The Conversation

Conditional commitments are promises to raise emissions reduction efforts, depending on what others do. It could be a big incentive for Australia. Katie Steele, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

There is no doubt we need to stop emitting fossil carbon. But if we fixate on replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and don’t also reduce consumption and energy waste, we risk failure. Michael (Mike) Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Seabirds journey vast distances across the Earth’s seascapes to find food and to breed. This means their biology, particularly their breeding success, can reveal what's happening in our oceans. David Schoeman, Professor of Global-Change Ecology, University of the Sunshine Coast Brian Allan Hoover, Postdoctoral Fellow, Chapman University William Sydeman, Adjunct associate, University of California San Diego Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The court described climate change as 'the greatest inter-generational injustice ever inflicted by one generation of humans upon the next'. Laura Schuijers, Research Fellow in Environmental Law, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The arguments in favour of radical emissions reduction action, including the personal financial risks, grow more compelling by the day. Liam Phelan, Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle Jacquie Svenson, Clinical Teacher/Solicitor, University of Newcastle Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electric cars are being touted as the best way to reduce emissions from transport. But a climate policy that relies on individuals paying for new technology runs the risk of aggravating inequities. Alistair Woodward, Professor, School of Population Health, University of Auckland Kirsty Wild, Senior Research Fellow, Public Health, University of Auckland Rhys Jones, Senior Lecturer in Māori Health, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Saving our threatened species shouldn't be seen as a cost, but rather a very savvy investment to ensure the support systems sustaining life on Earth remain intact. Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Ayesha Tulloch, DECRA Research Fellow, University of Sydney Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some Australian states have committed to 100% renewable energy targets, or even 200% renewable energy targets. But this doesn’t mean their electricity is, or will be, emissions free. James Ha, Associate, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These hefty dinosaur birds stand as tall as humans, enough to dissuade most from getting too close. But how would they fare against each other in a fight? A wildlife expert places her bet. Julia Ryeland, PhD Candidate, Western Sydney University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

None of Australia's highest-emitting energy firms are fully or even closely aligned with global climate goals. Just one goes even partway, and five appeared to be taking no action at all. Anna Malos, Australia - Country Lead, ClimateWorks Australia Coral Bravo, Senior Analyst, ClimateWorks Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The opportunity won’t last forever. Countries that move first will gain an advantage in new industries, technologies and export markets. Those that wait may never catch up. Christian Downie, Associate professor, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New findings suggest the loss of fertility at high temperatures is a major threat to the survival of some species. Belinda van Heerwaarden, Future Fellow, The University of Melbourne Ary Hoffmann, Professor, School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New research found lots of incentives to chuck out working solar panels and replace them with new ones. This may be creating huge amounts of unnecessary waste. Deepika Mathur, Research Fellow, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University Imran Muhammad, Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Massey University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Radioactive pollution left over from British nuclear tests in South Australia may steadily be leaching into the environment. Barbara Etschmann, Research officer, Monash University Joel Brugger, Professor of Synchrotron Geosciences, Monash University Vanessa Wong, Associate Professor, Monash University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The NSW government has secured an extremely toxic bait to try to end the mouse plague. But there are safer alternatives. Robert Davis, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife Ecology, Edith Cowan University Bill Bateman, Associate professor, Curtin University Damian Lettoof, PhD Candidate, Curtin University Maggie J. Watson, Lecturer in Ornithology, Ecology, Conservation and Parasitology, Charles Sturt University Michael Lohr, Adjunct Lecturer, Edith Cowan University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

They overlook a vast body of evidence that crown fire – the most extreme type of fire behaviour in which tree canopies burn - is more likely in logged native forests. Philip Zylstra, Adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin University, Honorary Fellow at University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Grant Wardell-Johnson, Associate Professor, Environmental Biology, Curtin University James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Michelle Ward, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Government-owned firms are often branded as uncompetitive, stuck in the past and unable to truly innovate. But they're sometimes better suited than private firms to drive new, clean technologies. Arjuna Dibley, Visiting Researcher, Climate and Energy College, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A global energy authority created a roadmap for the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, Australia committed $600 million for a major new gas plant. Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Vested interests have lobbied against climate policy worldwide, but that's only one reason for the slow political response. While most people want climate action, they rank other issues as more urgent. Sam Crawley, Researcher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Paraquat's potentially lethal effects on humans are well known. But our research has found it also causes serious environmental damage. Nedeljka Rosic, Senior Lecturer, Southern Cross University Joanne Bradbury, Senior Lecturer, Evidence Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University Sandra Grace, Professor, Southern Cross University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.