How can we build resilient communities and face climate impacts collectively? As part of the 2025 National Sustainability Festival, the Act on Climate collective has organised a Climate Adaptation Fair on 8 Feb at Borderlands Cooperative in Footscray from 10am-4pm to explore what community-led climate adaptation looks like.
There will be panel discussions, stalls, workshops, food, a lunchtime music session and coffee.
Climate impacts are here now. Come along to find out how we - the people - can keep each other safe and to discover inspiring examples of climate adaptation already happening.
What's happening & who will be at Climate Adaptation Fair 2025?
Join us at the Climate Adaptation Fair 2025!
Come along and attend some panel discussions and a workshop, and make time to chat to the stallholders, as well as enjoy the lunch provided by Food Not Bombs and a coffee (or two!) from the coffee cart that will be on site.
The fair will be a showcase of all things climate adaptation through stalls, workshops, and talks.
Running from 10am-4pm on 8 February 2025 at Borderlands Co-op, 30A Pickett St, Footscray, which is a wheelchair accessible venue, it’ll be a day of celebrating and uplifting community-led climate adaptation!
What can we - the people - do to keep each other safe? There will be information on adapting to locked-in climate change impacts - how we keep each other safe.
What are we - the people - already doing to keep each other safe? Those already implementing projects in their communities will share their story and knowledge, so others can be inspired and learn how to do the same in their communities.
Come and learn about and be inspired by community-led climate adaptation with us!
**No need to register for panel discussions, but you MUST register to attend a workshop due to limited space - info and links below!**
This event is free but we are seeking donations to cover event costs and to continue our work preparing communities for locked-in climate impacts. If you can, donate to the Act on Climate collective here: https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/climatedonate
This event is part of National Sustainability Festival 2025.
Bluestone Hall Panel Discussions Program:
10:15-10:30: Event Opening & Acknowledgement of Country
10:30-11.30am: Caring for Country & Community Ourselves
Hear from these speakers on Indigenous-led and Community-led climate adaptation:
- Facilitator: Kim Croxford, Dindi Transition/FoE Forests Collective
- Brendan Kennedy, Tati Tati Kaiejin
- Shweta Kawatra Dakin, GenWest
- Amanda Kelly, Women’s Health Goulburn North East
- Kate Fawcett, DisasterWISE
11.35-12:15pm: Heat Impacts
Hear from these speakers on health impacts and adaptation solutions:
- Facilitator: Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins, Darebin Neighbourhood House Network Climate Justice Coordinator
- Sophie Emder, Sweltering Cities
- Genevieve Cowie, Doctors for the Environment
- Beth Hebdon, Urban Guerrillas
- Rebecca Abernethy, Enliven Multicultural Heat Heroes
12:20-1pm: Energy/Comms Security During Disasters
Hear from these speakers on solutions for energy and communications security:
- Facilitator: Pat Simons, FoE Yes 2 Renewables Collective
- Wendy Farmer, Voices of the Valley
- Mark Parnell, Totally Renewable Yackandandah
- Jade Ambrose, Merri-bek Tech
1-1.45pm: Lunch break - vegan food provided by Food Not Bombs
1.45-2.25pm: Creating Resilient Communities
Hear from these speakers on the role of social infrastructure in community resilience:
- Facilitator: Sarah Powers, FoE Act on Climate Collective
- Carmen Lahiff-Jenkins, Darebin Neighbourhood House Network Climate Justice Coordinator
- Anitra Nelson, Degrowth Network Australia
- Elena Pereyra, Cohousing Australia
2.30-3.10pm: Climate Impacts at Work
Hear from these speakers on work-related climate impacts:
- Zarah Rhodes, United Workers Union
- Colin Long, Just Transitions Organiser Victorian Trades Hall Council
- Inge Christinawaty, South Monash Legal Service
- Catherine Strong, Associate Professor RMIT Music Industry program
3.15-3:55pm: Local Food Security
Hear from these speakers on agricultural climate adaptation:
- Facilitator: Peter Gartside, Footscray Community Garden & Learning Place
- Zarah Copeland, Australian Ecosystems
- Nick Rose, Sustain - The Australian Food Network
- Josh Collings, Acres and Acres Co-Op
Workshops Program:
Follow the links to register - RSVPs essential for workshops!
Join Asian Australians for Climate Solutions for an engaging workshop that unpacks the pivotal role of human activity in climate change, offering practical strategies and daily choices to reduce our carbon footprint and embrace sustainability. Participants will learn about the benefits of electrifying homes, using public transport, cycling, or walking, and the significance of planting and protecting trees.
The session will cover the profound effects of climate change on everything from our homes and health to food availability and cost of living. It will also explore the causes of climate change with a focus on the energy, transport, and agriculture sectors. Practical tips on reducing waste, mindful consumption, and the benefits of local food choices will guide participants on how to make environmentally responsible decisions daily.
Following the informative workshop, enjoy a cooking demonstration that embodies the principles of sustainability discussed. Learn how to prepare delicious, low-impact meals that are good for you and the planet.
This workshop aims to empower attendees with the knowledge and tools to make informed choices that prioritise the health of our planet for future generations. The event will conclude with a panel discussion, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage with experts and ask questions. Come empower yourself to make choices that help build a sustainable future!
Why is improving soil health climate adaptation? Improved soil health creates a healthy environment for growing plants and natural resilience to protect against pests and diseases. Healthy soil also has plenty of organic matter and a good structure for retaining thousands of gallons of water—reducing runoff in times of flood and preserving more water for times of drought. And , living roots in healthy soil hold the topsoil in place, preventing it from eroding during heavy rains.
Learn the art and science of how to team with worms and microbes to turn waste into rich organic topsoil - the cornerstone of organic gardening and ultimately human health.
The session includes all theory you'll need to deal with most common problems, and then hands-on demonstrations on compost making, and how to set up and maintain a worm farm.
This citizen science workshop will engage the community in conversations about extreme heat through an interactive temperature monitoring activity on the streets of Footscray. Together, we will explore local heat impacts and solutions, and how we can come together to advocate for solutions as our summers become hotter and harder for all of us to cope with. Groups will spend 20 minutes using temperature monitors around the venue, and then we’ll do a debrief and reflections back in the room.
Sweltering Cities is a national health NGO and we work with communities across Australia to amplify real heatwave stories and campaign for community-driven solutions. We are the national community voice for heat safety. Sweltering Cities is launching Australia’s first Extreme Heat Awareness Day on February 5th with partners across the country. This workshop is part of the exciting actions that are happening during this week to raise national awareness about rising temperatures and the growing threat of extreme heat across the country.
This interactive seminar introduces participants to an understanding of the emotional impacts of climate change and sustainability issues. We explore the importance of care and compassion for one’s self to build resilience for the long term, and offer a chance for people to talk and listen to each other to help build greater connection, understanding and resilience.
It will be facilitated by Beth and Bronwyn from Psychology for a Safe Climate. Dr Beth Hill is a certified Work that Reconnects Facilitator, and Programs Manager with Psychology for a Safe Climate. Dr Bronwyn Gresham is a clinical psychologist, Good Grief Network Facilitator, and CEO with Psychology for a Safe Climate.
In the face of the climate crisis, it's essential to be prepared for increasingly severe weather events. Meet with volunteers from SES Footscray unit to learn how to protect your property against storm and flood damage, and plan to stay safe during weather-related emergencies.
Learn how to reclaim the commons for the benefit of the community and improve our collective resilience. More info to come, in the meantime check out Guerilla Gardening Naarm's instagram to see what they're about.
Stalls:
- Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) is a neighborhood volunteer group aiming to power their town with 100% renewable energy. Since 2014, they have installed a microgrid and virtual power plant with 251 participants, along with community solar panels and batteries, and heat pump hot water systems.
- Asian Australians for Climate Solutions (AAFCS) is a charity dedicated to increasing sustainable practices, climate activism, and climate literacy among Asian Australians. They have created resources, attended conferences, and conducted community workshops including cooking demonstrations that honour the cultural perspectives and traditions of Asian Australians.
- Enliven’s Multicultural Heat Heroes is a charity focused on improving heat health knowledge in multicultural communities, which are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat events. Enliven works with communities in South-East Melbourne to deliver culturally appropriate workshops, consultations, and resources.
- DisasterWISE is a platform for sharing climate initiatives across Australia. It prioritises self-sustaining, community-led actions and First Nations involvement through an interactive forum, knowledge base, blog, and gatherings.
- Guerrilla Gardening Naarm is a community garden in Coburg that provides free spaces for growing food. They promote localised food systems as a means of building food security and fostering stronger communities in response to the cost of living and climate crises.
- Degrowth Network Australia (DNA) connects degrowth advocates across the country. Degrowth is a movement advocating for reduced production and consumption, in order to prioritise social and ecological well-being over corporate profit. DNA provides forums and spaces to share practical projects and research.
- Climate Action Maribyrnong is a neighbourhood volunteer group working to engage their local council in creating a climate action plan. The group raises awareness about climate issues and solutions, organises letter-writing campaigns to key representatives, and hosts community education and activism events.
- WestSide Cohousing Cooperative is a group of residents aiming to establish a cohousing community in Inner West Melbourne. Their goal is to create affordable, community-owned and managed, and ecologically sustainable housing.
- The Adaptation Game (TAG) is a playful workshop offered to local councils or community partners. Participants simulate their community’s response to the next 10 years of climate change. The game aims to reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety about climate change and foster a sense of agency to act early.
- Environment Victoria: Western Metro Melbourne is an independent charity campaigning to protect the Victorian environment. Past achievements include advocating for water conservation laws, campaigning for the creation of Grampians National Park, and working with First Nations people to secure more water for the Murray River. Their current focus is replacing coal power stations with clean energy.
- South-East Monash Legal Services (SMLS): Climate Justice Lawyers is a community legal centre that provides free legal assistance to eligible residents in South-East Melbourne. Their climate justice lawyers offer climate-conscious legal help and address the legal consequences of climate change.
- Sapna South Asian Climate Solidarity is a collective of South Asian Australians advocating for climate justice. The group aims to diversify climate activism by sharing stories of how climate change is already affecting South Asian communities. They also distinguish between real climate solutions, and false solutions that worsen injustices against South Asians.
- Urban Guerrillas is a Melbourne-based environmental group working to restore indigenous biodiversity. They organise community planting sessions and educational workshops. Currently, UG is using council grants to restore sections of Gardiners Creek.
- Borderlands Cooperative is a social and ecological justice group based in Footscray. The group organises information sessions, campaigns, and social support groups. Their central values include local knowledge, resources, and participation.
- BikeWest is a volunteer lobby group advocating for safe cycling facilities in West Melbourne. They raise awareness of safety concerns, contact local councils, and participate in councils’ community engagement projects.
- Sustainable Cities is a community-led campaign advocating for better bus services in West Melbourne. Members attend protests, meet with councils, and share stories highlighting the impact of inadequate public transport. They advocate for a frequent, connected network of electric buses.
- Merri-bek Tech is a neighbourhood non-profit group building a local network based on renewables and open-source software. Their goal is to become resilient to cell reception and power outages, which are becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis.
- Rad Housing (Retrofit and Decommodify (RAD) Housing) has the goal of collectively acquiring, retrofitting, and decommodifying existing suburban housing so that we, and others, can live in resilient and affordable housing.
- Retrofit and Decommodify (RAD) Housing is a collective housing model, based on the emerging Brassica Collective in North Melbourne. The collective focuses on retrofitting housing for extreme weather and decommodifying property. They host workshops and provide guidelines for implementing collective housing within the Victorian financial and legal context.
- SES Footscray Unit is a unit of local volunteers who provide support during non-life-threatening storms and fires, assist with search and rescue operations, and educate communities about emergency preparedness.
- Extinction Rebellion (XR) Westside is an international movement calling for immediate governmental climate action. XR organizes non-violent civil disobedience and conducts training sessions to prepare participants for police involvement.
- Sustain: The Australian Food Network is a charity based in North Melbourne that designs and supports sustainable food systems, from farm to plate. They collaborate with businesses, community groups, and councils to conduct research and create action plans, offering consulting and information sessions.
- Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) is a collective of medical doctors advocating for climate action, biodiversity protection, and sustainable healthcare. DEA highlights the impact of climate change on mental and physical health. They convert scientific data into educational materials and provide an insider pathway to decision-makers.
- Psychology for a Safe Climate is a non-profit organisation of Australian mental health professionals. They support individuals facing the psychological impacts of the climate emergency through workshops, professional support spaces, and research publications.
- Art Disrupt is an independent studio based in St Kilda. They help collaborators create ads, artwork, and games which amplify messaging for a better social and ecological future.
- Maribyrnong Council Sustainability Team provides resources and advice to help individuals reduce their environmental impact, as well as how the community can work together to defend its homes and communities against climate change.
- Act on Climate is the climate justice collective of Friends of the Earth Melbourne. Current campaigns run by the collective are supporting climate adaptation in Victoria. Its grassroots campaign is community led and it is pushing for the government to invest in climate adaptation and take initiative to create the conditions needed to withstand the climate crisis.
Stay tuned for further updates from Friends of the Earth's Act on Climate collective as we campaign for community-led climate adaptation by signing up for campaign updates here.
If you haven't already, please add your name to the call for a Victorian Community Climate Adaptation Fund. We need community-led climate adaptation that is continuously and adequately funded. This funding will enable communities to fulfil their plans to build resilient communities in a changing climate and keep those most at risk safe.