Climate change is directly responsible for the severity of the Australian bushfire crisis and if change isn’t made now, the devastation we’re seeing - lives lost, homes destroyed, a billion animals dead - is just a taste of what’s to come. So what do we do? To explain exactly what’s happening to the world, why the Earth’s temperature is rising, how this is going to cause irreversible damage and Australia’s huge part in the climate emergency, we did a crash course in climate change. Izzy spoke to a scientist and climate change expert to help us understand, in simple terms, exactly what’s happening in Australia right now. Plus, in a moment where everyone is feeling helpless and useless, we break down all the simple, real-world ways you can contribute to slowing down (or eradicating!) the climate crisis. Listen now and please share what you learn - or this episode - with your friends.
THE STATS:
- The global average temperature is currently warming 5x faster than ever before
- As the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, crises such as the bushfires go from bad to catastrophic.
- Australia is the world’s third-largest exporter of fossil carbon, behind only Saudi Arabia and Russia. This means Australia is one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to impacting global warming.
- CO2 has contributed more than any other driver to climate change
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
- Huge change worldwide to ensure the Earth’s temperature doesn’t rise above a further 1.5 degrees.
- Global warming is due to greenhouse gas emissions, the biggest contributor to this being carbon dioxide which is caused mainly when we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas or cut down and burn forests.
- Government needs to make huge changes immediately, especially in Australia.
- Individuals need to think actively every day and implement the below.
TO DO:
- Demand government action to lessen fossil fuel emissions in Australia (and wherever you live in the world), plus school up on what the government is doing (or not doing) currently.
- Eat less meat, whether that’s something like Meat Free Mondays, just eating one meal with meat per day or just eating meat when you eat out and not buying it at the supermarket. Instagram recipe inspiration: @deliciouslyella, @livegreenhealthy, @thedelicious
- Take public transport, walk, bike places, cut down on flights (and Carbon offset the flights you do take! It’s surprisingly affordable. Websites like Websites like Co2nsensus offer services.)
- Avoid packaging - carry a tote bag, carry a keep cup, avoid straws and avoid buying anything packaged where you can (even if it’s recyclable!). Plus, look for things made from recycled materials.
- Plant trees! If you can’t physically plant trees, go to One Tree Planted or Trillion Trees, charities which will plant trees on your behalf.
- Consume less. Shop secondhand and don’t order multiple sizes of clothes online so you can return one (they often get thrown out, not resold!)
Links to read:
Australia and fossil fuel:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2019/sep/24/australia-has-dodged-global-attention-on-fossil-fuels-because-of-assiduous-diplomatic-efforts
Avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on the Earth
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