Women's Climate Congress
Represented by Janet Salisbury, Founder, Director
Answer
How does your organisation address climate change?
Our unique paths to address climate change are:
- Empowering women to lead a cultural rebalancing in our governance to allow full participation by women in setting the policy agenda and formulating policy
- Promoting collaborative, nonpartisan action to develop a unified national action plan on climate change
Since our foundation in early 2020 we have:
- Built a diverse network of members across the country (currently covering about 2/3rds of all electorates) and engaged with this community through e-newsletters, a website, Zoom members gatherings, and social media
- Contacted all federal politicians and met with many
- Met with other government decision-makers
- Networked with key women's organisations and other organisations engaged with climate change
- Developed a proposal to the government for a mediated stakeholder engagement process to develop a nonpartisan national action response to climate change
- Built relationships with First Nations women and learned Indigenous governance principles
- Promoted the concept of a multiparty Women's Group (similar to the Women's Caucus' in the US Congress) where women can consider issues of common concern
- Run regular monthly online conversations with community leaders/thinkers on topics relating to our vision
What is your organisation doing to create a better future?
In 2021, we have been planning a 3-day face-to-face National Congress of Women in Canberra at the end of November 2021. However, due to COVID lockdowns, this has now been deferred. Instead, we will hold an online event at the end of Nov 2021 and further events in 2022. These events will culminate in a declaration to the government from women on actions to address the immediate imperative to stabilise the climate, and longer-term policy priorities to create a sustainable future.