Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release the next part of its Sixth Assessment report: “Working Group 2 - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”, and we’re hosting a workshop to help you understand it.

Of the three IPCC working group reports, this will contain the most specific and alarming information about the real-world effects climate change will have on communities and ecosystems around the world.

The report will confirm what many of us already know - frontline communities are already experiencing terrible loss as a result of climate change and that is likely to get worse for all of us.

For years, rising sea levels have already been impacting communities in the Torres Strait. As Kabay Tamu, Torres Strait 8 claimant and Warraberalgal Traditional Owner relates: “When erosion caused by climate change happens and the lands get taken away by the sea, it’s like a piece of us that gets taken with it - a piece of our heart”.

But it will also contain lots of useful information and greater clarity about what this might look like. What will the impacts be in Australia and around the world? Who will be affected, how and when? How can we best prepare for and adapt to these changes, globally and locally?

In moments like these we need to create spaces and come together, to get on the same page, share our responses, and find ways to push for the action we need.

Whether you are suffering from the impacts of climate change already, recently became active in the climate movement, or have been alarmed about all of this for a long time - you already know we need immediate and large-scale action to reduce emissions and prepare for any impacts we can’t avoid.

This report is scientists' best effort at helping us understand what that last part looks like.

To make sure you have access to the best possible information on what this all means, 350 Australia and Climate Justice Union are collaborating to host an online workshop.

When: Wednesday March 09,

• 6PM NSW, Vic & ACT,
• 5PM QLD,
• 5.30PM SA,
• 4.30PM NT,
• 3PM WA

Where: online via Zoom (register for the event and we will send you a Zoom link)

The workshop will run for approximately 2 hours, and include:

• An update and story sharing from Kabay Tamu, Torres Strait 8 claimant and Warraberalgal Traditional Owner about the impacts climate change is already having on First Nations communities in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands)

• An overview of the IPCC WG 2 “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability” report and its implications, provided by Dr Lesley Hughes of the Climate Council

• Safe spaces for us to collectively discuss our emotional responses to the report

• Concrete avenues for taking action and ramping up the pressure for systemic change to address the climate crisis

We know it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the size and urgency of climate change.

When faced with existential crisis, we know there are some things we need in order to stay mentally healthy and keep working effectively:

• Clear, understandable and accurate scientific information;

• Spaces, places and people with which to share our concerns and responses, and;

• Clear and meaningful opportunities to take action towards the systemic change we need, and show solidarity with people and communities already being affected by the climate crisis

And all of this needs to be grounded in our real experiences of the world, in the stories and deep understandings of where we live, work and spend our time.

We hope this workshop can fulfil some of these needs and help you keep working effectively towards achieving real change.

If you know someone who should attend, please ask them to register as well.