Transcript Climate change - Householders` Options to Protect the Environment

Welcome to your first meeting!
Presentation contents
1. What is climate change?
2. Why is carbon a problem?
3. How is climate change affecting Queensland?
4. Understanding carbon
5. What can be done?
6. About the Low Carbon Diet program
7. More information
What is climate change?
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Climate change is the single biggest environmental threat facing the world
today.
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Climate change (or global warming) is primarily caused by too many
greenhouse gases being released into the air.
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Carbon (dioxide and monoxide) is a greenhouse gas. This means that it is
a gas that we know contributes to the greenhouse problem on earth.
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Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) is the main greenhouse gas emitted. Other
greenhouse gases include water vapour, nitrous oxide and methane.
Why is carbon a problem?
We have too much carbon gas in the atmosphere. And because we have
too much carbon in the atmosphere our planet and our local environments
are changing.
All together, the gases that
are warming the earth are
called greenhouse gases
because it’s like being
in a hothouse or
greenhouse.
Methane
Carbon
Carbon
Methane
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Methane
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Carbon
Greenhouse
gases
Methane
Carbon
How is climate change affecting Queensland?
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Australia has warmed by about 0.9°C since 1910, with most of the warming
occurring since 1950.
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Queensland is warming faster than the national average.
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Since 1950, Queensland has warmed by around 0.8 °C in the far north, and
by 1.5 – 2 °C in the southern and south-western interior.
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So what does this mean for our state?
Future impacts
•
Climate change could have a number of potential impacts on Queensland’s
weather (eg. warmer temperatures, higher sea levels, changes in rainfall
patterns, and increased storm and cyclone intensity).
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This will mean an increased risk of flooding, with coastal areas threatened
by rising seas, cyclones and storm surges.
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Climate change could cause significant loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity is
defined as “the variety of all life forms – the different plants, animals and
micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems of which they
form a part.”
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This will mean major impacts on the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics
rainforests—a lot of plants and species will not survive.
Think Tank
Questions for the EcoTeam:
What are some ways that climate change
affects or can affect you and/or community?
What changes have they seen?
What issues are they really concerned about?
Understanding carbon
•
Carbon footprint: is a measure of the
environmental impact of a person’s or
organisations lifestyle or operation. It is
measured in units of CO2.
•
Even though much of the time we cannot see
how we do things harms our environment or
ourselves, they do, including:
 The electricity we choose and use
 Transport choices
 Waste – how much we generate and
what we do with it
 Food – where it comes from
Electricity
•
Most households use coal fired electricity.
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When we use coal fired energy, each time
we cook, use the air conditioner, use an
electric heater, lights or the television,
DVD, VCR, the clothes dryer, running a
pool or spa pump, even heating up a jug of
water for a great cuppa – we contribute to
the growing amount of carbon.
Transport
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Carbon is found in the gas that is released
from motorised transport eg. cars, motorbikes,
trucks, construction equipment (such as
forklifts, graders and dozers), boats, etc.
•
Every time we drive our car or use other forms
of motorised transport, we release more
carbon gas into the air and atmosphere.
Waste
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Waste is usually thought of as something
that is left over or that is no longer
needed. If it is not properly managed,
waste can cause pollution and impact on
our environment.
•
Did you know that the average
Queensland household generates a 1.3
tonnes of greenhouse gas per year, just
through what we throw away?
Food
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Products tend to be more processed and
packaged than ever before – this means
we use more energy and produce more
waste for each kilogram of goods we buy.
•
Buying food that is grown or transported
a long way from your home also
contributes to the carbon problem.
When food is transported by motorised
vehicles, such as trucks, trains, etc.,
carbon gases are released into the world.
The “home” truth about carbon
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Many things that we do or use at home contributes to the growing
problem of carbon in the atmosphere.
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Because we each generate so much carbon from the
things we do, it means that there are so many possibilities
and options to make a difference and reduce our
impact on our environment.
Think Tank
Question for the EcoTeam:
What are some ways that you can
help to reduce your carbon?
What can be done?
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The Queensland Government is committed to helping Queenslanders cut
their carbon footprint.
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The current carbon footprint of the average Queensland household is
almost 13.77 tonnes* of CO2 each year (or 13,770 kg).
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All of our carbon footprints add up to have a negative impact on our
environment.
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By making small positive changes to our everyday practices we can make a
big difference.
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The Low Carbon Diet can help you reduce your carbon footprint.
* Source: Towards Q2:Tomorrow’s Queensland, Queensland Government, 2008.
About the Low Carbon Diet program
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By coming here today, you have taken the
first step towards reducing the future impact
of climate change on Queensland.
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The Low Carbon Diet shows you how to
make simple changes to your everyday
actions to help lighten your carbon footprint!
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The success of the program centres around
community members working together to
motivate each other to set and reach their
carbon footprint reduction goals.
Aims for the first meeting
1. Form an EcoTeam so you can encourage
and motivate each other – maybe even have
a competition as to who can lose the
emissions first!
2. Calculate your current CO2 emissions with
the carbon calculator online at
www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au
3. Create a CO2 Reduction Action Plan and
choose which actions you will do to reduce
your emissions levels.
Your CO2 Reduction Action Plan
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The Low Carbon Diet manual (see your facilitator) and the carbon calculator
will guide you in creating your CO2 Reduction Action Plan.
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A CO2 Reduction Action Plan will help you to reach your goal of reducing
your carbon footprint by 2000 kg per year.
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You choose actions that equal a reduction of 2000 kg of CO2 per year and
commit to making those changes! The actions you choose might be
different to your friends or neighbours but that’s ok – you choose what suits
your lifestyle and situation.
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Think of it like a target you are setting yourself – e.g. By this date, I will lose
X by doing these actions.
Think Tank
Questions for the EcoTeam:
When and where will we meet next?
What do we want to have achieved by the
next meeting?
Team actions after the meeting
1. Ensure you have a copy of the Low Carbon Diet resources:
 An individual copy of the CO2 Reduction Action Plan
 A Low Carbon Tips booklet that covers a wide range of actions
 Postcards and fact sheets to promote the program to friends
2. Start making low carbon changes to your life today! Remember, like any
diet, changes may not be appear straight away but they will happen!
Stay motivated!
3. After you have received your next energy bill fill out the calculator again
to monitor how those changes have affected your carbon footprint (and
how much money you have saved)!
More information
The Low Carbon Diet is a key program under the Queensland Government’s
ClimateSmart Living campaign.
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For information about the ClimateSmart Living campaign, go to
www.climatesmart.qld.gov.au
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For more information on Towards Q2:Tomorrow’s Queensland
(Queensland Government) www.towardq2.qld.gov.au
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For more information about the impacts of climate change in Queensland
go to www.climatechange.qld.gov.au