Climate Change.

Climate change is occurring due to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. The most common GHG is carbon dioxide, but there are a number of others. GHG's occur naturally in the environment, and have fluctuated throughout the history of the world. They play a crucial role in regulating the earth’s temperatures by trapping infrared radiation (sunlight) and raising the average temperature from -18 c to 15 c.

Human activity in the last 200 years has seen the quickest increase in concentration of GHG's in history. Because GHG's act like a blanket on the earth, they cause the average global temperatures to increase. The higher the concentration of gas, the hotter the climate.

Climate Change will bring more frequent extreme weather events. This is because weather is controlled by the temperature of the sea and land. Changes in temperatures cause changes in air pressure. All weather on earth is created by pressure changes in our atmosphere: the higher the temperature, the more pressure changes resulting in extreme weather events (everything from cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes to storms, floods, droughts). 

 Some facts about Australia

Australia produces 565 million tonnes of CO2 each year

Australia has the highest emissions per capita of any country in the developed world. Per capita our emissions are 6 times as high as China's and we emit more greenhouse gases than Indonesia.

Domestic contribution to Australia’s CO2 is approx 100 million tonnes

Australia is the largest exporter of coal – coming out of the Newcastle port.  This port is responsible for exporting 80% of the coal mined from Hunter region – approx 80 million tonnes of coal exported each year

Australians throw away more than 3.4 million tonnes of packaging each year and less than half gets recycled

Coal-fired power stations are the most greenhouse polluting way to make electricity,

Australia is one of the world's most coal dependent nations

To act now click here >> ACT NOW

Pluto Press >> click here