The recent announcement of devastating cuts to the Australian CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere research program has alarmed the global climate research community. CSIRO’s decision to decimate a vibrant and world-leading research program that is tackling Australia’s toughest climate problems shows a lack of insight into the depth and significance of Australian contributions to global and regional climate research. For the last 79 years, this research has demonstrated how vulnerable Australia is, and will continue to be, to climate change. The capacity of Australia to assess future risks and plan for climate change adaptation crucially depends on maintaining and augmenting this research capability.
A media report outlining this decision is available at (and elsewhere):
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/climate-science-on-chopping-block-as-csiro-braces-for-shake-up/7139224https://theconversation.com/csiro-bosss-failed-logic-over-climate-science-could-waste-billions-in-taxes-54249A radio interview with CSIRO's John Church can be found at:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/'very-difficult'-for-australia-to-meet-promises/7142766The open letter can be viewed at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AdCOi52MxYPMRHNJFT72nith3fnKi9t-iayjoibF3Vw/edit?usp=sharingPlease send this page link onto colleagues and collaborators - we hope to show that the bulk of the international climate research community strongly condemns the proposed cuts to Australian climate research.
Many thanks for the phenomenal community response - a final version of this letter was sent to the Australian Government and the CSIRO board at 7pm Sydney, Australia time Thursday 11th February 2016.
We welcome the community to continue to complete this form, and hope this letter is the start of an extended and sustained conversation on the importance, role and value of climate science to the global community. It is a prompt (weekend) response to CSIRO’s decision and a first step that we hope initiates a broader and more sustained dialogue that reaches across climate science, stakeholders, policy and the global public.
