Understanding our Changing Climate

The Environment Group aims to support the development of production sectors while at the same time minimising current and potential adverse environmental impacts.

CSIRO Land and Water is researching ways to better manage Australia's land and water resources, and improve the quality of our natural and built environments.

Despite the economic effects of the global financial crisis (GFC), carbon dioxide emissions from human activities rose 2 per cent in 2008 to an all-time high of 1.3 tonnes of carbon per capita per year, according to a paper published today in Nature Geoscience.

A team of CSIRO, University of the Sunshine Coast, WWF and Sydney Coastal Councils Group researchers has been awarded a prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prize for advising Sydney councils about how they might adapt to climate change.

The 2009 Priestley Lecture will be delivered by Professor Lawrence Mysak at Aspendale on Tuesday, 13 October.

Find out about saving the world in this free lecture for high school science teachers and senior science students in New South Wales.

Regional Water research aims to develop tools, knowlege and strategies to assess the availability and use of water in our river systems and catchments.

CSIRO's science provides tools to predict environmental flows necessary for sustaining ecosystem function.

CSIRO’s prediction and reporting technologies can save the natural resource management arena millions of dollars.

See how a world-wide array of robotic floats is providing scientists with data about the ocean and helping them to understand the ocean’s role in climate, and to better forecast climate and ocean conditions. CSIRO is providing a valuable contribution to this project. (2:00)

On 13 October, Professor Lawrence Mysak presented the 2009 Priestley Lecture at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research in Aspendale, Victoria. Watch his presentation in the video (62:48) or download the PowerPoint slides (49 pages).

Dr Steve Rintoul is a Research Team Leader at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research. He is internationally recognised as a leading authority on the circulation of the Southern Ocean and how it affects global climate systems.

An interest in the environment and in maths led to a career in environmental statistics for Dr Bronwyn Harch. Now she gets to visit scenic waterways and help waterways' managers keep the water clean for everyone to enjoy.

CSIRO is conducting research to help Australia and the world respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by a changing climate. (32 pages)

A report detailing the results from a Perth workshop on public perspectives towards climate change and energy technologies. (78 pages)

Our understanding of climate change science has a significant influence on discussions and decisions about reducing net greenhouse gas emissions. Early knowledge of the likely scale and the speed of climate impacts shapes our adaptation plans.

An analysis of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Biosequestration Opportunities from Rural Land Use. This report estimates the amount of greenhouse gases that can be stored or mitigated by changes in rural land use in Queensland and more broadly, Australia.