Bringing global climate and biodiversity conversations into communities across Australia
In 2026, the world will come together for two critical global moments:
🌿 COP17 Biodiversity (19–30 October 2026)
🌏 COP31 Climate (9–20 November 2026)
These international conferences will shape decisions about the future of our planet. But too often, these conversations happen far away from the people and communities who are most affected — and who also hold many of the solutions.
Citizen COP Australia exists to change that.
Citizen COP is a nationwide, people-powered movement bringing the spirit of the COP “Green Zone” into communities across Australia — creating spaces where everyone can learn, connect, share ideas and take action for climate and nature.
Not one big conference.
Not one city.
A national Green Zone made up of hundreds of local conversations, gatherings and actions.
A COP by people, for people
Citizen COP is built on a simple belief:
Global decisions should not be disconnected from the people they affect.
Every Australian should have the opportunity to participate — whether they live in a capital city, a regional town, a remote community, or somewhere in between.
You don’t need to be a climate expert.
You don’t need to belong to an organisation.
You don’t need to travel.
You simply need curiosity, care and a willingness to be part of the conversation.
From community groups and schools to businesses, universities, artists, Traditional Owners, local councils and individuals — everyone has a role to play.
From AlterCOP30 to Citizen COP Australia
In 2025, AlterCOP 30 Australia was the Australian AlterCOP Chapter brought to Australia by People For Nature in 2025:
- 1,400+ registered participants
- 42+ events
- 8 locations
- 49 participating organisations
This collective experience showed that Australians are ready for meaningful, inclusive spaces to discuss the challenges and solutions shaping our future.
Citizen COP takes that momentum further — creating a decentralised national movement alongside the global COPs of 2026.
What does a Citizen COP event look like?
There is no single format.
Citizen COP is designed to reflect the diversity of Australian communities.
Events might include:
🌱 Climate, biodiversity or sustainability workshops (e.g. Climate Fresk, Biodiversity Collage, Circular Economy Collage — we can support facilitation)
🎤 Community conversations, panels or debates
🎬 Film screenings and discussions (we can support screening rights for selected films such as Nature, Floodland, Rising Up, The Plastic Country)
🎨 Art exhibitions, storytelling and creative activations
🚶 Nature walks, cultural walks or restoration activities
🎓 School and youth-led sessions
🍲 Shared meals exploring food systems and sustainability
❓ Climate and nature trivia nights
💻 Online discussions or webinars
👨👩👧 Parent and community conversations about the future we want for our children
Big or small, every gathering contributes to the national conversation
Our shared principles
Citizen COP events are guided by a commitment to making participation accessible, inclusive and aligned with the future we want to create.
Citizen COP events aim to be:
✅ Accessible to all
✅ No flights
✅ No paid speakers
✅ Vegetarian and low-waste
✅ Independent and citizen-led
✅ Free from fossil fuel and extractive industry influence
Help build Australia’s biggest citizen-led Green Zone
The official COP Green Zone creates space for civil society, communities, innovators, youth and organisations to engage beyond formal negotiations.
Citizen COP expands that idea.
Our vision is a nationwide Green Zone — where every community, every state and every Australian has the opportunity to participate.
A Green Zone where conversations happen in neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces, community halls, parks and online spaces.
A Green Zone where knowledge becomes action.
How you can be part of Citizen COP
You can join in three ways:
1. Host a Citizen COP event
Bring your community together and create a conversation or action that matters locally.
We can support you with ideas, resources, facilitation and connections.
Please click on the image above or HERE to fill out the EOI form.
Submissions close Monday 31 August.
To view events as they are added to the agenda, please visit here.
If you have questions, please contact: citizencop@peoplefornature.org.au
2. Join a Citizen COP event
Attend a workshop, conversation, creative activation or community gathering near you.
3. Support the movement
To create a truly citizen-led Green Zone, Citizen COP must remain independent and accessible. We welcome support from individuals, philanthropic partners and values-aligned organisations who share our vision of a future where everyone can participate in climate and biodiversity conversations. Your financial contribution helps sustain the coordination, resources and community support needed to grow this national movement — while allowing Citizen COP to remain free, inclusive and guided by the voices of communities across Australia.
To support the growth of Citizen COP and help us build Australia’s Green Zone, you can make a donation here.
To contribute a prize or experience to our national Citizen COP raffle, please contact Dr Fanny De Busserolles at f.debusserolles@peoplefornature.org.au.
To explore sponsorship opportunities and support Citizen COP as a partner, please contact Audrey Barucchi at a.barucchi@peoplefornature.org.au.
Citizen COP themes include (but are not limited to):
- Climate change, social impact & resilience
- Climate disaster preparedness, response & adaptation
- Sustainable cities & regenerative design
- Biodiversity, bioeconomy & nature-based solutions
- Food systems, regenerative agriculture & food resilience
- Decolonised dialogues, First Nations leadership & knowledge systems
- Youth leadership & intergenerational action
- Women, equity & inclusive leadership
- Health, wellbeing & climate resilience
A shared effort
If your organisation is interested in hosting or exploring an activation, we would love to hear from you and welcome you into this year’s cohort of participating partners.
Warmly,
The Citizen COP Team
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