A leadership vacuum exists in Australia’s climate research ranks, with the country’s scientists calling for a national agency to oversee efforts.
Australian Academy of Science Fellow, Professor Andy Pitman, said without coordination across existing research programs Australia was “building our climate policies on crumbling foundations”.
Professor Pitman said scientists were calling for a national agency to be established which would coordinate the science required to inform Australia’s response to climate change.
“Australia will struggle to achieve net zero emissions, mitigate risks against natural disasters or ensure water security and agricultural success unless we update our approach to climate science research,” he said
“A leadership vacuum exists within Australia’s climate science research strategic plans.”
Professor Pitman said ambitious and strategic climate science research programs were scattered across several institutions, and none were tasked with coordinating the answers to critical questions about Australia’s unique climate.
“A unifying agency is needed to address the critical gaps in our understanding of Australia’s climate and the impacts of change, and to support and engage the excellent individual researchers we have.”
He said scientists have recommended establishing an Australian Institute for Earth System Science which prioritised long-term national oversight, strategy and implementation of climate science research.
“Our knowledge is incomplete, and we cannot address the gaps if we do not reignite our ambition to excel in Earth system science.”
Professor Pitman said many of Australia’s counterparts in the northern hemisphere, including Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, had permanent research-focused organisations that were ambitious and provided coordinated responses to critical questions for their nations over the long term.
“As a nation, we are uniquely positioned to lead the research required in the southern hemisphere because of our local talent, connection to the Pacific and our existing investment in the essential capabilities,” he said.
