The Climate Institute was a Sydney-based policy think-tank established in 2005 to encourage progressive policies for managing climate change in Australia. Research work undertaken by the Institute included an analysis of the vulnerability of sport to the growing physical impacts of climate change, modelling the effects of Australia's Renewable Energy Target, and examining the financial impacts of delayed climate change action. The Institute also produced the annual Climate of the Nation report, a comprehensive survey of Australians’ attitudes on climate change, its impacts and solutions. An important component of The Climate Institute's work was building alliances and networks representing organisations across Australia's economy and society to achieve diverse support for strong action on climate change. It has been a lead player in key business alliances such as the Australian Climate Roundtable. Through its role in the , the Institute was also a pioneer in trying to get large asset owners – such as superannuation and pension funds – to recognise and disclosure carbon risk. The Institute was originally set up for 5 years under funding provided by the Poola Foundation's Tom Kantor fund. In 2017, The Climate Institute announced it would be closing in June. was selected to carry over The Climate Institute's legacy and remaining intellectual property including continuing the benchmark Climate of the Nation report.
Dr. Hugh Saddler, managing director, SustainAbility Advice Team Pty Ltd
Climate of the Nation
The Climate Institute has conducted research into the attitudes of Australians on climate change, its impacts and solutions, regularly since 2007. The results, based on quantitative and qualitative social research, have been captured in Climate of the Nation reports. The data has become a key benchmark used by the climate/environment movement, media and other key stakeholders, domestically and internationally. has taken over the research and production of the annual Climate of the Nation report.
In June 2017, The Climate Institute announced its closure due to a lack of funding. was selected to carry over the Climate Institute's legacy and remaining intellectual property including continuing the benchmark Climate of the Nation report. The 2018 was subsequently released in September 2018.
Alliances and networks
The Climate Institute has helped to set up and/or participated in the following alliances and networks focused on building diverse support for action on climate change:
– A multi-faith climate network set up in 2008 to provide educational, practical and campaigning resources to religious communities to respond to climate change.
– Created in 2011, the network aims to ensure that CCS is performed and regulated safely, effectively and according to best practice.
Asset Owners Disclosure Project
The was originally developed as an initiative of The Climate Institute in 2008. The AODP is now an independent global not-for-profit global organisation aiming to protect asset owners from the risks posed by climate change, although it maintains a close working relationship with the Institute. The AODP works with pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, foundations and universities to improve the level of disclosure and industry best practice. It conducts an annual survey and assessment of the world's 1000 largest asset owners and publishes the AODP Global Climate 500 Index, which ranks these organisations based on their management of climate change risks.
