100 Climate Conversations: Neville Nicholls

Australians have always prided themselves on their ability to adapt to extreme weather. But time is running out, warns climatologist Neville Nicholls. Starting his career at the Bureau of Meteorology in the 1970s, Nicholls has helped Australians understand El Niño weather oscillations, the emergence of global warming and the escalating dangers of extreme heat. In 2009, after the record-breaking heatwave that preceded the devastating Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Nicholls created an early-warning heat-wave signal that has saved countless lives over the past decade.

Hear Neville Nicholls in conversation with Nate Byrne, recorded live at Powerhouse Ultimo as part of 100 Climate Conversations. Free. Bookings essential.

100 Climate Conversations is an award-winning survey of visionary Australians who are accelerating the net zero carbon revolution. To find out more and subscribe to the podcast visit 100climateconversations.com

Prof Neville Nicholls has been studying the El Nino-Southern Oscillation effect, a cyclic weather pattern that causes droughts and flooding in Australia and elsewhere, for over 40 years. Now Emeritus Professor, based in the School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University, he continues to research how and why the climate is changing, as well as designing systems to improve our ability to forecast and cope with droughts, bushfires, heatwaves, and other climate events.

Nate Byrne is a meteorologist, oceanographer, science communicator and former navy officer, but is best known for his high-energy ABC News Breakfast weather broadcasts. From briefing senior military officers to hosting children’s science shows, Byrne understands the importance of climate-focused communications.