WCRP laments changes to Australian body

Recent news from Canberra - that Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) intends “substantial reductions in headcount” targeted at “Oceans & Atmosphere, Land & Water” (and two other units) - sent shock waves into the international climate research community.

The numbers listed - 350 reductions over two years - compared to the known sizes of those groups portend an end to CSIRO’s climate programmes. These cuts will sever vital linkages with Australian colleagues and to essential Southern Hemisphere data sources, linkages that connect Australia to the UK, the USA, New Zealand, Japan, China and beyond. Australia will find itself isolated from the community of nations and researchers devoting serious attention to climate change.

Read the World Climate Research Programme report - “Recent news from Canberra.”