Science cuts will leave Australians in the dark on climate impacts
The Climate Council
Thursday 21 May 2026
The Climate Council warns the loss of 92 climate science positions at the CSIRO announced today, May 21, will make it harder for Australians to understand and prepare for major changes in weather extremes like bushfire weather, flooding and sea level rise.
Climate Councillor Adjunct Professor Andrew Watkins said: “Australia is unique in its place on the planet, its vast surrounding oceans, its rivers and its soils, and so too is the weather and climate that shape them. CSIRO support for the global climate modelling focussed on Australia is critical for understanding our future climate risks and extremes. We need climate models built for our needs, which have been provided by CSIRO for decades.
As a climate scientist I’m extremely alarmed at any cuts to CSIRO’s modelling capability, right when we need it most. Australians have just endured a summer that broke heat and rainfall records in every State and Territory, while fires destroyed hundreds of Victorian homes. Now drought is starting to emerge.
The National Climate Risk Assessment highlighted 63 Nationally Significant Climate Risks which will impact every part of Australian life over the century. Now is hardly the time to reduce our ability to understand the extremes we will face today and into the future. CSIRO climate science and modelling have never been more vital to our national security. “
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: "Every time we cut resources for climate science we are flying blind into a future that is more volatile and dangerous.
"This is not the time to pull back investment in climate science, but to increase our capability so that we know what we're up against, and come up with solutions and responses to the gravest challenge we are facing."
"Our climate modellers are essential workers in the climate crisis. Cutting back on our understanding of climate risk right now is akin to slashing health research during a pandemic.”
ENDS
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