Australia's national science agency, the CSIRO, has announced 92 job cuts from its Environment Research Unit, including climate modelling staff. The cuts are part of a broader plan to eliminate up to 350 full-time equivalent positions to address rising costs.
The agency confirmed that 11 of its 60 climate modellers and analysts have been told they will be made redundant. A CSIRO spokesperson stated the agency is making strategic research shifts to focus on areas where it can deliver the greatest national impact, exiting research where it lacks scale or where others are better placed.
Science and Technology Australia CEO Ryan Winn expressed concern that no other organisation is guaranteed to take over the global climate modelling work, noting Australia is the only southern hemisphere contributor. He warned this could leave Australia and Pacific neighbours more vulnerable to climate change impacts.
The cuts follow a $387.4 million federal funding boost for CSIRO over four years, but the agency confirmed the extra funding would not save the over 300 roles still to be cut as part of research portfolio changes.
