Ten-year strategic plan for Australian climate predictions

Background

Australia has considerable national capabilities in climate science and modelling. However, these are not aligned with a long-term strategy to enhance national predictions of climate change. There are gaps in data, process-based understanding, integrating existing understanding into modelling, and maintaining an ambitious program of solutions-focused modelling. 

Robust predictions cannot be made without models that are driven by their governing parts and fundamentally underpinned by data. Identifying gaps and omissions and detailing immediate challenges will be an integral focus of the strategic plan. 

In 2023/24, the National Committee for Earth System Science will produce a report that:   

1. Assesses the current capabilities in the area. 
2. Identifies critical gaps in capabilities for the delivery of enhanced global and regional predictions using Earth system and climate system models.
3. Identifies international trends and initiatives in the area over the period 2026–2035.  
4. Provides strategies, recommendations and implementation priorities and resources required to ensure robust global and regional predictions using Earth system and climate system models. 

Terms of reference

Click here to read the terms of reference. 

National Committee for Earth System Science          

The members of the National Committee guiding the project are:

• Professor Andy Pitman FAA, Chair
• Professor Julie Arblaster
• Dr Pep Canadell
• Dr John Finnigan FAA
• Dr Will Howard
• Dr Chloe Mackallah 
• Dr Felicity McCormack
• Dr Negin Nazarian
• Adjunct Associate Professor Christoph Rudiger
• Dr Claire Vincent
• Dr Jan Zika

Contact information

For more information regarding this project, please contact Isaac Kozlovskis, National Committees for Science Officer.