The Conversation

We'd lose coal exports but benefit from a lower Australian dollar. Philip Adams, Professor at the Centre of Policy Studie, Victoria University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The world, accustomed to Australia's shifty climate stance, is unlikely to fall for Morrison's diversion tactics at Biden's climate summit this week. Matt McDonald, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

New Zealanders pay the costs of poor environmental and infrastructural governance, but have little opportunity to influence policy in the first place. Here's how that could change. Nicolas Pirsoul, Policy Analyst and Research Assistant, University of Auckland Maria Armoudian, Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, University of Auckland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some flood dangers can be hard to spot initially – to planners, developers and home-buyers. Sometimes, the danger comes from underground. Ana Manero, Research Fellow, Australian National University Anneliese Sytsma, PhD Candidate, University of California, Berkeley Margaret Shanafield, Senior researcher, Hydrology/hydrogeology, Flinders University Sally Thompson, Associate professor, The University of Western Australia Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yellow crazy ants are one of the world's worst invasive species. And it turns out they have unique systems of reproduction that make life in the queendom more complicated than we realised. Pauline Lenancker, Research scientist, James Cook University Lori Lach, Associate Professor, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

During the European Middle Ages, parts of the world experienced warming similar to that between 1960 to 1990. But the rising temperatures we're observing now are global and exceed the past record. Frédérik Saltré, Research Fellow in Ecology for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Flinders University 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 Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Native deciduous trees are rare in Australia, which means many of the red, yellow and brown leaves we associate with autumn come from introduced species. Gregory Moore, Doctor of Botany, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

If a bill before the US Congress succeeds, it would further suppress global demand for kangaroo products and lead to more animal suffering, not less. George Wilson, Honorary Professor, Australian National University John Read, Associate Lecturer, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Invasive species have been invading foreign territories for centuries. By quantifying the mammoth economic impacts, we hope political leaders will start to take notice. 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 Boris Leroy, Maître de conférences en écologie et biogéographie, Muséum national d’histoire naturelle (MNHN) Camille Bernery, Doctorante en écologie des invasions, Université Paris-Saclay Christophe Diagne, Chercheur post-doctorant en écologie des invasions, Université Paris-Saclay Franck Courchamp, Directeur de recherche CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Rare-earth metals are currently mined or recovered via e-waste recycling — methods with drawbacks including high cost, environmental damage, and risks to human safety. This is where we come in. Cristina Pozo-Gonzalo, Senior Research Fellow, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Victoria's plan has flaws, but it's still likely to bring the feral horse problem under control, and will do a lot better than the very low benchmark set by NSW. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Australia must treble its emissions reduction targets and reach net-zero emissions by 2035. Without this and other radical global action, the chance to hold warming to well below 2℃ will pass us by. Will Steffen, Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Many flood-affected Sydneysiders live in what amounts to a bathtub. With the next flooding season on their doorstep, they can expect more frequent, devastating floods. Tom Hubble, Associate Professor, University of Sydney Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Scientists are starting to use genetic information from bacteria to measure the health of vast areas of the ocean. Eric Jorden Raes, Postdoctoral researcher Ocean Frontier Institute, Dalhousie University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Māori treasure kiwi feathers for weaving cloaks for high-ranking people. But the bird's first description by European scientists is quite recent, based on a specimen that arrived in London in 1812. Paul Scofield, Adjunct professor, University of Canterbury Vanesa De Pietri, Fellow, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Yes, some of this is normal seasonal transition. But at least a portion of it is due to a particularly vigorous cold front that swept across southeast Australia over the weekend. Sarah Scully, Senior Meteorologist, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

In flood-ravaged Dili, COVID-19 restrictions were abandoned as the disaster unfolded. But it means an already escalating pandemic situation may spiral out of control. Mark Quigley, Associate Professor of Earthquake Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew King, ARC DECRA fellow, The University of Melbourne Brendan Duffy, Fellow in Structural Geology and Tectonics, The University of Melbourne Claire Vincent, Lecturer in Atmospheric Science, The University of Melbourne Ian Rutherfurd, Professor in Geography, The University of Melbourne Januka Attanayake, Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Lisa Palmer, Associate Professor, School of Geography, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says the federal government has overlooked the national security threats of climate change. Cheryl Durrant, Adjunct Associate Professor, UNSW Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Climate change is likely to mean disasters such as Cyclone Seroja will become more intense, and be seen further south in Australia more often. Jonathan Nott, Professor of Physical Geography, James Cook University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Electricity emissions can be cut to net-zero while keeping the lights on and prices down. But achieving that quickly means keeping gas around, for now. James Ha, Associate, Grattan Institute Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.