
Community climate action
This is a critical decade for responding to the climate and biodiversity crisis, and shaping a better future for Reefs and communities. Community action can deliver outcomes at a local scale and contribute to empowering a broader movement to reduce emissions, mitigate impact and build resilience in the face of a changing climate.
#Together, our actions count
Together, our individual and community actions add up to reduce emissions, protect vital habitats and influence faster and broader change to protect the Reef.
The community climate action program works with partners to accelerate community climate action for the Reef, championed by Traditional Owners, community organisations, local councils, local businesses, and youth. Together, we aim to grow capacity and readiness for scalable community-led action, measure outcomes, and tell a powerful story of hope and change to help grow a movement.

#Why is this needed?
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report highlights that this is a moment for “all solutions on deck” to tackle the climate crisis.
The United Nations Development Programme defines climate action as - stepped-up efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts.
In addition to the critical role of government, business and international players, strengthening the growing momentum from individuals taking action together is essential to drive change and find practical solutions for reducing emissions and building Reef and community resilience.
#Current Projects
Current Community Climate Action projects (2024-2025) include reducing community carbon emissions through behaviour change and social innovations, and on-ground actions that mitigate climate change and build resilience by protecting, enhancing and restoring key coastal habitats.

Green Nourishment Program (Stage 1 – Seagrass feasibility snapshot)
Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Regional Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils

Starcke River Catchment Collaborative Research Plan
Juunjuwarra Aboriginal Corporation

Reef Resilience Showcase - Cairns Ecofiesta 2024
Cairns Regional Council

Community MangroveWatch Monitoring to Enhance Tidal Wetlands
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre

Reducing carbon footprints through minimising school waste
Reef Catchments (Mackay Whitsunday Isaac) Limited

Scaling up tropical seagrass restoration with citizen science
OzFish Unlimited

Community Climate Action for the Great Barrier Reef – ‘What Can I Do?’
CoralWatch (The University of Queensland)

Climate Resilience Champions
Earthwatch Institute Australia

Turtle Friendly Climate Resilient Coastlines
Envite Environment

Towards a net zero Magnetic Island-Yunbenun
Magnetic Island Community Development Association
#Enabling Projects

WELA Great Barrier Reef Leadership Intensive
Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia
#Resources

How to Talk About Climate Change and the GBR Factsheet

Inspiring Action for the GBR Factsheet
