Local Education Programmes on Climate

In 2025, the University of Newcastle delivered and supported education and public discussions about climate change for local communities. Events addressed climate impacts, low-carbon technologies, environmental resilience and the ways communities can respond to a changing climate. These opportunities brought University expertise into conversation with community members, young people, industry and policymakers.

2025 climate education and community events

Young people, climate advocacy and public policy

On 20 August 2025, the University's Newcastle Youth Studies Centre presented a free public online seminar on young people and democratic renewal. It shared research from the New Possibilities project on youth climate advocacy and activism in Australia. Speakers explored how young people's concerns about climate change are communicated and responded to, the role of climate advocacy in shaping policy and law, and the value of intergenerational learning during the climate crisis. The webinar connected researchers and community participants with evidence on public engagement and responses to climate impacts.

Earth science, resilience and environmental change

On 17 October 2025, the University of Newcastle's College of Engineering, Science and Environment held Earth Science Week:Exploring the Past, Shaping the Future at Callaghan Campus. Open to students, researchers, industry professionals and local community members, the event featured a keynote on groundwater, expert discussion of climate resilience and sustainability, and an interactive question-and-answer session. Displays of field equipment, geological samples, drones and scientific models helped explain how Earth science informs responses to changing water resources, environmental risks and future energy needs.

Climate technology and the Hunter’s low-carbon transition

On 19 February 2025, the Hunter Climate Innovation and Investment Summit took place at the University's I2N Hub in Honeysuckle, with support from the University of Newcastle's Integrated Innovation Network. The event brought climate innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and industry participants together for discussions on decarbonisation and the Hunter region's energy transition. Its Climate Tech Showcase presented regional innovations, including clean-energy and carbon-capture technologies, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange about practical approaches to climate mitigation.

Training and capacity-building for climate resilience

Throughout 2025, CIFAL Newcastle, the University of Newcastle’s UN/UNITAR-affiliated training centre, delivered 46 learning, non-learning and knowledge-service activities focused on sustainability, disaster resilience, equity and inclusive development, reaching 1,949 beneficiaries. Approximately 55% of activities were learning programmes. These figures describe the centre’s wider sustainability work rather than a climate-only programme count; its disaster-resilience and capacity-building activities complement the local climate education events above.

The University also connects climate education with practical regional resilience. In the Pacific, University researchers have co-created and co-delivered capacity-building, education and training initiatives with government and community partners, including work in Samoa on environmental management and the Moata’a Living Lab. This collaboration supports knowledge exchange, ecosystem protection and community responses to environmental change. The University’s research impact account was updated in September 2025 and describes the programme’s broader ongoing work, rather than a separately counted 2025 local event.

Earlier community learning and engagement

In 2024, the University hosted a Climate Forum – Newcastle Watch Party at Callaghan Campus, bringing together built-environment practitioners and community members to consider climate resilience, place-based design and sustainable architectural practice. This earlier event demonstrates continuity alongside the 2025 programme.

The University’s Centre for Law and Social Justice also convened a Hunter high-school youth forum in November 2023 on the right to a healthy environment, bringing 55 students from 12 schools together to discuss environmental and climate concerns. In April 2024, the resulting School Students’ Statement was publicly launched, enabling students to discuss climate action and environmental policy directly with a NSW government representative. These earlier activities established further pathways for climate education, participation and dialogue.

Through public education, research engagement and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the University helps communities better understand climate change and the practical opportunities for action. These programmes build awareness, encourage informed decision-making and support the region's transition towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.