Climate change is rapidly becoming the defining challenge for humanity in the 21st century. Dealing with climate change demands new types of knowledge – every bit as rigorous as traditional academic knowledge but more integrated and connected, and more closely linked to practitioners searching for solutions to the climate change challenge.

The Australian National University (ANU) is in an exceptionally strong position to generate these new types of knowledge. The University’s strength in climate change research is its breadth – from fundamental climate science to economics, governance and law – and the quality and depth of its expertise.

The Institute’s vision is to build and support a cohesive, interactive community of researchers and teachers at ANU working on climate change.

Our mission is to contribute to climate change solutions through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to research and teaching, drawing on the wealth of expertise across the University’s seven Colleges, and to connect our work to governments, the private sector and civil society.

In keeping with the University’s charter, the Institute coordinates and maintains a strong policy interface between ANU researchers and the Australian Government on climate change issues.

We collaborate nationally through the Universities Climate Consortium and with colleagues from other universities, CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. We are connected to the international climate change community through the International Alliance of Research Universities, the international global change research programs, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Will Steffen
Executive Director