A new free community forum is set to enhance climate emergency awareness and resilience across Surf Coast Shire.
Geelong Sustainability and Surf Coast Environment Group are partnering to host the Community Climate Risk Forum, with the support of a $10,000 grant from Surf Coast Shire Council's Climate Emergency Grants Program.
The forum will bring together residents, businesses, emergency services and community groups to explore impacts of climate change, connect people with practical resources and strengthen adaptive responses.
"Climate change is no longer a future challenge," Geelong Sustainability Co-CEO Karina Donkers said.
"Communities across our region are already experiencing the impacts through increasing extreme weather events, environmental changes and growing uncertainty about what lies ahead.
"We know there is a strong appetite from the community to better understand these risks, have meaningful conversations and be part of shaping solutions.
"This Community Climate Risk Forum is an important opportunity to bring together knowledge, lived experience and local action to support a community that is informed, connected and prepared for the challenges ahead."
Surf Coast Environment Group founder Graeme Stockton OAM said expert speakers, information stalls and facilitated discussions will cover topics including coastal flooding, bushfire risk, extreme heat and storm events.
"Climate resilience is not something that can be achieved by one organisation or one sector alone, it requires collaboration, local knowledge and a community that feels empowered to participate," Mr Stockton said.
"Surf Coast Environment Group is proud to partner in creating this space for conversations that will help build understanding, strengthen connections and support a more prepared and resilient Surf Coast community."
Cr Leon Walker said Council's Climate Emergency Grants Program aims to empower community-led action, with allocation of grants totalling $20,000.
"Climate emergency is here and now, and we need to continue building community-wide response," Cr Walker said.
"Much important work is already going on, but we love to see organisations and individuals stepping up and leading the way helping to further inform, inspire and empower our community.
"Congratulations to this year's grant recipients. We look forward to seeing their projects flourish, helping to build awareness and resilience and motivate action."
This year's program also provided $5,000 allocations for:
Aleisja Henry, auspiced by the Surfrider Foundation – Surf Coast BioBlitz
The BioBlitz will be a one-day community-led citizen science event, engaging residents, volunteers, scientists and Traditional Owners to survey climate-vulnerable grassland ecosystems. The project will help build climate awareness and resilience by improving local knowledge of ecosystem health and climate impacts, strengthening community connections and providing data to inform future restoration work.
Common Ground Project – Schools for Climate: Regeneration and Climate Action
Funding will enable up to 250 students from Surf Coast Shire schools to attend 10 climate and regenerative education programs facilitated by Common Ground Project, Freshwater Creek. The programs will help enable students and staff to mobilise, be resilient and act in the face of climate emergency, with reduced climate footprints via climate-safe food choices.
