NORMAL PEOPLE - PROJECT PLANET

CP | Can you share the story behind Project Planet? What inspired you to start your own movement?

The Black Summer bushfires were a big turning point for the both of us.

Lizzie’s a brand strategist, graphic designer and elite athlete (what can’t she do?!), who literally couldn’t train properly because of the bushfire smoke. I’m a social strategist and copywriter, and while I wasn’t impacted directly by the bushfires, they made me reflect on the life I wanted to lead, so I went back to uni to study a Masters of Sustainability.

We started out running separate Instagram accounts, each focused on helping Aussies get involved in climate action. That’s how we became online friends, and the rest is history! We joined forces around 3 years ago, and have since grown Project Planet into our little baby.

At the end of the day, we’re just two girlies who love the planet, love helping people and who know how to communicate online in a way that really connects with people.

For those new to climate activism, how does Project Planet help break down the complexities of climate action into simple, actionable steps?

We totally get that climate action can feel overwhelming — like it’s either too hard, too expensive, or both. And while some actions do require a bit of effort, there’s literally something out there for everyone. 

At Project Planet, we take the heavy, complex stuff (news, policies, and politics) and explain it in a way that makes sense to anyone. We keep it lighthearted, throw in a few jokes, and leave people feeling like, “Hey, I can actually do something about this.” 

Are there any specific climate actions or initiatives that you’veseen make the most impact in the past year?

One that stands out for me is Anjali Sharma’s campaigning. It’s been incredible to watch. 

Here’s the backstory: Right now, the Australian government doesn’t have a legal duty to protect young people and future generations from climate harm. Back in 2020, Anjali and a group of other young Australians took the Environment Minister to court, arguing that they deserve this protection. They actually won their case at first, but the government appealed, and the decision was overturned. 

Building on that case, Senator David Pocock introduced the Duty of Care Bill in 2023, which is pushing to make this duty of care a legal reality. Anjali’s story is powerful, and quite frankly, makes me embarrassed for the things I was doing when I was 17 (confirming, I was definitely not taking any politicians to court!) I highly recommend reading the Duty of Care team’s open letter to the government, published earlier this month. And supporting their campaign, obviously!

If you could give one piece of advice to people who want to take climate action but are not feeling hopeful, what would it be?

There’s this saying that’s pretty cliche, but really hits the nail on the head when it comes to feeling hopeless: “Action is the antidote to despair”. 

You’re never going to ease your feelings of climate anxiety or dread or hopelessness or whatever else you’re feeling by sitting at home and waiting for someone else to fix the problem. You have to get your hands dirty (figuratively or literally).  

They’re the big picture actions. Can you also give us five simple, daily habits that we can all adopt to contribute positively to the environment?

1. Shop local: Whether it's for food, clothes, or anything in between, support local businesses that align with your values. 
2. Consume less: Ask yourself before every purchase, “Do I really need this?” 
3. Find your community: Join a group or online space of people with shared interests and values — you’ll be more motivated to get active when you’re not doing it alone. 
4. Talk about it: Conversations about climate change are a powerful way to spread awareness. 
5. Get outside: Spending time in nature can remind you why you care in the first place.

You talk about climate change a lot, which I imagine can get really heavy. How do you personally stay motivated when it all feels a bit overwhelming?

I definitely have my down days, but the thing that always brings me back is doing the work — helping people better understand the climate crisis and showing them how they can be part of the solutions. 

It’s like I mentioned before: when you’re taking action, no matter how big or small, it feels like you’re doing something that matters. That sense of purpose helps me push through the tougher moments.

So what’s next for Project Planet? Can you tell us about any exciting projects you're currently working on?

We’re super excited about our upcoming federal election campaign: Build a Ballot. 

We haven’t officially launched yet, so this is quite the scoop, but what I can tell you is that we’re building a tool that will allow you (as a voter) to plan your vote ahead of election day. No more confusion about how to research candidates, or how preferential voting works. Build a Ballot will help vote for candidates who align with your values!

Even though it’s not live yet, you can support us by signing up to our mailing list so you know exactly when the tool does go live, or by following us on socials. Or both.

What has been your proudest moment working together on Project Planet?

There’s been heaps of proud moments — joining forces to work on this together, getting DGR status (which means people can donate to us and write it off on tax), launching a podcast. But I think our proudest is yet to come. 

Our federal election campaign is everything we stand for — helping young people connect the dots between climate action and politics. There’s so much for us to still do, but I know how proud we’ll be when we see people using the tool, engaging in the electoral process, and voting in line with their values. And fingers crossed, the tool helps us elect a government who will actually take action on climate change. 

What impact do you hope to make in the next few years?

Right now, we’re laser-focused on making the next federal election a turning point for climate action in Australia. We want to see a government that’s ready to step up and address the climate crisis — and the other big challenges young Australians are facing. 

Beyond that, we’re plotting and scheming ways to take over the internet with climate content. I’m not joking.  

Lastly, what is something that maybe isn’t normal right now, but you think should be?

Being part of a community.

It’s wild how isolated we’ve all become, even with so much social media and connection at our fingertips. I think we need to get back to building real, supportive communities — whether that’s around climate action, hobbies, or just shared values. Having people around you who care about the same things as you is truly transformative. And I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of the big issues we're facing right now will get better once we normalise communities.