The Conversation

This week, Austalia began a climate pivot on its relationship with the region. Fossil fuels are out and exporting green energy and green manufacturing techniques are in. John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Sydney Hao Tan, Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Better enforcement of existing international laws would be a much faster way of addressing plastic pollution from fishing vessels than waiting for a new treaty to be adopted. Karen Scott, Professor in Law, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The simulation showed catching cane toads once a week involved 85% less cost and effort than other strategies, but was just as effective. Arman Pili, PhD candidate, Monash University David Chapple, Associate Professor in Evolutionary and Conservation Ecology, Monash University Reid Tingley, Lecturer, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Interestingly, we also found a major period of ice loss in Antarctica was followed by a period of gain, starting some 5,000 years ago. Richard Selwyn Jones, Research Fellow, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The new federal government wants to supercharge state renewable targets. But financial headwinds pose real challenges to the rapid rollout. Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Foot and mouth disease hasn’t been on our doorstep since the 1980s. Keeping it out of Australia is a new national priority. Michael Ward, Chair of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Most rich white countries, including Australia, refuse to accept the climate debt they owe to poorer countries and communities. Erin Fitz-Henry, Deputy Coordinator - Anthropology, Development Studies & Social Theory, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The minister will be forced to either confirm or revoke decisions made by her predecessor that 19 coal and gas projects aren’t likely to harm Australia’s protected species and places. Laura Schuijers, Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law and Lecturer in Law, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

While Australia worries about Chinese influence, Pacific nations are more worried about climate change. By boosting climate ambition, Australia could be the region’s security partner of choice. Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Greater gliders are fluffy, cat-sized possums with large ears. State governments have failed them at every turn, and continue to raze their habitat. Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Luke Emerson, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

I’ve seen whale entanglement in shark nets firsthand, when a humpback whale calf drowned in one a few years back. It was terrible. Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For many Māori, fisheries are the most significant assets. Any geographical shift in fish stocks will have major implications for their commercial seafood interests. Maui Hudson, Associate Professor, Director of Te Kotahi Research Institute, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A government review, now in train, is crucial in preparing Australia for the climate dangers ahead. But we must get it right. Robert Glasser, Honorary Professor, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These tiny fish with oversized hands crawl along the seafloor. They only live in two locations in the world, and they’re disappearing rapidly. John Turnbull, Postdoctoral Research Associate, UNSW Sydney Jemina Stuart-Smith, Research Fellow, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Nineteenth-century European settlement is often depicted as a triumphal ‘taming of nature’. But does that collective memory impede more honest appraisals of the environmental risks we face today? Olli Hellmann, Senior Lecturer in Political Science and International Relations, University of Waikato Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Governments have known about the flood risks in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley for more than two centuries. All have failed to protect the community. Jamie Pittock, Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research finds nature restoration only marginally lowers global warming. This pours cold water on the idea of using carbon offsets to solve the climate crisis. Kate Dooley, Research Fellow, Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne Zebedee Nicholls, PhD Researcher at the Climate & Energy College, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Spider crabs form huge underwater piles, some as tall as a person. These fascinating crustaceans are on a risky mission – to get bigger. Elodie Camprasse, Research fellow in spider crab ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

People feel more secure knowing there’s a levee nearby - but this can backfire, leading to more development on floodplains. Australia needs to tackle the incentives behind these risky developments. Brian Robert Cook, Associate professor, The University of Melbourne Tim Werner, ARC DECRA Fellow, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The new paper also found some mammals are suffering due to a lack of fire. Julianna Santos, PhD candidate, The University of Melbourne Holly Sitters, Senior Ecologist, The University of Melbourne Luke Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.