Seven dogs, eleven people and the start of something bigger!

Sometimes the best ideas reveal themselves when you're not even looking for them. Today, during our Dogs for Climate Walk around Lake Burley Griffin, someone stopped us and said "Oh, Dogs for Climate, that's great, is this a regular thing?" My immediate response was, "It's just a one-off," I replied. "We're a People for Nature event as part of Citizen COP."

But then I caught myself. "Actually, no. This is the inaugural Dogs for Climate Walk!," I corrected. And just like that, I realised we might have started something worth continuing.

Seven dogs, eleven people and two wonderful hours

Our first Dogs for Climate Walk brought together eleven people and seven gorgeous dogs: Fred, Bonnie, Leo, Apollo, Oreo, Fin and Jasper. All our doggies played nice as we spent two hours walking and yarning together around Lake Burley Griffin, enjoying the company, fresh air and enthusiastic canine companionship. There was plenty of sniffing, wagging, socialising and the occasional dog poo to clean up.

Quite a few people stopped to ask about our sign and what Dogs for Climate was all about.

That was part of the magic. We weren't holding a formal meeting or delivering speeches in suits. We were simply people enjoying a walk with our dogs, having conversations about something important. And those conversations matter.

What do dogs have to do with climate change?

Quite a lot, actually. We Aussies love our pets. We spend billions of dollars caring for them, feeding them, taking them to the vet and making sure they're happy and healthy. And rightly so. But here's a question I've been thinking about.

Why do we care so deeply about our companion animals, yet struggle to extend that same compassion to the wildlife and ecosystems around us?

Our native birds, mammals, reptiles and other wildlife face growing threats from habitat destruction, invasive species and climate change. They deserve our care and protection too.

Dogs for Climate is a fun way of starting that conversation. It's about connecting with each other and celebrating our relationships with animals while recognising our responsibility to protect the natural world we all share.

This was one of the Canberra Citizen COP Australia 2026 events I've been organising through Lyrebird Dreaming in partnership with People for Nature. We've already enjoyed a birdwatching walk where we identified 30 species, and a wonderful screening of NATURE – The Call for Reconciliation at the National Library that attracted more than 120 people. Each event has been different. But they've all demonstrated something important.

People want to connect. They care about nature and a safe climate. And they want opportunities to do something positive. That's why I've been calling active hope. Not waiting for politicians and corporations to solve everything or commiting to .something in 2070. But getting together now, building community, raising awareness and demonstrating that we care. And sometimes, doing that can be as simple as taking your dog for a walk.

The inaugural walk. Definitely not the last!

So I've decided that today really was the inaugural Dogs for Climate Walk. We'll do it again. Not just once a year during Citizen COP, either. There's no reason we couldn't make it a more regular gathering. It's easy to organise, costs almost nothing, and brings people together around something positive. I think it could grow into something wonderful.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us, and especially our dogs Fred, Bonnie, Leo, Apollo, Oreo, Fin and Jasper for being such excellent climate ambassadors!

Want to join the next Dogs for Climate Walk? I'd love to see you, whether you've got a dog or just enjoy being around them. 🐾 Subscribe to my Lyrebird Dreaming blog here to receive updates and invitations to future events. And please share this story with your dog-loving friends. Because the more people and paws we bring together, the bigger the difference we can make.

Active hope. Four paws at a time. 🐕💚

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