Australia’s scientific leadership in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean
Antarctic and Southern Ocean science is essential for understanding and responding to climate change and safeguarding Australia’s national interests.
Australia’s scientific leadership in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean has never been more critical than in this era of rapid progression towards abrupt Earth system changes and increased geopolitical tension in the Antarctic Treaty System.
An aligned and integrated community of multidisciplinary researchers across universities and government is critical to accelerate knowledge of Antarctica in the face of the emerging climate crisis.
The Australian Academy of Science calls for:
- an ambitious, strategically prioritised and explicit Antarctic and Southern Ocean research agenda supported by a consolidated whole-of-government commitment
- a long-term, sustainable funding model to maintain Australian scientific research and leadership in the Antarctic governance system
- an uplift in scientific investment, along with improved coordination of funding and logistics, to maintain Australian leadership in the Antarctic governance system.
Antarctic research must be directed at five critical issues, identified through extensive strategic consultation of the Australian science community:
- Climate change. Improved projections of Antarctic and Southern Ocean changes, and their influence on Australia in a global, Earth system context.
- Ice sheets and sea level vulnerability. Enhanced capability to project the behaviour of the Antarctic ice sheet and its contribution to sea level rise, especially in our region and the broader Indo-Pacific.
- Environmental protection. Comprehensive understanding of the current and future dynamics of Antarctic environments, including biodiversity, to support Australian leadership of their protection through the Antarctic Treaty System.
- Digital, data-driven innovation. An interdisciplinary digital platform and analytical capabilities to strengthen Australian science and geopolitical leadership.
- Monitoring capability. An enduring Antarctic monitoring program that enables Australia to track ecosystems and environmental changes in our area of responsibility and to demonstrate that through our scientific activities, Antarctica is valued, protected and understood.