Performance results: Antarctic
Performance criterion: Strengthen Australia's leadership in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, by conducting world-leading science, promoting environmental best practice, and developing economic, educational and collaborative opportunities
Measure | Measure progress against the 20 Year Action Plan. |
|---|---|
Source | Portfolio Budget Statements 2020–21, page 42; Corporate plan 2020–21, page 43. |
Result | Achieved. |
Overall, the intent of the plan is being met. Most actions for the first 5 years were met or are progressing well.
In June 2021 we reviewed our progress in delivering against the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan, which was released in 2016. The review found the plan remains fit for purpose in articulating Australia’s Antarctic interests and the activity needed to deliver on these interests.
A supplement will elaborate priorities for the next 5 years (to 2026) and the following 10 years (2026 to 2036). We will review the plan in 2026, at the 10‑year mark.
Measure | Number of institutions collaborating in the Australian Antarctic Program (target: average of at least 100 over previous 5 years). |
|---|---|
Source | Corporate plan 2020–21, page 43. |
Result | Achieved. |
During the year 125 international collaborators from 87 international institutions participated in the Australian Antarctic Program. This amounts to an average of 110 international institution collaborations per year over 5 years (Figure 10).
Measure | Number of scientific publications published in peer-reviewed journals (target: average of at least 100 over previous 5 years). |
|---|---|
Source | Corporate plan 2020–21, page 43. |
Result | Substantially achieved. |
There were 75 peer-reviewed (category 1) publications lodged with the Australian Antarctic Division’s publications database in 2020–21. The average is 99 per year over the past 5 years (Figure 11).
Snapshot 8 Building capability – ice core science | |
We are developing a traverse capability and establishing a station inland from the Antarctic coast. These are central to:
Ice core science provides a record of past climate changes that is essential to understanding how the climate operates. On a global scale, ice cores show the pivotal role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the climate system. They reveal, in detail, how human emissions have driven atmospheric CO2 far above natural levels seen for 800,000 years. Ice cores are also used to explore regional Australian climate including the variability and drivers of droughts and floods. Through the Million Year Ice Core Project, Australia is leading a major effort to recover the oldest possible continuous ice core record, extending back potentially 1.5 million years. This endeavour is recognised as a major international challenge in climate science. It requires many cores to achieve maximum age and verify results, and several nations are proceeding towards drilling. This work will answer central questions about the long-term global role of CO2 and will give a stronger basis for predicting long-term impacts of human emissions while improving climate models and our understanding of present climate change. The project will involve 4 to 5 years of drilling. Supporting traverses will depart Casey in November each year, reaching the station in about 14 days. Return trips will be made in early February. The inland station is designed to withstand temperatures as low as −85°C. |
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https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-agriculture-water-and-environment/reporting-year/2020-21-16