The Centre leads research in climate science and importantly, the application of this science to help industry and communities better manage climate variability and risk. By integrating climate science into agricultural, economic, water resource, environmental and social models, CACS has developed practical solutions and tools for improved decision making. These tools can help better manage agricultural production and environmental risks, mitigate economic loss and manage risk and return in commodity, insurance and equity markets. CACS has two focussed research themes: climate science, water resources, and decision systems; and Climate, agricultural, grazing and associated trading systems.

Website

https://www.unisq.edu.au/research/institutes-centres/ilse/centre-for-applied-climate-sciences

Organisation type

• University research centre
• International research centre

Number of research staff

20-100 research staff

Address

T Block Annex, 521–535 West Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350

Strengths and capabilities

• Climate science and risk management analysis
• Seasonal climate forecasts
• Climate science, agricultural, grazing and associated trading systems
• Agricultural risk management
• Understanding El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) global impacts
• Integrating climate, agriculture and water into agricultural models.

Lead researchers

• Professor Emeritus Roger Stone—Chair, World Meteorlogical Organisaion UN Commission for Agriculture.
• Assoc Professor Shahbaz Mushtaq—UN Technical Commission on Climatology – Expert Team on Climate Risk Management.

Achievements of the centre

• Developing the World's first integrated seasonal climate forecasting and agricultural (eg coffee) production modelling system. This also involves the physical understanding, numerical simulation and forecasts of severe events.
• Developing the World's first integrated seasonal climate forecasting and coffee production modelling system; Improving the physical understanding, numerical simulation and forecasts of severe storm events over Australian cities.
• Professor Emeritus Roger Stone elected to Chair of the UN global program on weather, climate, water and environmental systems and also elected to Chair of the World Meteorological Organisation on agricultural Meteorology.
• Professor Mushtaq leading major programs on economics, insurance, and climate risk management.
• Associate Professor David Cobon leading major Australian programs on the Northern Australian Climate Program (NACP).

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Environment and nature
• Food and agriculture