Change Happens Locally: Join Climate Action Week Sydney 2026

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Posted 2026-02-24 by Vanessa ⇒ follow

Mon 09 Mar 2026 - Sun 15 Mar 2026

Climate Action Week Sydney is back 9–15 March 2026 - a city-wide surge of climate action uniting communities, businesses, governments and changemakers under the theme Change happens locally.

Across seven days, CAWSYD26 dives into six big focus areas: Oceans & Water, Health & Wellbeing, Food & Agriculture, Fuels & Energy, Nature & Biodiversity, and Green Tech & Finance – with First Nations leadership, youth voices and real-world solutions at the centre.

The stakes couldn’t be clearer. 2025 was the world’s third-hottest year on record, and the 1.5°C Paris threshold could be breached as early as the 2030s. Without rapid action, the damage to our ecosystems, economies and communities will be irreversible. CAWSYD26 is about turning that warning into momentum - and giving people concrete ways to act, here in Sydney, right now.

Led by the Climate Action Foundation, and supported by Future Super, the NSW Government and Boundless, CAWSYD26 will turn Sydney into a hub for climate solutions – putting Sydney, and Australia, firmly on the global climate calendar by showcasing local action driving real change worldwide. Director of the Climate Action Foundation, Ed Schmidt, says the 2026 program will zero in on accelerating local climate solutions at a time of growing global uncertainty and escalating climate risk.

"At a time when warning signs about the climate crisis are blaring louder than ever, and global leadership is uneven, local leadership has never been more important. Change does not happen in isolation. It is grounded in local and First Nations knowledge, driven by the leadership of young people, and built in neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools, businesses and communities.

"In 2025, more than 12,500 people took part in Climate Action Week Sydney – more than double the year before – a clear signal that people are ready to move from concern to action. As climate risks intensify, so do the economic and social opportunities of acting now. With Australia and the Pacific preparing for pivotal moments like COP31, CAWSYD26 is focused on scaling the solutions already working locally and inviting more people to help build the future," Mr Schmidt said.

CAWSYD26 will feature a diverse, community-led program of keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, site visits, exhibitions and hands-on activities across Greater Sydney – with many events free or low-cost to attend.

The CAWSYD26 program includes:
Opening Day Event featuring Chris Bowen MP (Minister for Climate Change and Energy), David Hochschild (Chair, California Energy Commission), Matt Kean (Chair, Climate Change Authority), and Mary Robinson (former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC); a Sport Climate Forum; and insights into how data is reshaping corporate leadership from the World Benchmarking Alliance.

Youth-focused and First Nations-led events, including a youth workshop on what COP31 means for young people with Kal Glanznig (Youth Ocean and Climate Champion) and Grace Vegesana (Director, Australian Youth Climate Coalition); and Pacific Women’s Blueprint: Spotlight on Vanuatu (resilience on the frontline of change), with attendance by Mary Jack, Pacific First Nations Elder & Vanuatu National Grassroots Women’s Leader.

Industry, community and local action showcases across Greater Sydney, including a Snorkel-Out for Climate, a Climate Tech Careers Night connecting students with employers, a Business for Purpose showcase, an AEVA Electric Vehicle Rally and a behind-the-scenes Living Seawalls Tour.