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After decades of inaction, world leaders seem to be getting serious about climate change. Last week, US President Joe Biden held a virtual summit with 40 countries that saw many upping their climate commitments. Australia, however, steadfastly beat the same worn-out drum, and spruiked technology solutions rather than better climate targets.
Despite Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lack of ambition (and the steady stream of bad news about the environment), we actually have reasons to be optimistic about our future under climate change. And it’s not just me saying that. Our top story today is from an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) lead author and a climate communication researcher, who argue there are now more reasons for optimism on climate change than we’ve seen
for decades.
Climate science is more detailed than ever, support for climate action is swelling, and policy makers are finally starting to take both the science and public will for action seriously. Not to mention business and finance are generally on board, too.
As Gabi Mocatta and Rebecca Harris write, we can thank student strikers for “setting off the first domino” that helped get us where we are today.
But world leaders must make good on their promises. This decade will be our last chance to elude catastrophic temperature rise and the disasters it will bring.
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Anthea Batsakis
Deputy Editor: Environment + Energy
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Gabi Mocatta, University of Tasmania; Rebecca Harris, University of Tasmania
For the first time, political will and global public opinion seem focused on profound climate action. This decade will be a decisive one.
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Richard Wainwright/AAP Image
Hassan Vally, La Trobe University
Another city, another snap lockdown, and another round of asking whether it will successfully prevent disaster this time, or whether the coronavirus has already spread undetected through the community.
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AAP/Lukas Coch
Denis Muller, The University of Melbourne
Media regulation in Australia has always been weak, fragmented and lacking in public visibility. It has also never had a government bold enough to do anything about it.
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Helen Dickinson, UNSW; Anne Kavanagh, The University of Melbourne
During the height of the pandemic, people with disability felt they had been forgotten and were not a priority. In the vaccine rollout, the government is repeating its past mistakes.
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Tjapukai Shaw, the Air Force’s Indigenous liaison officer, on an outreach mission to Indigenous communities in a remote part of NSW in 2019.
DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAP
James Blackwell, UNSW; Kate Clayton, La Trobe University
These issues matter to our strategic allies, particularly in the Pacific. Dutton's climate change scepticism and attitudes toward First Nations people could have a damaging effect.
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EmiliaUngur/Shutterstock
Roger Wilkins, The University of Melbourne
With the end of JobKeeper come changes that will force more people to search for work.
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Amanda Davies, The University of Western Australia; Kirsten Holmes, Curtin University; Leonie Lockstone-Binney, Griffith University
At one time more than one in three Australians did volunteer work. Only one in five are now doing so, but there are some positive signs as volunteering organisations adapt to changing times.
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Education
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Elizabeth Little, Deakin University
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and the film Rear Window are great examples of how parents and teachers can use movies and books to start discussions with young people about consent.
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Politics + Society
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Peter J. Dean, The University of Western Australia
The difficult defence portfolio has had a swift turnover of ministers in recent decades. But with great challenges come great opportunities for Peter Dutton.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics.
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Pradeep Taneja, The University of Melbourne; Azad Singh Bali, Australian National University
Prime Minister Narendra Modi prioritised vaccine exports over the domestic roll-out and encouraged large crowds at political rallies. Now, India is paying the consequences.
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Rowan Light, University of Auckland
As trans-Tasman borders re-open and in the wake of the Christchurch attacks, Anzac Day gains new meaning and presents new challenges – just as it has always done.
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Arts + Culture
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Kathomi Gatwiri, Southern Cross University
Hailed as an Australian hero, Rosemary Kariuki works to connect refugee and migrant women through their strengths and joys — rather than treating them like 'problems' to be fixed.
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Liz Giuffre, University of Technology Sydney
Where are they now? It's half a century since Young Talent Times aired on Australian television. It changed its young stars and audiences.
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Erin Harrington, University of Canterbury
Long past Margaret Atwood's novel, the new season is increasingly violent – and the audience will find themselves increasingly numb.
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Environment + Energy
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Lesley Hughes, Macquarie University; Will Steffen, Australian National University
There was palpable relief as Biden brought the US back to the table on global climate action, warning "we have to get this done". Depressingly, Morrison showed little sign of hearing the message.
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Navid Constantinou, Australian National University; Adele Morrison, Australian National University; Andrew Kiss, Australian National University; Andy Hogg, Australian National University; Josué Martínez Moreno, Australian National University; Matthew England, UNSW
Our team discovered clear changes in the distribution and strength of ocean eddies. These changes have never been detected before.
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Health + Medicine
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Tim Tenbensel, University of Auckland
With great expectations come great challenges, and one of the biggest facing the new Health NZ agency will be rebuilding a collaborative ethos in the sector.
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Rik Thompson, Queensland University of Technology; Thomas Lloyd, Queensland University of Technology
As Australian women over 50 prepare to have their COVID shot, they need to factor in timing of their mammogram. Here's why.
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Hassan Vally, La Trobe University
The response to the crisis in India speaks to the complexity of public health decision-making.
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Verna Smith, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
By borrowing from the British NHS system of working closely with general practitioners, this radical shake-up of New Zealand's health system can greatly improve primary healthcare.
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Georgia McWhinney, Macquarie University
Anzac soldiers wrote poetry about body lice, shared treatment tips and experimented with new ways of bathing.
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Robert Norman; Ben W. Mol, Monash University
Our new study shows a widely used fertility treatment, known as ICSI, is no better than standard IVF for most people. Yet, it's being routinely offered around the world.
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Business + Economy
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Michael Walker, Macquarie University
Employees at Amazon knew they were under constant surveillance and that the company had a history of sacking those who were pro-union.
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Featured jobs
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— South Wharf VIC, Australia
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Featured Events & Courses
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Parkes Place, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2600, Australia — National Library of Australia
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Level 21, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia — University of Technology Sydney
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8 week online course by BehaviourWorks Australia, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University
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online webinar, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia — The University of Western Australia
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