Farmers for Climate Action
$40,000 | November 2020
What do Farmers for Climate Action do?
FCA’s mission is to put those on the front lines of climate impacts at the forefront of climate solutions. Their vision is for Australia to be farming forever: we work to ensure emissions are reduced in a way that works for farming and rural communities, and that they are supported to be sustainable in the face of a changing climate.
FCA believe that if they organise farmers, graziers and agriculturalists to lead climate solutions on-farm and advocate together, they can influence our sector and governments to implement climate policies that reduce pollution and benefit rural communities.
FCA empower farmers to lead on climate action in their communities, and are committed to helping farmers learn more about climate science and policy and the roles they can play. They help them communicate with the public about climate change. This is critical as farmers are frequently recognised as some of the most trusted voices on climate change.
Why is this work important?
This project is designed to activate farmers and rural Australians to lead on climate solutions. They will receive support from the outreach coordinator and capacity building events to help their communities be sustainable and advocate for change across all levels of government. It reaches farmers and rural Australians where they are, and connects them with like-minded individuals to advocate together for climate solutions.
Farmers are one of the few groups that can break through the politics of climate change, and this project works to empower farmers to become voices on climate action in Australia. New research by 50 Acres demonstrates that they are trusted voices across all segments of the population when it comes to climate change. Not only does this project increase the number of Australian farmers calling for climate solutions, but it builds their capacity to advocate for change in their communities and across government.
By focussing on Northern New South Wales and South-Eastern Queensland, this project will also build the urgency for climate action in locations strategic to the broader climate context. With more farmers and rural Australians from this region advocating for climate solutions, this project can help limit the social and political licence for new gas exploration and build local support for investment in clean energy projects. By supporting more farmers and rural Australians to advocate for climate solutions, this project will enable greater leadership on climate solutions.
How is Groundswell supporting this work?
This grant will support FCAs Climate-Smart Communities project, which connects farmers and rural Australians to form local groups across Northern NSW and South-Eastern Queensland, building communities of support in the face of climate impacts who advocate together for solutions.
“These funds will mean we can employ a part-time state coordinator to cover northern NSW and SE Qld for 12 months. This role will have a significant impact on our ability to grow our farmer numbers in this strategically vital area of the country and mean our climate literate networks will build solidly as per our overall organisational strategy.”
Grant update
With Groundswell’s support, FCA achieved the following:
Over $30 million in funding for biodiversity and carbon projects, plus $200 million towards a national soils strategy in the Federal Budget
A series of events held across the Mallee electorate, including a Sunraysia Climate Smart Horticulture event that saw local MP Anne Webster distance herself from the Nats on coal
More than 50 volunteers signed up to our Tasmanian network plus lots of great engagement at Tasmanian field day, AgFest
Great turn out at our Road to Net Zero emissions webinars, the last few focussing on soils and building carbon
Over $180,000 committed by new funders to go towards our agriculture’s pathways to net zero emissions report, to be launched at Parliament House later this year
Commissioned Ernst and Young to research and produce a landmark report ‘Opportunities for Agriculture in a low emissions future’ which outlines a detailed triple bottom line (economic, social, environmental) analysis of pathways for achieving net zero emissions in Australian agriculture. The report is supported by industry bodies and representative groups across the sector. The report will support our major campaign this year, which is focussed on supporting agriculture to achieve zero emissions.
We are rolling out an organising strategy to reach new farmers across the country and support them to lead on climate solutions. We have hired part time organisers in the last six months for Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.