Julia Gillard: Australia’s first ClimateWatcher
Earthwatch Australia has today launched our new ClimateWatch program with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard becoming Australia’s first ClimateWatch user.
ClimateWatch is a climate change monitoring program that will allow every Australian to be involved in collecting and recording data that will help shape the country’s scientific response to climate change.
Earthwatch Australia Executive Director, Richard Gilmore said; “Scientists have identified an urgent need for large-scale data gathering to assess how biological systems are responding to climate change.
"Citizen-science programs like ClimateWatch will significantly increase the amount of data available for scientists to apply to their research."
ClimateWatch was developed by Earthwatch Australia, with the support of the Bureau of Meteorology, Land and Water Australia, The University of Melbourne, corporate and government partners, and scientific collaborators.
The first project of its kind in the southern hemisphere, ClimateWatch will allow local community groups, individuals and businesses to get hands-on in the science of understanding climate change by simply observing nature from their own backyard, while out bushwalking or at school.
Earthwatch Australia’s Scientific Advisory Committee Chair, Professor Mark Burgman, explained the importance of ClimateWatch; "One of the key aims of ClimateWatch will be that in a hundred years, we will be able to look back on specific data sets, like that of magpies feeding which Ms Gillard has entered here today, and see what environmental changes have occurred over time."
"We [Earthwatch and Australia's scientific community] need the help of every Australian to start recording information on the indicator species identified by scientists, in their local environment. These recordings will be critical to our understanding of the impact of climate change on the Australian environment."
The launch event was hosted by ClimateWorks Australia where it was announced that ClimateWatch would receive support through the ClimateWorks Action Fund.
"Through the Action Fund, ClimateWorks will link key funders to projects delivering major behavioural and structural change and make lasting impacts on reducing emissions," said Professor John Thwaites, ClimateWorks Australia Chairman.
Photograph: Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard with Prof Mark Burgman, Earthwatch's Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee, helping her become the first ClimateWatcher.
Media Enquiries:
Kayla Larson
Earthwatch Australia
Phone: 03 9682 6828
Email: earth@earthwatch.org.au