The Paris Climate Talks later this month are the world’s best chance to reach an international agreement to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. That’s why we’re taking
the fight to protect Aussie food and farms overseas and making sure Aussie farmers have a seat at the decision-making table.
We’re working with Australian media to make sure the story of climate impacts on farming is told. We’’ll be meeting with farmers from around the world to share knowledge about adapting to climate impacts, speaking
with the Australian delegation to Paris and joining with activists to call on the international community - and Australia - to show leadership on the issue of climate change.
The two of us are going to Paris with fresh eyes and a fierce desire to create change.
We are the first generation to really understand the impacts of climate change and the last generation able to do something about it.
We know that today farming is a responsibility not a right and that we must be part of the climate change solution.
Why Us? Who are we?
Anika Molesworth - Australian Young Farmer of the Year 2015
This year I was honoured to be awarded Australian Young Farmer of the Year. Farming is my life’s passion, and having just finished my Masters in Sustainable Agriculture I know climate change is the biggest threat
to Aussie food and farming.
My family’s sheep farm is just outside of Broken Hill, in Western NSW. Temperature extremes and droughts are having devastating impacts upon production. It’s both heartbreaking to see our land become drier and hotter
each year with global warming, and infuriating that climate change issues are not being addressed in the serious and urgent matter that is required.
That’s why I promote climate change adaption and mitigation strategies through my website Climate Wise Agriculture. I’m also keenly interested in natural
and built heritage conservation on farming properties and manage INTO Sustainable Farms.
I spent much of this year in Laos working with farmers researching climate change resilience by reducing production risk. I hope to use the opportunities given to me as 2015 Australian Young Farmer of the Year to
advocate for greater adoption of renewable energies in agriculture.
Josh Gilbert - NSW Farmers
I was born on the Mid North Coast of NSW, and I’m passionate about my Aboriginal and agricultural heritage and breaking down stereotypes within these two groups. I’ve been involved in numerous lobby and not-for-profit
organisations, including Earth Hour, The Australian Red Cross, NSW Farmers and The Rural Fire Service.
Most recently, I led the NSW Young Farmers’ Council in moving a motion at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference, which attracted a huge response from both national and international media.
I love agriculture, and continue to share my passion by speaking at agricultural engagements around Australia on topics such as youth in agriculture, social media and recently presenting on the social license to farm
to the NSW Government.
You can follow Anika on Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/AnikaMolesworth
And Josh at: https://twitter.com/GilbertJoshuaM
Farmers are perfectly placed to contribute to the solutions to Climate Change. Not only are they on the frontline of Climate Change already, but they’re innovative, resourceful and determined.
Our Australian farmers are part of a global farming community. They know they have to learn from each other’s successes and failures in order to help us all move forward.
Farmers have always been focused on feeding and clothing us. Now they’re also in a position to power us by housing wind and solar farms on their land using renewable energy technologies.
Our vision…
We are going to Paris to bring back the knowledge and networks that our farmers need to help them if they are going to continue to successfully feed, clothe and power the world.
We will meet with world leaders in agriculture, listen to others’ experiences, share the ideas of Australian famers and create the tools that will enable us to survive in a future we know is going to challenge us all.
We aren’t going to Paris with all the answers… But we will come back with plenty of solutions.
How you - our community - will benefit.
By sending us to Paris you will be supporting Australian agriculture to learn more and begin to lead the way on dealing with Climate Change. This will ensure a future that we want not only for Australia, but the world.
What we need…
In order to get us to Paris we need to raise $5000.
This will ensure we not only have the opportunity to attend the conference but that we are also able to visit European farms and see first hand how those farmers are powering their communities using clean energy technologies.
So there you have it… you don’t need to wear a cloak to be a super hero and help save the world… You just need to help us send us to Paris so they can bring solutions back home.
Farming systems that produce their own renewable energy, and are based on sustainable agricultural practices that increase carbon storage in vegetation and soils, reduce the need for expensive nitrogen-based fertilizer,
reduce soil degradation, save water, and protect our natural resource base will have win-win impacts – helping reduce the prospects of climate change to which we cannot adapt, as well as increasing the reliability, profitability and quality of our food supply.
“Feeding a Hungry Nation: Climate change, Food and Farming in Australia’ 2015 by Professor
Lesley Hughes, Dr. Martin Rice, Professor Will Steffen
