CSIRO ordered to renew focus on climate science

Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Greg Hunt today demanded that CSIRO restore its focus on climate science, less than six months after the organisation announced a number of job cuts in the area.

There was immediate backlash when CSIRO Chief Executive Larry Marshall disclosed the job cuts in February, apparently as a result of a $110 million cut to the CSIRO’s budget in 2014. It was originally believed that up to 350 positions would be lost — mostly in climate change monitoring and modelling — with Marshall saying at the time that the agency’s focus would move to mitigation and adaptation.

There was, however, some reprieve when the organisation announced the establishment of a national climate research centre, to be staffed by 40 full-time employees, less than three months later.

Now, Hunt has ordered CSIRO to revive climate science as part of its central focus. Speaking on ABC’s AM this morning, he said climate science is an area that both he and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull — both former Environment Ministers — have “clear and strong views on”.

“It’s a decision that the Prime Minister and myself have taken,” Hunt said.

“It’s a new government and we’re laying out a direction that climate science matters — and that’s both the science relating to the long-term trend, the long-term influences, where the impacts are, as well as mitigation.

“And so climate science will be a bedrock function for research of the CSIRO, which is really one of the world’s great institutions.”

Hunt said the decision has been “embraced” by CSIRO, with the organisation set to create 15 new long-term jobs in climate analysis and forecasting — bringing its capacity up to 115 jobs from 100 currently. These jobs will be supported by $3.7 million in government funding per year — $37 million over the next 10 years.

“It’s also important to note that the CSIRO’s overall budget will increase over the next three years by approximately $100 million, and its overall staffing levels will increase by over 200, as opposed to where they were expected to be this year,” he added.

The president of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Andrew Holmes, said the news would be welcomed by the research community as an indication that climate science remains a priority for the Turnbull government. However, the general consensus seems to be that the cuts shouldn’t have occurred in the first place.

“The government’s failure to intervene from the outset has set back Australia’s climate science enterprise, including the loss of some world-class scientists from CSIRO,” said Professor Tim Flannery, speaking on behalf of the Climate Council.

“This is a very welcome step, but nothing less than the full restoration of Australia’s climate science capabilities will be an acceptable outcome from the perspective of the science community at home and abroad.

“In fact, to meet its Paris commitments, Australia is required to grow their climate science capacity.”

Greens MP Adam Bandt has made the claim that Hunt is “using a bandaid to cover a bleeding wound inflicted by the government”.

“Putting back 15 of the jobs cut under this government is a start, but if Greg Hunt were serious he’d reverse the funding cuts in full.”

The party’s deputy leader, Senator Larissa Waters, has gone one step further. Not only does she want the Prime Minister to take on his party’s climate deniers by publicly backing the climate science role of CSIRO, she is also calling for Marshall to be sacked.

“Climate science is essential to our efforts to avert catastrophic climate change and to adapt to existing climate impacts,” Waters said.

“Mr Marshall’s complete disrespect for climate science makes it clear that he needs to go and we’re calling for the board not to renew his tenure.”