The Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO play an important role in monitoring, analysing and communicating observed changes in Australia’s climate. Observations and climate modelling paint a consistent picture of ongoing, long term climate change interacting with underlying natural variability. These changes affect many Australians, particularly the changes associated with increases in the frequency or intensity of heat events, fire weather and drought.

Australia will need to plan for and adapt to climate change.

November 2020 marks the release of the State of the Climate report. This sixth, biennial report draws on the latest monitoring, science and projection information to describe variability and changes in Australia’s climate. This report is a synthesis of the science informing our understanding of climate in Australia and includes new information about Australia’s climate of the past, present and future. The science underpinning this report will help inform a range of economic, environmental and social decision-making and local vulnerability assessments, by government, industry and communities.

Join Dr Lynette Bettio to unpack the latest State of the Climate report, the changes we’ve seen and the implications for the future, informing the important decisions that will need to be made to help our country to persist and thrive in the years to come.

A joint briefing with the Victorian Departments of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).

About the Speaker

Dr Lynette Bettio leads the Long-range forecasting team at the Bureau of Meteorology in the Operational Climate Services Section, which is responsible for the preparation and analysis of Australia’s instrumental climate record, issuing outlooks of likely climate conditions for the coming seasons. Lynette examines and communicates on changes to Australia’s climate including long-term trends in rainfall and temperature and the interaction with extreme events. The communication of seasonal forecasts, to help in part to manage this variability, is another passion. Another focus is drought across Australia and how the Bureau can best communicate and inform around this.

Lynette had an upbringing in north-eastern Victoria, and moved to Melbourne to study science at the University of Melbourne. An interest in weather and climate, gained in part from growing up in an agricultural area, led to a major in climate sciences. She continued this interest with a PhD in climate science from the University of Melbourne. She is a member of the World Meteorological Organization expert team on drought.

A part of the RSV’s 2020 contribution to the Inspiring Victoria program. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, this meeting will be conducted online as a Zoom webinar, with the presentations pre-filmed and our speakers answering questions from RSV members and colleagues from DELWP and DJPR in the webinar (invitations to register are sent to members and colleagues via email and are also listed on the Society’s membership page). The webinar will also be livestreamed via the Society’s Facebook site – please tune in at the allotted time to follow the proceedings and contribute your questions and comments.