Join a Climate Fresk workshop to discover the science behind climate change and be empowered to take action.
Climate Fresk is an educational workshop and a call to action to achieve global climate goals and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 objectives. Join this movement at UNSW by registering for one of three staff workshops this year, starting on 10 March during Climate Action Week Sydney.
Bridging the climate change knowledge gap
Last year was officially the warmest year on record and the first calendar year that the average global temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels1.
While the impacts of climate change intensify, a 2023 Ipsos Climate Change Report revealed that half of Australians still attribute climate change to natural processes, and half feel overwhelmed by conflicting information2. Bridging this knowledge gap is critical for empowering individuals and institutions to take meaningful climate action.
To address this challenge, UNSW introduced the Climate Fresk workshop in 2024, engaging 160 students and staff across faculties in a science-based, interactive learning experience. The workshops unravel the complexities of climate change while fostering collaboration, reflection and solutions-focused action.
What is Climate Fresk?
Climate Fresk is a collaborative workshop built around 42 cards summarising the latest climate science findings.
Guided by the ‘head, heart, hand’ approach, participants work through three phases:
Build knowledge: Groups map the climate system using cards. Each card represents one climate change concept and is connected to other cards using cause-to-effect grouping.
Connect emotionally: Participants share their reactions in a supportive environment, bridging the emotional gap often caused by climate despair.
Move into action: Teams discuss actionable solutions at and beyond their role at UNSW, fostering collaboration across disciplines and perspectives.
With more than two million participants globally, Climate Fresk is also a not-for-profit initiative that empowers communities to tackle climate challenges collectively.
Who participated in 2024?
In 2024, workshop participants included:
staff from diverse faculties across three sessions run by UNSW Environmental Sustainability
a cohort of master’s students enrolled in the Climate Crisis and Action (IEST6911) course
a cohort of undergraduate students as part of the course Investigating Earth and Its Evolution (GEOS1111).
Staff participants reported learning new things about climate change through the workshop, and three took the next step to become facilitators, ensuring the workshop’s wider reach at UNSW.
Join a Climate Fresk workshop
Sign up for a free Climate Fresk workshop run by UNSW Environmental Sustainability. The first workshop for 2025 will take place during Climate Action Week, with two further workshops later in the year.
When: 10 March 2025, 12pm–3pm
Where: Teaching Commons
Climate Fresk workshops for students will run again in 2025 as part of the Climate Crisis and Action (IEST6911) and Investigating Earth and Its Evolution (GEOS1111) courses.
For bespoke sessions in your department, or if your faculty is interested in adopting the workshop, contact m.turban@unsw.edu.au.
Other sustainability workshops will run throughout the year to help UNSW accelerate the transition to a sustainable society.
For any suggestions or questions, contact us at sustainability@unsw.edu.au.
1. https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-2024-first-year-exceed-15degc-above-pre-industrial-level
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