Australia isn’t in shape to answer key questions about the environment and climate change. Fortunately the Academy of Science is here to help, with a decadal plan for earth system science.
The Academy explains how a “Team Australia” approach will deliver.
The five things we need to know:
- How to use reach systems to support net zero and “positive environmental outcomes”
- Where are risks of “abrupt” changes in climate and weather
- How to ensure freshwater for humans, agriculture and nature
- What exposure do urban areas have to climate extremes and “air quality interactions”
- Where will weather support or undermine net zero
The problems in finding out:
“Our Earth system models omit crucial components, not by choice, but due to lack of investment coupled with weak national coordination and no mechanisms to align investment with strategic challenges to answer critical Earth system science questions.”
Plus, there has been a “major shift” to short-term research.
How to fix things:
Establish an Australian Institute for Earth System Science, with an “integrated, standardised and curated observational data system” and national management of observations and research. Plus funding and support for research proposals aligned with the national strategy.
There’s an academy award from the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering which calls the plan, “a roadmap towards a thriving earth system science sector in Australia.” Perhaps not least because “the recommendations align with ATSE’s call for leading modelling and prediction techniques as part of our climate priorities.”
