Climate action is critically important for Australia, the Pacific region, and the world at large. Australia and its Pacific neighbours are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, bushfires, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events. Across the Pacific, many communities face existential threats from rising seas, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing cyclone intensity. These events have devastating consequences for the environment, people’s health, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and regional stability.

Climate action is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and limit global warming to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Australia has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but significant action is needed to achieve this goal. At the same time, meaningful partnerships with Pacific nations are essential to support locally led adaptation, disaster preparedness, renewable energy transitions, and long-term sustainable development.

Our approach is grounded in partnership and community leadership. We work alongside communities across Australia and the Pacific Islands to understand how climate change is affecting their local environments, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. Through participatory research, locally led adaptation planning, and citizen science initiatives, we build the capacity of communities, institutions, and national systems to monitor environmental change, strengthen climate resilience, and inform evidence-based decision-making.