Contributing to climate change solutions
Here in Canberra, 2020 started in a way that I and so many others will never forget – in a haze of thick, orange smoke caused by the fires burning across much of the country. Unfortunately, climate change has intensified three of the key factors that lead to extreme fire weather, namely dry fuel, high temperatures and dry air. We have good reason to be concerned about further climate changes.
In response, many Climate Change Institute (CCI) members have collaborated to directly address these threats, including via the award-winning Bushfire Impact Working Group and the ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, which is working on early detection and extinguishing of bushfires.
Whilst 2020 has been defined globally by the COVID pandemic, it is now also in equal place with 2016 as the warmest year on record. This is in spite of the La Niña climate pattern that tends to low global temperatures. La Niña has also brought much needed rain to many areas of Australia, providing respite from the drought conditions and boosting agricultural production.
Despite 2020 being the equal hottest year on record, I’m feeling more optimistic about our collective future due to recent announcements from four of our major trading partners (China, US, Japan and South Korea) that they are aiming for net zero emissions by 2050 (or in China’s case 2060) joining existing key trading partners such as the EU and NZ.
The CCI brings together cutting-edge climate research – from climate science and its effects on our environment to societal, economic, political, legal and technological impacts and responses.
Here is a small snapshot of highlights which demonstrate the breadth of climate change research by CCI members in 2020
Concrete contributes about eight percent of the world’s carbon footprint – around 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide – but research into a new type of concrete...
Carbon pricing has a long, conflicted history in Australia.
We know that heat kills; accurately measuring these deaths will help us assess the impacts of climate change »
Australia is well known for its temperature extremes, with scorching hot summers and, in some areas, icy winters.
When the boat finally passes into the One Tree Island lagoon, you breathe a sigh of relief. This tiny coral cay is where you will spend the next ten days.
New international research has found a worrying change in the Indian Ocean’s surface temperatures that puts southeast Australia on course for increasingly hot...