FROM VISION TO POWER
An extraordinary listening process that brought together the perspectives of 28,000 people across Oceania to dream into climate justice by 2050
It’s 2050, and the lands, oceans, forests and waterways have come alive again.
Mornings are filled with birdsong and children’s laughter. The air is clear, rivers run clean, and the reefs shine with colour once more. Across the continent — from desert to coast, city to bush — people live in balance with the land that sustains us.
This world is not perfect. Grief for what was lost remains. But it is hopeful — shaped by people who choose responsibility over greed, cooperation over division, and love for future generations over short-term gain.
Care — for each other, for Country, for the oceans that connect us and for generations yet to come — guides every choice we make. Insects and animals return to places where they had almost vanished. Not all losses can be undone, but the harm has stopped, and healing is underway.
We power our lives with the sun, wind, and water. Energy is affordable, reliable, and owned by communities, not corporations. Homes and cities stay cool and comfortable, with trees, shade, and green spaces woven through neighbourhoods. Streets are quieter, safer, and made for walking, cycling, and connection.
Food is grown close to home using regenerative practices that restore soils and respect animals. People eat well, waste less, and honour where food comes from. No one goes hungry. No one is left without shelter.
We share what we have and take only what we need. The old systems of greed and extraction have given way to cooperation and reciprocity. Fossil fuels and pollution are relics of the past. Reciprocity, regeneration and responsibility are the foundations of the future.
The economy measures success in wellbeing. Everyone has access to healthcare, education, meaningful work — and more time for creativity and community.
Politics has changed too. It is transparent, participatory, and accountable. Governments listen to science, act for the long term, and are held responsible. Communities lead, and diversity is celebrated. Education teaches empathy, ecology, and wisdom. The arts thrive. Life moves at a slower, more human pace. Corporate influence is limited. Polluters pay for the damage they caused. Decision-making serves the public good. First Nations peoples are respected as custodians of their lands and seas, their knowledge and authority embedded in governance.
Australia is part of a more cooperative world. Nations work together to protect the climate, support communities displaced by environmental damage, fund climate compensation, and prevent conflict by addressing inequality and injustice at their roots.
We know this future did not arrive by accident. It was built by ordinary people choosing courage over comfort, care over convenience, responsibility over denial. Above all, we remembered what truly matters. Care for Country, climate and communities.
A collage from our visioning crafternoon held in Magan-Djin (Brisbane)
A collage from our visioning crafternoon held in Magan-Djin (Brisbane)
Who did we hear from?
Through research, deep interviews, community events and an online survey, we gathered the perspectives of over 28,000 people across Oceania to inform this vision for climate justice.
- 14,500 people in Australia
- 3,000 people across the Pacific (Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Banaba - Rabi Island, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Marshall Islands)
- 10,600 people in Aotearoa New Zealand
Of the people who engaged in our survey:
- 49% are female, 47% male, 4% gender diverse
- 14% have a disability
- 12% are LGBTQIA+
- 4.5% are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
We had more people over the age of 60 take the survey than those 35 and under, but our research and events ensured youth perspectives were woven in. Every state and territory was covered, though we received the largest response from Victoria.
Our friends at Advocacy Research Network analysed 107 resources from 86 unique organisations across Oceania who had engaged in consultation processes for climate justice.
- 79% centre First Nations and Indigenous perspectives explicitly
- 30% youth
- 22% low-income communities
- 22% disaster affected communities
- 21% workers in the just transition.
We did interviews with 38 experienced climate and land justice organisers, facilitators, educators and researchers from across Oceania and held community events in Naarm (Melbourne), Magan-Djin (Brisbane), Taranaki (Aotearoa, NZ) and Niue.
Imagining the future with the Niue Organic Farmers Association
Imagining the future with the Niue Organic Farmers Association
Walking backwards into the future in Magan-Djin (Brisbane)
Walking backwards into the future in Magan-Djin (Brisbane)
Organised by SAPNA: South Asian Solidarity for Climate Justice
Organised by SAPNA: South Asian Solidarity for Climate Justice
Based on the insights we gathered through this process, we found that we have a lot in common! Here are the areas where we have strong consensus:
🌍 First Nations & Frontline Communities Hold the Keys
Those most impacted by climate damage must guide our responses—their wisdom and experience light the path forward.
⚖️ Legacy Polluters Must Pay Their Debt
Historical responsibility for emissions matters—we cannot build a just future on the foundation of past injustices.
🚫 End the Era of Extraction
Fossil fuel expansion must stop—our planet's future depends on drawing a permanent line in the sand.
🤝 Equity First, Climate Action Follows
Climate action must address existing inequalities—justice flows from the margins to the centre, not the other way around.
🌱 Two Worlds of Wisdom, One Path Forward
Both Indigenous knowledge and Western science are essential—ancient traditions cutting-edge innovation, united in service to life.
🛡️ Harm Reduction & Systems Transformation
Climate mitigation and adaptation are both necessary—disaster preparedness, climate resilience and building a new world.
⚙️ No Worker Left Behind
The just transition must ensure everyone has access to a liveable income and jobs that serve people and planet.
👥 People-Powered Change is Our Only Hope
Participatory processes are essential—when everyone has a seat at the table, we craft solutions that work for all.
In the Northern Territory, people are focussed on protecting water and biodiversity, First Nations land rights, building alternative economies to extractive industries and reducing the presence and prioritisation of the military.
From Tiwi to Timor-Leste and beyond coastal communities are working together to protect the Timor and Arafura seas from fossil fuel expansion.
In the Torres Strait, people are focussed on climate resilience, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, culture and language preservation, creating income on the islands so people don't need to move away and ocean protection.
In Queensland, people are focussed on a just transition from an economy built on coal, oil and gas toward one that is powered by people, the sun, wind and water.
In New South Wales, people are focussed on disaster response and recovery from bushfires and floods and securing a worker-led just transition to renewable energy - especially in places like the Hunter Valley.
In Victoria, people are focussed on bushfire response, protecting old-growth forests, Treaty, truth-telling and legal rights-based approaches to achieve climate and land justice.
In Tasmania, people are focussed on protecting ancient old growth forests and First Nations land rights.
In South Australia, people are focussed on accelerating the transition to clean energy and working in coalition.
In Western Australia, people are focussed on ending extractive industries, protecting sacred sites and marine life, supporting workers and communities through the energy transition and bringing worker's perspectives into the climate conversation.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, the focus is on constitutional transformation that truly honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori self-determination and land rights, protecting conservation lands and seabeds from mining and extraction and achieving new legal reforms like recognised personhood for ancestral rivers, mountains and forests.
In the Pacific the focus is on protecting island homes and culture, transitioning to a 100% renewable Pacific, securing funding from polluting nations to pay for climate damage and build resilient infrastructure, food justice, climate migration pathways and protecting the Pacific ocean.
Based our analysis of the insights that were shared, we've created nine pillars of climate and land justice which will guide and ground our work:
- Protect & Return First Nations Lands 🌏✊ Self-determination for First Peoples, where sovereignty is respected, lands are returned, and ancient wisdom guides our future.
- Protect Island Homes 🏝️🌊 Climate justice for our Torres Strait and Pacific family, where island nations lead the way and the world stands with them.
- Nature & Animals 🌿🦋 A world where ecosystems flourish, wildlife thrives, and humanity lives in harmony with the web of life.
- Fossil Free Futures & A Just Transition 🌞🔧 A renewable energy future powered by workers' rights, where communities transition together to a climate-safe world.
- Economic Justice 💰⚖️ An economy that serves people and planet, where wealth is shared and everyone has what they need to thrive.
- Food & Farming 🌱🍎 Farms that heal the earth, food that nourishes all communities, where growing sustains both people and planet.
- Home, Cities & Transport 🏘️🚲 Neighbourhoods where everyone belongs, connected by clean transport and designed for people, not profit.
- Democracy & Power 🗳️🌐 Power in the hands of all people, where every voice shapes our collective future and justice flows from the ground up.
- Peace & Cooperation 🕊️🤝 A global community working together, sharing resources, and building bridges instead of walls.
In order to bring this expansive vision to life, we know that we can't do it alone. That's why we've launched a new community campaign platform that empowers anyone, anywhere to be able to launch your own petition for climate justice at the local, regional, state, national or international level. The tool is totally free to use and our team of strategists, campaigners, organisers and storytellers will support you with training and resources to turn your idea into impact.
“In 2050, I imagine a world where our relationship with nature has been restored, and communities live in balance with their environment once again. Our rivers run clean, forests stand tall, and the knowledge of our ancestors guides how we care for the land and sea. Communities are self-reliant, drawing strength from both traditional wisdom and modern science, with young people proudly continuing the work of stewardship as part of who they are. The economy values care, reciprocity, and regeneration rather than extraction, and decisions are made with future generations in mind. For my community, it means living in safety and dignity—where culture, biodiversity, and wellbeing thrive together, and where the world finally recognises that our way of life is not “behind,” but ahead in showing how people and the planet can coexist."
Yolarnie Amepou, Papua New Guinea
OUR JOURNEY TO JUSTICE IN 2050
2026 - 2030
BUILD A POWERFUL MOVEMENT
2030 - 2040
CHANGE THE SYSTEM
2040 - 2050
TRANSFORM THE CULTURE
"Hello! You have woken to a beautiful day where there is no poverty, where no child goes without food, where Indigenous people are respected, where wars are a thing of the past, where the wealthy don't control our politicians. We achieved this by getting people everywhere to care about each other and to fight for justice for all. We stopped choosing leaders that only cared about power and wealth and we taxed the ultra rich to help repair this damaged world."
"Outside the birds greet the sun as it filters through the gum trees. We go out to our permaculture garden to get some fresh fruit to add to breakfast. After breakfast we go down to the river, crystal clear waters to swim and bathe in. The world is lush and green. Everyone has responsibilities to care for Country and keeps working on the long term plans we made back in 2026 to help nature come back, to create and foster spaces for the bush to be alive."
Our movement is funded by grants and donations so that we can remain independent and in service of the planet we all call home.
Will you donate to help make our vision a reality?
Thank you to the following organisations for contributing to our vision:
- Niue Organic Farmers Association
- Friends of the Earth Melbourne
- Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre
- Doctors for the Environment
- Democracy in Colour
- Environment Victoria
- SAPNA: South Asian Solidarity for Climate Justice
- Future Ancestors
- Advocacy Research Network
- Samoa Deaf Association
- Greenpeace Australia Pacific
- Banaban Human Rights Defenders' Network
- Rabi District Council of Social Services
- Multicultural Youth Council
- Bethlehem University
- Palestine Institute for Biodiversity Research
- Yuggera - Ugarapul Aboriginal Tribal Group
- Marshall Islands Embassy
- Australian Conservation Foundation
- Uto Ni Yalo Trust
- Pacific Islands Council of South Australia (PICSA)
- Pacific Climate Warriors
- The Piku Biodiversity Network, Papua New Guinea
- Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC)
People from these organisations were also interviewed in late 2024 and their insights were woven in:
- Nature Conservation Council of NSW
- Training for Change
- Ulex Project
- Conservation Council SA
- PermaQueer
- Australian Youth Climate Coalition
- GetUp!
- Murri Matters
- Mana Moana
- Jumbunna First Nations Land Justice Hub
- Ngāti Ruanui iwi
- Protect Ihumaatao
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