was gruelling and it was worth it: the report is the most important global assessment of climate change science yet. David Karoly, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research surveyed more than 5,000 Australians about their concerns. Its findings suggest an epidemic of mental health related disorders is on the horizon. Rhonda Garad, Senior Lecturer and Research Fellow in Knowledge Translation, Monash University Joanne Enticott, Senior Research Fellow, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Monash University Rebecca Patrick, Director, Sustainable Health Network, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For biodiversity offsets to work, landholders need to be on board, but their diverse perspectives remain poorly understood. Roel Plant, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney Laure-Elise Ruoso, Senior Research Consultant, University of Technology Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Australian wine industry has already been forced to adapt to the effects of climate change. It must reduce its carbon footprint – including emissions generated by wine tourists. Ya-Yen Sun, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The male anatomy of tuatara, the last representatives of an ancient lineage, is unique among reptiles. They lack a penis, which has made sperm collection a major challenge – until now. Sarah Lamar, PhD Researcher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Dr Diane Ormsby, Senior Lecturer, Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jennifer Moore, Associate Professor of Biology and Natural Resources, Grand Valley State University Nicola Jane Nelson, Professor of Conservation Biology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Susan N. Keall, Senior Technical Officer - Conservation Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

After $22,000 and four different electricians, Heather’s rooftop solar system is still not working. Her story illustrates the risks of having no support in the switch to clean energy at home. Hugo Temby, Doctoral Researcher, Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, Australian National University Hedda Ransan-Cooper, Research Fellow, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

As a tree scientist who works with urban trees, I can assure you some large, old trees are well worth leaving alone, even you find them annoying sometimes. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

They can’t fly through the air but they can fly underwater. Belinda Cannell, Research fellow, Research Associate, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Without urgent action, Australia will continue to lose billions of dollars every year on invasive species. Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Models Theme Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University Andrew Hoskins, Research scientist CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change models predict tuna will leave the waters of Pacific Island nations, meaning they will lose a crucial revenue source. Katherine Seto, Research Fellow, University of Wollongong Johann Bell, Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of Wollongong Quentin Hanich, Associate Professor, University of Wollongong Simon Nicol, Adjunct professor, University of Canberra Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It’s typically rare to see a dead frog. Yet, we’ve received a flurry of emails from people coming across them in this truly unusual, and tragic, mass death event. Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, UNSW, Australian Museum Karrie Rose, Australian Registry of Wildlife Health - Taronga Conservation Society Australia, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New ABARES research examines the climate change challenge facing Australian farmers Neal Hughes, Senior Economist, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

But with new commitments getting made by governments all over the world, we hope to see this progress improve soon. Thomas Newsome, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney Christopher Wolf, Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University William Ripple, Distinguished Professor and Director, Trophic Cascades Program, Oregon State University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research reviewed more than 200 studies, and found the science underpinning artificial refuges — think nest boxes and artificial burrows — must be improved. Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Dale Nimmo, Associate Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Mitchell Cowan, PhD Candidate, Charles Sturt University Tim Doherty, ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Eight of the ten top-selling passenger vehicles in New Zealand are now utes or SUVs. With carbon emissions reduction an urgent priority, that’s not a sustainable trend. Kirsty Wild, Senior Research Fellow, Public Health, University of Auckland Alistair Woodward, Professor, School of Population Health, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.