Tough climate for debate

When former Prime Minister Tony Abbott abolished the Climate Commission in 2013, many of those trying to sound the alarm about climate change faced a stark choice: give up or soldier on.

The decision to fight on for the health of the planet in the face of government indifference and community apathy led to the creation of the Climate Council.

In the largest crowdfunding campaign ever seen in Australia to that time, more than 16,000 people pitched in more than $1.1 million dollars in just 10 days to bring the organisation to life.

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the former Commission as an independent, community-funded organisation focused on evidence-based scientific research, the Climate Council has just celebrated its tenth anniversary.

In an online panel event to mark the milestone, the Council’s leading experts discussed the highs and lows of the past decade, and what still needs to be done in the years to come.

Climate Council Head of Advocacy - and panel facilitator - Dr Jennifer Rayner said the deluge of public support that lee to the creation of the Climate Council showed Australians valued independent science-based information and cared about climate action.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie recalled that the push for action on climate change “hit rock bottom” in 2013.

She said that period was characterised by the anti-climate science Abbott government gaining power; the rancorous carbon tax debate; a debilitating drought; and persistent questioning of the validity of climate change in sections of the media.

“It was a real low point,” said Ms McKenzie, who worked at the independent Climate Commission before helping help launch the Climate Council.

She said in the face of climate denialism, the Council's advocates realised that fact-based information on climate change would be critical to changing the conversation in the years following its formation.

She said that belief proved to be true.

“I think what I feel really proud of is we have played a really important part in putting climate at the top of the agenda,” said Ms McKenzie.

“When I think back to ten years ago, the only people who were talking about climate were policy wonks, and a few scientists and politicians and it was all very negative and felt far away from the general public.

“The Climate Council has done an enormous amount to diversify those voices.”

People power is the key

Dr Rayner reiterated the importance of people power in changing the conversation around climate change.

“We know so many of the people that work with us and support us do that great work in their communities, talking to people, to politicians to help spread the message of the Climate Council’s research and reports and work.

“We’ve always been so proud to be people powered, because we know that voice of the community is what gives us the ability to have the impact that we have.”

Energy industry veteran Greg Bourne said he knew a decade ago it would be possible to make the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, but it would take a lot of hard work.

“The technologies have come along amazingly,” said Mr Bourne, a former chair of Australian Renewable Energy.

“The stone is over the hill and it’s rolling down and fossil fuels are on the way out. All we have to do is accelerate its path.”