Climate Council

The Australian Government, under the ruling Labor Party, formed the Climate Commission in February 2011 to act as an independent advisory group to report on the science of climate change. Following the Australian Federal Election in September 2013, the Labor Party lost power to the Liberal/National coalition with Tony Abbott installed as Prime Minister of Australia. On 19 September 2013, Abbott instructed his ministers to disband the Climate Commission.[2] Among the reasons for closing the Commission were to "streamline government processes and avoid duplication of services" and save the A$1.6 million per year spent in operating the Commission.[3][4] Responsibility for advising the government on climate change was consolidated under the Bureau of Meteorology.[5]

Following the announcement that the Climate Commission was to be wound up, there was a large public movement calling for its immediate reinstatement. Former chief commissioner of the Climate Commission, Prof. Tim Flannery,[6] along with current CEO and co-founder, Amanda McKenzie, announced on 23 September 2013 that an independent non-profit organisation, the Climate Council, would be launched in its place. The founders of the Climate Council were all former commissioners of the disbanded Climate Commission, including Prof. Flannery, Prof. Veena Sahajwalla, Prof. Lesley Hughes,[7] Prof. Will Steffen,[8] and Gerry Hueston.[9] Andrew Stock[10] later joined as the sixth Climate Councillor.

The Climate Council now has 11 Councillors - leading experts in a range of fields including climate science, biology, health, bushfires, business, energy, public policy, and more. Additional Climate Councillors who have now joined the Council include Greg Mullins AO AFSM,[11] Greg Bourne,[12] Prof. Hilary Bambrick,[13] Joëlle Gergis,[14] Cheryl Durrant,[15] and Dr Kate Charlesworth.[16]

The startup funding for the Council was raised through crowdfunding, with donations opening at midnight on 23 September 2013, and the first donation being $15.[17][18] By mid-afternoon on Tuesday 24 September $165,000 had been donated,[17] and by the end of that day $218,000 had been given by 7,200 members of the public.[18] Flannery told The Conversation on the Tuesday that the Council intended to raise $500,000 by the end of that first week.[19] In fact, by Friday of the first week, in a stronger than expected response, over 20,000 people had donated amounts totalling close to $1 million.[20]

The Climate Council continues to rely on its community to power its operations with the majority of its funding coming from community donors. The remainder of its funding comes from philanthropic sources. The 2018/19 financial year saw the Climate Council’s number of core members (weekly and monthly regular donors) grow to over 4,800 people with the average regular donation standing at $28.[21]

Tim Flannery is frequently cited as having stated that: "Our independence is central to our credibility, so if people do donate, don't try to influence what we do".[22] Mark Wootton of the Climate Institute, speaking in support of the Climate Council, cited the need for an organisation to "hold account perhaps the government at times".[22]

As an independent climate science research and communications organisation, the Climate Council is able to provide authoritative, expert advice to the Australian public on climate change and solutions based on the most up-to-date science available.[1] This independence also means that the Climate Council is able to hold Australia's leaders and government to account in pursuing meaningful climate action. For example, during Black Summer, when Australia experience unprecedented busfhires, the Climate Council was a clear commentator in the media making sure that the connection between the bushfires and climate change were explicity made. In March 2020, the Climate Council released ‘Summer of Crisis’, the first comprehensive overview of the summer’s devastating impacts.[23] To date, the Climate Council has published over 100 landmark research reports. In recognition of this independence and credibility, its reports are used as an authoritative source of information for briefing politicians, providing updates to health and emergency services, teaching resources for schools and universities and as background research for the media.[24]

The Climate Council's mission is to be "a courageous catalyst propelling Australia towards bold, effective action to tackle the climate crisis."

The Climate Council focuses on three strategic purposes:[25] 1) Ensuring that climate change remains at the top of the Australian agenda. 2) Build a strong narrative on solutions to climate change, capturing the public’s imagination on the possibilities of renewable energy and the need to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels. 3) In the absence of federal action on climate change, empower everyday Australians, businesses, local councils and communities with the tools and skills to enact change from the bottom up.

In July 2020, the Climate Council released its Clean Jobs Plan[26] jobs modelling with consulting firm AlphaBeta. It identified 12 policy options that could create 76,000 direct jobs around Australia. The modelling finds 15,000 jobs could be created in installing large-scale renewable energy, such as solar and wind farms. Some 12,000 jobs could be created in ecosystem restoration and another 12,000 jobs in public transport construction.[27] The report was produced to highlight ways to shape Australia's post COVID-19 economic recovery while also addressing the climate crisis. AlphaBeta author Andrew Charlton stated, "Crises are terrible things but they're also an opportunity, when you have to spend money, to spend money in a way that builds Australia back better than ever before...This plan is about doing that and creating jobs today, but also tackling some long-term challenges. This plan identifies opportunities to create 76,000 jobs which will help us out of the crisis and also set us up for a cleaner energy future and improve our livelihoods for years to come."[28]

The Climate Council regularly publishes groundbreaking research reports on issues such as extreme weather, climate solutions, health, coal closure and international action. As of 2020, the Climate Council has published over 120 reports. Its reports are used as an authoritative source of information for briefing politicians, providing updates to health and emergency services, teaching resources for schools and universities and as background research for the media.[24] The Climate Council has also produced a range of communication guides to help other organisations, professionals and community leaders to effectively communicate with the public about climate change and renewable energy solutions.[29]

The Climate Council launched the Cities Power Partnership (CPP) in 2017 to provide councils and communities with the technical expertise and advice to transition to a clean, renewable energy future. The CPP is Australia’s largest local government climate network. Over 125 local governments - representing over 50% of all Australians, have joined the Cities Power Partnership. Local councils who join the partnership make five action pledges in either renewable energy, efficiency, transport or working in partnership to tackle climate change. As of 2020, over 650 pledges have been made by local councils to take decisive climate and energy actions.[30]

Since its inception in April 2019, and throughout the 2019-20 bushfire crisis, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) has been a source of leadership for Australians. Led by Climate Councillor and former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW, Greg Mullins, ELCA is a growing coalition of 33 former senior fire and emergency service leaders, representing every fire service in Australia and a number of SES and land management agencies. Together, they are working to protect Australian communities from increasingly frequent and damaging extreme weather events.[31] In July 2020, ELCA released the Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan that provides 165 recommendations about how to better protect Australia from the worsening impacts of climate change.[32]

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