Australia has bid to host the UNFCCC COP in partnership with the Pacific in 2026. We must pave the way for this to be a people’s COP, one that centres Indigenous leadership and community voices from around the world to create an agenda rooted in justice for those most affected by climate change. A COP that has inclusivity and grassroots participation at its core.

We all have a role to play; changing our future for the better is not something any of us can leave to others. It’s important that we get more Australians involved and more local input, acknowledging the impact climate change is having in our lives and empowering people to make a tangible difference for our future and to better adapt to life on a warming planet.

This exciting plenary event will weave together various COP31-related strands from Climate Action Week and share community stories to set the scene for an inclusive and ambitious COP31 in 2026. It will culminate in a keynote speech from and discussion with Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty Initiative and self-identified troublemaker.

Schedule

1:30- 2:00pm	Setting the scene for a people’s COP31 Welcome to Country, followed by an introduction from facilitator Linh Do, Chair & Secretary of the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA). Opening remarks from: David Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer, Community Council for Australia ‘Alopi Latukefu, Director, Edmund Rice Centre for Justice & Community Education
2:00 – 2:30pm	Insights from CAW.SYD COP31 communities A creative and dynamic session featuring updates from COP31-related events throughout Sydney Climate Action Week. Speakers including Susan Moylan-Coombs and Professor Ben Newell will present a range of perspectives and experiences from the week.
2:30 – 3:30pm	Inspiring stories: How can we connect our local experiences and community voices to collective effort at society and global levels? This interactive session will demonstrate why community is crucial to the success of COP31 with cultural performance and stories of journeys in climate advocacy. Speakers include Professor Anne Poelina, proud citizen of the Nyikina Warrwa Nation, distinguished scholar and advocate for Indigenous knowledge and environmental justice.
3:30 – 4:30pm	Bringing local climate action to the world A keynote address by Kumi Naidoo, followed by a discussion between the audience and Kumi. Kumi Naidoo is a human rights and climate justice activist from South Africa. He was Executive Director of Greenpeace International (from 2009 through 2015) and Secretary General of Amnesty International (from 2018 through 2019). Kumi also served as the Secretary-General of CIVICUS, the international alliance for citizen participation, from 1998 to 2008. He was an activist against the apartheid regime and its educational system in South Africa. Naidoo’s activism went from neighbourhood organising and community youth work to civil disobedience with mass mobilisations against the white controlled apartheid government. He is the current President of the Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty Initiative.

This event is a joyful partnership between Climate Action Week Sydney, the Community Council for Australia, ImpactX, WWF-Australia and communities - you!

To see all events happening at Climate Action Week Sydney 2025 click here.