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This is a list of some of the major climate-related groups you can go to to get more information, participate in campaigns, or be part of the climate community. The details are from each group’s website (accessed 29 May 2016), to give you a quick overview of their people and purpose.
Know of other groups? Tell us about them! Yes, we will add a search function to this page.
Australian Conservation Foundation
Key people: Peter Garrett, Geoffrey Cousins, Nadia McLaren, Piers Verstegen, Mary Latham, Jon Anstey, Todd Davies, Erika Avellaneda, Jimmy Cocking, David Morris, Andrew Reilly, Kelly O’Shanassy, Paul Sinclair, Angela Rutter and Mal Lewis
“The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) stands for ecological sustainability. We get to the heart of environmental problems by tackling the underlying social and economic causes. We work across society to influence urgent, transformative action to deliver lasting change on the scale required to secure a sustainable environment. We bring people together to champion the true value of our environment and its critical role in sustaining all other systems and in achieving human wellbeing.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
Climate Council
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/
Key people: Tim Flannery, Lesley Hughes, Gerry Hueston, Will Steffen, Veena Sahajwalla, Andrew Stock and Amanda McKenzie
“We exist to provide independent, authoritative climate change information to the Australian public. Why? Because our response to climate change should be based on the best science available. We're a fast growing group of people made up of expert Councillors, staff, volunteers and supporters. Together we are doing everything we can to spread independent and accurate information on climate change.”
Category: research, Australian, independent
Climate Action Network Australia
Key people: Sheryl Thompson, Lindsay Soutar, Claire O’Halloran, Alex Rafalowicz, Karla Deane, Louise Tarrant, Adam Verway, Claire O’Rourke, Moira Williams, Sam La Rocca, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg and Duncan Jinks
“We are a network that supports our members and their allies to take actions to protect people at home and abroad from climate change, to safeguard our natural environment, and to build a fair, clean, healthy Australia for everyone.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
GetUp!
Key people: Paul Oosting, Sarah Maddison, Alex Rafalowicz, Min Guo, Phil Ireland, David Madden, Sara Saleh, Lyn Goldsworthy, Simon Westcott and Carla McGrath
“GetUp is working towards a thriving democracy in Australia led by the values and hopes of everyday people. We envisage a Fair, Flourishing and Just Australia.
GetUp is a powerful campaigning community. By combining the sheer power of a million members, movement partners and a central team of expert strategists, we do what it takes to get things done.
Our work is driven by our values, not party politics. GetUp is, and always has been, an independent organisation. GetUp members come from every walk of life and around a shared belief in fairness, compassion and courage. We campaign on issues that our members care about in the fields of Environmental Justice, Human Rights, Economic Fairness and Democracy.
GetUp is about making change, not just making noise. Everything we do is guided by carefully crafted strategies designed to win. Sometimes that means we gather in raucous protest; other times that means partnering with policy experts to develop new solutions, or we exercise our consumer power, and everything in between.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Key people: Kirsty Albion, Amelia Telford, Julie Hirsch, Gemma Borgo-Caratti, Kelly MacKenzie, Dan Spencer, Tracey Martinovich, Larissa Baldwin, Tom Reddington, Laura Melville, Millie Anthony, Jackie Colmar, Luke Sweet, Alicia Robitaille, Liv Metter, Tallara Gray, Renee Carr, Ebony Bennett, Nayuka Gorrie, Tom Dreyfus, Bronwyn Lee and David Pitts
“We're building a generation-wide movement to solve the climate crisis.
We believe that climate change is the single greatest threat facing humanity, and puts young people and future generations at risk. We also believe that addressing the climate crisis is our biggest opportunity to create a world that is more sustainable, just and fair.
We believe that the only way to solve the climate crisis is through a social movement - a groundswell of support and momentum that is powerful enough to inspire the change we need and hold decision-makers to account. This will require thousands of people committed to changing hearts and minds and willing to take deep action.
At the AYCC we believe that the best way to build this movement is to give young people the tools to make it happen. It’s our future at stake, and it’s our creativity and vision that will inspire those around us to act.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
The Climate Institute
http://www.climateinstitute.org.au/
Key people: Mark Wootton, John Connor, Andrew Demetriou, Susan Jeanes, Adam Kilgour, Matt Koch, Clare Martin, Jenny Merkley, Graeme Pearman, Hugh Saddler, Erwin Jackson, Kristina Stefanova, Olivia Kember, Kate Mackenzie, Luke Menzies, Brinsley Marlay, Esther Green, Rebecca Wright and Michael Hall
“Our vision is a resilient Australia, prospering in a zero-carbon global economy, participating fully and fairly in international climate change solutions. The Climate Institute makes progress in tackling climate change possible.
We are principled pragmatists. We get things done.
We are can do: We are not just a think tank, we’re also a "do tank". We connect people who can make a difference with the resources, evidence and ideas that will make a difference. We solve problems.
We are will do: We are prepared to talk and share the table. We build bridges between people - experts, investors and decision-makers. From grassroots groups to big banks. From the ACTU to the Business Council of Australia. We bring them together to deliver collective impact.
We are know how: We are clear, credible and authoritative. We have the expertise and the experience. We provide actionable direction. We know how to get things done.
Our work has never been more important. The science and data are compelling. The evidence is in. We know that climate change is real and its physical and economic impacts are scarring our environment and our way of life. We also know that policy is not adequately responding to the challenge and that this will only change when public, business and investor sentiment creates the pressure for change. For 10 years we have been tackling this, with a focus on three vital areas where the potential impact is game changing.
We have bold and ambitious goals. But we have a track record of getting difficult things done. The reputation and authority we have today are based on this track record. Our philanthropic backing ensures that we have the independence, agility, capacity and freedom to get things done. We are principled pragmatists.”
Category: communication, advocacy, Australian, independent
CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)
Key people: David Thodey, Larry Marshall, Shirley In’t Veld, Hutch Ranck, Peter Riddles, Brian Watson, Edwina Cornish, Tanya Monro, Craig Roy, Hazel Bennett, Alex Wonhas, Anita Hill and Dave Williams
“At the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), we shape the future. We do this by using science to solve real issues. Our research makes a difference to people, industry and the planet.
Our mission: At CSIRO, we do the extraordinary every day. We innovate for tomorrow and help improve today – for our customers, all Australians and the world.
History and achievements: Since we started life as the Advisory Council of Science and Industry in 1916, we’ve advanced Australia with a range of inventions and innovations that have had significant positive impact on the lives of people around the world.
Our impact: We boost Australia's potential through excellent science that provides positive economic, environmental and social impacts. Across our organisation, we ensure this continues by embedding our impact model, planning and monitoring, evaluation and reporting.”
Category: research, Australian, government
The Climate Reality Project Australia
http://www.climatereality.org.au/
Key people: Al Gore, see Australian Conservation Foundation
“The Climate Reality Project Australia is Al Gore's climate change leadership program with the Australian Conservation Foundation.
The Climate Reality Project Australia (formerly The Climate Project), the Australian branch of Al Gore’s climate change leadership program, is a non-profit organisation founded in November 2006. TCRP’s mission is to educate the public about the harmful effects of climate change and to work toward solutions at a grassroots level worldwide.
TCRP has more than 6,000 dedicated volunteers internationally. These volunteers are known as Climate Leaders (formerly known as Presenters) and have been personally trained by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore to deliver an updated version of the slide show featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Climate Leaders have delivered 70,000 presentations to a combined global audience totaling 7.3 million.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, international, independent
Australian Research Council's Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science (Australian Government)
https://www.climatescience.org.au/
Key people: Andrew Pitman, Christian Jakob, Lisa Alexander, Nathaniel Bindoff, Dietmar Dommenget, Matthew England, Melissa Hart, Andy Hogg, David Karoly, Todd Lane, Michael Reeder, Michael Roderick, Steven Sherwood, Will Steffen and Peter Strutton
“The Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science is a major initiative funded by theAustralian Research Council. The Centre is an international research consortium of five Australian universities and a suite of outstanding national and international Partner Organizations. It will build on and improve existing understanding of the modeling of regional climates to enable enhanced adaptation to and management of climate change, particularly in the Australian region.
The Centre was established in 2011 with extensive investment from the Australian Research Council, the University of New South Wales, the federal Department of the Environment, New South Wales Government, Monash University, the Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, and the University of Tasmania. It has strong links with the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) initiative and works in partnership with theNational Computational Infrastructure (NCI) Facility.
The Centre’s focus, Climate System Science, is the quantitative study of the climate system designed to enable modeling of the future of the climate system. It is built on a core of the sciences of the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and land surface. It includes the physics, dynamics and biology of these systems, and the flow of energy, water and chemicals between them. Climate System Science builds mathematical models of these systems based on observations. It describes these observations, and the underlying physics of the system, in computer codes. These computer codes are known as a “climate model” and utilize very large super computers.
The scale of research enabled by the Centre will provide for the enhancement of climate modeling and future climate projections particularly at regional scales, minimizing Australia’s economic, social and environmental vulnerability to climate change.”
Category: research, Australian, government
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Key people: Vicki Middleton, Rob Webb, Sue Barrell, Graham Hawke, Ann Farrell, Dasarath Jayasuriya, Barry Hanstrum, Andrew Tupper, Anthony Rea, Benjamin Haydon, Neil Plummer, Ian Prosser, Louise Minty, Peter May and Robert Argent
“The Bureau of Meteorology is Australia's national weather, climate and water agency. Its expertise and services assist Australians in dealing with the harsh realities of their natural environment, including drought, floods, fires, storms, tsunami and tropical cyclones. Through regular forecasts, warnings, monitoring and advice spanning the Australian region and Antarctic territory, the Bureau provides one of the most fundamental and widely used services of government.
The Bureau contributes to national social, economic, cultural and environmental goals by providing observational, meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic services and by undertaking research into science and environment related issues in support of its operations and services.”
Category: research, Australian, government
Collaboration for Australian Weather and Climate Research
Key people: Peter Craig, Peter May, Neil Plummer and Wenju Cai
“The Collaboration for Australian Weather and Climate Research (CAWCR) is a research partnership between the Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau) and CSIRO. It represents a shared commitment of the Bureau and CSIRO to extend their respective research capabilities through collaboration focused primarily on Earth-system science. Working together on research and delivery, the Bureau and CSIRO can achieve increased impact and benefit for Australia, beyond what either partner could achieve alone.
The members of the CAWCR research community are the Bureau of Meteorology’s Research and Development Program, and the Oceans and Climate Dynamics and Earth System Assessment programs in CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere business unit.
CAWCR’s purpose is to achieve outcomes for Australia through Earth-system science, with emphasis on weather and ocean forecasting, seasonal prediction, climate variability and change, regional and global carbon and water budgets, and science to support national responses to weather and climate-related hazards. Research leaders from both agencies are committed to identifying, developing and conducting high-impact research projects that address national and global needs. At the same time, CAWCR delivers value to the partners by broadening and enhancing their capability and impact, through access to each other’s knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure.”
Category: research, Australian, government
Australian Government Department of the Environment
https://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change
Key people: Greg Hunt, Gordon de Brouwer, Malcolm Thompson, Dean Knudson, Rhondda Dickson, Diana Wright, Nick Gales, Sally Barnes, Matt Cahill, Kylie Jonasson, Stephen Oxley, David Papps, Ivor Frischnecht, Helen Wilson and Brad Archer
“Australia is meeting our climate change targets, improving the environment and supporting an effective international response.
The Government’s policies reduce emissions by boosting energy productivity, reducing waste, rehabilitating degraded land, increasing renewable energy and driving innovation. The Government’s policies are addressing climate change while helping to reduce costs for households and businesses.”
Category: legislation, Australian, government
Climate Change Authority (Australian Government)
http://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/
Key people: Stuart Allinson, Wendy Craik, Kate Carnell, Clive Hamilton, David Karoly, Danny Price, John Quiggin, John Sharp, Alan Finkel, Andrew Mcintosh, Shayleen Thompson
The Climate Change Authority provides independent expert advice on Australian Government climate change mitigation initiatives. The Authority is established under the Climate Change Authority Act 2011
The Authority plays an important role in the governance of Australia's mitigation policies, undertaking reviews and making recommendations on: emissions reduction targets and carbon budgets, the Renewable Energy Target, the Carbon Farming Initiative, and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System.
Reviews are undertaken on other matters as requested by the Minister responsible for climate change or the Australian Parliament.
The Authority conducts and commissions its own independent research and analysis.
All reviews will include public consultation and all reports will be published on the Authority's web site as soon as practicable after they have been given to the Minister.
Category: legislation, research, government, Australian
ACT Government Climate Change Council
http://www.environment.act.gov.au/cc/climate_change_council
Key people: Will Steffen, Frank Jotzo, Dorte Ekelund, Simon Corbell, Barbara Norman, Toby Roxburgh and Penny Sackett
“The ACT Climate Change Council (Council) advises the Minister for the Environment on matters relating to reducing greenhouse gas emission as well as addressing and adapting to climate change. It was established by the ACT Government in 2011 under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. In exercising its functions the Council looks to consult with business and the community on climate change matters. The Council meets at least four times a year to discuss themed topics in relation to climate change matters that are of relevance in the current ACT context.”
Category: research, Australian, regional, government
WWF-Australia
Key people: Joshua Bishop, Kellie Caught, Phil Freeman, Darren Grover, Nick Heath, Richard Leck, Sarah Jane Monahas, Paul Toni, Matt Wilson, Peter Cosgrove, Robert Purves, Renee Boundy, Chris Dickman, Guy Fitzhardinge, Stephen Gottlieb, Lesley Hughes, Brent Wallace, Martijn Wilder
“WWF-Australia is part of the WWF International Network, the world’s leading, independent conservation organisation. Founded in 1961 we are active in over 100 countries and have close to five million supporters internationally.
In Australia and throughout the oceanic region, we work with governments, businesses and communities so that people and nature can thrive within their fair share of the planet’s natural resources.
WWF-Australia is a not-for-profit organisation with nearly 70% of our annual income donated by our dedicated supporters.
WWF uses its practical experience, knowledge and credibility to create long-term solutions for the planet’s environment.
WWF-Australia’s missions and goals for biodiversity protection and environmental conservation are the same as WWF’s Global missions and goals. As part of a global conservation network, our Australian work focuses on the environmental issues that are most relevant to our region as well as the issues where Australia is best placed to take a lead.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, international, independent
The Wilderness Society
https://www.wilderness.org.au/
Key people: Lyndon Schneiders, Cath Hoban, Matt Brennan, Rob Beamish,
“The Wilderness Society is an Australian, community-based, not-for-profit, non-governmental environmental advocacy organisation. Our purpose is to protect, promote and restore wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth. We work to safeguard our sources of clean water and air, to tackle devastating climate change, to create a safe future for life on Earth, and to give a better world to our children.
We were born in 1976, and our first major victory was Australia's most famous environmental campaign - saving the Franklin River. Since then, with the support of thousands of concerned people across the country, we've worked to protect millions of hectares of our greatest wild places.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/
Key people: Lena Aahlby, Anita Mitchell, Jim Falk, Blair Palese, Tim Hollo, Alexander White, David Ritter, Lagi Toribau, Nic Seton, Nathaniel Pelle, Nikola Čašule, Matisse Walkden-Brown, Ian Lawton, Nicola Norris, Dom Rowe
“Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent direct action to expose global environmental problems and to force solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future.
Greenpeace's goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, international, independent
Friends of the Earth Australia
Key people: Sam Castro, Jon Gleu, Franklin Bruinstroop, Louise Sales, Chloe Aldenhoven, Jim Green
“Friends of the Earth (FoE) is a federation of autonomous local groups who are working towards an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable future. FoE Australia functions both through the activities of its local groups, and on the national level through appointed spokespeople, campaigns and projects, the national magazine - Chain Reaction, and the work of the national liaison officers.
We are the world's largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 76 national member groups and some 5,000 local activist groups on every continent. With over 2 million members and supporters around the world, we campaign on today's most urgent environmental and social issues. We challenge the current model of economic and corporate globalization, and promote solutions that will help to create environmentally sustainable and socially just societies.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, international, independent
1% for the Planet
http://onepercentfortheplanet.org/
Key people: Adam Forest, Brant Barton, Craig Mathews, Dennis Jenson, Guillaume Cuvelier, Hilary Dessouky, Marc Randolph, Larry Kopald, Lisa Pike Sheehy, Yvon Chouinard, Zack Gund, TJ Whalen, Kate Williams, Jon Cocina, Dan LeClair, Nicole Durivage, Emily Pendergraft, Kerry Newton, Emma Cook, Isabelle Susini, Pauline Stevens, Brook Hopper
“1% for the Planet connects businesses, consumers, and nonprofits, empowering all of us to drive big, positive change. In an uncertain world, these connections allow you and me to do more for our big blue planet than we can alone.
A decade ago, two entrepreneurs had a vision: To join forces and use their businesses as the engines of positive environmental change.
1% is a really big number: More than 1,200 member companies in 48 countries giving 1% of their sales directly to more than 3,300 nonprofits, totalling more than 100 million dollars given back to blue.”
Category: advocacy, international, independent, business
Conservation International
http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx
Key people: Peter Seligmann, Rob Walton, Harrison Ford, Dawn Arnall, Russell Mittermeier, Jennifer Morris, M Sanjayan, Greg Stone
“For nearly 30 years, Conservation International (CI) has been protecting nature for the benefit of all.
We know that human beings are totally dependent on nature — and that by saving nature, we’re saving ourselves. To that end, CI is helping to build a healthier, more prosperous and more productive planet.
We do this through science, policy, and partnerships with countries, communities and companies. We employ more than 1,000 people and work with more than 2,000 partners in 30 countries. Over the years, CI has helped support 1,200 protected areas and interventions across 77 countries, safeguarding more than 601 million hectares of land, marine and coastal areas.”
Category: advocacy, international, independent
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Australia
http://au.citizensclimatelobby.org/
Key people:
“What’s missing to solve climate change? Political will.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change. We’re creating the political will for a livable world by empowering individuals to experience breakthroughs in exercising their personal and political power.
CCL was established in the US in 2008 – It now has well over 200 local chapters and is growing steadily. We are now building in Australia and aim to have groups in every Federal electorate.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, international, independent
Ceres
Key people: Mindy S Lubber, Dawn M Martin, Gordon MacFarland, Susan Sayers, Sue Reid
“Ceres is a non-profit organization advocating for sustainability leadership. We mobilize a powerful network of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy.
Our mission: Mobilizing investor and business leadership to build a thriving, sustainable global economy.”
Category: advocacy, international, independent, business
CARE Climate Change Information Centre
Key people: Aarjan Dixit, Dorcas Robinson, Janne Facius, Karl Deering, Kit Vaughan, Sven Harmeling
“CARE seeks a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.
Climate change is the single greatest threat to achieving this vision. CARE aims to empower poor and marginalised people to take action on climate change at all levels and to build knowledge for global change.
The impacts of climate change are already destroying livelihoods and aggravating economic, political, social, and environmental inequality. Without urgent action, this could make it impossible for poor and marginalised people to reach a wide range of development and justice goals.
There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and prevent human suffering on an unprecedented scale, but we haven’t a moment to lose.
CARE’s response to climate change is rapidly growing to reflect the scope and severity of the challenge. Our overarching objectives are to empower poor and marginalised people to take action on climate change at all levels and to build knowledge for global change.
In 2014, CARE managed 218 climate resilience development projects, across 53 countries.
Our strategic response to climate change is coordinated by CARE’s Poverty Environment and Climate Change Network (PECCN) and has a focus on the following themes:
Theme A: Climate change adaptation, loss and damage and the links to disaster risk reduction and emergencies.
Theme B: Climate change, agriculture and food & nutrition security
Theme C: Climate change adaptation finance
Theme D: Climate Change mitigation and low-carbon development”
Category: advocacy, international, independent
Avaaz
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/index.php
Key people:
“Avaaz is a global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.
Avaaz—meaning ‘voice’ in several European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages—launched in 2007 with a simple democratic mission: organize citizens of all nations to close the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want.
Avaaz empowers millions of people from all walks of life to take action on pressing global, regional and national issues, from corruption and poverty to conflict and climate change. Our model of internet organising allows thousands of individual efforts, however small, to be rapidly combined into a powerful collective force. The Avaaz community campaigns in 15 languages, served by a core team on 6 continents and thousands of volunteers. We take action – signing petitions, funding media campaigns and direct actions, emailing, calling and lobbying governments, and organizing "offline" protests and events – to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform the decisions that affect us all.”
Category: advocacy, international, independent
1 Million Women
http://www.1millionwomen.com.au/
Key people: Natalie Isaacs, Tara Hunt, Bronte Hogarth, Ela Kabara, Bindi Donnelly, Olivia Cook, Bridget McIntosh, Veena Sahajwalla, Laura Wells, Margaret Fulton, Rachel Perkins, Riley McAuliffe, Layne Beachley, Melinda Schneider, Samah Hadid, Liane Rossler, Christine Eon, Stephanie Rice, Joanna Savill, Rachel Ward, Caitlin Stasey, Penny Wong, Bindi Irwin, Sylvia Earle, Leah Purcell
“We're building a movement of strong, inspirational women and girls acting on climate change through the way we live. Join us & be counted.
1 Million Women was founded by Natalie Isaacs. At the time a cosmetics manufacturer Natalie saw that individual action is key to solving the climate crisis. She realised that she couldn't stand back any longer and wait for others to act. That climate change threatened her friends and family, her children, along with everyone around the world.
Leaving behind the over-packaged world of skincare and beauty products Natalie set out to create and build a global movement of women and girls inspired and empowered to act on climate change through the way they live.
Natalie's own climate journey from apathy to real action cuts through complexity and delivers a simple message that resonates with women and girls of all ages. Her message is simple: ‘I launched 1 Million Women because I knew the incredible power women have to transform society. It is time for us to understand the significance of this power. That how we live each day, how we spend and invest our money and the influence we have in our households, workplaces and communities are all key to solving the challenge of climate change.’"
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
Responding to Climate Change
Key people: James Ramsey
“Responding to Climate Change Limited (RTCC) was founded by James Ramsey in 2002 and its mission is to raise awareness about climate change. It is a not-for-profit organization and it is an official Observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It holds ‘Special Advisory Status’ with The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as well as officially supporting UNFCCC in its outreach programme.
RTCC’s expertise lies in facilitating public sector private sector partnerships having a working knowledge of current events in the climate change debate as well as independent analysis of the current state of the negotiations. In 2012, RTCC entered into a major partnership with the United Nations Rio.
RTCC’s news platform, Climate Home, is currently the leading source of climate change news in the world and is an indispensable resource for people who are involved in the climate change negotiating process as well as engaging ordinary people who are concerned about climate change issues and who want to understand more about the international negotiations. It attracts more than one million visits to its web site each month.
RTCC’s on demand video channel, Climate Change TV, is the first online video broadcaster dedicated entirely to climate change issues with a catalogue of more than 2,000 interviews from world leaders, environment ministers, scientists, business leaders and various stakeholders within the climate change debate.
RTCC has also published the United Nations Rio Conventions Calendar 2015. It will also be publishing the official high quality souvenir art calendar on behalf of the French Government which will be presented to participants of COP21/CMP11 in Paris in December 2015.
RTCC, although independent, is entirely funded by governments, international businesses, intergovernmental agencies, research institutes and major donor organizations. Partners include, the governments of Morocco, France, Mexico, South Africa, Ecuador, Brazil, Denmark, Norway Sweden, UK, Canada, United States, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and many others, as well as the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) and UN Habitat.
At the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, RTCC successfully secured funds for the Government of Morocco to host COP22 in Marrakech.”
Category: advocacy, international, independent, business
Global Environment Facility
https://www.thegef.org/gef/home
Key people: Naoko Ishii, Monique Barbut, Leonard Good, Mohamed El-Ashri
“The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided $14.5 billion in grants and mobilized $75.4 billion in additional financing for almost 4,000 projects. The GEF has become an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector to address global environmental issues.
The GEF’s 18 implementing partners are: Asian Development Bank (ADB), African Development Bank (AFDB), Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), Conservation International (CI), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Foreign Economic Cooperation Office - Ministry of Environmental Protection of China (FECO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Fundo Brasileiro para a Biodiversidade (FUNBIO), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), West African Development Bank (BOAD), World Bank Group (WBG), World Wildlife Fund U.S. (WWF).
The GEF serves as financial mechanism for the following conventions: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The GEF, although not linked formally to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (MP), supports implementation of the Protocol in countries with economies in transition.
The GEF administers the LDCF and SCCF which were established by the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. The GEF also administers the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF) that was established by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In addition, the GEF Secretariat hosts the Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat.”
Category: research, legislation, international, business
International Institute for Environment and Development
Key people: Andrew Norton, Deborah Harris, Liz Carlile, Tom Bigg, James Mayers, Simon Anderson, Mick Blowfield, David Dodman, Rebeca Grynspan, Ian Rushby, Lisa Beauvilain, Filippa Bergin, Somsook Boonyabancha, Fatima Denton, David Elston, Ahmed Galal, Frank Kirwan, Angela McNaught, Tang Min, Michael Odhiambo, Lorenzo J de Rosenzweig Pasquel, Tara Shine
“Our mission is to build a fairer, more sustainable world, using evidence, action and influence in partnership with others.
From 2014 to 2019 our core areas of research will enrich four high-profile change initiatives that aim to shift policy and practice towards more equitable and sustainable development.
IIED is one of the world’s most influential international development and environment policy research organisations. Founded in 1971 by economist Barbara Ward, who forged the concept and cause of sustainable development, we work with partners on five continents. We build bridges between policy and practice, rich and poor communities, the government and private sector, and across diverse interest groups. We contribute to many international policy processes and frameworks, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the UN conventions on climate change and biological diversity.
IIED carries out research, advice and advocacy work. We carry out action research — generating robust evidence and know-how that is informed by a practical perspective acquired through hands-on research with grassroots partners — and we publish in journals and maintain high research standards. We advise government, business and development agencies, and we argue for changes in public policy. We focus on bottom-up solutions, stay open to flexible, adaptable solutions and are marked by a tradition of challenging conventional wisdom through original thinking.
Partnerships are key to the way we work at IIED. By forging alliances with individuals and organisations ranging from urban slumdwellers to global institutions, we help strengthen marginalised people’s voices in decision making and ensure that national and international policy better reflects the agendas of poorer communities and countries. Some of our partners are people working in other nongovernment organisations, governments, academia, indigenous people’s groups, global institutes and multilateral agencies such as the UN. Others are alliances that we either steer or work very closely with, often at the grassroots level in developing countries. We also play an active role in international networks, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).”
Category: research, advocacy, international, business
Doctors for the Environment Australia
Key people: Kingsley Faulkner, David Shearman, Hakan Yaman, Sujata Allan, Peter Brooks, Rohan Church, George Crisp, Eugenie Kayak, David King, John Willoughby, Kate Wheldrake, Kristen Pearson, Declan Scragg, John Van Der Kallen
“Doctors for the Environment Australia is a voluntary organisation of medical doctors in all states and territories. We work to address the diseases – local, national and global – caused by damage to the earth’s environment. For example, climate change will bring to Australia an increased burden of heat stroke, injury from fire and storm, infectious diseases and social disruption and mental illness, whilst in the developing world it will bring famine and water shortage.
The medical profession has a proud record of service to the community. This record not only includes personal clinical care, but also involvement in global issues that threaten the future of humanity. We aim to use our scientific and medical skills to educate governments and industry, the public and our colleagues by developing educational materials such as Policies and Posters and by direct contact, in the endeavour to highlight the medical importance of our natural environment. To our patients we try to provide a role model in the care of the environment for this is part of a preventative health ethos.
Vision: Healthy planet, healthy people
We understand that human health and wellbeing are absolutely dependent upon a rich, biodiverse planet where all ecosystems sustain life in balance. Humans need a future with clean air and water, healthy soils producing nutritious food and a complex, diverse and interconnected humanity whose needs are met in a sustainable way.
Mission: Protecting health through care of the environment
We achieve this by working to conserve and restore the natural environment because of its relationship to and impact on human health. We work towards sustainable development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising future generations. We educate and alert doctors and the public to the health effects of environmental degradation locally and worldwide using the best available scientific evidence and the precautionary principle.”
Category: research, advocacy, Australian
ClimateWorks
Key people: Larry Kramer, Pamela Matson, Charlotte Pera, Susan Tierney, Carol S Larson, Kristian Parker, John D Podesta, William K Reilly, Casey Cronin, Surabi Menon, Seth Monteith, Dan Plechaty, Jason Anderson, Ann Cleaveland, Dan Hamza-Goodacre, Anthony Eggert, Stephen Linaweaver, Jan Mazurek, Charles McElwee, Rees Warne
“Climate change threatens ecosystems, societies, and economies. These challenges require innovative responses and insights. Using the power of collaboration, ClimateWorks mobilizes philanthropy to solve the climate crisis and ensure a prosperous future.
ClimateWorks is a team of researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grant-makers who are committed to climate action and believe in the power of collective philanthropy. A non-governmental organization that works globally, ClimateWorks collaborates with funders, regional and research partners, and other climate leaders to strengthen philanthropy’s response to climate change. The ClimateWorks team is united in their commitment to climate action, bringing combined expertise in climate science, public policy, economic and social development, and strategic philanthropy.”
Category: research, advocacy, international, independent, business, finance
Climate Outreach
Key people: Adam Corner, Alex Randall, Anna MacPhail, Angie Julian, Christopher Shaw, George Marshall, Jamie Clarke, Léane de Laigue, Tany Alexander, Gavin O’Donnell, Lydia Messling, Clara Dos Santos, Robin Webster, Elise de Laigue, Kate Lonsdale, Frank Syratt, Adam Ramsay, Camilla Born, Gitika Bhardwaj, Ian Rimington, Jonathan Rowson, James Osborne
We are Europe's leading climate change communicators, bridging the gap between research and practice and helping to widen engagement across a broader spectrum of society.
Our mission is to ensure climate change and its impacts are understood, accepted and acted upon across the breadth of society, creating a truly sustainable future.
We produce world-leading advice and practical tools for engagement by combining scientific research methods with years of hands-on experience. Our services support governments, businesses, NGOs and grassroots organisations. We specialise in how to engage hard-to-reach audiences – developing climate connection programmes with communities such as youth, the centre-right, faith and migrant groups.
Category: research, communication, international, independent
Climate CoLab
Key people: John Christy, Henry Jacoby, Stephen Kosslyn, James McCarthy, Michael Prather, Gavin Schmidt, Robert Socolow, Susan Solomon, Robert Watson, Stephen Schneider
“In the Climate CoLab, you can work with people from all over the world to create proposals for what to do about climate change. The goal of the Climate CoLab is to harness the collective intelligence of thousands of people from all around the world to address global climate change.
Inspired by systems like Wikipedia and Linux, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Collective Intelligence has developed this crowdsourcing platform where people work with experts and each other to create, analyze, and select detailed proposals for what to do about climate change.
Anyone can join the Climate CoLab community and participate. Community members are invited to submit and comment on proposals outlining ideas for what they think should be done about climate change. In some contests, members create proposals for specific kinds of actions such as generating electric power with fewer emissions or changing social attitudes about climate change. In other contests, members combine ideas from many other proposals to create integrated climate action plans for a country, a group of countries, or the whole world. Experts evaluate the entries and pick finalists, and then both experts and community members select the most promising proposals.”
Category: research, innovation, international, independent
Carbon Tracker Initiative
Key people: Jeremy Leggett, Mark Campanale, Anthony Hobley, Cary Krosinsky, Alice Chapple, Jon Grayson, James Leaton, Luke Sussams, Reid Capalino, Andrew Grant, Mark Fulton
“Carbon Tracker is an independent financial think tank which provides in-depth analysis on the impact of climate change on capital markets and investment in fossil fuels, mapping risk, opportunity and the route to a low carbon future.
Carbon Tracker is a team of financial, energy and legal experts with a ground breaking approach to limiting future greenhouse gas emissions.
We have the technical knowledge, connections and reach to get inside the mind-set of the global financial community and effect change on a global scale. We are a non-profit, independent organisation, free from the commercial constraints of mainstream analysts and able to set our own research agenda.”
Category: innovation, communication, international, independent, business, finance
tcktcktck: The Global Call for Climate Action
Key people: Antonio Hill, Andrew Schenkel, Greg McNevin, Tierney Smith, Ziona Eyob, Marina Yamaoka, Karla Maass, Hongyu Guo, Frida Berry Eklund, Sarah Jenkinson, Edward Bell, Oscar Alarcón, Alden M Meyer, Phil Ireland, Steven Guilbeaut, Farhana Yamin, Lo Sze Ping, Tasneem Essop, Guillermo Kerber, Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah
“The GCCA is a diverse network of more than 450 nonprofit organizations in more than 70 countries with a shared goal — a world safe from runaway climate change. The GCCA harnesses the strengths of faith, development, science, environment, youth, labour, and other civil society organisations to mobilise citizens and galvanise public opinion in support of urgent climate action. We connect and facilitate the efforts of our partners; we communicate about climate challenges and solutions; and we help partners mobilise people in support of strong, equitable government action. GCCA partners endorse our Call to Action:
Now is our moment, before climate disruption becomes irreversible, to stand up for the safety and wellbeing of people — at home and around the world. The solutions are available and the costs of inaction keep rising every year we delay.
We call for: Phase-out of fossil fuels and a just transition to clean, renewable energy; Protection of our communities and forests, oceans and water resources; Leaders to take immediate action to close the gap between current actions and investments and what’s needed to secure our future; and Sufficient funding to support the communities suffering most from the impacts of climate change.
The GCCA has three main strategic priorities:
Support our partners to reach and engage more people from diverse constituencies in taking meaningful action on climate change.
Build bigger global moments by aligning and amplifying the communication and mobilisation efforts of our partner network to demonstrate massive and growing public concern and support for change.
Help to win iconic national campaigns by positioning globally relevant climate campaigns at the top of the political agenda in selected countries, and work with partners to secure major changes over time.”
Category: communication, advocacy, international, independent
Climate and Health Alliance
Key people: David De Kretser, Liz Hanna, Peter Sainsbury, Fiona Armstrong, Elizabeth Haworth, Alic McGushin, Grace Fitzgerald, Brad Farrant, Terrona Ramsay, Peter Malouf
“The Climate and Health Alliance is an alliance of stakeholders in the health sector who wish to see the threat of climate change addressed through prompt policy action.
The membership of CAHA includes organisations and individuals from a broad cross section of the health sector, with 26 organisational members representing health care professionals from medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, social work and psychology, as well as health care service providers, institutions, academics, researchers, and health consumers.
The Climate and Health Alliance was established in August 2010 and is a coalition of health care stakeholders who wish to see the threat to human health from climate change and ecological degradation addressed through prompt policy action. This commitment is based on the understanding that further global warming poses grave risks to human health and biodiversity and if left unchecked, threatens the future of human civilisation.
The impetus for the establishment of the Alliance was the call from the May 2009 issue of the international medical journal The Lancet calling for a public health movement that frames the threat of climate change for humankind as a health issue.
CAHA’s members recognise that health care stakeholders have a particular responsibility to the community in advocating for public policy that will promote and protect human health.
In advocating for policy action to prevent further global warming, CAHA recognises that this must include dramatic and urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and removal of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to restore a safe climate.
The Alliance aims to contribute to the development and implementation of evidence based public policy to protect the community from the adverse consequences of climate change, and promote recognition that policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment have the potential to bring important public health benefits.
CAHA aims to facilitate collaboration in the sector for the development of effective responses to climate change as well as promote sustainable practices in health care to reduce the sector’s environmental footprint.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Key people: Thea Ormerod, Jonathan Keren-Black, Murray Lobley, Julie Macken, Khyati Mehta, Susy Selvarajan, Lucy Osborn
“ARRCC is a multi-faith, member-based organisation of people from around Australia who are committed to taking action on climate change. We bring together representatives from all the major faith traditions to work together in addressing climate change.
We recognise that climate change is not only a scientific, environmental, economic and political issue – it is also a profoundly moral and spiritual one: the Earth's ecosystems are intrinsically precious and beautiful and deserve protection; the wellbeing of human beings is dependent on ecological flourishing; and it is the vulnerable people of the world who are most impacted by climate change.
We believe that as people dedicated to the common good, inspired by our beliefs and energized by our spirituality, people of all faiths can and should be at the forefront of creating a safe climate. While celebrating the uniqueness of our different traditions, we stand together in working for an ecologically and socially sustainable future.
Our vision: We envisage our nation embracing a sustainable future, one which is based on a more ethical understanding of human prosperity and the flourishing of all. To help achieve this vision, ARRCC hopes to see religious communities of all kinds, and all across Australia, to actively reflect religious values in their lifestyle choices.
Our mission: (1) to promote ethical, environmentally sustainable, healthy and contented lifestyles which respect the Earth’s precious natural resources. (2) to advocate, from a faith perspective, for public policies which contribute to climate justice.
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent, religious
Catholic Earthcare Australia
http://catholicearthcare.org.au/
Key people: Jacqui Rémond, Simon Habel, Terese Corkish, Philippa Rowland, Nigel Hayward
“Catholic Earthcare is the ecological agency for the Catholic Church in Australia. Our purpose is to enable a loving and sustainable relationship with the natural world through environmental education, research, national networks, advocacy and transformation. Through our work, including key initiatives such as ASSISI, the National Energy Efficiency Network and the Global Catholic Climate Movement, we promote the understanding that our environment is sacred and endangered and must be protected and sustained for present and future generations.
We invite all people of goodwill to journey with us in the most critical and urgent of tasks – of safeguarding the integrity of Creation, acting on climate change, protecting Earth’s fragile ecosystems and providing a voice for the victims of environmental degradation, injustice and pollution.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent, religious
Climate Justice Programme
Key people: Keely Boom, Stephen Leonard, Julie-Anne Richards, Adam Kirk, Phil Freeman, Lisa Ogle, Bernadinus Steni
“The Climate Justice Programme (CJP) is an independent not for profit, non-government organisation that uses the law to expose environmental and human rights issues relating to climate change.
We are a group of lawyers, academics and campaigners who support the development and execution of strategic initiatives to address global climate change. We seek to raise awareness and engagement in climate law through long standing global networks of lawyers and international organisations.
The CJP is the only program globally that has been established with the sole purpose to work collaboratively with lawyers, campaigners and scientists in this innovative field.
The CJP does not accept funding, gifts or donations from any major greenhouse gas emitters or producers.
‘Climate change litigation has proved to be a vehicle through which matters that are important to communities are being brought to the attention of governments and, hence, act as a catalyst for executive action.’ Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court, Australia
Vision: We are dedicated to the pursuit of climate justice, through the development of climate law. We advocate for the protection of the environment through seeking to reduce the impact of and mitigate the risk of climate change caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, through policy and legislative reform and strategic litigation, education and professional development.
Mission: To use the law to protect the natural environment and people from the adverse impacts of climate change.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent
350.org Australia
Key people: Isaac Astill, Samantha Bailey, Hoda Baraka, Hannah Barclay, Will Bates, May Boeve, Juliano Bueno de Araujo, Yossi Cadan, Linda Capato, Josh Creaser, Jo Dufay, Brett Fleishman, Emma Giles, Nick Haines, Jamie Henn, Julie Hudson, Daniel Hunter, Bill McKibben, Jeremy Osborn, Blair Palese, Moira Williams, Charlie Wood, Ray Yoshida, Cam Klose, John Collee, Andrew Bradley, Steve Campbell
“350 Australia is one part of a global movement taking action to halt the climate crisis. We work with a network of campaigners and local groups across the country to help coordinate online campaigns, grassroots organising, and mass public actions.
The number 350 means climate safety: to preserve a liveable planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere from its current level of 400 parts per million to below 350 ppm.
We believe that a global grassroots movement can hold our leaders accountable to the realities of science and the principles of justice. That movement is rising from the bottom up all over the world, and is uniting to create the solutions that will ensure a better future for all.
350 Australia is helping build this movement from our corner of the globe. We are: Committed to spreading an understanding of the science, and a shared vision for the need for bold solutions to climate change; Open-sourced and interested in working with any individual or organisation that shares our commitment to climate action; A lean and effective group of people with a big vision for change; An independent and not-for-profit project.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, international, independent
Clean Energy Council
https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec.html
Key people: Miles George, Mark Twidell, Rachel Watson, Alex Beckitt, Danny Nielsen, Samantha Coras, Chris Judd, Warwick Johnston, Cameron Garnsworthy
“The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia. We represent and work with hundreds of leading businesses operating in solar, wind, energy efficiency, hydro, bioenergy, energy storage, geothermal and marine along with more than 4000 solar installers. We are committed to accelerating the transformation of Australia’s energy system to one that is smarter and cleaner.
We are an incorporated not-for-profit association based in Melbourne and operating nationally. We are funded principally by membership fees, with additional income generated by events and activities such as industry accreditation programs.
We provide a variety of services to members but our primary role is to develop and advocate effective policy to accelerate the development and deployment of all clean energy technologies. We also promote awareness of the industry, thought leadership and clean energy business opportunities through industry events, meetings, newsletters, directorates and the media.
We report to a nine-person board elected by our members. The board advises on strategic direction and financial management. Our policy and advocacy work is guided by the Policy and Advocacy Committee, which includes a representative of each sponsoring member organisation and the chair of each directorate.”
Category: advocacy, Australian, independent, renewable energy
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Australian Government)
Key people: Ivor Frischknecht, Ian Kay, Heather Wilson, Danny De Schutter, Louise Vickery, Andrea Gaffney
“ARENA is the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, a commercially oriented agency. It was established on 1 July 2012 by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011.
We have two objectives: improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies, and increase the supply of renewable energy in Australia.
ARENA’s timeframe for delivering its objectives is 2022, with an intent to provide competitive energy solutions up to 2030-40.
Vision: An Australian economy and society increasingly powered by competitive renewable energy.
We share knowledge to help the renewable energy industry and other stakeholders learn from each other’s experiences.
Clean Energy Innovation Fund
The Australian Government announced on 23 March 2016 its intention to create a new Clean Energy Innovation Fund, to be jointly managed by ARENA and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
The Clean Energy Innovation Fund is expected to be formally established on 1 July 2016 by amending the CEFC’s investment mandate. ARENA and the CEFC will jointly manage the CEIF, allocating up to $100 million each year to commercialise innovative renewable energy projects using equity and debt instruments. Once the fund is established, ARENA will assess project proposals and make recommendations for funding to the CEFC for approval.”
Category: legislation, Australian, government, renewable energy
Clean Energy Finance Corporation
http://www.cleanenergyfinancecorp.com.au/
Key people: Oliver Yates, Kevin Holmes, Andrew Powell, Nancy Peterson
“The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) invests commercially to increase the flow of funds into renewable energy, energy efficiency and low emissions technologies. The CEFC has supported projects across the Australian economy, benefitting a diverse range of businesses, large and small. The CEFC’s mission is to accelerate Australia's transformation towards a more competitive economy in a carbon constrained world, by acting as a catalyst to increase investment in emissions reduction. The CEFC does this through direct investments which attract private sector finance, as well as through its strategic co-financing partners. The CEFC was created by the Australian Government and operates under the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012.”
Category: legislation, Australian, government, renewable energy
Transnational Institute
Key people: Fiona Dove, Martin Jelsma, Pien Metaal, Tom Blickman, Ernestien Jensema, Susan George
“The Transnational Institute (TNI) is an international research and advocacy institute committed to building a just, democratic and sustainable world. Founded in 1974 as a network of ‘activist scholars’, TNI continues to be a unique nexus between social movements, engaged scholars and policy makers.
TNI has gained an international reputation for carrying out well researched and radical critiques and anticipating and producing informed work on key issues long before they become mainstream concerns, for example, our work on food and hunger, third world debt, transnational corporations, trade, and carbon trading.
As a non-sectarian institute, TNI has also consistently advocated alternatives that are both just and pragmatic, for example developing alternative approaches to international drugs policy and providing support for the practical detailed work of public water services reform.”
Category: research, advocacy, independent, international
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