Developing capacity and leadership for just climate action
Griffith’s Climate Action Beacon seeks to develop the knowledge, leadership, capacity and responses to enable effective and just climate action throughout society.
Climate Action Beacon is a platform for the development of collaborative, interdisciplinary research and partnerships that establish change in practice and catalysts for climate action.
Climate Action Beacon research is focussed on climate motivations, transitions and justice. In addition to research, the beacon aims to empower practice and provide education.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith's Climate Action Beacon is aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), and committed to tackling global challenges around climate action, peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Climate Action Beacon at the COP 28
As disasters and heat intensify, can the world meet the urgency of the moment at the COP28 climate talks? - 30 November 2023
Prof Brendan Mackey, Director, Climate Action Beacon, is off to COP 28 with a packed schedule - Launching the Forest carbon and Protected Area app - Speaking at the COP side event: Delivering integrated nature & climate action in the Global Stocktake & beyond - Speaking at the Climate & Canopy: Amplifying action for SDG 13 and 15 through primary forest conservation - Speaking at the "From Agreement to Action: Harnessing 30X30 to tackle climate change" - and participating in the Collaborators Roundtable ‐ We Are Family. In the meantime read his take on COP in The Conversation.
COP 28 Twitter/X Climate Sentiment Dashboard - 30 November 2023
The Climate Action Beacon's big data research project built a custom dashboard to track twitter posts by Australians before, during and after the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2023. Applying big data analytics and expert analysis, the dashboard has been using key words to analyse Australian twitter feeds in close to real-time since 17 November 2023.
Natural Forests and Mitigation Policy Brief - 30 November 2023
This Science information Policy Briefing Note from the Griffith University Climate Action Beacon has been prepared for the United Nations Climate COP 28. This Briefing Note provides information on the contribution of natural forests, including primary forests and intact forest landscapes, to climate mitigation and meeting the Paris Agreement’s long term temperature goal and intermediate targets as guided by science.
COP 28 Side Event - Climate & Canopy: Amplifying Action for SDG 13 & 15 through Primary Forest Conservation - 8 December 2023
Join Prof Brendan Mackey at COP 28 in this side event on primary forests which will foster better understanding and awareness of the importance of enhancing the conservation of primary forests, and explore concrete next steps to be taken to champion primary forest conservation, seamlessly intertwining the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
COP 28 Side Event - Delivering integrated nature and climate action in the Global Stocktake (GST) and beyond - 10 December 2023
The GST presents a critical opportunity to integrate climate and biodiversity action across the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Panelists, including Prof Mackey, will set out what is needed from the GST at COP28, share on-the-ground case studies, explore the significance of ecosystem integrity for evaluating approaches, and outline a pathway to prevent perverse outcomes for nature and people.
COP 28 Panel Discussion - Integrating Indigenous’ Perspectives into Higher Education Curricula - 12 December 2023
Join Prof Brendan Mackey at COP 28 explore the integration of Indigenous perspectives and content into higher education. This panel will facilitate discussions on educational experiences, effective pedagogical approaches, and contemplate an initial roadmap for curriculum development. The panel will also address strategies for evaluating the impact of introducing Indigenous perspectives into university curricula.
Radio interview - Prof Mackey speaks to Matthew Pantellis about COP 28 (Fiveaa) - 30 November 2023
Prof Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon, Griffith University speaks with Matthew Pantelis (Fiveaa) about COP 28, the conference addressing climate change.
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Technical Briefs for COP 28 - November 2023
This IUCN Technical Brief - Connecting the Dots: Achieving synergistic action for global biodiversity and climate goals utilising the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - concludes that given the functional roles of biodiversity in ecosystem processes, its protection and restoration is essential for conserving carbon reservoirs in the biosphere and achieving the mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement.
Read the IUCN Technical Brief about Connecting the Dots
Also read the IUCN Technical Brief about Primary Forests, Ecosystem Integrity & Climate Change
Video highlight
Call to Action from the Climate Ready Australia National Summit 2023
Climate Action Beacon in the news
Already stretched hospitals take on more ambulance call-outs in heatwaves - 30 January 2024
New research reveals that heatwaves in Australia amplify ambulance call-outs by approximately 10 percent, exacerbating the strain on already burdened hospital emergency departments. As climate change intensifies, leading public health expert Shannon Rutherford and her research team from Griffith University advocates for a comprehensive government task force to equip Australians for the impending repercussions.
Leading through crisis into a resilient future for the Northern Rivers - 12 January 2024
Curious to understand the impact firsthand? See what Anne Leitch, one of the 16 fellow leaders on the Leading Australian Resilient Communities (LARC) program, has to say about this initiative, spearheaded by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), and funded by the Australian Government’s Building Resilient Regional Leaders Initiative.
Cruel summer ahead – why is Australia so unprepared? - 5 December 2023
Professor Susan Harris Rimmer of the Climate Action Beacon writes about extreme heat and - access to health, impact on homeless populations, mental health, impact on 'decent' work, electricity bills and rights to cooler spaces.
New publication: The personal and the social: Twin contributors to climate action - 30 November 2023
Identifying predictors of environmentally significant behaviors (ESBs) can inform interventions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Most past research, and the theories that shape it, focus on factors residing within individuals rather than within their social context. This paper argues for greater emphasis on social variables, as complements to person-level variables, in predicting ESBs.
New weather-sensing technology created to stop 'preventable' heat-related fatalities in Queensland's elderly - 14 October 2023
Climate Action Beacon researchers have begun a trial to use technology to keep older people safe as temperatures warm The trial uses an an app to alert older people when they are at risk of rising temperatures in their homes The app suggests practical ways to reduce the impact of high temperatures that put people's health at risk.
Few Aussies grasp serious, urgent climate threat - 11 October 2023
Most Australians don’t see climate change as an extremely serious problem right now, despite warnings this decade is critical in the fight for a liveable planet. Griffith University has released its annual climate action survey, which explores what thousands of Australians think about climate change.
Professional Development to help your organisation become Climate Ready - 5 October 2023
Local councils are at the heart of the community, and the services provided are critical to support the foundations for people across Australia to build a prosperous economy, liveable communities, and a healthy environment. The CRI micro-credential course in climate risk management will provide foundational knowledge and build staff capability for climate risk management.
New Australian climate policy infographics help navigate the national policy landscape - 4 October 2023
The Climate Ready Australia 2030 (CRA2030) project has delivered a suite of PDF infographics designed to help organisations understand and navigate the national climate policy landscape they work within.
Collaboration platforms
Partnerships are critical to achieving effective and just climate action. This has led us to establish two platforms for enabling society to engage and partner on climate action.
Climate Action Research
A platform where the research, higher education, industry R&D sectors, government, civil society organisations and communities can collaborate on the interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities to address three big questions:
- What motivates climate action?
- How do we transition to a zero-carbon, climate resilient future?
- In tackling climate action, how do we ensure climate justice?
The Climate Ready Initiative
This platform is an alliance of business leaders and industry associations formed to facilitate dialogue and collaboration to plan and deliver a sustainable economy transformation. It collaborates on the development and delivery of climate ready projects.
Project highlights
Summary for Policy & Decision Making - Climate Action Survey 2022
This is the second of five planned Climate Action Surveys which surveyed 4,030 Australian adults to discover what they think, feel, and do about climate change and related environmental and climatic events, conditions, and issues. Background, methodology, major findings, potential implications and comparisons with the 2021 survey are examined in this report which was released in September 2023.
Tweed Ready climate project
Griffith University is working with the Tweed Shire Council to identify local climate action strategies and support for the community to reduce their carbon footprint and respond to natural hazards and climate events.
Co-designing a resilient water and energy toolbox for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities
Researchers are working to implement transformative community-based governance approaches for delivering climate resilient and sustainable water, energy and waste systems in Australian and Pacific remote and isolated communities. The iKnow, weKnow co designed project provides a resilient water and energy toolbox for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.
Ethos - Extreme Heat Warning System for Older Queenslanders
The Ethos research team is working to develop a digital tool to keep older people safe from the health effects of heatwaves. South-East Queenslanders over 65 years of age are invited to participate in the in-home trials this 2023/24 Summer. Find out more about the project and have a look at the recent newsletter issued in August 2023.
Queensland Heat and Health Community of Practice
A professional group focussed on increasing awareness, investment and uptake of heat adaptation policy across Queensland. Establishment of the group aims to improve collaboration across sectors to assist and manage heat health issues facing Queenslanders.
The Climate Justice Observatory
Climate Justice Observatory brings together human rights methodologies of observatories: the provision of reliable information, equity data, climate modelling, long-form journalism and multidisciplinary expert analysis. The online resource allows citizens to monitor issues, map local problems and find solutions.
Griffith News about Climate Action
New micro course helps local councils be climate ready
15 Apr 2024
Online micro-credential course to build organisations’ capability to adapt and mitigate against...
Researchers propose mechanism for just energy transition in Pakistan
11 Apr 2024
Griffith Asia Institute have partnered with Green Finance & Development Center, Climate Smart...
Projections reveal the vulnerability of freshwater to climate change
09 Jan 2024
Climate and land use changes are causing significant alterations in global terrestrial water...
Researchers help over-65s with in-home heat device trials
06 Dec 2023
Technology puts heat control in hands of home owners.
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