Women'S Climate Congress

The 2019–20 summer bushfires promoted a new awareness in the Australian community that climate change is upon us. Filled with grief for the catastrophic losses sustained in the fires, and fear of worse to come if we do not act quickly to prevent further climate change, 45 women met in Canberra over two meetings in January/February 2020. Inspired by the 1915 International Congress of Women, when 1500 women from 12 warring and neutral countries worked together to promote resolution of the conflict through independent mediation and create the conditions for sustainable peace, we discussed how women could lead a nonpartisan movement for united action on climate change. The Women’s Climate Congress has taken these ideas forward with the compelling proposition for women’s leadership to turn the tide of political culture from polarised discord to collaboration and cooperation to restore climate balance by 2030. Our vision is to work through currently deadlocked issues around climate change with genuine multiparty intent to make our planet a safer sustainable home for our children, grandchildren and all life on Earth. We propose that nurture of human life, the natural world and care for the Earth must be at the centre of every government policy decision. We welcome women of all political persuasions, affiliations, ages and walks of life to build our Congress as a strong and generative movement for change. We firmly hold a future-focused, ‘no blame’ philosophy and seek to work together to achieve meaningful climate action. We acknowledge that we have all benefited from the industrial revolution. We are grateful to fossil fuel industries for the wealth and opportunities they have provided. However, listening to the climate scientists, we know that it is now time to transition to different energy sources and to review our lifestyles and custodial duties to future generations and all of life on Earth. Since our formation in February 2020, we have established an organ