Member Spotlight: Women’s Climate Congress

The Women's Climate Congress (WCC) stands at the forefront of climate action by empowering women to lead united efforts against climate change. Their mission is rooted in the belief that nurturing life and protecting the Earth should be at the core of every government decision. Through initiatives like their Charter for Change and National Congress of Women series, WCC fosters collaboration across political divides, engages communities, and strengthens the link between climate policy and gender equality. Partnering with organisations like Subak Australia, WCC is building momentum for a gender-inclusive approach to climate action, ensuring women's voices are heard on both national and international stages, including future COP events.

1.Can you describe the mission and core activities of the Women’s Climate Congress?

The rallying call of the Women’s Climate Conference is Women Leading United Action on Climate Change. We share a vision to create a stable climate for all of the planet’s ecosystems and provide leadership to turn the tide of political culture to collaboration and cooperation. In this vision, the nurture of life and care for the Earth are at the centre of every government decision.

The core activities of the Women’s Climate Congress have grown from our Charter for Change. This includes:

• engaging with parliamentarians and promoting multi-partisan women’s groups

• creating links between climate policy, gender equality and women’s diversity through conversational events

• collaborating with aligned organisations and international women’s groups to foster empowered communities.

2. What have been some of the most significant outcomes of your National Congress of Women series and other events?

The National Congress of Women events were special gatherings of ‘woman thought’ that led to the creation of WCC’s Charter for Change. You can see the recordings and reports around “Women Rising”, weaving – to restore climate balance, and renewal here. The Charter was presented to all women of all parties and female independents in the Federal Parliament at the end of November 2022.

3.How do you measure the success of WCC initiatives and the impact of the WCC Charter for Change on climate action and gender equality?

We have developed a set of measures across three major outcomes:

• Outcome 1 – Women’s empowerment, leadership, agency and influence on climate action reflect their rightful place as half the population

• Outcome 2 – Climate policy and action are based on the science, and on dialogue, collaboration and cooperation to build inclusive, fair and united policy

• Outcome 3 – Nurture of life, intergenerational equity and care for the earth are at the centre of every government decision.

These measures include diverse membership building confidence; solidarity and a ‘voice’ for women; gender equality elevated as a vital component of climate action; meetings, submissions and events with parliamentarians and other leaders; and government environment policies support intergenerational equity and rights of Earth life.

4.Can you share examples of how your work has influenced policy or inspired action at the community level?

WCC’s Road Show Events have inspired action across the southern end of the country (to date) in areas such as Penguin and Wynard (Tasmania), Wagga Wagga and Newcastle (NSW), Turner (ACT), Moonee Ponds and Ballarat (Victoria) and Margaret River (Western Australia). 

The purpose of these events is to encourage conversations and actions in local communities by holding interactive gatherings facilitated by the WCC Steering Circle and/or other local members. The aim is to empower women to develop their own cultural, social, artistic, economic or operational responses. One of these events led to the formation of WCC’s first local chapter in Wagga Wagga.

5.How does the WCC approach foster multipartisan dialogue and collaboration across the political spectrum?

WCC approaches this by fostering trusted relationships with policy makers promoting multiparty collaboration among women in local, state/territory and federal parliaments. This type of approach has resulted in Janet Salisbury (Founder of the Women’s Climate Congress) being invited to take on the role of Facilitator for Alicia Payne’s (MP ACT/Canberra) Climate Reference Group for NGOs – after a meeting with Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy.

The NGOs participating in this group include Parents for Climate Action, Extinction Rebellion, The People’s Assembly, Labor for Environmental Action Network (non-aligned), Australian Conservation Foundation, Clean Energy Council, and Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

The Climate Reference Group has written up a draft response to send to Chris Bowen and there is the possibility of future meetings. There were also suggestions to meet with climate scientists, such as Joelle Gergis (mini-mediation style meetings).

6. What does it mean for the WCC to be part of the Subak Australia Village Hub to advance your initiatives?

Organisational development, in terms of streamlining administration, fundraising, governance and knowledge building is key to WCC’s success. One of our pillars is affiliation and collaboration – to connect and collaborate with other organisations engaged in action on climate change, gender equality, intergenerational equity and social inclusion in Australia and Internationally. Subak Australia provides the opportunity to both continue our development and form new connections. 

This will allow WCC to build a sustainable organisation that nurtures women and values their skills and contributions, while securing a financial base to build capacity and support core administration and activities of the WCC.

7. How do you plan to build momentum for gender equality to be a key issue at the possible Australian-Pacific COP in 2026 (COP31)?

WCC is advocating for representation of women/gender-inclusive processes in all COP planning events, such as the Impact X COP31 Base Camp held in November 2023. Janet Salisbury attended and noted that women/gender inclusive was not one of the topics addressed in planning that event.

WCC is forming a plan around how to use COPs 29 and 30 to build momentum for COP31. This could include sponsoring representation – such as WCC did for COP28 with youth climate activist Angelica Mantikas. Angelica shared her experience in WCC’s Climate Conversations, some of which was also shared on 3CR. WCC has also noted that the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan (COP) is coming up for review and will keep highlighting the importance of the GAP in discussions about COP.

WCC has applied (August 2024) for Observer Status at COP31 (with support from Climate Action Network Australia, CANA). All of this planning and engagement is leading towards WCC holding a Women’s Conference before the COP (COP31).