The Conversation

Here’s some good environmental news – local governments and local actions have slashed the plastic on our beaches. Incentives, awareness and access are the key. Britta Denise Hardesty, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere, CSIRO Chris Wilcox, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Joanna Vince, Senior lecturer, University of Tasmania Kathryn Willis, Marine Socioecologist, University of Tasmania Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The environmental movement is now tightly woven into communities across Australia and its demands are clear. Politicians ignore it at their peril. Robyn Gulliver, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia’s Traditional Owners have survived climate shifts before. Bringing traditional ecological knowledge in contact with western climate scientists could help First Nations survive this one. Karin Gerhardt, PhD student, James Cook University Jon C. Day, PSM, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Larissa Hale, Yuku Baja Muliku Traditional Owner Scott F. Heron, Associate Professor in Physics, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation would profoundly alter the anatomy of the world’s oceans. New research explores the consequences. Matthew England, Scientia Professor and Deputy Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), UNSW Sydney Andréa S. Taschetto, Associate Professor, UNSW Sydney Bryam Orihuela-Pinto, PhD Candidate, UNSW Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

For the first time, we calculated Australia’s share of planetary environmental boundaries and found we’ve shot past three already. Romy Zyngier, Senior Research Manager, Climateworks Centre Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Can one department adequately tackle climate change, energy, the environment and water? It’s unlikely. Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

When Melbourne had to isolate during COVID lockdowns, Greg Moore and his family discovered the pleasure of a very fine fungi-spotting season. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We calculate that this project will add about 41 megatonnes per year to Australia’s national emissions from around 2030. Bill Hare, Adjunct Professor, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electricity is an essential service. Acting quickly is crucial to avoid households falling into hardship, and businesses closing their doors. Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University Joel Gilmore, Associate Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Our coal-fired generators are failing, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made the gas that fires the generators that are replacing them expensive, and it’s suddenly got cold. Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia exports most of its coal and gas, and prices have skyrocketed. We could be facing a winter of pain for gas users. Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Nationals have long promoted coal for regional development and politics. But new leader David Littleproud could seize the moment and refocus the regional party. Geoff Cockfield, Honorary Professor in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

We cannot allow climate change mitigation and adaptation to become another colonial process of dispossession and disempowerment. Bhiamie Williamson, Research Associate & PhD Candidate, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

These temperatures are well below average, even for the middle of winter. Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The rise of teals and Greens challenges Labor to take more ambitious climate action, but room to move is constrained by pre-election commitments. John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Island states are often dependent on expensive imported fossil fuels for their power. Ocean thermal energy conversion plants could provide constant power – if technical issues can be overcome. Rosalind Archer, Professor, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Want to check your canine friend isn’t suffering when an Antarctic blast hits? Start with their ears and feet. Melissa Starling, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rotting seaweed has plagued the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, US and West African coasts for a decade. So we’ve developed a new approach to turn what’s now rubbish into green electricity and fertiliser. Saeid Baroutian, Associate Professor, University of Auckland Dr. Terrell Thompson, Life Sciences Coordinator - Export Barbados, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Environmentalists are worried the shift to green energy means damage from more mines. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Anita Parbhakar-Fox, Principal Research Fellow/ Group Leader- MIWATCH, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new study of dairying in Canterbury shows previous estimates vastly underestimate the impact of intensive farming. A 12-fold reduction in cow numbers could be needed to meet safe water standards. Mike Joy, Senior Researcher; Institute for Governance and Policy Studies, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.