Hockey defends Australia on climate By Fergus Hunter Joe Hockey.
Former treasurer Joe Hockey, the newly minted ambassador to the United States, has taken the time to publicly defend Australia's climate change efforts after The New York Times published an editorial criticising changes at the CSIRO. 
Two weeks ago, the respected American newspaper argued the decision to shift focus from climate change research and monitoring to mitigation and adaption stunned the scientific community and undermined commitments made at the   November summit in Paris.
"Certainly there are good reasons for research institutes like CSIRO to co- operate with industry in the search for ways to adapt to a warming planet," the editorial said.
"But to do this at the expense of research and monitoring - undermining the search for commercially viable solutions that CSIRO proposes to join - makes nosense."
Now the former member for North Sydney, appointed to the prestigious diplomatic posting by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has penned a letter to the editor rejecting the claim that Australia is turning its back on climate change.
"Australia remains committed to climate science research and to increased global action to address climate change. CSIRO, Australia's leading science agency, is making a strong contribution to the growing body of international climate change knowledge," Mr Hockey wrote.
"Many of our world-leading universities and climate scientists receive government funding for their research.
"We are renowned in international climate change forums for contributing a uniquely southern hemisphere perspective."
He said the CSIRO "will continue to lead the way" and meet its international obligations, referring to the millions of dollars being spent on research initiatives.
The New York Times called on the government to suspend chief executive Larry Marshall's changes, which cut 350 positions in total and particularly affect the Oceans and Atmosphere division and the Land and Water division.
It said recording and understanding of current trends was essential to understanding the future of the environment and how to prepare for change.