On 8 February 2025, the Act on Climate collective curated the first ever Climate Adaptation Fair at Borderlands Coop. It was a huge day of bringing people together from across Victoria to share and learn from each other about the climate impacts already affecting communities and how we can keep each other safe.
Check out the photos from the fair in this google drive folder and the recordings of the panel discussions here
Spanning across the Borderlands venue, panel discussions were held in the bluestone hall, workshops were undertaken inside and out in the garden, 25 stalls packed out another hall, overflowing outside into the courtyard. The couches in the garden, benches scattered around, bunting hanging about, and buzzing atmosphere created a festive feel, which was amplified by the lunchtime music set by Ellie Ware.
Over 200 people are estimated to have come to the event, with the well-attended opening panel discussion on Indigenous-led and community-led climate adaptation setting the scene for the day.
People learnt practical skills, and about their climate impact risks, discovered inspiring climate adaptation initiatives being implemented and made connections with others concerned about and/or working towards a more prepared world.
Important chats were had both in the buzzing hall of stalls and among tall corn in the quiet of the garden. Perfectly positioned between two heatwaves, the event wasn’t heavy in terms of the oppressive weather we’ve been experiencing this summer, and it fostered heavy conversations on an anxiety provoking topic with a lightness and feeling of being held by community. Wellbeing fairies and Psychology for a Safe Climate were both available for people to lean on if needed.
A perfect epitome of people coming together to make things happen, the event was accomplished with the help of over 30 Act on Climate volunteers, everyone was fed for free by Food Not Bombs, and it could not have been done without all the wonderful stallholders, panelists, and workshop presenters who brought their knowledge and skills to share.
Special mention to those coming from afar – Tati Tati, Latji Latji, Wadi Wadi, Mutti Mutti man, Brendan Kennedy from Tati Tati Kaiejin made the trip from Robinvale to Naarm to talk about First Nations rights to water and Country, healthy water and community self-determination; Sasha Mainsbridge of Mullum Cares from the flood-affected Northern Rivers in NSW came to share her experience and knowledge, and advocate for building back better after floods; and Mark Parnell from Yackandandah came to share about local energy and battery systems and Totally Renewable Yackandandah’s successes.
You can revisit the day’s program and speaker and stalls lists here. The recordings of all the panel discussions will be available soon to listen to at your leisure.
Practical and pretty raffle prizes donated by Very Edible Gardens (wicking bed conversion kit), Ecomaster (Renshade reflective foil and Find & Fix My Draughts courses), Nicky Minus (art prints), FoE Food Co-op (voucher), and Rebel Clay Jewellery (Aboriginal flag earrings) helped raise funds to cover costs and ended up in the hands of some grateful winners eager to put them to use. Bean Busker kept everyone caffeinated, filling up reusable cups with hot drinks from morning to late afternoon. While 3CR Radio recorded vox pop interviews with those there, ensuring the spirit and ideas of the day were not lost and could be shared far and wide.
We hope the event left people feeling empowered, inspired and more connected with others. We are in this together, and we can and must keep each other safe.
Act on Climate will continue to: add to its Examples of Climate Adaptation Initiatives document we displayed on the day; pressure the government for adequate, ongoing, and localised funding for climate adaptation through a Victorian Community Climate Adaptation Fund; help communities understand their specific climate risks, sensitivities and potential adaptation solutions through Community Resilience Mapping sessions; and host monthly Frontline Climate Alliance Vic online calls to support those wanting to advance climate adaptation in their community.
For those groups in the West who connected at the Climate Adaptation Fair and would like to stay connected, a WhatsApp group has been created for this purpose. Join here.
We hope you stay connected – with your community, with local social and environmental justice groups, and with us – and to see you at another event soon, or maybe at Climate Adaptation Fair 2026?
QUOTES FROM ATTENDEES:
“I met so many wonderful people and made lots of new connections, and everyone I spoke to felt the same.”
“I meant to just pop in but stayed for hours. I didn’t realise how much I needed to be reminded that there are so many of us committed and actively bringing about real action for a safe climate.” - Huong Truong
“It was a wonderful fair, so much warm helpful networking and support for our friends in this challenging movement.” - Sally, XR
“Yesterday was amazing! Seeing the Fair come together, the people who came to contribute and share their knowledge, the FoEM crew, and those coming along curious about what they might be able to do beyond personal actions. I was so happy to be a part of it.” - Kathi, AoC collective member
Disasterwise has its own recap blog post of the fair here, and Urban Guerillas has a cute reel up on Instagram.
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.
