When you think of those who have transformed the climate action narrative in Australia, Tony Abbott might be the last person in mind. Yet, in 2013, when he dismantled the Climate Commission as one of his first acts as Prime Minister, he very intentionally left a void in expert climate advice.
For him, it was mission accomplished. But for myself and a group of prominent scientists, it was a galvanising moment. What followed was a week etched into my memory. Four days after the abolition we rose again to great a new organisation supported by thousands and thousands of Australians who believed clear, accurate science was vital to our democracy. In less than a week we raised over $1 million, the largest crowdfunding effort in Australian history at the time. It changed the course of Australian climate advocacy forever. To this day, we remain proudly independent and community-funded.
We launched the Climate Council with the firm conviction that Australians deserved a clear, independent voice on climate change. As I reflect on our journey over the last decade, I’m struck by the remarkable path we’ve travelled on our critical mission of accelerating climate action in this most critical time.
I am extraordinarily privileged to serve as the CEO of the Climate Council. From the outset, we didn’t just wait to ride the next wave of action. We formed the wave ourselves. I envisage us as the metaphorical pebble in a pond, whose ripples spread far and wide, creating an ever-expanding circle of influence and change. It is a role we take seriously.
I vividly recall the frustration we experienced when Tony Abbott dismissed the link between climate change and catastrophic events like the Blue Mountains fires. As well as the aggressive criticism we and others received in making clear that climate change was driving these worsening extreme events. By the time the Black Summer fires scarred the landscape from Southeast Queensland to Tasmania leaving smoke trailing across the entire southern hemisphere, no politician could deny it.
Fast forward to today, I’m proud to say we’ve significantly shifted the climate conversation – showing that we have a big problem, but the solutions for Australia are available and can set the sunny country up for the 21st century.
By engaging some of Australia’s exceptional voices on climate change, we’ve catapulted the issue to the top of the national agenda with an unfaltering drumbeat of information and stories. This catalysed our growth into an evidence-based powerhouse.
I’ve watched our supporter base flourish. In time, we were able to activate their voices in every segment of the economy. When we started, the climate debate was largely confined to scientists and policymakers. To make the conversation richer and more diverse, I knew we needed to expand and take everyone on this journey with us.
So, in 2015 we established the Climate Media Centre, which has trained and deployed approximately 1,500 trusted community groups and voices like doctors, firefighters, and families to amplify the urgency of climate action.
As climate extremes became more commonplace, we also activated the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA). This initiative brought together some of Australia’s finest emergency service leaders to help communities prepare for a future where climate disasters are the norm, not the exception.
Over 165 local governments have also joined the fray through our Cities Power Partnership (CPP), which has empowered them to act in unity for a common cause. I’ve seen them evolve into engines propelling Australia’s climate action in their communities.
It’s been like watching a choir grow, each new voice adding depth and resonance to the overall symphony.
I recall when only five percent of news stories actually mentioned climate change in the context of the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. It was an uphill battle trying to show with each worsening heatwave, flood or fire to show that climate change, through the burning of fossil fuels, was the driver. Just like how we need to talk about the cause of a car crash when it happens to make our roads safer, we needed to show the cause of these unnatural disasters. During Black Summer around 49 percent of media stories talked about the cause. I am proud of the role the Climate Council has played in this shift.
To put it in numbers, we have landed more than 230,000 media items, and supported thousands of inspiring voices through media training between 2013 to 2022.
I’m proud of the way we have made complex issues tangible for everyday people, demystifying and humanising the science that can be so often misunderstood. We’ve done remarkable work over ten years, but there is even more to be done as the window of opportunity for a safe future narrows.
Ultimately, at the Climate Council, we want to make ourselves redundant.
Ideally, in another decade, we will have fundamentally transformed society to the point that organisations like ours will no longer need to exist.
To me, that’s the pinnacle of success—when the cause we champion becomes so mainstream that the battle itself becomes a relic of the past.
As I look to the future, I am buoyed by hope and resolve. Climate change is the defining issue of our time, demanding an informed, urgent, and unified response to safeguard our common home. Until then, the Climate Council is steadfast in its commitment to leading that charge.
Real climate action is possible and beneficial for all. We have ten years of hard, inspiring work behind us, and with your support, we will keep building a legacy of action and hope to shape Australia’s climate future as we journey onward.