In a recent survey by ANU, Australians identified the environment as the most important problem facing our country. It is fair to say this elevation of the environment above the economy and other issues such as housing, health and education is in large part due to the reality and urgency of climate change.

Not so long ago scientists were talking about the need to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Increases above 2 degrees risked pushing the climate system past tipping points leading to dangerous unstoppable climate change. The science now tells us both that we may be too late to stop the earth warming more than 2ºC if we fail to take very serious action immediately, and that 2ºC may even be too hot.

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This gives us some sense of the magnitude of the challenge facing us as individuals, as a nation and as a planet. It also adds even more impetus to governments to act on setting carbon emission targets to actually make a dent in the problem. The current federal Government has a policy for 60% cuts by 2050 while waiting to set shorter term targets. Other nations and places such as California have set targets of 80% by 2050 and even these are now not enough.

Addressing climate change is a planet-wide challenge. But that is not an excuse for Australia not to act. Similarly while government policy and action is necessary in ensuring the drastic cuts in CO2 emissions that are needed, that doesn’t excuse individuals from doing what we can.

Energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way of reducing emissions. The Government and industry have the biggest role to play in cutting emissions, but as individuals, we can do our part. Essentially, we need to start using less energy not just as a means of combating climate change but also because we are going to need to adapt our lives in any event.

There is a range of ways we can start doing this. At the smaller scale we can use energy efficient appliances and turn them off when not in use; drive less by walking, riding a bike or using public transport; use less hot water; moderate our use of airconditioners and heaters. A more comprehensive response would be to retrofit our homes to be more energy efficient, for instance, by installing insulation and solar hot water systems.

Now not all of us can do all these things. We may not own homes or have an income to support such investment, and public transport may not be available where we live and work. This raises an important point. Climate change isn’t just an environmental or even economic issue – it is also a social issue. Combating climate change and dealing with its consequences will, after all, affect every part of our lives.

So, one of the key things we all can do is engage at a community and political level and pressure our parliamentarians to act now in our best interests – to put a price on carbon that will actually decrease emissions, to invest in renewable energy technologies, to provide better public transport, to assist all us to live in more energy efficient homes and to lead society as it adapts to a low-carbon future.

For information on climate change and individual action, check out these on-line resources:

• www.greenlivingpedi.org/
• www.greenpeace.org/australia/issues/climate-change/solutions/consumer
• www.perthsunfair.com.au/

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Clare Ozich works for Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.