“The challenges of the 21st century are many and complex, with climate change undoubtedly one of humankind’s most pressing issues. Griffith has been a longstanding leader in the climate change space, with a proven track record in bringing about climate action.
The next 10 years offers a critical window for Australia, and indeed all countries, to accelerate the transition to a net zero emissions economy and build capacity for a climate resilient future. Driven by this imperative, the Griffith Climate Action Beacon was established–a focal point bringing together a team of experts and partners that cross disciplinary boundaries to address this critical societal problem.”
Professor Brendan Mackey
Director, Griffith Climate Action Beacon
Griffith climate action beacon
Griffith’s Climate Action Beacon seeks to develop the knowledge, leadership, capacity and responses to enable effective and just climate action throughout society.
We use a partnership approach that recognises the importance of both research and practice in defining and achieving collective climate action.
The Climate Action Beacon focuses specifically on interdisciplinary research and cross-sectoral practice collaborations as catalysts for climate action. New and novel collaborations will provide society with the best chance of addressing climate change risks and opportunities.
Key outcomes
Griffith’s Climate Action Beacon is centred on the need to achieve three broad societal outcomes:
- Motivating climate action – building the case for and enabling the practice of climate action among individuals, and collectively in communities, organisations and government.
- Future climate transitions – supporting progress towards climate resilient development and net zero carbon emissions.
- Climate justice – ensuring that climate actions are fair, equitable and just; contributing toward the broader sustainable development goals.
Platforms for collaboration
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.
The climate ready initiative
A partnership-based social impact initiative, which aims to prepare society for the transition towards a net-zero emissions and climate resilient future. We collaborate on the development and delivery of climate ready projects that support government, the economy, business, industry, communities and our natural environment.
Climate action research platform
A platform where the research sector can collaborate on the interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities required to progress our knowledge on climate action. We collaborate with the research, higher education and industry R&D sectors.
Featured projects
Queensland Climate Ready Program
An innovative partnership between Griffith University and the Queensland Government, which has been successful in enabling several Queensland Government departments to prepare for current and future climate risks and opportunities. The Queensland Climate Ready Program is an excellent example of a novel climate action partnership that can help achieve collective impact on climate change.
Combating climate change in the Pacific
Climate change is presenting an existential threat in the Pacific; with island nation states not only a loss of property, but a loss of culture and identity. The EcoAdapt project identifies ecosystembased approaches for climate change adaptation in the coastal zone of Pacific island states and territories in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
Information and Tools
Household and Small Business Risk Tools
The National Climate Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) which is also based at the Gold Coast campus with the Climate Action Beacon, is delighted to have been involved in the development of important climate risk management tools released by the Queensland Government. The new tools have been developed to help households and small businesses identify and manage climate change risks. The tools contain information on climate change, checklists to assess associated risks and links to other resources. In taking these first steps, households and small businesses can improve their awareness of future risks and be better prepared to respond to present day weather extremes.
Climate Related Financial Disclosures in the Public Sector
The Griffith Climate Action Beacon and EY produced a report examining the application of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) to the public sector. The TCFD was established in 2015 by the G20’s Financial Stability Board on the premise that more complete and consistent disclosure of climate-related risks would encourage better risk management by entities, resulting in a more stable financial system. Though predominantly targeted at the private sector, there is growing interest in the relevance of the TCFD framework for guiding public sector climate action.
Our leadership team
Director
Prof Brendan Mackey
Head of Practice
Sam Mackay
Head of Research - Motivation
A/Prof Kerrie Foxwell-Norton
Head of Research- Transition
Prof Chris Fleming
Head of Research- Justice
A/Prof Susan Harris-Rimmer
Head of Research- Collaboration
Dr Sarah Boulter
Head of Learning
A/Prof Samantha Capon
Director - Big Data and Smart Analytics
Prof Bela Stantic