Australian scientists are calling for a dedicated national agency to guide the country’s response to climate change. 

The proposal tops a list of 14 recommendations in the Decadal Plan for Australian Earth System Science 2024–2033 (PDF), released by the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).  

The recommended Australian Institute for Earth System Science would centralise and coordinate research efforts, bridging critical gaps in understanding Australia’s unique climate challenges. 

Without this unified approach, the report warns, Australia risks building its climate policies on outdated foundations, leaving the nation ill-prepared for natural disasters, water security issues, and the transition to net-zero emissions.  

“We have excellent individual researchers, but without coordination, we are not leveraging their expertise to address nationally significant questions,” said Professor Andy Pitman, Chair of the AAS National Committee for Earth System Science.

“A unifying agency is needed to fill the gaps in our understanding of climate impacts and change.”

The decadal plan provides a strategic roadmap for addressing Australia’s climate challenges. 

It calls for investments in cutting-edge tools like artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, a national strategy for managing climate data, and targeted research into questions such as where Australia is most vulnerable to extreme weather shifts and how to make freshwater systems more resilient.  

Professor Pitman pointed to international examples, noting that Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have already established permanent climate science institutes. 

“We are uniquely positioned to lead southern hemisphere research, thanks to our talented scientists, connection to the Pacific, and existing investments in essential capabilities,” he said.  

The plan describes Australia’s Earth system science efforts as fragmented and often focused on short-term results. 

Establishing a national institute, it argues, would enable the long-term strategies needed to provide robust climate intelligence. 

Among the recommended actions are mentorship programs for early-career scientists, funding for process-based studies, and initiatives to integrate university courses with national research priorities.  

“This is an opportunity to ensure our response to emerging climate risks is based on solid scientific evidence,” Professor Pitman added. 

“We can build a comprehensive understanding of our atmosphere, oceans, and land systems to tackle these challenges, but only with the ambition, organisation, and leadership to match.”  

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