By Anders Lorenzen

In the second of our ‘Conversations with Experts’ interview series, we facilitated a discussion between Peter Hannam, Environment Editor at the Sydney Morning Herald, and Prof. Steven Sherwood, Director of the Climate Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.

Expert insights on the cuts to climate science in Australia

Topics included Australia‘s recent funding cuts to climate science work, the recent Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching and how this will all factor into the Australian election in July 2016.

Our 2016 discussion with Peter Hannam, Environment Editor at the Sydney Morning Herald, and Prof. Steven Sherwood, Director of the Climate Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, about the cuts to Australian climate science.

Peter Hannam: An assault on science

During the course of the 15 mins discussion (watch the full interview above), Hannam described the Australian government’s latest cuts to climate science as ‘an assault.

Peter Sherwood: Where is the international outcry

Sherwood responded by calling the climate science cuts ‘really scary’.

Great Barrier Reef bleaching event

The cuts come in the wake of the recent devastating Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching event, which Sherwood expressed surprise that there had not been more international outcry about it.

Political leadership on climate is absent

Reflecting on how these issues will affect the Australian election next month, Hannam pointed out that neither of the two parties has done much to block the development of new coal mines.

Coal development will add billions of tonnes CO2 to the atmosphere

He added that coal development will be even more damaging to the Reef as it will add billions of tons of CO2 to the atmosphere.

Anders Lorenzen is the founding Editor of A greener life, a greener world.