The situation:

Climate change due to global warming is one of the major environmental and social issues facing the world today. Human activity has been largely responsible for the rising average global temperatures since the mid-20th century, caused by a build-up of greenhouse gas (or carbon) pollution generated through our power production from fossil fuels, transport and agriculture. While we all play a part in its cause, we can play a major role in the solutions.

The impacts:

Already we are witnessing the impacts of climate change in the form of glacial retreats, warming ocean temperatures, unpredictable weather anomalies such as more severe droughts, bushfires and flooding, reduced water supply and food shortages, and associated social and economic problems.

For Australia:

The most recent science indicates a range of impacts including :

• Significant temperature increases, particularly inland but also in coastal areas;
• An increased risk of long-term drying and drought projected over most of the country by 2030;
• More severe hailstorms and cyclones as well as a shift into previously unaffected areas;
• Rapid loss of the key ecosystems such as: the Wet Tropics (through drying), Kakadu (through saltwater inundation) and the Great Barrier Reef (through more severe coral bleaching and mortality events, and ocean acidification); and
• Greater risk of severe heatwaves south of the tropics, and expansion of the transmissibility zone for some infectious diseases like dengue fever.

Despite our country’s small size and population, Australians have the highest greenhouse pollution per person in the world.   This is largely due to the burning of coal to produce electricity, using petrol to drive cars and removing trees for agriculture. 

The solution:

There is global agreement that in order to avoid dangerous climate change we need to reduce our greenhouse pollution by 25 - 40% by 2020 and up to 80% by 2050.   It’s a challenging task but we have the means available today to do our bit towards achieving this goal.    
 
Around 90% of electricity used in Australia is still generated from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal which is highly greenhouse-polluting. Energy used by our homes accounts for about 40% of Australia’s total energy use.  This means that by reducing our footprint at home in the way we source and use energy, we are making a substantial contribution to the climate change solution.

The good news:

It’s easy to reduce your carbon footprint by using less electricity at home, choosing alternative cleaner power sources such as solar, driving and flying less, walking and riding more, buying local food and eating less meat. It doesn’t have to cost the earth either – in fact, you can end up saving money and living more sustainably without drastically changing your lifestyle or your bank balance at the start. Start by measuring your own carbon footprint on the Resource Page.

The Green Home Centre provides information on easy ways to reduce your footprint. Start by looking at the  Eco Tips Page and then further detail can be found at Green My Home.

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