State of the Climate 2016 - from BOM and the CSIRO

The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO play an important role in monitoring, analysing and communicating observed changes in Australia's climate.

This fourth, biennial State of the Climate report draws on the latest monitoring, science and projection information to describe variability and changes in Australia's climate, and how it is likely to change in the future. Observations and climate modelling paint a consistent picture of ongoing, long-term climate change interacting with underlying natural variability.

These changes affect many Australians, particularly changes associated with increases in the frequency or intensity of heat events, fire weather and drought. Australia will need to plan for and adapt to some level of climate change. This report is a synthesis of the science informing our understanding of climate in Australia, and includes new information about Australia's climate of the past, present and future. The science underpinning this report will help inform a range of economic, environmental and social decision-making and local vulnerability assessments, by government, industry and communities.

Read the Bureau of Meteorology  report - “State of the Climate 2016.”

Is it about acting personally, or acting to change the laws?

S

ome argue that rather than act to reduce personal carbon dioxide emissions, we should be acting to change the laws bringing even greater reductions.

It is one of those “chicken and egg” or “cart before the horse” type discussions, but one that we critically need to think our way through if we are to at least equal to this unfolding climate challenge.

The New York Times discusses an aspect of that conversation in it story - “A Climate-Modeling Strategy That Won’t Hurt the Climate”.

The Times considers the equations around the creation of a super-computer that will allow us to accurately understand the evolving conditions of climate change.

It ponders that question as to whether or not it is worth spending some $20 billion a year to ultimately save the world community trillions of dollars.