Sydney to lead the charge on climate action with Climate Action Week Sydney 2025: Shifting to optimism and action

Monday 17 February 2025: As global urgency around climate action intensifies, Climate Action Week Sydney 2025 (CAW.SYD.25) is set to take centre stage from March 10-16, bringing individuals, businesses, and communities together to collaborate, celebrate progress, and accelerate the transition to a zero-emission, nature-positive future.

“We are at a critical threshold. Last year was the hottest on record and the devastating impacts of climate change are only accelerating. The urgency is clear, but so is the opportunity,” said Ed Schmidt, Director of the Climate Action Foundation, which coordinates CAW.SYD.25. "Climate Action Week Sydney is happening at a pivotal moment as communities, governments, and industries around the world seek solutions to the escalating climate crisis. Sydney is becoming a global hub for climate action and is leading the way by bringing together influential voices, industry leaders, and grassroots changemakers to share stories of impact and inspire action.” “We must accelerate the shift to optimism and action. Now is the time to focus on the ‘positive tipping points’ that can accelerate us out of this crisis. Climate Action Week Sydney events are open to all - free or low-cost - because it’s critical for everyone to come together, collaborate and drive greater action as the climate crisis intensifies,” said Mr Schmidt. This year’s program, which already boasts over 230 community-led events, will bring together leaders and changemakers through a diverse and impactful program, including:

The CAW.SYD Opening Day event: Featuring The Hon. Penny Sharpe (NSW Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage), Prof. Ross Garnaut (The Superpower Institute), Martijn Wilder AM (Chair, National Reconstruction Fund), Dr Guy Debelle (CEFC), Cnr. Jess Miller (City of Sydney Council) and Chris Turney (Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research at UTS).

The Solutions House: Featuring Prof. Tim Lenton, a leading expert on climate tipping points from the University of Exeter, Simon Holmes-a-Court (Climate200), Natalie Isaacs (1 Million Women) on the role Women can play in leadership, Matt Kean (Chair of the Climate Change Authority), Lauren Sorkin (Executive Director for the Resilient Cities Network), Greg Mullins AO (former commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales), and Prof. Dennis Del Favero (Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow).

Future Generations Day: Featuring Indiana Rhind (Founder of Farmwall), Kal Glanzig (Youth Ocean Advocate and Sutherland Shire Councillor), Julie Bolton (Monash Sustainable Development Institute), Amy Low (Piping Hot) and Ruby Wake (OzHarvest).

Multiple art installations, exhibitions and ‘hands on events’ including an augmented reality art exhibition at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, an interactive ‘Climate Playhouse’ for children at The Australian Museum and a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of UNSW’s Sunswift Racing Lab.

Multiple events exploring how AI technology can be deployed to make communities more resilient, including in fighting bushfires, and in tackling climate change. ‍

Tickets for many CAW.SYD.25 events are now available – with more to be released in the lead up to the week-long program of events at www.caw.sydney/events.

‍NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Heritage The Hon. Penny Sharpe said, “NSW is proud to be part of Climate Action Week to bring together those working on the solutions we need to protect the future for our children. It has never been more important to join communities across the globe that are taking positive action to address climate change.”

The CAW.SYD.25 program spotlights urgent climate themes, including: ‍

Protecting and leveraging nature – Harnessing natural solutions and biodiversity conservation to combat climate change. ‍

Sustainable and resilient cities – Rethinking urban spaces to ensure communities thrive in a changing climate. ‍

Financing a viable future – Driving investment in sustainable solutions and a low-carbon economy. ‍

Regenerative futures – Restoring ecosystems for long-term environmental health and sustainability. ‍

Mobilising all-of-society climate action – Encouraging collaboration across sectors to deliver real change. ‍

Supporting the industrial transition – Helping businesses and industries adopt cleaner, more sustainable practices.

Commenting on the urgency of global action, Professor Tim Lenton Chair in Climate Change at the University of Exeter said: “Many countries are accelerating their energy transition, and we must learn from these positive signals. It’s time to flip the script – by focusing not just on the challenges but also on the progress being made globally. To get out of a climate crisis we need to accelerate action to get to zero greenhouse gas emissions. Now more than ever, we need collaboration, partnership, and investment to drive the urgent changes required. The moment for action is now. Climate Action Week Sydney can be a catalyst for this urgent transition and a path to progress and change in the region.”

Following the success of the inaugural Climate Action Week Sydney in 2024, which saw over 6,300 attendees across 115 events, CAW.SYD.25 aims to drive an even greater impact with the support of major sponsors, including the NSW Government, Future Super, and Salesforce. Official Partner the City of Sydney and Founding Partner Greenhouse also continue to drive this transformative week-long program of events. ‍

Christina Hobbs, General Manager, Advocacy and Impact at Future Group, a major sponsor of CAW.SYD.25 said, “Future Super is proud to be supporting Climate Action Week Sydney. We’re particularly excited to see climate solution start-ups given a platform and the valuable space to connect with investors. The need for idea sharing and innovation on climate action has never been more urgent, and this is a great opportunity for passionate, solutions-oriented discussion.” ‍

Alexandra McDonald, Climate and Nature Lead at Salesforce ANZ, a major sponsor of CAW.SYD.25 said, “Sustainability is a core value at Salesforce. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable our customers to accelerate their journey to net zero with Agentforce and Net Zero Cloud. As AI transforms how we live and work, we’re focused on ensuring it is both sustainable and equitable across our operations, ecosystem, and investments. As proud supporters of Climate Action Week Sydney 2025, we look forward to engaging with peers, partners, and businesses across the city, working together to ensure sustainability remains at the core of our growth and innovation.”

"Sydney has the potential to lead the world in climate action, but change starts with people. CAW.SYD.25 is about elevating the voices that don’t ordinarily get heard—the local changemakers, Indigenous leaders, innovators, and business pioneers driving real solutions. This is an opportunity to collaborate, share resources, and build a movement from the bottom up,” Ed Schmidt from the Climate Action Foundation added.

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