What Is Climate Change? What You Need To Know and What You Can Do About It

The phrase ‘climate change’ seems to be everywhere at the moment, … and no wonder with the current bushfires our beautiful country is still facing. As time goes on, the issue of climate change is only becoming more prevalent. However, climate science is complex and it can often make us feel overwhelmed. There is a lot of information out there and it can be difficult to sort fact from fiction. It’s also important to be aware of what we as individuals can do to help our planet and how we can take responsibility.

So, what exactly is climate change? 

Climate refers to the earth’s average weather conditions over a period of 30 or more years. Climate change is any change to the climate that lasts for several decades or longer. This includes changes in the temperature, rainfall and wind. Currently, we are experiencing a dramatic change to our climate as temperatures are rising.

Records are showing that the earth is getting hotter and while the earth's climate has always changed throughout history, experts are concluding that the recent dramatic changes are due to human activity.

This human activity paired with the excessive amount of greenhouse gas entering earth’s atmosphere is causing our climate to rapidly change. An increase in landfill, deforestation, and other activities, are all contributing to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia is experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand, through bushfires, heatwaves and rising sea levels.

What can we do to help?

There are things we can all do to help when it comes to climate change, and while you may think that your small actions do not have an impact, the acts of all of us as individuals will have a huge effect.

One of the best things you can do is make your commute green. Millions of us drive to work each day and this is having a devastating impact on our planet. If possible, opt to ride or walk to work or take public transport. Conserving electricity is another great way to cut down on pollution. Making an effort to switch off powerpoints when not in use and turning off lights is a fantastic way to start. It’s all about being conscious of your electricity consumption!

Recycling is a *huge* factor when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions and it is an eco-friendly process that eliminates waste. This also ties in to our consumer habits as we become more and more aware of the amount of waste we produce. Investing in eco-friendly, long-lasting items creates less waste and reduces the amount that ends up in landfill.

Cutting down on meat consumption is a great way to play your part, as 70% of global emissions come from the farming of livestock. You can start by introducing ‘Meat Free Monday’ and slowly build your way up from there.

While these may seem like small steps, they can have a huge impact if we all work together. Climate change is real and it’s happening - we need to take responsibility. There is no planet B!

What are some of the ways you try to reduce your ecological impact? We would love to know!