The world needs a rapid transition away from fossil fuels which threaten people, economies and environments around the world. However this is just half the story of climate justice; the other half is about creating a just future.

Creating change through radical solidarity

Sapna tells the other half of the climate justice story with a focus on South Asian communities–Indigenous peoples, subsistence-based communities, racially and socially marginalised groups. Stories around what constitutes global climate justice are largely framed and shared from mainstream climate change activist platforms in the developed world. They can exclude community struggles for justice, particularly from the developing world. Sapna aims to foster a radical solidarity in global climate justice activism, through which the stories, struggles and visions of marginalised South Asian communities are given a central platform, instead of being cast out along the margins of a global climate justice narrative.

Building diversity

First Nations, People of Colour and migrant participation in climate activism in Australia are necessary for diversity. Diversity of representation and narratives can create a global sense of the problem we are all in together and build a shared understanding of climate solidarity. South Asian youth activists are already telling stories of their families and backgrounds, and of the global impacts of Australian coal including in South Asia, one of the world’s most climate-impacted places. Sapna aspires to diversify climate activism in Australia by supporting and strengthening People of Colour participation and leadership with a focus on South Asians.

Our work

• We work in solidarity with environmental justice movements and climate-vulnerable communities and share the platform for South Asian stories, struggles, visions and voices.
• We collaborate with mainstream climate activist movements to make the global climate justice narrative inclusive and intersectional with the diverse stories of vulnerable communities.
• We amplify people-centric climate solutions that benefit communities. We advocate against false solutions and narratives, which, under the guise of emissions reduction, clean energy and climate adaptation, can worsen injustices towards vulnerable groups.
• We organise South Asians in Australia to hold the government accountable:
  • Australia is the largest coal exporter
  • Australia ranks last for climate action amongst UN member nations,
  • Australia neglects obligations to assist energy transformation in developing countries.
• And, we build the next generation of South Asian climate activists through supporting their participation and leadership in Australian climate activism and fostering their connection with South Asian movements.