Audrey Barucchi On Systemic Climate Change Education And Transforming Environmental Narratives

Audrey Barucchi Founder of People For Nature.png

Audrey Barucchi is a Co-Founder and the CEO of People For Nature, a registered environmental charity that empowers people through climate and biodiversity education and actionable insights.

With an MBA and over 15 years of experience in marketing, scientific communications, and corporate affairs, her career spans start-ups to multinational corporations, with deep expertise in the energy sector and decarbonisation technologies.

Passionate about climate change, mental health, and the psychology of corporate responsibility, Audrey has completed postgraduate studies in carbon management, ESG reporting, the SDGs, and Indigenous Rights. She is a certified Climate Fresk and Biodiversity Collage facilitator and a Climate Aware Practitioner.

A global citizen, Audrey has lived on six continents and speaks four languages. She frequently speaks at conferences and roundtables, sharing insights on sustainability and climate action.

Audrey discusses how environmental education is empowering communities to tackle biodiversity loss, why systemic climate literacy is essential for sustained action, and how redefining narratives can drive purpose-led start-ups.

Highlights from the interview (listen to the podcast for full details)

[Indio Myles] - To start off, can you please share a bit about your background and what led you to move from a corporate career into the environmental impact space?

[Audrey Barucchi] - It's an interesting journey. My initial degree and interests were in science, but not necessarily science communication. I was passionate about insects and began my university journey studying entomology, the science of insects. I was fascinated by systems and life in general, and when you study insects, you realise we are not the only species.

As soon as you look in the ground, you realise there are many different species that interact with each other, the soil, the air and the grass. There was definitely a seed planted there for what I am doing today.

I then spent much of my university years travelling the world. I love cultures, I speak four languages, and I spent a lot of my early years discovering the world, observing different cultures and learning new languages, English being one of them. I then moved from a university degree in science to a double degree in economics and literature, before completing a master's in international trade and business administration.

I found my niche reconnecting both my passion for science and my communication and business skills. I started to communicate on science and engineering, and that is where I found my place.

I realised that I can understand the science, but I also have tools in my back pocket to simplify it and ensure everyone understands the science and engineering. I think this is important, because if people do not understand the science, you might as well do something else.

That is how I built a corporate career in communications around decarbonisation technology, clean technologies and renewables. A few years ago, on my own personal journey towards understanding the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis, and the multifaceted crises we are facing, I decided to leave the corporate world behind me, and be guided by purpose. This is why I moved into the charity and non-profit world. I also wanted to continue surrounding myself with like-minded people, and that is how I founded People For Nature.

As the co-founder and CEO of People For Nature, could you share a bit more about the organisation and how it is empowering individuals through education, science, communication, climate and biodiversity?

The story of People For Nature is it’s a group of people who are all linked to science in one way or another, across different types of sciences. We reached a point where we thought, there is something broken in our society.

It seems science has become polarised, and in some instances, corrupted. Yet science is so important. Understanding science allows us to understand the world around us and the world within us. Why has it become so polarised and politically biased?

We could talk for hours about why that is; it is a topic of its own. But I think the common ground for my co-founders and I is understanding what is broken and how could we fix it? The other thing that united us was the belief that if you understand human activities are the issue, then you must also agree humans are the solution, or at least some humans potentially can help. There was this belief in people and in their power.

We thought, "we need something that is going to be carried by like-minded people, and we need to fix this problem we are facing where people are doubting basic science." Some people today even think the Earth is flat! You have to stop and think there is something broken here, and we need to fix this urgently, because science is a beautiful tool when it is used well, with ethics, purpose and vision.

At People For Nature, we focus on three key pillars. The first is education. We use tools like Climate Fresk and Biodiversity Collage to teach people about planetary boundaries. These are complex topics, but we say, "let's make sure people understand the basic science." There are scientific reports that everyone should know about, like the IPCC, IPBES, and the planetary boundary framework, but we do it in a way that develops system thinking.

An important part of what we are trying to fix is that many organisations work on climate change, biodiversity, or the circular economy separately. But I believe you are only shifting the dial when you approach it all together. You need a systemic view, and this is why we use the planetary boundary framework. If you really see the planet as our habitat, a beautiful ecosystem, and realise we have a responsibility to protect that ecosystem because it is our home, then you naturally develop a systemic view.

We have education, action, and impact. If I teach you something but it does not lead to action, and that action does not create real impact, then what was the point of learning it in the first place? It is really about closing the loop, and I think the biggest message we have is one of hope and optimism.

Yes, the news behind the science is not happy news, but we have to have optimism and hope. We have to realise that we are the stewards for the habitat we call planet Earth. No one is going to look after it but ourselves.

First, we have to stop wrecking it. Second, we have to collectively pause and think, "we are destroying our habitat—what species does that, and how can we fix it?" I do not think it is a climate thing or a biodiversity thing; it is a systemic thinking problem. The way we think needs to be rethought, and that is what we do at People For Nature. We try to encourage a systemic view on science.

Why is having literacy around climate change crucial for engaging people in sustained action?

I think before you can care, take action, and have a real impact, you have to understand the problem. I can tell you, because I have been doing this for long enough, that there are people working in climate, in engineering, in renewables and beyond who have never read the IPCC report. By the way, it is our best scientific compass when it comes to climate change today—we do not have a better one.

Environmental Impact People For Nature.jpg

That has always worried me: the lack of literacy. How can we solve a problem we do not understand? For me, it starts with climate literacy.

Another aspect is that when we start to understand planetary boundaries and the crises we are facing, it becomes clear it is not going to come down to three people solving it. It is the entire human civilisation that needs to reflect on its growth, its narratives, its culture, and how we are treating each other and the planet. It will take everyone.

We cannot just have the engineers, the scientists, and the politicians understanding the IPCC report. We have to make sure that absolutely everyone understands, so that everyone can be a real citizen in the very democratic sense of the term—part of the solution and the transition.

Obviously, I was born in France, and I am a very big defender of democracy and citizen-powered change. I do believe we can create a revolution out of just a few citizens who are led and passionate about their purpose. I carry that belief everywhere I go, and I think it is possible. History teaches us that it is possible.

I tell people, "if there are enough of us, we can make some incredible changes to this society and to the future of our children, but we have to do it together."

How do you see things like the mental health space and Indigenous rights intersecting with the space around environmental impact and sustainability?

There are two aspects to my answer to this question, and the first is on mental health. I teach yoga and I’m a dedicated meditator; I have always meditated, or at least for the last 20 years. I understand the impact that observing our thoughts has on our own lives. Being able to observe my thoughts and understand how they impact every single decision I make has been by far the biggest life changer for me.

I wish I had learned that in primary school. I wish someone had said, "alright, on top of maths, English, and French, you're going to learn meditation—the science of observing your thoughts—so that you realise you can either be a master of your thoughts or a slave to your thoughts."

For me, the mental health aspect is this: understanding the science is great, we must ensure everyone understands it, but it is equally critical to observe what emotions come from that understanding. I will give you an example that will likely resonate with your listeners.

When we understand the climate crisis, we experience what is known as climate anxiety, eco-anxiety, or eco-distress, whatever label you put on it. That can be very destructive, as we know, or it can be very productive. Many people I have met who experienced eco-anxiety left their careers, started new jobs, or returned to university. There is a huge number of beautiful, powerful stories about how that anxiety was channelled into constructive, positive action.

Now, on Indigenous peoples and cultures, for me, it is about the power of narratives. Everywhere I have lived—whether in South America, Asia, or now here in Australia—I find Indigenous peoples have a strong understanding of the power of storytelling: the stories they tell themselves, the stories they share with each other, and how those stories shape the way they look after each other, look after Country, look after the climate, and look after other species.

That is where I see synergy and correlation between the work we do in sustainability and that understanding. If we want a new model, we have to start by imagining that model. We have to start with a story of that model, and then it will manifest itself. It is a very deep concept, but I think it is so important to understand the importance of storytelling, of story sharing, and, importantly, of the narratives we tell ourselves and each other—and how those narratives shape everything.

What advice would you give to a young changemaker looking to shift their career or scale their impact while staying true to their values and beliefs?

To create a segue between the importance of narratives and this question, I would say be careful with the narrative you tell yourself. If you are setting out on a journey—a startup journey, an entrepreneurship journey—make sure you have a clear story of change. What is it that you want to leave behind? Really embrace words and semantics that truly resonate with you.

At People For Nature, we do a lot of work in trying to stay away from certain words, words like mission, targets, and goals, which are all derived from military language. Doing that work helps us start thinking about the narrative we are telling ourselves and the world about what it is we want to achieve.

I would say, do not underestimate the power of narrative. Do not underestimate the power of words, not just on others, but on yourself—on why you are here and what you are trying to achieve. That is really important. There are a lot of buzzwords out there like, “make sure you have your theory of change sorted.” But I see this as absolutely critical. Whether you call it your why, your theory of change, or your vision, do not get caught up with the semantics—just make sure you are very clear in your own mind why you want to do what you want to do.

The last piece of advice I would give is about ethics when it comes to the environment. If you are a doctor looking after someone, you are asked to sign a code of ethics, making sure you act with integrity. When it comes to the environmental sector, we do not yet have something like that.

We are still missing the realisation that we are looking after Mother Nature here, and you must make sure your ethics, transparency, and integrity are top-notch.

We have a great institute here in Australia, the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, which is doing great work in trying to put the idea of ethics and ethical behaviour into the environmental sector. I would say, if you are starting up in this sector, absolutely look to them and be guided by that work and the amazing mentors available there.

The last thing I would say is gratitude. Every single day, I get up and think, "I lead a charity that is being carried by people."

Every single day I get up and think, "I lead a charity that is being carried by people." I have what we call ambassadors—I have people who trust me, who follow us, and who give us their time, energy, vision, and purpose. Every single day, I take a moment to pause and think, "Wow, how amazing is this? How grateful do I feel for that?"

When you are a startup, the only asset you truly have, and the best asset you will ever have, is your people. Do not think that funding, processes, systems, and structures are the critical factors—it is your people. Make sure that every single day you take a moment for gratitude, because it is that sense of gratitude that will allow you to be the best version of yourself with your people.

Your people are your best assets; they are the fuel for whatever vision you have. Look after them as much as you can.

What opportunities or gaps are you seeing for increased environmental action from corporates or communities?

There are a couple of gaps, particularly in Australia. In education, there is really a lack of systemic thinking. We talk about education, but across every aspect of our society, I think there is a lack of systemic thinking.

You have people working on climate, people working on biodiversity and conservation, and others working elsewhere, and I find myself thinking, "Can we all just work together and understand that everything is really tightly knit?" That is the first gap.

The second gap is within our conservation initiatives and vision—the idea that conservation happens somewhere out in the bush, done by people dressed as rangers. I think that is an outdated perception that needs to change.

Our biodiversity is being impacted where we live, where we work, and there is no magic person who is going to turn up and make it all happen. We need to reconnect with the idea that we are nature. Whatever we are doing to biodiversity, whatever we are doing to this beautiful ecosystem, we are doing to ourselves. We need to re-embrace nature stewardship.

There was a framework signed a few years ago at a COP meeting around protecting and regenerating 30% of biodiversity by 2030. What prevents us from asking, "What can I do on my balcony, in my backyard, at my front shop? Can I apply that 30% goal in my own space?" And what if everyone was doing that?

It is about doing your part and really re-empowering people, helping them understand that traditional conservation models are not going to cut it anymore. We know that. We need a change in behaviour, a cultural shift, and we need to ensure people are empowered to reconnect with nature and realise that they are the nature stewards. They are the ones who need to be protecting nature.

When you start doing conservation, even if it is just on your balcony, your entire relationship with nature changes.

What inspiring projects or initiatives have you come across recently that are creating environmental change?

There is a tool that we use at People For Nature called Climate Fresk. Over the past 10 years, it has absolutely blown my mind with its capacity to create change. In just a few years, Climate Fresk has reached two million people—two million human beings now more aware of climate change. I think that is incredible.

It is based on a train-the-trainer model and collective intelligence, and I really love those types of tools and initiatives. That is definitely one of them.

I am also seeing a shift away from standardised, globalised systems towards more local and resilient communities and systems. Instead of everyone wanting to move to cities, eat the same food, and do everything the same, there is now a movement towards creating more local and resilient ways of living. You can apply this thinking to groups of friends, to the way we run organisations, charities, and businesses. It is something that gives me quite a lot of hope.

The last example for me would be the Eco Villages that are popping up everywhere, particularly across Europe. I recently came across a low-emission neighbourhood—a small community that agreed collectively to lower their emissions.

With that shared vision in mind, they started looking at initiatives like having one shared car for the entire neighbourhood and creating more local social gatherings to reduce the need for travel.

It is absolutely incredible, and it gives me a lot of hope that we can imagine and build a narrative that is different from the one we have been telling ourselves—and that we have been told—for so long.

To finish off, Audrey, are there any books or resources that you would recommend for our listeners?

I usually read in French because I find it better for my brain—there is a lot of thinking, perhaps a bit too much sometimes—so French is usually a little easier for me. There is a beautiful French book on energy as we know it, and it is a cartoon book that came out a few years ago in France. There is now an English translation. It is called The World Without End by a brilliant engineer named Jean-Marc Jancovici. I would definitely recommend reading it.

There is also a beautiful podcast that I like to listen to, especially if you are into podcasts, which I assume your listeners are. It is called The Great Simplification by a wonderful man named Nate Hagens. It is all in English and covers a wide range of topics.

Obviously, I have talked a little bit about my yoga and meditation path, but I also think permaculture is a very beautiful resource to explore when rethinking food systems, social systems, and living systems. There are many wonderful books on permaculture, both by the co-founders (Bill Mollison and David Holmgren) and other incredible practitioners.