Food security, ecosystems and natural resource management | Earth Systems and Climate Change Hub

The challenge

Australia’s primary industries provide quality food and resources that contribute to our health and wellbeing, and to our economy. Our unique and varied ecosystems have intrinsic value and provide essential ecosystem services.

In a changing climate primary industries and the environment are vulnerable to rising temperature, changes in rainfall, more frequent and severe extreme events, rising sea levels and temperatures, and ocean acidification.

How the ESCC Hub is meeting the challenge

Improving our ability to provide multi-year to multi-decadal climate information will provide primary producers, resource managers and ecosystem managers with information at the timescales needed for effective decision making and planning.

The following Hub activities are helping to meet this challenge.

Understanding changing climate cues for Northern Territory mango production

An assessment on the impact of warming on temperature cues for mango flowering is giving Northern Territory mango producers new information for planning for the future.
Understanding past, current and future climate variability and change

PROJECT 5.2: Understanding climate variability and change – past, present and future Australia has a variable climate which is affected+
Developing and delivering improved climate change projections for Australia

PROJECT 5.3: Regional climate change projections science and delivery To make informed decisions about managing current and future climate risks,+
Water resources under a changing climate

PROJECT 5.4: Water futures under climate change Water resource management in Australia will be affected by future changes in rainfall,+
Changing extreme weather hazards

PROJECT 5.5: Extreme weather hazards in a changing climate Changes in the intensity and frequency of extreme and hazardous weather+
Developing an Australian carbon budget

PROJECT 5.6: The carbon budget of continental Australia and possible future trajectories Tracking changes in global and Australian greenhouse gas+
Understanding ocean change

PROJECT 5.7: Tracking ocean change – ocean observations and models The ocean impacts Australia’s climate and the frequency and magnitude+
Applying Australia’s climate model

PROJECT 5.1: ACCESS evaluation and application Climate models are indispensable for understanding climate variability and the past and future changes+
Understanding climate change impacts on mangoes in the Northern Territory

CASE STUDY 5.1: Understanding the impact of climate change on the Northern Territory mango industry Mangoes are the Northern Territory’s+
International benchmarking of Australia’s climate model

We’ve updated Australia’s national climate model, the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS), so it can participate in CMIP6 and therefore be used by national and international climate researchers.
Understanding climate variability and extremes

We’ve analysed past climate variability and extremes to enhance our understanding of the underpinning climate drivers, and shed light on the extent to which these extreme events are influenced by human activities.
Decadal prediction and the predictability of marine heatwaves

We’ve made significant steps towards developing a decadal forecasting system and capability to fill the critical gap between seasonal climate predictions and multi-decadal climate projections. We’ve also improved understanding of marine heat wave trends, causes, the influence of human activities and the predictability of ocean temperature extremes over multi-year to decadal timescales.
Improving modelling of weather and climate extremes

We’ve improved ACCESS’s simulation of important climate processes in the Australasian region, focusing on rainfall and weather extremes, as well as climate variability and change.
Improving accessibility of regional climate projections

We’ve improved confidence in projections, particularly rainfall projections; run targeted workshops, presentations and training to better identify user needs and help stakeholders access climate change information; and produced more targeted projection products for stakeholders to use in decision-making.