8 JUNE 2023

Report finds First Nations, Pasifika and People of Colour have power to win climate solutions but face exclusion from mainstream climate movement. 

In November 2022 the Climate Justice Gathering for the first time brought together First Nations, Pasifika and People of Colour (FNPPOC) climate leaders working in Australia.

The mainstream climate movement in Australia is largely white dominated and FNPPOC are often working at lower levels, unpaid volunteers or excluded entirely, reflecting the exclusion of our communities from wider climate narratives, solutions and discourse. 

A report summarising the experiences and findings of the gathering of 30 FNPPOC has found:

• The lack of intersectional and racial diversity in the mainstream climate movement is a structural and systemic problem and is a direct result of intergenerational structural and systemic discrimination within Australian society.
• The underrepresentation of FNPPOC within the mainstream climate movement upholds and reinforces colonial systems of power, acting as a barrier for impactful work and meaningful inclusive action.
• The human rights impacts such as the right to health, safe and adequate housing, secure employment, self determination, access to land, water, healthy environment and culture are at significant risks for FNPPOC communities from existing inequality and discrimination.
• We acknowledged the agency, expertise and knowledge from our powerful, diverse and thriving communities to build a rights-based climate justice narrative
• Building solidarity and relationships with each other is key to our empowerment, and the self determination for First Nations people as the foundation for the well being of all people and the environment in Australia
• There is a lack of funding, resources and institutional support within the mainstream climate movement to support frontline grassroots organising work of FNPPOC.

Read the Climate Justice Gathering Report

Download the full media release