Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing our planet, but the good news is that everyone can do something about it. From switching off the lights when we leave a room to recycling, and from using public transport to not replacing things that aren’t broken, there are many steps we can all take to help safeguard the future of the planet.

What is climate change?
Climate change can be attributed to the greenhouse effect which is a naturally occurring process where the earth’s atmosphere traps the sun's energy and in turn warms the earth and enables life.

However there is now very strong evidence that significant and rapid global warming in the last 100 years cannot be explained by natural causes alone. Humans are changing the climate through our actions, especially through the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), agriculture and land clearing. Households in Australia are responsible for 1/3 of energy use so there are lots of opportunities for us to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. The following diagram shows where greenhouse gases are produced in the home:

Buying more energy efficient appliances and using them wisely, getting solar hot water heating and reducing the use of heaters and air conditioners can make a big dint in your household emissions! Visit www.savepower.nsw.gov.au for more information on how you can save power and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions at home.

What are the risks of climate change?
It is difficult to predict the consequences of climate change - but some potential impacts include rising sea levels, reduced food production, drought, species extinction, heat waves and more severe storms and flooding. Click here for more information on the predicted impacts of climate change on Australia.

What can we do?
There are many simple actions we can take to help reduce the threat of climate change. For starters try following some of the hints on the following pages:

The Living Greener website also provides some great tips and resources to help you live a more sustainable life.

You could also consider joining your local Climate Action Network. Climate Action Burwood Ashfield is a local community organisation based in Ashfield and Burwood. Their aim is to persuade our governments to take meaningful action against global warming. New active members are always welcome. Visit http://climateactionburwoodashfield.org/ for more information.