PRESS RELEASE: CAFA Launches in Australia to Drive Climate Action Across Industry Sectors

London, United Kingdom / Melbourne, Australia – 23 September 2025: Confirming the power of global collaboration across industry sectors, Climate Action for Associations is set to launch in Australia, integrating with ClimateWise Associations.

This expansion will unite decision-makers and leaders from trade and professional associations, enabling them to take collective action on climate.

Climate Action for Associations (CAFA) is a rapidly growing, UK-headquartered international not-for-profit dedicated to mobilising trade associations and professional bodies on climate action. It is now expanding into the Pacific region, starting with Australia, through the integration of the ClimateWise Associations platform.

Since its launch, CAFA has become a pivotal force and united over 380 associations, representing more than 500,000 businesses and approximately 6 million professionals. This initiative will see CAFA absorb and build upon the strong foundational work of the established Australian initiative, ClimateWise Associations, whose team has shared a vision and audiences.

Millions of businesses, and hundreds of sectors and industries rely upon their professional and trade associations, and too few are ready for the impacts of climate or cutting their emissions.  CAFA will now extend its valuable free resources, guidance, expertise and peer-to-peer networks across Australia. This expansion will enable more association leaders to guide, educate, and support their members in adapting and developing sector-specific decarbonisation pathways.

The expansion is perfect timing, just as the Australian Government has unveiled its ambitious decarbonisation 2035 emissions target of 62–70% below 2005 levels and published graphic warnings of the impacts of climate change.

“Our expansion into Australia marks a significant milestone in our mission to create a global network of associations driving climate action,” said Alison Heppenstall, CEO of Climate Action for Associations. “The team at ClimateWise Associations has done fantastic work laying the foundations. By uniting under the CAFA banner, we can amplify this impact exponentially and support sectors transition to a net zero economy.”

“We are thrilled that Climate Wise Associations is becoming part of CAFA,” said Helen Millicer, co-Founder of former Climate Wise Associations. “Becoming part of CAFA means that we can increase our engagement of Australian associations. Being part of CAFA’s global movement enables us to share learning and boost our collective voice with Australian institutes and associations to integrate climate and sustainability into their operating model and member programs at the scale and speed the climate crisis demands.”

CAFA Australia will officially launch on 22 October 2025 at 4:00 PM (AEDT) with a free online event featuring keynote speakers from leading European associations and Australian industry and introducing CAFA to Australian audiences.

Register for the Launch Event here.

Learn more about CAFA Australia here.

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About Climate Action for Associations (CAFA): Climate Action for Associations is the resource and network dedicated to net zero and sustainability for the membership sector. We provide the resources, guidance, solutions and peer to peer network that membership organisations need to show leadership, take accountability and implement action internally, and with their members. We are sector agnostic. Our job is to enable all types of membership organisations, regardless of size, location or industry to speed up aligned action. A non-profit representing more than 380 membership bodies covering c.500k businesses and c.6 million professionals, our members are diverse and spread across multiple sectors and systems areas. 

Media Enquiries: For media enquiries please contact: Emma Adams, emma@cafacollective.org  in UK or in Australia Helen Millicer on +61 (0) 413 875 872.