Climate for Change https://www.climateforchange.org
Climate for Change is an Australian climate engagement organisation founded in 2014. It describes itself as Australia’s first environmental organisation focused on helping people have conversations about climate change with people they trust. The organisation is an intergenerational and nonpartisan community that aims to turn concern about climate change into hope, agency, democratic participation and effective action.
What They Do
Climate for Change focuses on:
- Climate Conversations in homes, workplaces and community settings
- Training people to communicate effectively about climate change
- Developing volunteer facilitators and supporting peer-to-peer climate engagement
- Climate Action Clubs that help participants move from concern to practical collective action
- Providing resources and support that help people engage with elected representatives
- Working with local governments and communities to adapt climate engagement programs to local priorities
Its flagship Climate Conversations model is designed to reach people through trusted personal networks rather than relying only on traditional public campaigns. Participants are supported to understand climate science, discuss solutions and identify practical ways to contribute to broader systemic and democratic action.
Leadership
- Chair: Lesley Head
- Deputy Chair: Jeremy Dore
- Executive Director – Operational Leadership: Zeynep Basarin
Climate for Change is supported by an operational Board, a small staff team and a substantial volunteer community. Its current staff include a Programs Manager, Fundraising Lead and Administration and Bookkeeping Officer, while volunteers contribute to program delivery, communications, climate research, fundraising and community engagement.
Why They Are Effective
Climate for Change is effective because its work addresses an important gap between public concern about climate change and sustained action. Its model is based on social research showing that people often understand information, form views and make decisions through conversations with people they trust. By training ordinary Australians to facilitate constructive climate discussions within existing social networks, the organisation can engage people who may not normally participate in environmental campaigns.
The organisation also connects communication with action. Climate Conversations are not limited to awareness-raising: participants are introduced to climate solutions, democratic action and opportunities to engage decision-makers. This combination of trusted communication, volunteer capacity-building and practical pathways for participation makes Climate for Change particularly relevant to Climate Scorecard’s interest in translating climate information into public understanding and action.
Evidence of Effectiveness
- Climate for Change reports that more than 11,500 people have been reached through its Climate Conversations program.
- A formal evaluation of the Climate Conversations program found that the model can reach audiences that environmental organisations have historically found difficult to engage, including people in the ‘wavering middle’.
- The same evaluation found that the program can help build the capacity of the wider climate movement by developing people’s confidence and ability to communicate and act on climate change.
- Climate for Change has partnered with local governments including Glen Eira City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Willoughby City Council and Augusta-Margaret River Shire to adapt Climate Conversations to local priorities and train community facilitators.
- Its local-government model includes facilitator training, mentoring, ongoing support and reporting on program reach, audience and impact.
- The organisation has operated since 2014 and continues to maintain active programs, volunteer training and community engagement across Australia.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Australia Country Manager, Mine Shu.