Rising Tide

Rising Tide is a grassroots climate movement in Australia dedicated to confronting the climate crisis through nonviolent direct action. It unites a diverse group of ordinary people who are deeply concerned about the environmental and social impacts of fossil fuel dependence, particularly coal and gas exports. The organisation focuses on mobilising communities to demand urgent and just climate solutions, emphasising peaceful civil resistance as a powerful tool for change.

Mission and Vision

The mission of Rising Tide is to build a powerful, nonviolent movement that stops coal and gas corporations from destroying the planet. It envisions an Australia that honours its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement by ending fossil fuel projects and transitioning to a sustainable, carbon-neutral future. The movement seeks to protect climate justice by supporting frontline communities, including First Nations peoples and global neighbours, who are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Main Objectives

• Cancel all new fossil fuel projects immediately
• Implement a high tax on fossil fuel export profits to fund community and industrial transition and address climate loss and damage
• End all coal exports from Newcastle, the world’s largest coal port, by 2030
• Amplify frontline voices and disrupt fossil fuel propaganda through storytelling and public engagement
• Build a mass movement through community conversations, training, and creative civil disobedience

Benefiting Groups

Rising Tide primarily benefits communities vulnerable to climate impacts, including Indigenous peoples whose lands are threatened by mining, local residents affected by pollution and economic shifts, and future generations who will inherit the consequences of current environmental decisions. It also supports climate activists and ordinary Australians seeking meaningful participation in climate defence.

Types of Services and Activities

• Organising and facilitating nonviolent direct actions such as blockades and protests targeting fossil fuel infrastructure
• Community education and skill-building workshops to empower people for civil resistance
• Storytelling and media campaigns to shift public narratives and increase awareness
• Legal challenges related to coal and gas regulation
• Building supportive networks that prioritise community care, mutual aid, and collective joy to sustain long-term activism

Through these efforts, Rising Tide fosters a resilient and inclusive movement committed to climate justice and systemic change. Individuals can support this work by donating or joining local hubs to participate in upcoming campaigns and actions.