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From the flood-soaked streets of Lismore to the rising waters in the Pacific, the effects of climate change are here. Australia stands at a profound crossroads. It can continue to fuel the climate crisis as one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters or it can become a true partner to its Pacific neighbours and lead the transition toward a fossil-free future.

Genuine solidarity means more than symbolic gestures on the global stage. It means concrete action: ending the approval of new fossil fuel projects and supporting governments seeking to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

This essay imagines a future where Australia stands as a courageous ally using its resources and power to build a better future rather than staying as a climate pariah, and where the Pacific becomes the lighthouse guiding the way.

Drawing on decades of activism — from anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa to standing alongside climate defenders across the Pacific — Naidoo explores the injustices that define this crisis. With stories from Australian flood survivors, Indigenous leaders protecting sacred lands, and Pacific Islanders fighting for the survival of their homes, Naidoo describes a grim reality: the water that once sustained us is now loudly sounding the alarm.

Kumi Naidoo is a South African human rights & environmental justice activist and author. He is currently the President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Formerly, he was Secretary-General of Amnesty International (2018-2020) and Executive Director of Greenpeace International (2009-2015).