WCC Charter for Change

Women's Climate Congress Charter for Change 2022

We are excited to present a revised draft of our WCC Charter for Change - calling for immediate action on climate change and long-term actions for ongoing human and planetary wellbeing.

This version has been revised based on the many useful comments from members and contacts on our initial draft.

Scroll down to read our illustrated web version of the Charter below.

Watch a video here to to see an overview of the Charter key themes and calls to action

Download a printable text version here

Join with other women at the National Congress of Women to bring the Charter to life.
Please send your comments, ideas and suggestions to us by email to womensclimatecongress@gmail.com

Opening statements

Why do we need a Charter?
We women of the Women’s Climate Congress and others despair that Earth is hurtling towards catastrophic climate change that humanity is failing to mitigate and repair.

We grieve the unfolding and potentially irreversible impacts on all current and future life unless immediate and effective action is taken.

This Charter is a call to action from the hearts of women, in all of our diversity, to urgently secure the climate and build ongoing human and planetary wellbeing. To this end, we urge collaboration and cooperation in governance to build inclusive, fair and united policy approaches.

The Charter is aimed at government, business, nongovernment organisations, communities and individuals. By working together across diverse interests and ways of knowing, and following scientific advice we are better prepared for the existential challenges we face.

The Charter as a call to action
Impelled by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20, women came together in grief to find a new way forward for action on climate change. The Women’s Climate Congress (WCC) was born. We drew inspiration from the 1915 International Congress of Women and their resolutions to bring a peaceful end to World War 1 and to create the conditions for a lasting and sustainable peace. [1]

We know that we need to take action urgently and we need to take it together. Set in the framework of the Women’s Climate Congress vision, values and commitment statement, this charter aims to provide a framework that reflects the aspirations of women for that action.

We acknowledge and celebrate that ‘women’ are a diverse group. Intersecting identities within the group and individuals lead to unique experiences of response to climate change and other issues, which we seek to recognise and address.

The calls to action in this Charter have emerged through community conversations, monthly online events and other forums with women from all over Australia over the past two years. We have also drawn on values expressed in other national and international frameworks. [2]

Our proposed actions are offered as a starting point for waves of action that can be supported by women everywhere through individual, collective, organisational and government activities. They will also form the basis of the ongoing advocacy work of the WCC. They are underpinned by more detailed WCC position papers available on our website.

Like the women of 1915, we seek two levels of action:

immediate and urgent actions to secure the climate; and
deeper, transformative actions for lasting human and planetary health and wellbeing.

[1] See How the women of 1915 speak to us in the 21st century: We move forward by looking back
[2] Such as the Earth Charter, UN Sustainable Development Goals and UN Commission on the Status of Women CSW66 Agreed Conclusions, and the national vision for Australia developed by Australia Remade

Immediate actions to stabilise the climate
These are core areas for the WCC relating to our vision for urgent nonpartisan collaboration and women's leadership to achieve climate balance by 2030.

Our current government and organisational systems are based on a colonial and patriarchal past, which reflect a predominantly male worldview and attitude to wellbeing. Women, in all their diversity, bring different voices and attitudes that are crucial to create balance in policy priorities and evaluations for decisions relating to the future sustenance of life and custodianship of the planet.
We call for:

Quotas and other structural processes to allow women of diverse backgrounds to have equal access to, and full participation in, policy development and decision making at all levels.
Women to have shared and equal counsel in all national and international forums for developing action on climate change, environmental protection, and to create lasting planetary wellbeing.
A multiparty women’s group (‘Women’s Caucus’) in all federal state and territory parliaments to encourage women to work together on issues of common concern among women.
A formal process of review for all proposed legislation to assess potential impacts on women, children and the environment.

Climate change is intertwined with global patterns of inequality. The most vulnerable people bear the brunt of climate change impacts yet contribute the least to the crisis. It follows that societies like Australia, which have materially benefitted most from population expansion, land use, lifestyle demands for fossil fuels, transport, excessive consumption and other privileges, have a greater level of responsibility for restorations.
We call for:

Australian governments to take leadership in international efforts to secure the climate, in line with scientific findings, analysis and advice.
Governments, climate agencies and industry to cooperate in taking climate action in the interests of young people, future generations and survival of life on Earth.
Serious and respectful consultation with First Nations peoples about land and water understanding and management.
Incorporation of climate risk into corporate law to reflect relevant duties of care.
Policies and programs that support and encourage Australians from all walks of life to make the changes needed to secure the climate.

To reach a scientifically informed consensus, a process is needed to enable diverse stakeholders to consider the issues together respectfully. This would offer an opportunity for diverse interests to collaborate in finding just and sustainable ways to stabilise the climate and secure a safe future for all.
We call for:
Multiparty commitment to develop a National Plan to address climate risks with:

an independent process for mediation of stakeholder issues (agriculture, mining, energy, manufacturing, First Peoples, community, government etc)
protocols to avoid conflicts of interest.

The National Plan to include actions to:

phase out fossil fuels in line with IPCC recommendations and international commitments
plan immediate transition from fossil fuels to sustainable future fuel industries, ensuring extensive community participation and planning and with close attention to community values and regional vulnerabilities.
plan for adaptation of other carbon intensive activities (such as transport, manufacturing, mining, forestry, agriculture) to regenerative and carbon neutral approaches.
address risks from extreme weather and climate impacts already under way to ensure wellbeing for affected communities.

See Building a unified national agreement for Australia’s climate response , Women's Climate Congress, 2020

Principles for human and planetary wellbeing

The election cycle creates a short-term imperative for policies. But securing the wellbeing of future human generations and of all Earth life needs long-term planning and a commitment to generations into the future.
In 2016, Wales was the first international jurisdiction to appoint a Future Generations Commissioner. The UN has called on other countries to follow suit and establish governance mechanisms that place future generations at the centre of decisions, ensuring their voice at the policy level.
Other jurisdictions have introduced ‘rights of nature' laws. For example, ‘rights of nature’ was enshrined in Ecuador’s 2008 Constitution and Bolivia’s 2010 ‘Rights of Mother Earth’ Act. In New Zealand, several ecosystems now have legal rights, including the Whanganui River and the Urewera Forest.
We call for:

Introduction of ‘Protection of Future Generations Legislation’ similar to the Welsh model, with a particular responsibility to respond to the voices of young people.
Rigorous attention to State of Environment reports to uphold the rights of nature, restore damage and prevent further environmental destruction.
Establishment of a Commission for the Future within the Australian Government to provide planning and review of all policies impacting, or potentially impacting future generations and planetary wellbeing and to promote young people, especially girls, in leadership to protect Earth life.

This deep connection to Earth underpins First Nations land management practices and governance structures, including the complementary roles of women and men in many aspects of decision making.

We acknowledge that the actions presented here can only flourish after a ‘coming together’ for truth-telling, justice and fairness in relationships together.

We call for:

Acknowledgement with First Nations peoples of the damage and disruptions of colonial settlement upon their traditionally managed landscape.
Prioritise and actively seek opportunities with First Nations peoples to learn from their historic knowledge and practices for land and water management.
Seeking opportunities with First Nations peoples to learn from their values and inclusive processes of collaborative and gender-balanced governance.

Humanity faces a choice: ongoing confrontation and aggression, with its large-scale resource use, expenditure and carbon pollution; or collaboration to create a new agenda for peace, gender and social equality, climate security and avoidance of other threats. The ‘feminist foreign policy’ movement prioritises peace, gender equality, environmental integrity and human rights for all.

We call for :

Adoption of ‘feminist foreign policy’ approaches in Australia, based on those promoted by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
Promotion of, and participation in, national and international forums (similar to Conference of Parties in relation to climate change), with government delegations, experts, civil society and academia, to bring the world together around preparation for world peace.
Redirection of current defence and military expenditure to services for human and planetary wellbeing.

Mainstream economics does not address the critical issues of our times, including gendered and racial violence, climate change, species extinction and ecosystem destruction. The ‘fathers of economic theory’ excluded unpaid homemaking, childrearing, caring and community building activities from having economic value. Services that involve these skills are undervalued and underpaid. Similarly, the natural environment is excluded from economic consideration and value.
A new school of economics, with greater input from women, embraces new approaches designed to balance social, political, technological, generational and ecological interests to create a healthy, inclusive, socially just and gender-balanced society. [1]
We call for:

Adoption of a broader ‘Wellbeing Index’, in addition to GDP measurement, to include human and planetary wellbeing.
Inclusion of the value of currently unpaid homemaking, caring and community building work in productivity measures.
Inclusion in budget policy of the costs of not taking action on climate risk, as well as the costs of mitigation or remediation.
Policy frameworks that support business opportunities for a circular economy, and other regenerative and restorative approaches.
Sharing of economic benefits through revised and just taxation, community power-sharing and guaranteed basic incomes.

[1] See for example Doughnut economics by Kate Raworth: https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/

National strength is built upon strong close-knit communities. Many now live with constant threat and actual recurrence of extreme climate events, which can ultimately break down their cohesion. Community assemblies involving local citizen participation and decision-making will increase the ability of communities to respond to changing conditions and emergencies.

There are many different participatory democracy practices that can engage citizens in local, regional, or national decision-making processes on issues that affect their daily life.[1]

We call for :

Establishment of a ‘Participatory Democracy Authority’ to support public authorities and civil society stakeholders to engage in citizen participation.
Commissioning of participatory projects such as participatory budgeting, citizen’s assemblies, or citizens’ forums (such as The Canberra Forum being trialed in the ACT).

[1] See for example, https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/339306da-en/index.html?itemId=/content/publication/339306da-en .

These qualities of the heart create stronger connections between people, improve collaboration and increase trust. Such qualities are also associated with the practice of truth, transparency and integrity —putting the common good ahead of personal gain. Movements elsewhere are promoting compassion and kindness in government, and in civil society more broadly (for example the Compassion in Politics movement in the UK and the Charter for Compassion Australia).
In an era of fires, floods and other emergencies, citizens’ mental and physical health are under stress. Compassion, kindness and empathy are particularly important at such times.
We call for:

Legislated measures to uphold integrity in governance at all levels.
Integration of compassion design principles and case studies, as described in the Charter for Compassion Australia, across government business and local initiatives.
Adoption of a ‘compassion threshold’ in policy similar to that being developed in the UK.
Policies that ensure optimum and compassionate support for communities impacted by climate-related disasters.

The unfolding climate change issue has made it abundantly clear that hard facts alone do not inspire united and effective action. The arts (including visual arts, music, dance, poetry) and storytelling can connect people and inspire a shared understanding and purpose. A sense of common purpose can empower people to imagine a better future. The independence of artists is a vital factor in their capacity to imagine new possibilities.
We call for:

Recognition and funding for artists who celebrate the wonders of the natural world, drawing attention to what we put at risk. And for artists who bring awareness of environmental and social issues through their creative, prophetic imaginations. [1]
Programs that recognise artists’ key role in community wellbeing, and their capacity to provide solace, inspiration and alternative narratives in challenging times.
Policy frameworks that recognise the arts as integral to public discourse.

[1] For example, see Climearte|Arts for a Safe Climate. Established in 2010, Climearte works to harness the creative power of the arts to inform, engage and inspire action towards a fairer, zero emissions future. https://climarte.org/.

It is important for us all to learn the powerful, but modest, human place within the natural world, the interconnectedness of all life, and our human responsibilities for human and planetary wellbeing.

We call for:

A commitment to honesty in communicating the history of the First Peoples of Australia and other historic, social and environmental truths and their implications.
Giving equal importance to the history and creative output of women, First Nations peoples, and of the many settler peoples’ multicultural contributions.
Integration of the arts and sciences (including scientific and economic principles and methods) to promote critical thinking. This will provide a foundation for greater citizen involvement in democratic processes to reduce the effects of climate change, and create long-term human and planetary wellbeing.