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When Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment was released earlier this week, it highlighted the devastating consequences climate change is having across multiple realms, from health, to the economy, the natural environment, and many more. We’re already experiencing these effects, but they’re likely to get much worse in the decades to come as the climate warms.
One area the assessment flagged as being at very high risk from the effects of climate change is housing. As Ang Li explains, climate change affects our homes in several ways, and this can affect our health. Extreme weather events such as floods and bushfires can cause structural damage to our homes, exposing us to mould and water-borne toxins. These same climate-related events drive up insurance premiums, perpetuating housing insecurity, which can harm mental health.
This week we’ve been exploring the ways housing affects our health, including how common problems of poor housing such as cold, mould and damp contribute to respiratory, heart and other health problems. We’ve also looked at the mental health toll of housing stress.
Next week we’ll have a piece on the impacts on wellbeing when young people are forced to stay at home with their parents longer due to cost-of-living pressures. If you want to share your own story of how housing has affected your health, please email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.
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Phoebe Roth
Health Editor
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Ang Li, The University of Melbourne
Our homes can and must protect us against some of the risks of climate change.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Albanese put the best face on the situation after his plan to sign a treaty with Papua New Guinea fell through in Port Moresby.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The stoush comes as the prime minister prepares for his long-sought meeting with the president.
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Samuel Cornell, UNSW Sydney; Brooke Nickel, University of Sydney; Sean Docking, Monash University
One big risk is overdiagnosis: the more you test, the more you’ll find. Much of this may be clinically irrelevant, meaning unnecessary follow-ups, costs and anxiety.
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William Partlett, The University of Melbourne
When politicians act like managers rather than representatives, accountability, transparency and scrutiny suffer.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The energy expert says Australia’s only on track to cut its emissions by around 50% by 2035 – ‘so we’re going to have to step up the pace’ in the next decade.
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Daryl Sparkes, University of Southern Queensland
Good looks, a magical smile and natural charm all became synonymous with Robert Redford, who has died aged 89.
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Jenny Cooney, Monash University
Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival provided support for independent filmmakers and transformed Hollywood in the process.
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Debjani Ganguly, Australian Catholic University
Roy delivers a portrait of her terrifying yet courageous mother, and charts her own embrace of danger as an activist-writer.
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Politics + Society
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Myra Williamson, Auckland University of Technology
If New Zealand expressly recognises Palestine at the UN next week, it will be a significant – but justified – departure from long-standing foreign policy.
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Christopher Rudge, University of Sydney
New guidelines for minor cosmetic procedures have just kicked in, but laws remain inconsistent across Australia. This may not be such a bad thing.
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Health + Medicine
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Melvin Barrientos Marzan, The University of Melbourne; Lisa Hui, The University of Melbourne; Suzanne Mavoa, The University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
New research shows more fast-food outlets and few healthy food options is strongly linked to indicators of poorer health for mother and baby.
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Yaqoot Fatima, University of the Sunshine Coast; Alexandra Metse, University of the Sunshine Coast; Daniel Sullivan, Griffith University
As we transition from wakefulness to sleep, the nervous system winds down and muscles relax. Sometimes, the brain misinterprets what’s happening.
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Business + Economy
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Paul Harrison, Deakin University
We are living in a world where our unease, vigilance, and even our guilt is being used for corporate profit.
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Environment + Energy
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Elianor Gerrard, University of Technology Sydney; Kimberley Crofts, Deakin University
Getting to net zero relies on the bush. Rapid change can create tensions – but media framing and vested interests have inflamed the situation.
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Science + Technology
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Sarah Wilson, University of Technology Sydney; Rachael Wakefield-Rann, University of Technology Sydney
Whether titanium dioxide is carcinogenic has become a battle in the courts. But it’s a complex scientific question with no firm answer.
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Chris Kirkland, Curtin University; Phil Sutton, University of Lincoln
The findings suggest Earth’s geological story was partly written in the stars – specifically, in the spiral arms of our home galaxy.
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Brendan Zietsch, The University of Queensland
A study of more than 400,000 people found 1% had never had sex – which was linked to a range of genetic, environmental and other factors.
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Arts + Culture
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Chris Thompson, Australian Catholic University
Some 25 years after she directed Looking for Alibrandi, Kate Woods’ new family film will make your heart leap with joy.
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Justin Mallia, Monash University
Bella Ciao is a traditional Italian folk song known for its association with the anti-fascist resistance in Italy during the second world war.
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Fear, power and glamour
“English language media have one commonality – the dominance of Murdoch-style news from the US. Murdoch gained global prominence when he steamrolled the British tabloids with his trademark of 'fear and titillation'; worry on page 1 and a topless girl on page 3. Today Murdoch focusses on 'fear, power and glamour'. The recent shooting of a celebrity is a case in point. I fail to understand why this one case is sufficiently relevant to Australian audiences to warrant the voluminous print space.”
Dr Bruce Moon
Climate chaos
“I think we all agree climate change is causing chaos on our planet. What I don't understand is why politicians, media people and the like make out that once Australia reaches net zero, all will be well. In the scheme of things we don't really matter as far as climate change is concerned. Until China, Russia, US, India, Brazil bring down their emissions drastically, once again nothing will change. I do believe we all have a part to play, but I think this government's spending on all of this is just adding further to our already massive debt.”
Sandra Sheppard
Old school assessments
“Isn’t the answer to this matter simple? We should return to the assessments of past – written examinations, preferably on a provided device, with personal devices prohibited, plus supervised in-class work. For essays, collect your information and bring it to class, then in one hour write the essay. Close monitoring would be needed.”
Tony Eggleton, Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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Auckland University of Technology
Auckland, New Zealand
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