Avoid Sacrificing Nature to Truly Achieve Net Zero - New Paper Published!

New publication for the Centre for Conservation Science! “Avoid Sacrificing Nature to Truly Achieve Net Zero” was published in Conservation Letters on 23 April 2026. In it, we discuss recent changes in environmental laws and how the proposal to fast-track renewable energy projects threatens biodiversity.  The current climate and biodiversity crises are interconnected, and to efficiently reach net zero targets, we need to work toward nature-positive goals at the same time. In our paper, we propose five key principles to achieve these goals: (1) plan early and strategically; (2) adhere to mitigation hierarchy; (3) design for biodiversity and monitor adaptively; (4) engage communities and custodians; and (5) align finance and policy with ecological performance.

In September 2025, proposed reforms to the EPBC Act sparked many discussions and concerns within the CCS. The intertwined fate of the climate and biodiversity crises and the need to address these together rather than in opposition were central to our discussions. We decided to address this issue in a publication under the guidance of Dr Brooke Williams.

As a PhD student in the centre, having the opportunity to lead such an important paper in this context was both a valuable learning experience and an exciting opportunity. Working with researchers across the CCS allowed us to bring together diverse perspectives and expertise. Working with Brooke’s support and alongside all contributing researchers was incredibly rewarding, and I am truly grateful to have led this paper with such a fantastic team. The wide range of expertise within the centre made this collaborative work even more enriching! We hope this work will help shape policy that supports integrated solutions to achieve both nature-positive and net zero goals.

To read our paper: https://doi.org/10.1111/con4.70046