Since September 2020, knitters from across Australia have been knitting the reality of our warming climate into the vivid and hauntingly beautiful Knit for Climate Action scarves. 

What started as a simple creative idea has become a compelling movement for change, weaving together individual stories of concern for God's creation into a collective cry for urgent climate action in Australia. We’re grateful for the generous response from our knitters, and the impact of these scarves in sparking meaningful conversations about climate change.

Highlights of the reach and impact of our climate scarves so far...

 

September 2020

Common Grace puts the call out for scarves to be knitted.

Jess Morthorpe, whose idea sparked Knit for Climate Action, shares her story.

  May 2021

Almost 300 scarves received from knitters across the Common Grace movement.

Knitters share their story on ABC Life Matters. 

21 June 2021 

#ShowYourStripes Day 2021. We gathered on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country, at the lawns of Parliament House to bring the gracious and powerful message of the need for urgent climate action to the heart of our nation’s capital through our Knit for Climate Action. 

Knitter Vikki McDonough shares her story with the Canberra Times.

Keith Chidzy, supported by fellow artists Kiki Tse and Stuart Matheson, created the world’s longest knitting needles, a sculpture reflecting the scale of change needed to tackle the climate crisis.

July to October 2021

Grassroots advocacy meetings with MPs and Senators to gift scarves and call for urgent climate action.

21 October 2021

On 21 October, the last joint sitting day in parliament before COP26, Common Grace called on every federal MP and Senator to #WearTheScarf to show their support for urgent, ambitious climate action. 

Oct to Nov 2021

Climate stripe scarves are gifted to Rev James Bhagwan, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland at the 2021 Conference of Parties (COP) in Glasgow, Scotland. Gershon Nimbalker reflects on Knitting Together Faith and Justice during COP26.

May 2022

Election of climate aware Federal Parliament. 

 

21 June 2022

#ShowYourStripesDay 2022 - Members of Parliament #WearTheScarf in show of support for urgent climate action.

June-Sept 2022

Scarf gifting continues with newly elected federal leaders.

Oct to Nov 2022 - COP27

Common Grace’s Creation and Climate Justice Coordinator, Jane Kelly attended COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt and brought 19 climate scarves with her. These lovingly knitted scarves made it into the hands of some influential people including Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault; the 45th US vice president and climate environmentalist Al Gore; the magnificently passionate Katharine Hayhoe; climate activist legend Bill McKibben; senior aides to the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and USA President Joe Biden; as well as Masig Island man Yessie Mosby, who was part of the Torres Strait Eight. Read Jane’s blog from her amazing experience at COP27.

 

February 2023

Common Grace Knit for Climate Action scarves feature in the Museum of Australian Democracy Blueprint exhibition in Old Parliament House, on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra. See some of our wonderful #KnitForClimateAction knitters with Jane Kelly and Monique Hughes from Common Grace at the MoAD Blueprint exhibition.

21 June 2023

ABC Weather presenter, Nate Byrne wears his scarf gifted to him on ABC Breakfast News, #ShowYourStripes Day 2023

 

What's Next?

If you are inspired by our Knit for Climate Action campaign, you can knit your own climate stripe scarf that helps spark conversation and action for climate change in your community! Register for access to our Knitter’s Handbook which will provide you with everything you need to knit and gift a scarf. 

 

Register here