Climate Defenders Australia

Climate Defenders Australia is an independent, not-for-profit specialist legal service dedicated to protecting, empowering, and advancing the rights of frontline climate and environmental defenders in Australia.

Groundswell Grants
2025
$
40000

This grant supported Climate Defenders Australia to provide specialist legal protection for people taking non-violent action on climate and environmental issues. The funding helped expand legal education, advice and representation, develop plain-language Know Your Rights and digital security resources, and support climate defenders facing increasingly restrictive protest laws. The work also strengthened legal support around major mobilisations including Rising Tide’s People’s Blockade in Newcastle, helping more people participate in climate advocacy with greater legal protection and confidence.

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Funded by Groundswell

Provided legal support to 400 climate activists

Climate Defenders Australia has backed climate activists in hundreds of legal cases across the country, helping people facing arrest, fines and jail defend their right to protest. Their work is keeping campaigners in the fight and protecting the movement’s ability to keep pushing for climate action.

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Wherever we are in this country, we are on Country.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Traditional Custodians, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

We honour their enduring care for Country and the First Nations leadership our climate future depends on.

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