Following the Australian federal election in September 2013, the Labor Party lost power to the Liberal/National coalition, with Tony Abbott installed as Prime Minister.

[16] The startup funding for the Council was raised through crowdfunding, with donations opening at midnight on 23 September 2013.

[18] Flannery told The Conversation on the Tuesday that the Council intended to raise $500,000 by the end of that first week.

[19] By Friday of the first week, in a stronger than expected response, over 20,000 people had donated amounts totalling close to $1 million.

In 2022/23 the Climate Council declared an annual revenue of A$7.88 Million and 44.1 full time equivalent staff.

[21] Tim Flannery is frequently cited as having stated that: "Our independence is central to our credibility, so if people do donate, don't try to influence what we do".

The modelling finds 15,000 jobs could be created in installing large-scale renewable energy, such as solar and wind farms.

[27] The report was produced to highlight ways to shape Australia's post COVID-19 economic recovery while also addressing the climate crisis.

Its reports are used as an source of information for briefing politicians, providing updates to health and emergency services, teaching resources for schools and universities and as background research for the media.

Their activities aim to protect Australian communities from increasingly frequent and damaging extreme weather events.