After 10 incredible days of climate action, our community has demonstrated the power of collective action. In this post, we celebrate our achievements, explore the concept of the "spiral of silence," and preview our upcoming series of daily challenge themes.

We did it!

Our Challenge for Climate (April 4-13, 2025) campaign has concluded with remarkable success, raising $49,361 from 234 incredible supporters – just $639 shy of our refined $50,000 target!

This achievement wasn't just about the funds raised. It represents the collective power of our community:

• 33 dedicated challengers completed their 10-day actions, creating ripples of change across Australia
• A median donation of $50 showing that many small contributions add up to significant impact
• Countless conversations started about climate action in homes, workplaces, and communities

While our Challenge campaign has concluded, there's still time to help us cross the finish line and reach our $50,000 goal before we push toward our ambitious $100K EOFY target as we celebrate 10 years of Climate Conversations.

Why these actions matter

With the federal election on the horizon, this challenge came at a crucial moment for climate advocacy in Australia. While many Australians face multiple challenges—from housing affordability to rising living costs—the climate crisis amplifies each of these issues. Through the Challenge, participants:

• Learned to have effective climate conversations that build political will
• Connected climate to everyday concerns their communities face
• Amplified their voices by being part of a large collective
• Showed our leaders that climate action can't wait

One of the most powerful insights from our campaign relates to what researchers call the "perception gap" or the "spiral of silence" around climate change.

A recent article by The Guardian revealed that 89% of people worldwide want more climate action, but most don't realise they're part of an overwhelming majority. This creates a spiral of silence where people self-censor, thinking their views aren't widely shared.

This research showed that when people discover most others share their concern, they contribute significantly more to climate solutions.

Jeremy, one of our challengers, tackled this concept head-on with his "vow of silence" challenge:

This is exactly why Climate Conversations matter. Our work breaks this spiral of silence by creating safe spaces for people to discover they're not alone in their climate concerns. Each conversation ripples outward, empowering more people to speak up and take action.

From Challenge to Confidence

Our challengers went above and beyond with their creativity and commitment, from climate documentary nights to letters to MPs, from vows of silence to head shaves!

Many participants shared how the challenge gave them confidence to start climate conversations with people they hadn't expected would be receptive. As one challenger shared:

"Being part of the Challenge for Climate gave me the confidence to share my thoughts and actions on social media, and I was surprised to find people interacting with my posts who I didn't think were supportive."

This is the power of collective action – not just in the tangible outcomes, but in the courage and community it builds.

10 Days of Climate Action themes

Throughout the challenge, we provided daily themes to inspire action and create a shared focus. Each day explored a different aspect of climate action—from conversations and consumer choices to political engagement and community building.

In the coming posts, we'll be sharing each daily theme email in full so you can revisit the resources, inspiration, and guidance. Whether you participated in the challenge or are looking to start your climate action journey now, these resources remain valuable tools for creating change.

THANK YOU to our Climate Champions

This challenge wouldn't have been possible without our incredible community of fundraisers, donors, and supporters. Your dedication transformed climate concern into tangible action and helped secure vital funding for Climate for Change's programs.

Special thanks to our challengers who stepped outside their comfort zones, tried new actions, and shared their journeys openly with their networks. Your stories inspired others and showed that everyone has a role to play in shaping Australia's climate future.

📍Stay Involved

While the 10-day Challenge has concluded, our work continues! Here are ways you can stay involved:

• Make a donation to help us reach our $50,000 target (we're SO close!)
• Consider a monthly contribution for long-lasting impact
• Volunteer your skills - we currently operate with just 3 part-time core staff and rely on dedicated volunteers
• Join our refreshed programs - try our 2-3 hour mini-course on talking about Climate Change or our in-depth Climate Conversations Facilitator Program
• Host a conversation - invite friends for tea, lunch, or dinner and we'll send a trained facilitator to engage your circle on climate

Adelaide Xerri | Fundraising Lead