The Community Climate Network 

At the 2009 Summit the Network Development Stream developed a Vision and
Purpose Statement for a grassroots climate network that was approved by the
consensus decision of the whole Summit: 

The Vision was: 

We face a climate emergency. Our vision is to work together at emergency speed to
restore in a just way a safe climate in time for all people, all species and
all generations. 

 The Purpose was: 

To build a diverse, participatory grassroots climate action movement; support the exchange of knowledge,
skills and resources; implement the outcomes of national Climate Action Summits; and to facilitate major campaigns. 

Network Working Group

The Summit also empowered a Network Working Group to continue drafting a proposed
structure for the network. This structure was finalised by July and the
proposal was sent out to Climate Action Groups across Australia to vote to
accept it or not.  

In its work the Network Working Group considered issues like membership and
decision-making, and developed a draft structure based on these agreed
objectives for the network: decentralisation of power, democratic
representation, transparency and accountability, simplicity, effectiveness,
regional participation, responsiveness and the balance of local autonomy. 

Over 100 groups voted on the proposal with only five groups expressing dissent to
one or more aspects of the proposal by the December 12 deadline for responses.
In January another concern came from the former convenor of the group, Wenny
Theresia. She was concerned about some aspects of the structure of the Network
and  suggested some changes. The Network Working Group replied to her comments. These will be discussed at the Summit.  

As the Summit had set a target of 100 replies, at least 75% approval and at least
one response from each State and territory, the proposal was accepted and the
Community Climate Network (Australia) was born.

How the Community Climate Network Works

The CCN has these features:

It is open to all individuals and community-based groups that take action on climate change
and support the Vision and Purpose Statements of the 2009 Climate Action Summit.

It implements the outcomes of Climate Action Summits through working groups. These may be
set up by Climate Action Summits themselves, by climate action groups looking to coordinate
action around specific issues, or by State or regional networks.

It is facilitated by a Network Facilitation Group that is composed of at most three representatives
per State or Territory. The role of the Network Facilitation Group is restricted
to promoting communication within the CCN, supporting State-based and regional
networks, coordinating the production of the CCN’s bulletin, and making
sure a working group is set up to organise the next Climate Action Summit.

It provides, through its Media Working Group, media resources to local groups and State and regional
networks, but does not issue media statements in its own name. These are issued in the name of the groups and individuals who support them, and their membership of the CCN may be indicated if desired.

It facilitates policy development through its Policy Working Group, which prepares draft positions for Climate Action Summits. The Policy Working Group also facilitates the production of policy statements between Summits. These are not issued in the
name of the CCN but of those groups and individuals who support them, with their membership of the CCN indicated if desired.

The CCN encourages and facilitates grassroots participation and consensus decision-making. If consensus is not possible, not less than 75% support is required for a decision to be adopted.
Decisions are not binding on CCN members in any way, but offer them a channel
for active support and collaboration from the CCN as a whole.

2010 Summit

What next? As its final job the Network Working Group will organise a
network stream at the 2010 Climate Action Summit in March. The stream will
focus on how to use the CCN to extend and strengthen the work of Climate Action
Groups, as well as helping build the campaigns decided upon by the Summit and
the broader grassroots climate movement.

The stream will also help facilitate any remaining steps needed to get the
CCN fully functional, as well as stimulating ongoing reflection on how to
improve its functioning.

The Document

The network document that set up the CCN
is available below.