NATIONAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN  
​

Picture
Video invitation to the National Congress of Women from Women's Climate Congress Founder Dr Janet Salisbury (Note this video refers to the 3-day face-to-face event we were hoping to host at the end of 2021. The reasons for participating are still just the same though!)
Picture
Introduction to the Women's Climate Congress by Janet Salisbury presented at the 'Celebrate WCC and AGM event, September 2021.
​
​Who are we?  
The National Congress of Women is hosted by the Women’s Climate Congress (WCC). The WCC was born at two inaugural meetings with about 45 women in Canberra early in 2020  during the smoke of the Black Summer bushfires and ( in the case of the first meeting) on the day of a massive and damaging hailstorm. Since then, the WCC has grown into a not-for-profit nonpartisan organisation with a diverse network of women members from across Australia.
 
We believe that it is a time for women’s leadership to shift polarised political culture towards a collaborative and cooperative approach to climate change. In our activities we model this approach and advocate for nurture of life and intergenerational equity as the foundation for climate policy. 

Among our many participatory, educational and  advocacy activities, the National Congress of Women is a key focus for 2021-22. Through an ambitious program spanning two 1-day online events and a 2-day inperson conference in Canberra, we are bringing a diverse group of Australian women together to develop and action a Women's Charter calling for united action on climate change to stabilise the climate in the short term, and a raft of other systemic changes and approaches to achieve a long-term sustainable and regenerative future for humans and all life on Earth. 
Why now?
Climate change policy has been divisive in Australia for too long and this is hurting us all — as had been seen by the Black Summer bushfires and  the recent severe floods. The Women’s Climate Congress seeks justice for those affected by a change in energy policy and security for those who live in fire and flood-prone areas.  We accept responsibility for where we are and acknowledge the benefits we have all enjoyed from exploitation of fossil fuels. However, the  IPCC has issued a 'Code Red' warning and we have only 8 years to get the necessary transition policies in place before it will be too late. 

We must therefore avoid further time-wasting and blame, implement creative transition policies and work together across political divides – for the sake of our children, grandchildren/current and future generations and all life on Earth.

We think this is the natural thing for women to do.   

The events in parliament in 2021 surrounding the treatment of women and women’s participation have created further momentum to our movement as more women speak out for a different style of political governance, including in relation to environmental issues and climate change.

What's different about this Congress?
Over the full series of events, the WCC aim to make this Congress a very different and inspiring event, building on women’s ways of working together. This means lots of talking from the heart, lots of laughter and tears, and real meaningful engagement. This is an exciting opportunity for authentic women’s conversations, deep learning from each other and leaders in the climate field, and for concerted collaboration and action.

There will also be opportunities to hear from and to meet with elected representatives, with artists and scientists, with women participating in conversations and actions across the country and beyond. 

The arts will hold a central spot to amplify our voices and the Congress will provide time to engage, discuss, and contribute to the Women’s Charter calling for immediate collaborative national action on climate change and systemic and governance changes to create a long-term sustainable and regenerative future for all. 
​
Women's Climate Congress Ltd, 2021 
www.womensclimatecongress.com 
Proudly powered by Weebly