An Australian scientist awarded one of the world's most prestigious prizes in his field says politicians don't understand the urgency required to combat climate change.
University of NSW oceanographer John Church on Thursday became the first Australian to win the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the climate change category for his work on the impact of global warming on sea levels.
He shared the prize and EUR400,000 ($A645,000) prize money with French space geodesist Anny Cazenave and British ocean heat expert Johnathan Gregory.
Prof Church said the planet was "uncomfortably close" to crossing the threshold leading to many metres of sea level rise over coming centuries.
He said many politicians probably recognised the importance of curbing emissions to stop the sea level rising "but few recognise how urgent a response is required".
"Reducing emissions to achieve a temperature increase no higher than 1.5C is a good target - it is a difficult task but that is what we should be aiming for," he said in a statement.
His comments come as Australia's Bureau of Meteorology announced 2018 was 1.14C above the average for 1961 to 1990 making it the nation's third-warmest year on record.
Nine of the 10 warmest years on record in Australia have occurred since 2005.
The past four years have been the four hottest years globally since records began in the 19th century, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
