Climate risk evolution from the loon pond

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by Chris Becker

Hallelujah. The new minister for science is actually a minister for science!

The newly returned Turnbull Government is giving climate risk management another chance by reviving climate research from the beleaguered CSIRO, which faced ridiculous – bordering on criminal – cuts to its budget in the Abbott and post Abbott/Turnbott days.

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Mr Hunt, the former environment minister, told Fairfax Media he has instructed CSIRO’s executives and board to “put the focus back on climate science”, adding: “This is not an optional component, it’s critical”.

The new strategy, to be devised over the next three months, includes 15 new climate science jobs and research investment worth $37 million over 10 years.

“I’ve issued a ministerial directive … that we will make climate science a core activity, that we will strengthen and build capacity,” Mr Hunt said.

The 15 jobs would create a long-term platform for climate analysis and forecasting.

“This is emphasising the importance of long-term climate science as a bedrock function of the CSIRO … this is setting the direction for CSIRO for the coming two decades,” Mr Hunt said.

A good start from Mr Hunt, but to adequately manage the risk of adverse climate change, the Turnbull government needs to take a lot more action, including an integrated approach at the ministerial and strategic level.

This includes devolving the loons on the far right, breaking up the coal power and gas oligopolies, and listening more to the Chief Scientist and other experts in the field, while significantly increasing funding to scientific and research institutions that hold the keys to unlocking future prosperity.

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