Australian Third Sector actors’ theories of change for climate justice: real and apparent barriers and obscured root causes

As climate action remains insufficient, societal actors are demanding climate justice. Self-defined climate advocates working within non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations—collectively known as Third Sector Organisations (TSO)—are one group of such actors working towards their subjective vision of climate justice in Australia. I critically examine Australian TSO actors' theories of change for climate justice. Although diverse, I identify a spectrum of climate justice visions from social solidarity with Indigenous Peoples to eco-centric, bordering on anti-human. TSO theories of change are dominated by those seeking incremental change without challenging the existing power structures premised, as they are in Australia, on settler colonialism and capitalism. Despite this, some clearly diagnosed impediments to change but struggled to articulate a theory of change to transcend these barriers. When giving up isn’t an option, critical reflection on the root causes of climate injustice and the real and apparent barriers to change is necessary.