IMPACT

Global Citizen NOW: Perth

Perth, Australia · 18-20 Oct, 2026

Global Citizen NOW: Perth saw groundbreaking commitments worth billions that will help power 4.8 million households across the Indo-Pacific and beyond with clean energy ahead of COP31, impacting 20 million people worldwide. 

WHAT WE ACHIEVED

4.8 million Households Connected to Power

Billions in Financial Commitments

20 Million People Impacted

WHAT GLOBAL CITIZEN NOW: PERTH DELIVERED

POWERING A BETTER FUTURE

Across two days, Global Citizen NOW: Perth brought together influential leaders from government, business, sport, entertainment, philanthropy, First Nations communities, and civil society for Western Australia's first ever international clean energy summit. 

The summit spotlighted the real-world impacts of climate change, Western Australia's potential as a global renewable energy powerhouse, and the urgent need for collective action ahead of COP31. Marking Global Citizen's return to Perth for the first time in 15 years following its landmark End of Polio concert in 2011, the summit delivered commitments to expand access to reliable, affordable electricity to 4.8 million homes and deliver 3 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity across the Indo-Pacific and beyond, surpassing its initial goals of 4 million homes and at least 2.5 gigawatts. 

Supported by presenting partner the Western Australian Government, major partners Boundless Earth and Minderoo Foundation, and a broad coalition of industry, philanthropic, academic, and civil society partners, Global Citizen NOW: Perth demonstrated what can be achieved when leaders across sectors come together to turn climate ambition into real action.

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 Why Energy Access Matters for Ending Extreme Poverty

For hundreds of millions of people around the world, access to reliable electricity remains out of reach. In 2024, approximately 655 million people worldwide still lived without electricity, while millions more faced unreliable or unaffordable power. The consequences of that energy gap touch nearly every aspect of a person’s life.

According to the World Health Organization, close to 1 billion people in low- and lower-middle-income countries are served by healthcare facilities without reliable electricity, while more than one-fifth of primary schools worldwide still lack power.

Imagine a rural health clinic without the power to refrigerate lifesaving vaccines, a classroom where students can't use computers, or a small business owner unable to access essential tools. These are just some of the everyday realities of energy poverty — the lack of access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy.

Reliable electricity also creates opportunities beyond homes, hospitals, and classrooms. It can help farmers protect their harvests, entrepreneurs grow their businesses, and women and girls spend less time collecting firewood or water.

The good news? Many of the technologies and solutions needed to address these challenges already exist. What's needed now is the investment, infrastructure, and political leadership to ensure they reach the communities that need them most.

The Clean Energy Opportunity

The world is making remarkable progress in expanding renewable energy. Solar, wind, and other clean technologies are becoming increasingly accessible, creating new opportunities to meet growing energy demand while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

But the benefits of this transition aren't reaching everyone equally.

In rural and remote communities, extending traditional electricity grids can be expensive and logistically challenging. That's where solutions like solar mini-grids, home solar systems, and battery storage can make a real difference, bringing reliable power to communities that have historically been left behind.

But generating electricity is only part of the equation. Delivering reliable, affordable power also requires infrastructure, long-term maintenance, and substantial investment. High upfront costs and expensive financing, particularly in developing economies, can prevent promising projects from getting off the ground.

Overcoming these barriers requires governments, businesses, investors, and local communities to work together — exactly the kind of collaboration Global Citizen NOW: Perth was designed to advance.

ACTION INTO IMPACT

COMMITMENTS

Global Citizen is the world's largest movement to end extreme poverty. Since the movement began, more than $50 billion in commitments announced on Global Citizen platforms has been distributed, impacting more than 1.3 billion lives.

At Global Citizen NOW: Perth, a coalition of partners spanning industry, philanthropic, and civil society partners stepped up with the following commitments to power 4.8 million households with clean energy, impacting approximately 20 million people worldwide. 

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Water & Energy

Affinity Capital
12B Liters of Water, 75K Tons of Lithium 

Headquartered in Perth, Affinity Capital committed over the next five years to deliver more than 12 billion liters a year of new Indigenous-led, climate-independent water supply in WA, and to advance projects targeting at least 75,000 tons a year of new lithium production, building on its 9.2 GW renewable energy pipeline.

Nature Restoration

The Biome Coalition
AUD $100M

The Biome Coalition was announced at Global Citizen NOW: Perth by Glen Kelly, a Noongar leader from the southwest of Western Australia. The Biome Coalition will bring together companies seeking to invest in high-integrity nature restoration projects that deliver measurable climate, biodiversity, and community benefits. Its founding members, who convened for the first time at the summit, signaled their intention to invest up to AUD $100 million in nature-based solutions, including projects in Western Australia. Projects will be assessed through the Earthly platform for environmental and social integrity, with First Nations leadership and benefit-sharing central to the initiative. A fuller announcement outlining the coalition’s investment plans is expected in 2027.

Sustainable Aviation

Envision Group
10 Tons of SAF Credits

Envision Group committed 10 tons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credits to support efforts to address the aviation-related emissions associated with Global Citizen NOW: Perth. Unlike conventional carbon offsets, these credits are designed to finance lower-emissions fuel production within the aviation sector itself. Through this contribution, Envision is supporting an approach to aviation decarbonization that encourages investment in cleaner fuel alternatives and helps demonstrate how industry partnerships can reduce emissions.

Carbon Credits

Everland
2K Tons of Carbon Credits

Everland committed 2,000 tons of carbon credits to help address any emissions associated with Global Citizen NOW: Perth. The contribution is intended to support the summit’s approach to accounting for its carbon footprint while directing resources toward high-impact carbon credit projects.

Indigenous Energy

Four Directions Fund
5 Indigenous-led Energy Projects; 1 GW

Four Directions Fund, the world’s first global Indigenous-led renewable energy fund, committed to partner with the First Nations Clean Energy Network to advance up to five Indigenous-led renewable energy projects across Australia with at least 10 percent Indigenous ownership. The initiative will also aim to bring projects totaling 1 GW of energy up to ready-to-build status across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States by 2029. With this new model, this commitment seeks to help Indigenous communities not just lease land for energy projects, but rather build up meaningful ownership and participation in the nascent clean energy economy.

Climate Resilience

The Green Climate Fund (GCF)
3.7M People

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) committed to mobilizing approximately $1 billion in climate investment across 14 Pacific Island countries through its Regional Programmatic Approach to Climate Action (RPACA). This figure will include at least $250 million GCF grants alone.

The initiative is expected to impact an estimated 3.7 million people by supporting regional climate action by strengthening infrastructure, protecting coastlines, and improving water security. By coordinating investments across the Pacific, the approach aims to strengthen countries’ ability to respond to climate risks and support more resilient communities and economies.

Renewable Energy

Ninety One
3 GW of Renewable Energy 

Global investment manager Ninety One committed to growing its Emerging Markets Transition Debt strategy to $5 billion, helping channel private investment toward clean energy and decarbonization projects across emerging markets. The strategy aims to support 3 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy systems while expanding investment in economies where financing remains a major barrier. Ninety One also projects that investments supported by the strategy could help ultimately avoid 1 billion tons of carbon emissions.

Climate Finance

Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF)
Pacific Island Climate Leadership

Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Dr. Maina Talia, spotlighted the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and the leadership Pacific governments have demonstrated in financing their own climate resilience. Pacific island governments have to date collectively pledged $18.5 million to the Facility, despite contributing minimally to the climate crisis. The Facility truly represents a Pacific-led approach to building long-term resilience and ensuring communities have greater access to the resources needed to respond to climate change.

The Perth summit brought a global platform to these contributions, strengthening calls for wealthy nations, international financial institutions, philanthropies, and private investors to match the ambition shown by the Pacific’s leaders.

Energy Transition

The Perth Declaration
7 Priorities for Just Energy Transition

The Perth Declaration was formally handed over to Australian Government representatives, putting forward a collective call to accelerate a fair, inclusive, and prosperous clean energy transition. Open to endorsement by governments, businesses, investors, and civil society organizations, it sets out seven priorities: expanding clean energy access; developing green industries; mobilizing transition finance; protecting nature and supporting cleaner transport; ensuring a just transition for workers and communities; strengthening Indo-Pacific cooperation; and moving away from fossil fuels, including through fossil fuel subsidy reform.

The Declaration provides a framework for translating the summit’s ambitions into measurable commitments. Global Citizen plans to track endorsements and associated actions and present the Declaration to the COP31 Presidency, helping carry momentum from Perth into future international climate negotiations.

Coal Abatement

TransEnergy Global (TEG)
15–30M Energy Transition Credits

TransEnergy Global (TEG) committed to donating Energy Transition Credits (ETCs) to offset the carbon footprint of Global Citizen NOW: Perth. The initiative supports an emerging approach to climate mitigation aimed at preventing future emissions by ensuring that commercially viable, thermal coal reserves stay in the ground. The contribution will be linked to TEG’s proposed coal abatement project in Botswana, which could generate an estimated 15 million to 30 million ETCs over 15 years. The first credits are targeted for issuance in the second half of 2027, subject to successful project validation, verification, and issuance. The number of credits retired on Global Citizen’s behalf will be determined following an assessment of the summit’s carbon footprint.

Renewable Energy

The Western Australian Government 
75% Renewable Energy Target

The Western Australian Government announced a new renewable energy target of 75% generated for its main grid by 2030–31, supported by large-scale solar, wind, and battery energy storage projects. This target marks a significant step beyond the state’s previous goal of 40% as Western Australia moves away from coal-fired power towards a future run on renewables. 

Additionally, the government will introduce an AUD $150 million financing program to help manufacturers adopt and install solar, battery, storage, and upgrade other energy-efficient equipment more quickly. This commitment, announced the week following Global Citizen NOW: Perth, represents an embrace of renewables as the state advances its clean energy transition. 

Global Citizen's Push for Clean Energy Access

Global Citizen NOW: Perth built on years of campaigning to accelerate the clean energy transition and ensure its benefits reach communities that need them most.

Through initiatives such as Scaling Up Renewables in Africa (SURA), co-chaired by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, with support from the International Energy Agency, Global Citizen has helped bring governments, investors, and businesses together around ambitious renewable energy goals. In 2025, Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg marked the culmination of the year-long campaign with pledges to help provide electricity access for over 17.5 million homes and deliver 26.8 gigawatts of clean energy across the African continent by 2030.

Building on that approach, Global Citizen's clean energy campaign shifted the spotlight to the Indo-Pacific, mobilizing new commitments to expand electricity access and renewable energy capacity while strengthening regional cooperation.

Why Focus on Perth and the Indo-Pacific?

The challenge of energy poverty is global, but the Indo-Pacific is uniquely positioned to help shape what comes next.

Home to some of the world's fastest-growing economies, major clean technology hubs, and Pacific island nations facing significant climate and energy security challenges, the region is at the heart of the global energy transition. Southeast Asia alone is expected to account for nearly 20% of global energy demand growth through 2035, while many Pacific nations remain heavily dependent on expensive imported fossil fuels, leaving communities vulnerable to volatile global energy prices.

Western Australia offers an important meeting point for advancing solutions. With abundant renewable energy resources, established mining and energy industries, and strong ties across Asia and the Indian Ocean, the state has the potential to attract investment, develop new industries, and create jobs. Just as importantly, First Nations, Indigenous, and Pacific leaders helped shape discussions at Global Citizen NOW: Perth, emphasizing that a successful energy transition must respect communities' rights and ensure its benefits are shared widely.

Global Citizen Nights: Perth

The two-day summit officially closed out with a rousing night of music and celebration with Global Citizen Nights: Perth. The evening brought together headliners The Teskey Brothers along with South Summit and Ruby Rodgers for a night of music and action at the Riverside Theatre, electrifying the audience in a fitting end to the summit all about energizing our world. 
Global Citizens could take action to earn free tickets to the event by taking action in support of clean energy solutions for communities across the Indo-Pacific and around the world. Local residents of Perth could also join the evening by stepping up to volunteer in their community.

Julia Gillard, 27th Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of Wellcome, joined the evening via video to call for a clean energy revolution, a full circle moment 15 years after speaking at Global Citizen’s first campaign launch in Perth. She then introduced Global End Polio Advocate and polio survivor Ramesh Ferris, who delivered an inspiring speech on the final push to end polio, a fitting nod to Global Citizen’s 2011 End of Polio campaign in Perth.

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KEY EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS

Global Citizen Festival NYC 2026

Global Citizen Festival was set to return to on September 26, but severe weather forced its first-ever cancellation. While the show couldn’t go on, the impact did.

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Global Citizen Nights: Perth

Bringing leaders together in Perth to advance clean energy access, electrification, investment, and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

OCTOBER 18-20, 2026

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Protect the Amazon: 1 Year Later

One year on, Global Citizen has mobilized $1B+ in commitments and 4.4M actions, helping protect or restore 31M hectares and impact 18M lives.

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Building Momentum Ahead of COP31 — and Beyond

With the United Nations climate change conference COP31 approaching in Antalya, Türkiye, Global Citizen NOW: Perth offered an opportunity to turn climate ambition into concrete commitments ahead of the international negotiations.

But the real measure of success will be what happens next: whether these investments translate into reliable electricity for more communities, stronger local economies, and lasting opportunities for the people who need them most.

After all, energy is not the end goal in and of itself. The real measure of progress will be whether more households can access affordable, clean electricity wherever they are. Whether health clinics can keep essential equipment running. Whether students can use the tools they need to learn. Whether businesses can grow, new industries can create jobs, and communities can become more resilient to economic and climate-related shocks. And whether First Nations, Indigenous, and Pacific communities have a meaningful stake in the decisions shaping their futures.

Perth demonstrated what's possible when political leadership, private investment, and community voices come together around a shared goal. Now, the challenge is to ensure those commitments deliver to build a cleaner, fairer future that leaves no one in the dark.

Our Partners

 

Our Civil Society Partners

Global Citizen acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Nyoongar nation as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which Global Citizen NOW: Perth and Global Citizen Nights will be held, and we pay respect to Elders past, present and upcoming.