David Salt

Canberra

Managing Editor at Global Water Forum

Science writer / Canberra; Edits Dbytes & Sustainability Bites; Managing Editor, Global Water Forum. Good governance is the key to good outcomes.

Featured in: Favicon

medium.com Favicon

nature.com Favicon

theconversation.com Favicon

science.org Favicon

minnpost.com Favicon

australasianscience.com.au Favicon

globalwaterforum.org Favicon

nuclear-news.net Favicon

barnesandnoble.com Favicon

cell.com + 2 more

Articles

Dbytes #675 (25 June 2025)

4 days ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making“The global conversation on climate change is no longer just about carbon—it is about credibility. Efforts to delay action on climate are increasingly waged through the information environment: through distorted messages, emotionally charged appeals, and highly targeted persuasion.
Change is hard, it’s also remorseless and effects everyone including the government

5 days ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

We want change, but our governments keep doing the same thing. In many cases governments exert stronger control to ensure things stay the same. The irony here is that, over time, the more our leaders attempt to hold things the same, the more things change and slip out of their control. That’s the nature of complex systems.
Dbytes #674 (18 June 2025)

1 week ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making“Contemporary conservative distrust of science is not really about science. It is collateral damage, a spillover effect of distrust in government,”Naomi Oreskes & Erik Conway, From Anti-Government to Anti-Science: Why Conservatives Have Turned Against Science-~<>~-In this issue of Dbytes1. How We Can Restore Coral Reefs2. Accessibility to Biosphere Reserves for people with disabilities3.
Dbytes #673 (11 June 2025)

2 weeks ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making“For many Australians, it’s not just what evidence and information is presented about climate change. It’s also how it’s said, who says it, and why it’s being said.”Kirkland et al, What would change your mind about climate change? We asked 5,000 Australians – here’s what they told us-~<>~-In this issue of Dbytes1. Exploring new frontiers in citizen participation in the policy cycle2.
Dbytes #672 (4 June 2025)

3 weeks ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making“Climate change was treated as a future externality, while energy policy remained a present-tense strategy of supply and control.”Art Berman [see item 4]-~<>~-In this issue of Dbytes1. Most of Australia’s conservation efforts ignore climate risks – here are 3 fixes2. Changing things for sustainability: How come we get increments when we need giant leaps? 3.
Changing things for sustainability: How come we get increments when we need giant leaps?

3 weeks ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

In the face of an increasingly uncertain future there are growing calls for change across society. But our elected officials, despite talking big at election time, only give us increments of nothing when it comes to delivery. A desire for changeAustralia has long been known as the land of drought and flooding rains, and its people like to think they are a tough and resilient mob who can handle whatever nature throws at them.
Quo Vadis Indus Water Treaty?

1 month ago | globalwaterforum.org | David Salt

Asit K. Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada (University of Glasgow, UK)Following a terrorist attack in disputed territories between India and Pakistan, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, one of the world’s most long running and important transboundary water agreements. Established 65 years ago in 1960, the Treaty outlines India’s and Pakistan’s obligations with respect to the use of the Indus River System’s waters.
Dbytes #671 (28 May 2025)

1 month ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making“Last year, an international group of researchers assessed carbon credits covering almost one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. They found less than 16% constituted real emission reductions.”Andrew Macintosh, As Australia’s carbon offset industry grapples with integrity concerns, how can companies genuinely tackle climate change? -~<>~-In this issue of Dbytes1.
Dbytes #670 (21 May 2025)

1 month ago | sustainabilitybites.com | David Salt

Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making“Trust alone will not solve the climate crisis, but it plays a crucial role in shaping how societies respond to scientific guidance.”Omid Ghasemi & Ben Newell, Climate scientists are trusted globally, just not as much as other scientists – here’s why-~<>~-In this issue of Dbytes1. Conservation in troubled times2. It’s a hard job being environment minister.
It’s a hard job being environment minister. Here’s an insider’s view of the key challenges facing Murray Watt

1 month ago | sustainabilitybites.com | Peter Burnett |David Salt

Peter Burnett, Australian National UniversityAustralia’s new environment minister, Murray Watt, is reported to be a fixer. That’s good, because there’s a lot to fix. Being environment minister is a hard gig. It often requires difficult choices between environmental and economic priorities. In cabinet, the minister is often up against a phalanx of ministers with economic portfolios and overriding political imperatives such as jobs and growth.