Historic legislation to ban offshore sea mining in NSW coastal waters became law with bipartisan support. We’re stoked with the role Surfers for Climate and our community played in making this a reality. Bipartisanship is not just a ‘nice to have’ - it’s a ‘must have’ when it comes to environmental legislation, because history shows us that if only one side of politics wants it, there's a risk that it can be undone. We’re proud of the effort we made to ensure this legislative opportunity had the support of a broad swathe of politicians from across the political spectrum.

Surfers for Climate also grew in size and activity this year, with our team swelling to 5 full-time staff, covering our efforts to engage tradespeople on climate through our Trade Up program, helping deliver our latest film project ‘Belinda’ in communities around Australia, hosting our first ever Water Women Campout, and launching Blue Minds - a one of its kind youth mental health program that helps young people deal with eco-anxiety and unlocks them into action for a healthier ocean.

But despite our collective efforts, the health of our ocean continues to deteriorate due to human activities.

The rate of ocean warming has doubled in the past two decades, contributing to rising sea levels and the increased frequency of marine heatwaves. Australia only this year experienced such a marine heatwave which saw the Great Barrier Reef, the jewel in the crown of our marine environment, suffer severe coral bleaching for the 5th time in 8 years.

Oxygen levels in the ocean have decreased by up to 2.42% over the past 60 years, adversely affecting marine life and ecosystems. Increased carbon dioxide absorption has led to higher acidity levels in our ocean, impacting calcifying organisms like corals and shellfish. 

The compounding effect of these interconnected issues means simply this - everyone, everywhere, needs to do anything and everything they can to turn the tide.

And that’s what we intend to do in 2025 - do everything we can, with the abilities we have, to move the needle on climate action. 

We’re surfers after all - we love nothing more than paddling deep, taking off in the most critical part of the wave, and backing our abilities to get the ride of our lives.

Stoked to have you on the wave with us. We couldn’t do it without you.

Josh Kirkman

CEO, Surfers for Climate