What Climate Change Council does

Climate Council of Australia Limited is an independent, community-funded non-profit climate advocacy organization headquartered in Sydney, Australia, founded in September 2013 by Professor Tim Flannery and CEO Amanda McKenzie after the Abbott Government abolished the Climate Commission. It was launched via Australia's largest crowdfunding campaign at the time, raising over $1.1 million from more than 16,000 Australians within ten days. The organization operates with a small staff team (1-10 employees) supplemented by a broad network of Climate Councillors, Fellows, and expert spokespeople, including climate scientists, economists, health professionals, and former emergency service leaders.

The organization's core outputs are research publications (164+ reports over a decade), educational content (explainers, infographics, mythbusting resources, communication guides, videos, webinars), and advocacy campaigns organized under three programmatic pillars: Clean Abundant Energy, Future-Focused Industries, and Cleaning Up Transport. It also operates the Climate Media Centre, a communications hub that has trained over 5,000 diverse spokespeople since 2015 and provides pro bono media support to 160+ partner organizations through Climate Action Network Australia. Sub-brands include the Climate Fairness Fund (tax-deductible fundraising vehicle) and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (former emergency service leaders advocacy network).

The organization is entirely community-funded through four donation streams: individual donations (tax-deductible from $2 AUD), philanthropic major gifts ($10,000+), workplace giving (via Good2Give, GoodCompany, Benevity), and legacy giving. It receives no government funding and maintains explicit independence from fossil fuel industry ties. Its primary audiences are the general Australian public, journalists/media, government policymakers, and climate advocacy NGOs, with reach evidenced by 550,000+ online supporters and 230,000+ media mentions.

Name

Climate Change Council

Legal name

Climate Council of Australia Limited

Website

https://climatecouncil.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Climate Council is an independent, community-funded Australian non-profit founded in 2013 that provides authoritative climate science research, policy advocacy, and public education to the Australian public, journalists, policymakers, and climate NGOs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Advocacy and Research

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

Keywords

• Climate research reports
• Climate policy advocacy
• Nonprofit climate communications
• Renewable energy advocacy
• Climate science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individual supporters, including regular monthly giving programs and one-time donations. No government funding received. Donations power all research, advocacy, and communications work.
2. Philanthropic Donations: Major gifts program for donors contributing $10,000 or more, supported by dedicated philanthropy team. Includes major donors who provide ongoing strategic support.
3. Workplace Giving: Employees can donate through workplace giving programs via platforms including Good2Give, GoodCompany, and Benevity, with potential employer matching.
4. Legacy Giving: Bequest program allowing supporters to leave gifts in Wills to support climate action beyond their lifetime. Participants join the Legacy Circle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Climate Council is an independent, community-funded nonprofit that produces authoritative climate research and reports, runs national public education campaigns, and advocates for strong climate and energy policy. It also operates the Climate Media Centre, which provides Australian journalists and communicators with expert commentary, story leads, and a directory of climate experts. Revenue is generated through individual donations, workplace giving, major philanthropic gifts, bequests, and program sponsorships.

Product overview

Climate Council is a non-profit climate advocacy organization offering a portfolio of educational resources, research publications, and communications services rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include: advocacy programs focused on clean energy, industry decarbonization, and transport electrification; the Seize the Decade strategic framework for 75% pollution reduction by 2030; the Climate Media Centre providing media training and spokesperson coordination; and extensive educational content including explainers, mythbusting resources, communication guides, infographics, videos, and webinars. The organization also publishes authoritative research reports on climate impacts, energy security, and policy analysis. These offerings work together to advance the organization's mission of driving climate action through public education, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Climate Media Centre: A communications support hub that provides free media training and connects journalists with climate spokespeople, having trained over 5,000 diverse voices since 2015.
• Climate Fairness Fund
• Emergency Leaders for Climate Action

Products and services

• Climate Media Centre A service that provides Australian journalists and communicators with free, rapid-response expert commentary, story leads, images, and a directory of climate experts (scientists, policy researchers, business leaders, community advocates, and farmers). Supported by Caltex to deliver climate journalism support across Australia.
• Clean, Abundant Energy (advocacy program) Advocacy program focused on accelerating the transition to renewable energy in Australia and ensuring Australians benefit from clean, abundant, affordable energy.
• Future-Focused Industries (advocacy program) Advocacy program focused on building new industries that create jobs and exports while reducing emissions, including steel, aluminium, cement, hydrogen, and critical minerals.
• Cleaning Up Transport (advocacy program) Advocacy program focused on reducing transport emissions in Australia by accelerating the shift to electric vehicles, public transport, and active travel.
• Climate Research Reports and Analysis Flagship in-depth research reports produced by Climate Council's science team on critical Australian climate topics, including 'Seize the Decade', 'Powering Progress', 'States of Decay', 'Australia's Coal Conundrum', 'Electric Shock!', and 'Clouded Future: Data Centre Boom'.
• Speakers in Schools A national educational program that delivers expert climate speakers and curriculum resources to schools across most Australian states and territories, covering climate science, the clean economy transition, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
• The Crunch Podcast A Climate Council podcast delivering climate commentary and interviews, available through major podcast platforms.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Climate Action Network AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerClimate Action Network Australia represents over 160 climate advocacy organizations across Australia. The Climate Media Centre provides pro bono communications assistance to members including grassroots community groups and established NGOs. Partnership enables broader reach and coordinated climate messaging across the Australian climate movement.
• Farmers for ClimatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFarmers for Climate has a longstanding trusted relationship with Climate Media Centre. CMC supports FCA and its spokespeople through organizing interviews, logistics, reactive media opportunities, and media release distribution. Partnership has helped FCA develop significant profile and earn seat at table with key decision makers.
• Emergency Leaders for Climate ActioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGroup of former Australian fire chiefs and emergency leaders who speak out in media about climate-driven extreme weather. Climate Council supports and amplifies their voices through media centre and advocacy efforts.
• Good2Give, GoodCompany, BenevityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkplace giving platforms that enable employees to make regular donations to Climate Council through payroll deduction. Most people start with around $30 per month donation from pre-tax paycheck.
• EveryWillminorOthersPartnered with EveryWill to offer supporters free online Will writing service. Allows supporters to easily include a gift to Climate Council in their Will.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Australian Conservation Foundation: Australia's largest grassroots environmental advocacy organisation. Directly comparable to Climate Council as a community-funded Australian NGO running climate and environmental campaigns, producing research reports, and engaging in policy advocacy.
• Beyond Zero Emissions: Australian climate think tank and advocacy organisation focused on zero-emissions pathways. Closely comparable to Climate Council in mission, Australian focus, independent funding, and evidence-based research publication model.
• The Australia Institute: Independent Australian research institute producing policy research on climate, energy and economics. Comparable to Climate Council as an evidence-led, publicly engaged Australian policy research organisation frequently cited in media.
• Greenpeace Australia Pacific: Australian branch of global environmental advocacy network running climate and anti-fossil-fuel campaigns. Directly comparable as a high-profile, donation-funded advocacy organisation operating in the same Australian climate space.
• Climate Action Network Australia (CANA): Coalition of 160+ Australian climate advocacy organisations, and a partner of Climate Council. Comparable as a coordinating body for the same Australian climate movement, although operates as a network rather than a single organisation.
• Climate Reality Project Australia: Al Gore-founded global climate advocacy and education organisation with an active Australia chapter. Comparable to Climate Council in mission (climate communication, training spokespeople, community mobilisation) and donor-supported model.

Broad incumbents

• WWF-Australia: Large Australian environmental conservation and climate organisation. Broader in scope than Climate Council (wildlife, oceans, forests) but overlaps significantly on climate advocacy, policy engagement, and donor-funded community campaigns.
• 350.org: Global grassroots climate movement active in Australia. Comparable to Climate Council as a community-driven climate advocacy organisation, though operates internationally with a less research-heavy orientation.
• The Nature Conservancy Australia: Australian arm of global conservation organisation engaged in climate and nature policy. Comparable as a science-led Australian environmental organisation with strong policy influence and major-donor fundraising model, though focused on conservation outcomes.

Emerging players

• Environmental Defenders Office (EDO): Australian non-profit environmental law organisation that litigates and advocates on climate and environmental cases. Adjacent peer operating in the same Australian climate advocacy ecosystem with a more legal-strategic angle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/climatecouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClimateCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/climatecouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/theclimatecouncil
• TikToktiktok.com/@theclimatecouncil?lang=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Climate Change Council