By Lucy Manne, 350 Australia CEO Never seen before. That is how experts are describing the intensity and scale of bushfires we are witnessing in Queensland and New South Wales these first weeks of spring, which marks the worst start to Australia’s fire season in recorded history [1]. It is a shock to witness hundreds of Australians gathered in evacuation shelters, while crews battle over 100 fires just one week after the end of winter.

We’re two weeks away from what is shaping up to be the biggest climate mobilisation we’ve ever seen. But these next two weeks will mean the difference between it turning out to be another climate rally, or one of the most enormous, fiery, impossible to ignore moments that Australia – and the world – has seen.

350.org co-founder, Bill McKibben, wrote these reflections in June to introduce the Great Transition Initiative Forum. We are gratefully republishing Bill’s words with permission from The Great Transition Initiative, and encourage you to learn more about their work here. What Is the Climate Movement’s State of Play? I came to climate activism gradually.

By Glen Klatovsky, 350 Australia Campaigns Manager Over the last week, we have witnessed some historic cases of moral failure inspired by the Australian coal sector.  First was the performance of our Prime Minister at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu. Scott Morrison has pontificated about how Australia is committed to increasing the fraternal bonds with our Pacific family.

Wow: it’s just eight weeks to go until the next youth-led Global Climate Strike makes waves across the globe. Momentum is swelling for the September 20 actions, which are already looking to be huge. Students, seniors, parents, teachers, union members, office workers – everyone, from every walk of life, is coming together to strike for climate action.