Science Weekly
Weight of the world revisited: the climate scientists who copped it
Jan 3, 2024
Three Australian climate scientists, Lesley Hughes, Graeme Pearman, and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, talk about the professional and personal toll of their climate change predictions. They discuss the axing of Australia's Climate Commission, pushback from government and industry, personal attacks and death threats they faced, skepticism towards climate science, the importance of being scientist advocates, and the responsibility to find solutions for climate change.
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Quick takeaways
- The axing of Australia's Climate Commission hindered the public's education on climate science and carbon emissions.
- Climate scientists faced personal attacks and death threats, but remained committed to communicating the scientific facts and advocating for evidence-based decision making.
Deep dives
The Climate Commission is established to inform the Australian public about climate change
In the midst of Australia's climate wars, the Climate Commission is established by Julia Gillard's Labour government to educate the Australian public about climate change. Comprised of scientists and experts, including Leslie Hughes and Tim Flannery, the commission's role is to explain climate science and the implications of carbon pricing. They conduct community meetings to engage with people and answer their questions, particularly addressing the difference between natural climate variability and climate trends. Despite some pushback, the town hall meetings receive generally positive receptions, fostering genuine inquiry and expanding the understanding of climate change in different communities.
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