For organisations concerned with social justice, there is growing recognition that the consequences of harm to the natural environment are felt more acutely by disadvantaged people and communities.

A ‘climate impasse’ has typified climate policy in Australia. There has been a lack of bold and strategic action and policies that address the need to transform our society, economy and mechanisms for producing energy at the scale and speed necessary to address the existential risk posed by climate change.

In our submission, we reference our Ecological Justice Hub in Brunswick, a permaculture garden and community centre dedicated to building ecological awareness, restoring our regenerative relationship with nature, and working collaboratively with others towards a sustainable society that includes both social and environmental justice. The Ecological Justice Hub has successfully tested a model of community advocacy, education and training, jobs pathways and green living demonstration projects through the development of a range of education and skills training programs.

We set out a number of recommendations for government, including:

  • Increase funding and resources for organisations and communities seeking to trial, test and implement climate change adaptation, mitigation and transformation activities.
  • Support actions to increase awareness within the community services sector of ecological justice and how to minimise environmental injustice and inequity, with a focus on organisational culture and program delivery.
  • Further funding for the Ecological Justice Hub and centres like it to increase equity of access to ecological literacy and skills.

Read our submission to the inquiry here.