Title: Climate change, sustainability and a scientist-citizen alliance: defining the instrument Author (s): David Marlow Organisation: Independent Abstract: Aims/purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline a vision, a goal and a path whereby the linked issues of a sustainable, resilient, desirable society and effective climate change mitigation can be addressed as a single issue to the benefit of both. This path will involve establishing a spirit of cooperation between the scientific community and the general community. Methodology/approach – Plain and at times emotive language is used, because societal and ecosystem survival are emotive issues. Some present models of sustainable, resilient communities are analysed as part of the task of setting a science-supported goal and vision of a sustainable, resilient nation. A path is outlined, where the scientific community and the general community can forge a new consensus to combat climate destabilisation and create a sustainable resilient society. This path will include the creation of a new body – an instrument – to drive change. The characteristics of this new body are defined. This paper is designed to link to later papers, which will address other aspects, such as the power of imagery, the lessons of history and methods of overcoming social and institutional barriers. Findings – If the Australian public is to be mobilised to demand effective climate change mitigation and real progress in creating a sustainable resilient future, the scientific community needs to occupy a critical gap between the research-focussed institutes of universities and the environmental advocacy organisations of the public Internet. In that space, it needs to create an informal partnership with the general community, whereby the public will become the driving force to combat climate destabilisation and create a sustainable, resilient society.