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| Climate Commission (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Climate Commission (Australia) |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Dissolved | 2013 |
| Status | Advisory body |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Region served | Australia |
| Leader title | Commissioner |
| Leader name | Tim Flannery |
| Parent organization | Commonwealth of Australia |
Climate Commission (Australia) was an Australian statutory advisory body established in 2011 to provide independent expert information on climate change to the Australian public, Parliament and policy makers. It was chaired by Tim Flannery and included experts from institutions such as the Australian National University, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and the University of Melbourne. The commission operated during the administrations of Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd and was abolished under the Tony Abbott government in 2013, prompting the creation of the community-funded Climate Council.
The commission was created by the Australian Government in March 2011 under Prime Minister Julia Gillard as part of the government's response to international efforts such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Copenhagen Accord. Founding commissioners were drawn from prominent institutions including Museum Victoria, Monash University, and the University of Sydney, reflecting links to bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. The establishment followed domestic debates after the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference and the 2010 federal election, and aimed to synthesize evidence relevant to Australian policy debates such as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the Garnaut Climate Change Review.
Statutorily charged to provide independent advice, the commission's remit included preparing assessments of climate science, projecting emissions trajectories, and advising on adaptation and mitigation options in relation to instruments such as the Carbon Pricing Mechanism and international agreements like the Paris Agreement predecessor negotiations. Commissioners included academics, scientists and indigenous representatives affiliated with organizations like the Australian Academy of Science and the Lowy Institute. Secretariat functions were supported by staff from agencies including the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and linked to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics for modelling. The commission published reports, briefings and hosted public forums, operating with a model comparable to bodies such as the UK Committee on Climate Change.
Among its outputs, the commission released assessments on observed warming in Australia, projections for sea-level rise affecting locations like the Great Barrier Reef and the Torres Strait Islands, and analyses of policy options including emissions trading and renewable energy deployment referencing technologies such as solar thermal power and wind power. Major publications synthesized findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and national studies such as the Garnaut Review, and recommended actions on adaptation for sectors including agriculture in the Murray–Darling Basin and infrastructure in coastal cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. The commission also issued reports on extreme events linked to climate change, citing cases like the 2010–2011 Queensland floods and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, and advocated for enhanced resilience planning and emissions reduction targets consistent with commitments under international frameworks like the Kyoto Protocol and subsequent UNFCCC negotiations.
The commission undertook an extensive public engagement program, presenting in venues from the National Press Club (Canberra) to regional centres in Townsville and Hobart, and collaborated with media outlets including the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age. Commissioners participated in parliamentary inquiries and Senate committee hearings such as those conducted by the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, and delivered public lectures linked to universities and museums, for example at the Australian Museum and the National Library of Australia. Educational materials targeted schools and community groups, aligning with curricula from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and engaging civil society organisations including the Australian Conservation Foundation and GetUp!.
The commission's independence and funding were contested by political actors including members of the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia, who questioned its role during debates over the Carbon Tax and the Direct Action Plan. Critics cited perceived conflicts related to commissioners' prior advocacy and affiliations with institutions such as the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, while supporters noted the commission's scientific credentials tied to bodies like the CSIRO. Its abolition in 2013 by the incoming Abbott ministry provoked legal and political controversies, public protests organized by groups including 350.org and Climate Action Network Australia, and debates in the High Court of Australia-adjacent public discourse about the role of expert advisory bodies.
Following the abolition, former commissioners including Tim Flannery and Gregory Craven mobilized a crowdfunded initiative that established the Climate Council in 2013, transferring much of the commission's public-facing functions into a non-governmental organisation supported by donors and philanthropic partners such as the Myer Foundation and the Ian Potter Foundation. The Climate Council continued to publish reports, advise on policy matters involving entities such as the Australian Energy Market Operator and advocate in civic forums including state-level legislatures in Victoria and New South Wales. The legacy of the commission influenced subsequent Australian policy debates on renewable energy targets, emissions reduction pathways, and adaptation planning linked to national inquiries such as the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
Category:Defunct Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia