As the world faces an escalating climate crisis, it’s clear that industry leaders cannot afford to treat climate action as a box-ticking exercise.
With omnibus legislation and watered-down ESG commitments taking up negative space, the time for bold action and high standards is now. Collaboration—especially with First Nations communities—is not just an opportunity, it’s a responsibility and an obligation for corporate Australia.
Beyond transactions: a call for meaningful social impact
Too often, corporate engagement with First Nations communities is limited to transactional relationships—procurement, contracting, or compliance-driven partnerships. While these are important, they only scratch the surface of what’s possible. Corporate Australia has a significant opportunity and obligation to drive real social impact by investing in First Nations communities, businesses, and talent.
The most powerful partnerships are those that prioritise genuine support for First Nations businesses, employment pathways, and training opportunities. Companies must move beyond tokenism to embrace partnerships that build lasting capacity and wealth within communities. This isn’t charity—it’s about building a stronger, more resilient economy for all.
Elevating high standards for ESG
As ‘omnibus’ approaches threaten to dilute the value of ESG, it’s more critical than ever for corporations to elevate their standards. Genuine ESG commitments must be more than just PR statements—they need to translate into measurable action that drives sustainability and ethical decision-making across all areas of business.
Investing in local communities, prioritising diverse suppliers, and embedding First Nations governance into decision-making processes are not optional—they are fundamental to achieving truly sustainable outcomes. Anything less is simply not good enough.
Collaboration as a business imperative
Climate action is not a solo venture—it requires collaboration across sectors, organisations, and communities. For corporate Australia, building genuine relationships with First Nations communities is a business imperative. By integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into sustainability practices, companies can enhance their climate strategies and unlock innovative solutions to complex problems.
Unlike government agencies bound by bureaucratic constraints, industry-led partnerships can be more agile, responsive, and capable of driving real impact on the ground. The potential to move quickly and innovate effectively lies in genuine, respectful collaboration with the people who know the land best.
Leadership and accountability
Real climate action requires strong leadership—leaders who are willing to set high standards, act boldly, and prioritise ethical decision-making over short-term gains. This is the moment for corporate leaders to elevate their ambitions, drive action, and actively listen to First Nations voices to create more resilient and effective solutions.
Sharing power: elevating First Nations leadership
For too long, First Nations communities have been excluded from the decision-making processes that impact their lands and livelihoods. Despite having critical knowledge and perspectives on sustainability, they have been sidelined in favour of top-down approaches that fail to deliver meaningful outcomes.
Corporate Australia has the power—and the responsibility—to change this. It’s time to be more transparent, inclusive, and intentional about sharing power and decision-making with the communities most affected by climate change. This means amplifying First Nations leadership at the highest levels of climate policy, corporate governance, and industry action.
The time for siloed efforts is over
The climate crisis demands bold action, high standards, and genuine collaboration. It’s time for corporate Australia to lean-in, embrace its responsibility, and recognise that sustainable success cannot be achieved in isolation. Inclusive collaboration isn’t just better for social outcomes—it’s better for sustainable business.