Your questions answered!

What is the Climate Council?

Climate Council is Australia’s own independent, evidence-based organisation on climate science, impacts and solutions.

We connect decision-makers, the public and the media to catalyse action at scale, elevate climate stories in the news and shape the conversation on climate consequences and action, at home and abroad.

We advocate for climate policies and solutions that can rapidly drive down emissions, based on the most up-to-date climate science and information.

We do this in partnership with our incredible community: thousands of generous, passionate supporters and donors, who have backed us every step of the way since they crowd-funded our beginning as a non-profit organisation in 2013.

Who are the Climate Councillors?

The Climate Council is headed up by Chief Councillor and former Australian of the Year, Professor Tim Flannery. Our Climate Councillors are some of Australia’s leading climate scientists, energy, health and policy experts. Find out more about them here.

Where does your funding come from?

We are completely independent and rely on tax deductible donations from the public and philanthropy. In 2013, thousands of Australians chipped in to become Founding Friends of the Climate Council, together raising more than $1 million. As far as we know, it was the biggest crowd-funding campaign in Australia’s history at the time. Make a tax deductible donation here to power our critical work.

How do I join?

Subscribe to the Climate Council today to receive emails from our expert Councillors, campaigners and communicators about the latest climate science, impacts and solutions – and how you can accelerate action with us. Or find out more about how you can get involved here.

How do I make a donation?

You can make a tax deductible donation here. We accept donations via Credit Card, PayPal, Cheque or Direct Debit.

What does my donation go towards?

Climate Council is a not-for-profit that relies on donations from the public. Your contributions fund a team of staff and volunteers who power our work, including expert researchers and communicators who are shaping the national conversation on climate change, and pushing for a clean energy-powered future. Make a tax deductible donation here to power our critical work.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. The Climate Council was endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient from 17th August 2015. Donations made as gifts over $2 to the Climate Council of Australia Fund after this date are tax deductible in Australia.

I already contribute a regular donation. How do I update my information?

  • Credit Card: please email or call us on (02) 9356 8505
  • PayPal: please update your details via your PayPal settings menu.
  • Direct Deposit: please contact your bank directly to update payment details.

Are there other ways I can get involved?

Yes, absolutely! Check out our Get Involved page for more information.

Are the Councillors volunteers, or do they get paid for their time?

When the Climate Council was established, all Councillors committed to volunteer their time for six months, to ensure we could continue to produce independent, evidence-based information about climate change, following the abolition of the Climate Commission.

After the first six months, our Board decided that Councillors would receive remuneration for time spent on Council activities. This ensures we can continue to draw on the knowledge and experience of world-class experts, to provide Australians with the best possible information on climate change.

You haven’t got back to my query yet, how come?

Sorry if we haven’t gotten back to you yet! We receive a high volume of questions and suggestions. Please be patient with us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Can I volunteer?

As a small organisation, the Council currently only has capacity to manage a very small number of volunteers. Though we’re not accepting applications, keep an eye on our volunteer page for updates.