Pictured: Warddeken Daluk Ranger, Lorina Nabulwad, conducting early burning, captured by Stacey Irving in the Warddeken IPA.
“The relationship between people is always contingent on the relationship between land and people.” Dr Mary Graham
We’ve seen partner communities in rural and remote Australia suffer increased drought, fires, and flooding, with many already experiencing the social and economic impacts of climate change. We know that communities bring unique perspectives and a deep well of expertise to the task of tackling climate change. We know success lies in collaborating at the community level and backing community leaders to be able to establish priorities, make decisions, and create initiatives that align with the needs of their communities.
We recognise that this moment that calls us to learn quickly from the expertise of the well-established climate movement and mobilise our resources to power this vital work.
We continue to partner long-term with Karrkad Kanjdji Trust supporting communities to ensure intergenerational care for Country, management of biodiversity, regeneration of natural ecosystems and sequestering of carbon. We are also now expanding our commitments by backing several leading climate organisations that already hold extensive relationships and are working in partnership to deliver powerful, hopeful and effective climate action strategies.
Below we share the stories from our current climate partnerships:
Supporting Intergenerational First Nations Land Management
Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (“gada-gut guny-jee”) brings together Indigenous ranger groups, communities, and philanthropists to address some of our nation’s most pressing issues. Explore their work supporting the management of fire and climate, investing in women rangers, safe-guarding Indigenous culture, supporting people on Country, educating future custodians and protecting native biodiversity.
Supporting First Nations-led energy transition initiatives
Original Power is working with First Nations communities across the Northern Territory to harness the transformative potential of the clean energy transition in our regions.
Learn about the Ngardara ‘Sun’ Project in Borroloola where the community is working with Original Power and renewable energy experts to design and build their own solar microgrid. The project will cut local energy costs and reduce reliance on polluting diesel generators and provide a model for community ownership of power generation assets that can be shared with other communities seeking to benefit from and expand the reach of the clean energy revolution.
Building bi-partisan support for climate action
Environmental Leadership Australia (ELA) works to advance practical, evidence-based climate policy with community and political leaders from conservative backgrounds that have previously been underserved by traditional environmental and climate groups. Bipartisanship provides the long-term policy certainty communities and businesses need. Read about Queensland Farmer, Caitlin McConnel’s experience of climate change and her hopes for the future,
Growing climate philanthropy and unlocking greater funding
Groundswell fund climate action by pooling money to make grants to organisations tackling the climate crisis in Australia. Read about this Puti’ Ki Ni ’ Ripono on Country meeting that brought together First Nations leaders from Northern Australia to share knowledge and build strong connections, understand how gas and resource extraction impacts Country and how it links to Climate Change impacts.
Supporting independent fact-based stories on climate change and elevating the voices of individuals and organisations opposing harmful climate activities
Inspired by successful litigation in the Netherlands to force urgent climate action, two Elders from the Torres Strait Islands are launching a landmark litigation case against the Australian Government. Rising sea water is washing under their homes killing crops and dislodging grave sites. Film maker Maya Newell and her team are on the ground capturing the process in a documentary to be called the Quickening.
