Scientists are calling for the urgent establishment of a national agency responsible for coordinating the science required to transform 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.
A leadership vacuum exists within Australia's climate science research strategic plans.
Ambitious and strategic climate science research programs are scattered across several institutions, and none are tasked with coordinating the answers to critical questions about Australia's unique climate.
Australian Academy of Science Fellow and Chair of the Academy's National Committee for Earth System Science (NCESS), Professor Andy Pitman AO said that without coordination across existing research programs, we are building our climate policies on crumbling foundations.
"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."
Scientists have recommended this coordination capability be achieved by establishing an Australian Institute for Earth System Science which prioritises long-term national oversight, strategy and implementation of climate science research.
Establishing such an institute is the first of 14 recommendations made in A Decadal Plan for Australian Earth System Science 2024-2033, released today.
The plan, developed by NCESS under Professor Pitman's leadership, provides a roadmap of the scale and ambition required to leverage Earth system science in answering the questions climate change is demanding of our nation.
"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.
"How can our land and ocean be used to support net zero ambitions? Where in Australia is at risk of abrupt changes in weather and climate? Where is freshwater in Australia resilient to climate change? How do we manage the exposure of our cities to climate extremes?
"We can build a comprehensive understanding of our atmosphere, oceans and land to answer these questions, but to do so we need ambition, organisation and leadership."
Many of Australia's counterparts in the northern hemisphere, including Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, have permanent research-focused organisations that are ambitious and provide 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," Professor Pitman said.
"By implementing the recommendations in this plan, Australia can build the foundations for far more robust and actionable climate intelligence.
"This is an opportunity to ensure management of emerging climate risks in Australia, and across our region, are based on scientific evidence."
The Academy acknowledges the NCESS members who contributed to the production of the decadal plan, and thanks them for fostering the development of an active community of Earth system science researchers in Australia.
