Hunt brings back climate research as a major function of CSIRO

Having a new federal government appears to have worked in favor of CSIRO whose climate scientists started to receive redundancy notices in June because of the cut in funding for the science agency. On Thursday, new Science Minister Greg Hunt made a turnaround from previous policy and revived the agency’s focus on climate research.

In ordering a return of focus on climate science, Hunt, the former environment minister, said, “This is not an optional component, it’s critical,” quotes Sydney Morning Herald. Instead of axing jobs as originally planned, CSIRO would add 15 new climate science jobs over the next three months and research investment valued at $37 million over a decade.

Hunt says he issued a directive to make climate science a core activity by strengthening and building capacity. The 15 new-hires would be tasked with creating long-term platform for climate analysis and forecasting.

The new minister adds that as the bedrock of CSIRO, climate science would set the direction for the agency for the next 20 years. Hunt says the new directive drew from his last role as environment minister.

When Malcolm Turnbull took over the reins of the Liberal Party from Tony Abbott, he assumed a government perceived as hostile to the sciences and with a right-wing bias that denies climate change. It resulted in announcements in February of planned cuts in CSIRO and planned axing of 275 climate scientists, reports News.com.au.

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Source: CSIRO