Our world is changing and it is changing for some very specific reasons.

Climate Change

planet earth The scenario: drought, freak storms, getting hotter, drastically reduced rainfall and major water shortages. Our world is changing and it is changing for some very specific reasons. For the last 150 years we have been using fossil fuels, (coal, oil and gas). Our use of these non-renewable resources has allowed our civilisation to grow in the way it has, and the downside of this has been unsustainable human population growth and major, negative environmental impacts of both the fossil fuels and the impact of so many human beings on the planet.

Scientists and now even politicians are ringing alarm bells. They are telling us we need to change the way we have been doing a lot of what we’ve been doing. They are telling us that we need to drastically reduce the amounts of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) we are emitting into the atmosphere. This is causing what is known as the ‘Greenhouse Effect’, the worldwide rise in temperature and the major impacts on Polar Regions, sea level rise, ecosystems destruction, loss of species, major impacts on oceans and currents, bleaching of coral reefs and El Nino patterns for us in Australia. Temperatures worldwide have risen by around 1 deg. And all of these changes we are seeing are happening even with this small rise. The scientists are saying we need to stop the rise from going beyond 2 deg. if we are to divert disaster and we need to act now. So what can we do to reduce our individual contribution to greenhouse gas emissions:

Signup for Green Power with one of the electricity suppliers. Go for 100% accredited Green Power if you can as this really helps to build the renewable energy sector of wind and solar. Some of the energy companies authorities offer 10 - 30% accredited Green Power and 70-90% non-accredited – they only expand the renewable sector by 10-30%. Origin Energy offer 100%, Integral Energy offer 100%. Check with the others. The industry has been deregulated and we can now sign up with suppliers beyond our known supplier. The more we support the renewable sector the more we can help to expand it.
Reduce your energy use – switch off what you don’t need and really reduce the number of things you leave on stand-by. 90% of our energy supply at present comes from coal-fired power plants. The more we reduce our energy demands the more we can contain the problems and have a chance of not needing further coal-fired power plants or nuclear power plants. (We have become much more wasteful with power use – let’s start looking at its use in the way we are now looking at water usage.)
Install the compact fluoro globes – and yes they come in soft white (more like the beam of an incandescent). They cost more up front but they last 10 times longer, use 80% less energy and help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from lighting by 80%. CFL downlights are now available to replace the energy-hungry and fire-prone halogens. LED lights, running on 1-3 watts are also now available as are 20 watt CFL spotlights to replace the standard 125 watt spotlights. Ask your electrical stores to get them in if they don’t have them in stock.
Reduce your car use. Car pool, walk or cycle wherever possible. See if you can use alternative fuels eg. Biodiesel in your car or convert to LPG. External attachments to your car create more drag and increase your petrol use. Get rid of the bull bar as a first step.
Solar hot water systems are brilliant, save you money and the environment. If you rent try speaking to your landlord about installing a solar hot water system. The planet is something we all need to support.
If you have an air-conditioner, use it only as really needed. Set it at 25 degrees as the base temperature. Anything lower than that and you use 20% more energy for every degree below 25 degrees.
Buy locally wherever possible and buy sensibly. Ask yourself if you really need it. Buy only environmentally-friendly presents or give a contribution for a sign-up to a Green Power scheme – or buy them a compost bin if they don’t already have one.
Composting at home is the best thing all of us can do with kitchen and garden waste. When this material goes to landfill it doesn’t compost, it breaks down an-aerobically and releases methane which is 25 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide. Learn how to compost easily and successfully with no sludge or smell – your library will have books on composting or ask what they know. See if there are any short courses on composting offered through adult education in your area.
Be resourceful. Use LETS or barter systems for trading some things or organise your own trading systems with neighbours.
Tell 10 people you know what you now know and urge them to follow suit and to tell others. We need to pull together as communities.
Join a Climate Action Group. North Coast Climate Action Group has recently formed. Check out the Australian Conservation Foundation for their information and guidance.