It is often easy to lose sight of the profound existential threat posed by climate change when it is viewed as a risk to be managed.
Queensland is on the frontline of climate change impacts; it is the most disaster-prone state in Australia and will experience some of the harshest climatic projections in the coming decades. These impacts will not affect people equally. They will be unevenly distributed across racial, class, gender, poverty, generational and ethnic lines.
For First Nations peoples, climate change undermines their connection to Country and cultural obligations to care for Country. It also exacerbates everyday injustices across policing, discrimination, homelessness, racism, child protection and systems violence.
As a sector that is guided by principles of self-determination, equality and nondiscrimination, climate change is ultimately a matter of justice and human rights. Advancing climate justice requires First Nations perspectives to be at the heart of all our work. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have unique cultural rights, knowledge, and wisdom about adapting to a changing climate, and caring for Country.
This Climate and Nature-related Risk Governance Guide for CLCs (Guide) is a risk management tool that is situated within a broader context of climate justice.
We recommend that this Guide be applied in the context of CLCs’ ongoing work to develop dialogue, relationships, and trust with First Nations communities. The CLCQ First Nations Framework 2025-2030 provides clear guidance around taking proactive steps to integrate First Nations perspectives across CLC service delivery and governance.
This Guide should be read in conjunction with the Framework for an integrated approach, adopted by all community legal centre staff, leadership and management.
The Guide was developed in consultation with CLCQ members and the CLCQ First Nations Reference Group. Community Legal Centres Queensland wishes to sincerely thank MinterEllison for producing this Guide on a pro bono basis. It was written by Keith Rovers and Lizzy Enright within the Social Impact team. Led by Penny Sullivan at CLCQ and consulting by Monica Taylor.