Cairns Far North Environment Centre

$40,000 | September 2022

 
 

What do Cairns Far North Environment Centre do?

CAFNEC leads and empowers their members and member groups to grow the climate movement and take action for a safe climate and vibrant FNQ environment, pushing government and industry decision makers to take action to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect nature in FNQ. They lead focused campaigns that build community and demand action on strategic issues, creating tangible change for a safe climate and vibrant FNQ environment, because they have addressed many broadly felt symptoms by focusing their energy and resources on structural change.

Why is this work important?

The recent Federal Election has demonstrated that across the country people are calling for increased action on climate change. With a state election on the horizon in Queensland now is the time to show the State Government that they should expect the same pressure in Far North Queensland. Here, there are three key Labor seats – Cook which relies on the vote of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voters, and Barron and Cairns which both rely on the progressive green vote (particularly Barron). CAFNEC’s work will ensure that the members of parliament for these seats will be hearing from constituents about the importance of climate action for their vote, and no fossil fuel extraction in the region. This is particularly important now as QLD has the lowest ambition for emissions reduction and a target that is not aligned with the Paris Agreement and because of the federal government's continued push for a gas recovery.

How is Groundswell supporting this work?

CAFNEC has been approached by Aboriginal leaders from Atampaya, Taepadhighi and Wuthathi groups in Cape York who are concerned about attempted negotiations with elders to agree to proposals to drill for oil and gas in the Bamaga Basin, and a renewed push for a gas pipeline from PNG to Gladstone. This as an opportunity to host an in person event (covid permitting) to connect leaders from Cape York with First Nation leaders fighting the Barossa Gas Proposal in the Tiwi Islands, and the Torres Strait Eight fighting for their human rights to a safe climate. Connecting these leaders will be a powerful learning experience and help to lift up the climate leaders in Cape York.

Additionally CAFNEC’s Community Organiser is working towards a FNQ Environment Roundtable, which will be hosted in Port Douglas in October 2022. This roundtable brings together CAFNEC member groups and partners from across the region (both non-indigenos community groups and Aborigingal Ranger Groups) to identify the connections in their collective work and to create coalitions and collaborations to be more effective in reaching their goals. FNQ is bigger than Victoria, and bringing together their more than 35 member groups from across the region is a unique opportunity to build stronger connections in their movement which is spread across large distances and spaces.

Grant update

CAFNEC has combined the power of the Core funding and Caring for Country Grant to get great outcomes through two key events:

  1. The 2022 Far North Queensland (FNQ) Environment Roundtable 

  2. The 2023 Puti’Ki Ni’Ripono On Country Meeting

For both these events CAFNEC team members collaborated with leaders in our membership to ensure the success of the events and lift up the leadership in our region. 

2022 FNQ Environment Roundtable impact statement:

We are seeing our member groups evolve the relationships into collaborations. Sharing resources, doing joint projects and start to really understand the power through coalition. 

Increasing understanding of the value of different knowledge systems working together, and the shared ambition for a new system that respects land sovereignty and the environment a priority is emerging. 

More than anything the event helps people feel their solidarity. FNQ is a large region where people can feel isolated and that they’re fighting an uphill battle. The sentiment in the room over the two days was of real solidarity and togetherness. Knowing that there are many other groups and people doing similar work and that no one is alone. 

Puti’Ki Ni’Ripono On Country Meeting impact statement:

Teppethiggi Traditional Custodians, Nerida and Temaleti, have been trying to have these conversations for a number of years now, but weren’t taken seriously by the community or other organisations in the Cape. By teaming up with CAFNEC we were able to present together and demonstrate the reality of the situation and ground people in what they can do and how they can be involved. 

Helping Traditional Owners in Cape York get to know CAFNEC and the way that we can work together. The difference about working with CAFNEC is that we have the same agenda, which is Caring for Country, who respect our leadership and don’t see us as troublemakers, or have their own agenda. We are working in partnership for the benefit of our people and Country across Northern Australia. 

The Traditional Owners on the Western Cape, Tjungundji, Yupunguthi, Thanakwith, Yinwum, Alngith, Angkamuthi, Gudang - Yadakana and Teppethiggi, are continuing to talk together and look at how they can learn more and advocate together.

There are more people willing to participate in the conversation, because Elders are talking to the community about the issues. The trusted knowledge now has the information and is sharing, which means that more community members are getting involved. 

New and deeper relationships exist across Northern Australia, and a shared commitment to stopping fossil fuel extraction, caring for country and a safe climate.