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12 inspiring summer reads on climate

Climate Council — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:37:32 +0000

Your guide to the latest books that will inspire you to keep up the fight for a cooler future!

1. What If We Get It Right? – Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do while facing an existential crisis is imagine life on the other side. This provocative and joyous book maps an inspiring landscape of possible climate futures. If you haven’t yet been able to picture a transformed and replenished world—or to see yourself, your loved ones, and your community in it—this book is for you.

2. Firestorm – Greg Mullins

‘Firestorm’, told through the eyes of a firefighter – and one of our very own Councillors, not to mention the founder of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action – with more than 50 years of experience, combines thrilling stories of what it’s like to be on the front line of Australia’s first giga-fire with the hard truths of human-caused climate change.

3. Humanity’s Moment – Dr Joëlle Gergis

Former Climate Councillor Joëlle Gergis shows us that the solutions we need to live sustainably already exist – we just need the social movement and political will to create a better world. This book is a climate scientist’s guide to rekindling hope, and a call to action to restore our relationship with ourselves, each other and our planet.

4. Plug In! – Saul Griffith

We all know that renewable energy is the future, but how can we ditch coal and gas in our own lives and homes? Plug In! is full of pro tips and essential information for your electrification journey.

5. The Climate Cure – Prof. Tim Flannery

In his book, The Climate Cure: Solving the Climate Emergency in the Era of Covid-19, Climate Council’s Chief Councillor – Professor Tim Flannery – explores how 2020 flipped the climate debate on its head and exposed who was left standing in the way of action.

6. Together we can – Claire O’Rourke

Together we can by Claire O’Rourke uses inspiring real-life examples to demonstrate how each of us can use our own unique strengths to tackle climate change. While it can be difficult to avoid being bogged down by extreme weather events and bleak reports, we know the solutions and incredible and inspiring people are lining up to tackle the issue.

7. Juice – Tim Winton

Tim Winton like you’ve never read him before. A near future world if global warming’s worst case scenario comes true, this dystopian novel is a call to change the status quo for future generations who could inherit a dangerous world because of environmental collapse.

8. Windfall – Ketan Joshi

This book, by renewable expert Ketan Joshi, explores “a future where communities champion equitable new clean tech projects, where Australia grows past a reliance on toxic fuels, and where the power of people is used to rattle fossil fuel advocates from their complacency.”

9. Design Emergency – Alice Rawsthorn, Paola Antonelli

Alice Rawsthorn and Paola Antonelli, two of the world’s most influential design figures, meet the visionary designers whose innovations and ingenuity give us hope for the future by redesigning and reconstructing our lives, enabling us to thrive. Design Emergency tells the stories of the remarkable designers, architects, engineers, artists, scientists, and activists, who are at the forefront of positive change worldwide.

10. Woodside vs the Planet – Marian Wilkinson

A story of power and influence, pollution and protest. How does one company capture a country? How convincing is Woodside’s argument that gas is a necessary transition fuel, as the world decarbonises?

11. Hot Mess – Dr Matt Winning

Dr. Matt Winning is a stand-up comedian and environmental economist with a PhD in climate change policy. Hot Mess aims to both lighten the mood and enlighten readers on climate change. This is a book for people who care about climate change but aren’t doing much about it, helping readers understand what the main causes of climate change are, what changes are needed, and what they can (and cannot) do about it.

12. Better Things Are Possible – Jack Toohey

Better Things Are Possible is Jack Toohey’s case for choosing hope over apathy. It’s a rallying cry to replace defeatism with resilience and start channelling our energy into innovative solutions to the challenges we’re facing.

The post 12 inspiring summer reads on climate appeared first on Climate Council.

Victoria’s plan to get homes off gas is a win for our climate, our kids, and our hip pockets

Climate Council — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:48:31 +0000

The Victorian Government has just announced a new plan to help households shift off gas – and it’s great news for our health, climate and cost of living.

From 2027, new homes in Victoria won’t be connected to the gas network. Instead, they’ll be fully electric, powered by clean energy and equipped with efficient appliances like reverse-cycle air conditioners and induction cooktops.

This plan is a big step forward, especially for a state that currently relies more on gas in homes than anywhere else in Australia.

So why does this matter?

Because gas is a fossil fuel, and it’s polluting our homes and planet.

Cooking with gas is estimated to be responsible for up to 12% of the burden of childhood asthma in Australia, and the gas industry’s claims about “clean gas” don’t hold up. It’s mostly methane, a potent greenhouse gas that’s making climate change worse.

And the truth is, gas is costing us way more than it should. In 2022, our Switch and Save report found that the average Melbourne household could save around $1,200 a year by going all-electric.

So this plan doesn’t just clean up the air and our climate, it puts money back in people’s pockets too.

What’s in the plan?

The Victorian Government announcement includes:

Phasing out gas hot water – from March 2027, only efficient electric hot water systems can be installed in Victorian homes. When an existing gas hot water system reaches the end of its useful life, it will have to be replaced with an efficient electric one.

New buildings to be all-electric – already, new houses that require a planning permit must be all-electric. From January 2027, this will extend to all residential and commercial buildings (with a few logical exceptions, such as large industrial facilities).

More efficient electric homes for renters and people living in public housing – from March 2027, landlords must begin providing decent insulation, draught-proofing, water saving showerheads, and efficient all-electric appliances for hot water, heating and air conditioning.

A program to help Victoria’s gas appliance manufacturers upgrade their facilities and reskill their workforce.

These are the smart, coordinated policies we need to cut climate pollution, protect public health, and protect families from the rising cost of living.

Where to from here?

Victoria is leading the way, and it’s time for other states to step up.

We congratulate the Allan Government on this strong move to help Victorians improve their homes and their health. Now we need other governments to follow Victoria’s lead.

A media release on the Victorian government’s plan to help households get off polluting gas is available.

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Climate resolutions for 2025

Climate Council — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 03:31:45 +0000

The climate crisis has intensified this year, underscoring the urgent need to slash emissions right now – there is no time to waste. We’ve once again seen countries in all corners of the globe endure extreme weather events. From ferocious wildfires to devastating floods and scorching heatwaves, the toll of climate change is all around us. Communities around the world are paying the price in impacts to their health, lives, and livelihoods.

But there is hope: with many nations and parts of our society and economy stepping up their climate commitments. Momentum for positive change is growing around the world, and here at home we are seeing more homes and businesses choose clean energy. About 40% of the electricity in our main grid now comes from renewables, and that’s doubled in just six years.

As we ring in the New Year, join us in committing to resolutions that will help to reduce Australia’s climate pollution, positively influence the national conversation on climate change, and pressure decision-makers to step up their climate game. With a federal election set for the first half of 2025, there has never been a better time to demonstrate support for urgent climate action.

Here’s our top eight suggestions for your New Year’s resolutions:

1. Take collective action

Community-led action has been a great catalyst for society-wide change in Australia. Banding together with others in our community to join a petition or protest, or contact your local MP with an email or phone call, can all be powerful ways to spark important climate conversations, and keep climate action in the public eye. Everyday Australians speaking up to support necessary climate policies and calling for far greater action will help shift the dial. It’s going to take all of us.

Here are a couple things you can do right now to encourage strong and decisive climate action that will benefit all Australians, our economy and way of life.

Sign our open letter calling on Australia’s political leaders to double Australia’s rooftop solar capacity by 2030.

Take the pledge to get your home off gas. The gas we use to cook and heat our homes is a polluting fossil fuel that’s dangerous to our health and overheating our planet. Join over 1000 others in committing to clean, electric alternatives.

2. Move your money so it doesn’t support the fossil fuel industry

Do you know where your personal finances are invested? With many banks, super funds and share portfolios still investing in coal, oil and gas projects, making informed choices about where to invest your hard-earned cash helps dial up the pressure on financial institutions to do better.
Thankfully, there are banks and super funds out there that avoid financing fossil fuels and support renewable energy and the environment. Find out where your bank stands here, and learn more about the future your banks and super are funding here.

3. Change how you get around

Personal transport is the fastest growing source of climate pollution in Australia, so rapidly reducing emissions calls for a re-think of how we get around. Cars are responsible for more than 60% of Australia’s transport pollution, and while electric vehicles (EVs) are an important piece of the puzzle, we won’t achieve our climate targets with them alone.

Wondering how to change the way you move? Here are some tips:

‘It’s not game over – it’s game on’: why 2024 is an inflection point for the climate crisis

Wesley Morgan — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:12:41 +0000

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Read the original article. Written by Senior Researcher Wesley Morgan

In 2024, global climate trends are cause for both deep alarm and cautious optimism. Last year was the hottest on record by a huge margin and this year will likely be hotter still. The annual global average temperature may, for the first time, exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – a threshold crucial for stabilising the Earth’s climate.

Without immediate action, we are at grave risk of crossing irreversible tipping points in the Earth’s climate system. Yet there are reasons for hope.

Global greenhouse gas emissions may peak this year and start falling. This would be an historic turning point, heralding the end of the fossil fuel era as coal, oil and gas are increasingly displaced by clean energy technologies.

But we must do more than take our foot off the warming accelerator – we must slam on the brakes. To avoid the worst of the climate crisis, global emissions must roughly halve by 2030. The task is monumental but possible, and could not be more urgent. It’s not game over – it’s game on.

Global emissions may peak this year, as fossil fuels are displaced by clean energy technologies. Alvaro Barrientos/AP

Our planet in peril

Last year, Earth was the hottest it’s been since records began. The onset of El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean helped drive global temperatures to new heights. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service found 2023 was 1.48°C warmer than the pre-industrial average.

Warmer global temperatures in 2023 brought extreme events and disasters worldwide. They included deadly heatwaves in the northern hemisphere summer, devastating wildfires in Canada and Hawaii, and record-breaking rains in many places including Korea, South Africa and China.

Last year was also the warmest on record for the world’s oceans. More than 90% of heat from global warming is stored in the world’s oceans. Ocean temperatures are a clear indicator of our warming planet, revealing a year-on-year increase and an acceleration in the rate of warming.

The warming oceans meant for parts of 2023, the extent of sea ice in the Earth’s polar regions was the lowest on record. During the southern hemisphere winter, sea ice in Antarctica was more than one million square kilometres below the previous record low – an area of ice more than 15 times the size of Tasmania.

This year may be hotter still. There is a reasonable chance 2024 will end with an average global temperature more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Governments have agreed, through the Paris Agreement, to work together to limit global warming to 1.5°C, because warming beyond this threshold poses enormous dangers for humanity.

The agreement refers to long-term trends in temperature, not a single year. So breaching 1.5°C in 2024 would not mean the world has failed to meet the Paris target. However, on long-term trends we are on track to cross the 1.5°C limit in the early 2030s.

As the planet warms, we are now at grave risk of crossing irreversible “tipping points” in Earth’s climate system – including the loss of polar ice sheets and associated sea-level rise, and the collapse of major ocean currents. These tipping points represent thresholds which, when crossed, will trigger abrupt and self-perpetuating changes to the world’s climate and oceans. They are threats of a magnitude never before faced by humanity – one-way doors we do not want to go through.

Satellite image showing ice-cap melting on Antarctica’s Eagle Island in February 2020. Warming oceans are reducing sea ice extent in the polar regions. NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY via EPA

The age of fossil fuels will end

In 2024 there are also many reasons for hope.

At the COP28 United Nations climate talks in December 2023, governments from nearly 200 countries agreed to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in this crucial decade. The burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of the climate crisis.

We have the technology needed to replace fossil fuels across our economy: in electricity generation, transport, heating, cooking and industrial processes. In fact, surging market demand for clean energy technologies – wind, solar, batteries and electric cars – is now displacing polluting technologies, such as coal-fired power and combustion engine vehicles, on a global scale.

The world added 510 billion watts of renewable energy capacity in 2023, 50% more than in 2022 and equivalent to the entire power capacity of Germany, France and Spain combined. The next five years are expected to see even faster growth in renewables.

Sales of electric vehicles are also booming – growing by 31% in 2023 and representing around 18% of all new vehicles sold worldwide. In Australia, sales of electric vehicles doubled last year and are expected to continue to grow strongly.

At COP28, governments agreed to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels this decade. Peter Dejong/AP

Toward a peak in global emissions

The accelerating shift toward clean energy technologies means global greenhouse gas emissions may fall in 2024. Recent analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA), based on the stated policies of governments, suggests emissions may in fact have peaked last year. The finding is supported by analysis from Climate Analytics, which found a 70% chance of emissions falling from 2024 if current growth in clean technologies continues.

A growing number of major economies have passed their emissions peaks, including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan.

China is currently the world’s biggest emitter, contributing 31% of the global total last year. But explosive growth in clean energy investments mean China’s emissions are set not only to fall in 2024, but to go into structural decline.

What’s more, China is currently undergoing a boom in clean energy manufacturing and a historic expansion of renewables – especially solar. Similarly explosive growth is expected for batteries and electric vehicles.

A peak in global emissions is cause for optimism – but it won’t be nearly enough. Greenhouse gas emissions will still accumulate in the atmosphere and drive catastrophic warming, until we bring them as close to zero as possible.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns global emissions must roughly halve by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach. The task is monumental, but possible.

Climate policy shifts and clean energy use are bringing the world closer to an emissions peak – but governments need to do more. Climate Council, adapted from Carbon Brief analysis and based on IEA data.

Next steps for Australia

Australia is making great strides in rolling out renewable energy. But state and federal governments are undermining this progress by approving new fossil fuel projects.

Every new coal, oil or gas development endangers us all. Australia must urgently reform its national environmental law – the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act – to end new fossil fuel developments.

Similarly, Australia’s gains in renewable energy have been offset by rising emissions in other sectors, notably transport. It’s time to implement long-promised fuel efficiency standards and get these emissions down.

Beyond these immediate next practical steps, Australia has much work ahead to shift from fossil fuel exports to clean alternatives.

The opportunity for Australia to play a major positive role in the world’s decarbonisation journey is undeniable, but that window of opportunity is narrowing fast.

The post ‘It’s not game over – it’s game on’: why 2024 is an inflection point for the climate crisis appeared first on Climate Council.

How do you take care of your pets during a heatwave?

Climate Council — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 02:29:14 +0000

Climate change, driven by the burning of coal, oil and gas, is already leading to hotter, longer and more intense heatwaves in Australia. With El Niño occurring against this backdrop of a fast warming planet, we need to be prepared for some extreme temperatures this summer.

Heatwaves are known as a silent killer – they cause more deaths than any other extreme weather event in Australia combined, including bushfires, floods and cyclones.

download our guide to keeping your furry friends cool

While us humans can escape to air conditioned spaces or strip off to cool down, we need to consider our furry friends in the extreme heat – both domestic pets and surrounding wildlife.

Just like us, many animals can be affected by heat stress or heat stroke. Similar to humans, the old and the young are often the most vulnerable. However, while we can sweat it out, dogs and cats can only release heat through areas not covered by fur, mostly their paws

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS DURING A HEATWAVE?

Cats are normally pretty self-sufficient and stay cool by seeking shade and limiting physical activity. They will normally find a nice cool place to sleep it off so just make sure they have water and shade and some wet towels if they want them.

However, dogs need a little more TLC when it gets hot. The small surface area of their paws are not a very effective means of getting rid of excess heat from their bodies. Dogs use the evaporation of moisture from their tongues, nasal passages and lungs to cool down by panting.

If you are heading to work, make sure your canine pal has plenty of water and shade in a well-ventilated area. If you want to get creative with ways to cool your dog down, you could whip up some refrigerated snacks, top their bowls up with cold water from the fridge or simply dampen their bed. Got a garden? Perhaps invest in a small paddling pool or turn the sprinklers or hose on so they can get a bit of a shower (while being conscious of any water restrictions in your area).

If your dog is riding with you never leave them locked in the car! It takes under 10 minutes for a car to reach lethal temperatures even when parked in shaded areas, with the windows open.

Although they are eager to get out and burn off some energy, reconsider going for midday walks as the hot pavement can burn their feet (if it’s uncomfortable for you to walk barefoot then it will be for them too!). Top tip: head out for a stroll early in the morning or just before bed and stick to grassy areas. Ultimately if you are melting and want to be in front of the fan or air conditioner, then they probably do too!

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PET IS AFFECTED BY HEAT?

Key signs you should look for are changes in behaviour, disinterest in food and water, isolating themselves and heavy panting. If your pet is lethargic, relentlessly panting, drooling, vomiting or collapsing, get them to a vet ASAP. Check out the RSPCA for more information.

HOW DO YOU HELP WILDLIFE DURING A HEATWAVE?

While you are out and about, think of our native wildlife too: the same rules apply – water, shade and rest. Leave bowls of water out in shady areas for any native wildlife that may be nearby. A shallow dish with a few rocks placed in it creates a great little oasis for insects like bees to flock to when needing a drink and a cool down.

Try to avoid disturbing our native wildlife more than you have to. Everyone is feeling hot and bothered, so the last thing you’d want to do is stress them out and use up any more of their already low energy stocks.

However, rescue babies if they are particularly vulnerable and reach out to a local wildlife helpline:

NSW: WIRES 1300 094 737

VIC: Wildlife Victoria (03) 8400 7300

QLD: RSPCA QLD 1300 ANIMAL

SA: Fauna Rescue of SA inc 08 8289 0896

WA: Wildcare WA (08) 9474 9055.

NT: Wildcare NT 08 8996 121.

TAS: Bonorong Wildlife Hospital and Rescue 0447 264 625

ACT: ACT Wildlife 0432 300 033

For more information on heatwaves and the impact on wildlife click here.

The post How do you take care of your pets during a heatwave? appeared first on Climate Council.

How you can push for change

Climate Council — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 08:07:00 +0000

Globally, and here on home soil, the consequences of delayed climate action are playing out in real time. The world is experiencing the impacts of a new era of unnatural disasters, emphasising the need to get emissions well and truly plummeting this decade. Now is not the time to fall into despair, instead it’s time to choose hope, and use this moment to push for faster action on climate change.

The science is clear, there is still time left to act, and avoid the worst possible impacts of climate change, but it’s going to take all of us to push for action at the scale and pace the science demands.

Together, we can push to reduce Australia’s emissions, continue positively influencing the national conversation on climate change, and pressure decision-makers to take climate action seriously.

Here’s our top sEVEN suggestions for HOW YOU CAN TAKE CLIMATE ACTION:

1. Commit to having more conversations about climate change with your nearest and dearest

A few top tips to get you started:

Help people understand how climate change is affecting them in particular. For example, were they affected by recent floods? Have they seen their insurance premiums skyrocket? Do they love snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef? Have they experienced a heatwave?

Discuss how renewables are already creating good, new jobs for Australians and would contribute to lowering their sky high power bills and removing our reliance on crooked fossil fuel companies.

Invite people to be open to new information by sharing the latest facts and demonstrating how a renewables-led recovery can create a more self-reliant and sustainable Australia.

Help your loved ones understand that phasing out fossil fuels is inevitable, makes economic sense, and is already well underway.

Explain that investing in renewables is a win-win situation: it’s both a win for the environment, and a win for our economy.

Click here to find our climate conversation guides, and learn how to have an effective conversation about climate change with anyone!

2. Take collective action

Community-led action has historically been a great catalyst for systemic change. Joining a petition or protest, or contacting your local MP with an email or phone call can be powerful ways to spark important climate conversations, and can help keep climate action in the public eye. Everyday Australians speaking up to support ambitious climate policy when we see it and calling for far greater action will help shift the dial. It’s going to take all of us.

Here are a couple things you can do right now to push for strong and decisive climate action that will benefit all Australians, our economy and way of life/well-being:

Contact your Member of Parliament (MP) – check out our tips for communicating effectively with your MP
Take the pledge to make the switch from gas in your home today.

3. Become a Climate Council member

CHIP IN A REGULAR WEEKLY or Monthly Donation

With extreme weather and heat waves wreaking havoc across the world, now is a crucial time to push hard and fast to develop new climate friendly policies to slash emissions, create jobs and keep us safe from worsening extreme weather.

We’ll keep fighting back against dangerous and unnecessary new fossil fuel projects to accelerate the switch to renewables. We’ll continue advocating for energy-efficient homes powered by renewables and the policy to enable this. We’ll continue fighting for fuel efficiency standards to help ring in the switch to electric vehicles across Australia.

We are committed to being brave and bold in demanding science-backed climate action. From the biggest international and national media publications to boardrooms and the general public, the Climate Council is focused on transforming what Australians think is possible when it comes to climate action in this country.

It’s our Climate Council members, who contribute an average of $7 a week, who underpin the work that we do. So if you haven’t already, consider joining us by becoming a Climate Council Member today.

Weekly and monthly donations make up a significant proportion of our funding, and they’re critical in helping us shape the conversation on climate change in Australia and push for real action from our Federal politicians. Time is running out, and we know that we need to be bigger and better to see significant emissions reductions and large-scale solutions to climate change

Becoming a member powers our important work, so we can keep doing what we do best.

4. Make changes to how you get around

Cars are responsible for more than 60% of Australia’s transport pollution, and while electric vehicles (EVs) are an important piece of the puzzle, we won’t achieve our climate targets with EVs alone. The way Australian cities and towns have been built forces us to be reliant on cars – so it can be hard to leave our four wheels at home and look to alternatives. Nevertheless, there may be some car trips you can swap out for a walk, ride or trip on a bus, train or tram.

Here are some tips to help:

Set a goal to walk, ride, skate or roll (for people using a wheelchair) your short routes more often.
Consider your plans for the weekend – is there anywhere you could walk, ride or catch public transport to?
Already using public transport? If you drive to your train station, is there any way you could catch the bus or ride your bike there?
Do a shoutout to your colleagues, peers or school friends to ask if anyone would like to carpool.
Check if you’re eligible for any public transport discounts.
Make getting around fun by getting active together – why not ride your bike to the cafe, shops or beach, picking up your friend along the way?
Encourage your local council to invest more in footpaths and cycling paths.
Call on your state or territory MP to increase funding to public transport and active transport to ensure high quality, safe, convenient and accessible ways of getting around for all.

When we’re on our feet or on two wheels, we’re getting exercise, moving in more climate friendly ways, and feeling more connected to the people around us. In fact, research shows riding a bike is the ‘happiest’ way to get around. If you are able to, challenge yourself to incorporate more public transport and walking, bike riding and rolling into your daily routine next year.

5. Make your home more energy efficient

Electricity generation is the biggest contributor to climate change in Australia because the majority of our electricity is still made by burning fossil fuels like coal and gas. Australians are also among the biggest carbon polluters on the planet (both in total and per person), which means there is plenty more we could be doing at home to reduce our energy consumption. Check out our top tips for improving your home’s energy efficiency here.

Make the switch from gas to electric:
Gas is a polluting fossil fuel that’s driving the climate crisis. It is also harming our health and our hip pockets, as prices continue to rise.

Gas appliances – including stovetops, heaters and hot water systems – are an outdated technology with no place in the modern home. Fortunately, there are alternatives that are cheaper to run and better for the planet and our health.

Use our savings calculator to find out how much you could save by switching your appliances and getting off gas:

6. Ensure the climate information you consume is credible and science based

This could mean taking stock of where you get your news from and who you trust as a reliable source, such as the Climate Council, CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. Have a good look at what sort of news content you’re currently consuming and think about where it comes from, what vested interests or personal bias may be influencing the news piece, and whether the claims can be fact-checked.

Nowadays, almost a fifth of Australians consume their news via social media, so make sure you’re also taking a critical eye to the accounts and pages you’re following there.

Our top picks for climate, energy and extreme weather news platforms to follow are:

– ABC

– Bureau Of Meteorology

– CSIRO

– Renew Economy

– Climate Council – you can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin and Tiktok too – where we post daily about the latest climate and energy developments in Australia and the world.

At the Climate Council, we believe providing Australians with credible, reliable and up-to-date information is key to developing a deep understanding of climate change impacts and solutions and changing the public narrative around climate and energy policy. It’s safe to say we take our news seriously.

We’ve also created a list of our favourite new climate reads which house a wealth of information and inspiration and make for great presents to inspire your friends and family to take action – check it out here.

7. MAKE CLIMATE ACTION YOUR LASTING LEGACY

No matter what your life stage, having a legally valid Will is important. You can never be too young to safeguard your life’s work and write down how you want it distributed in case something happens to you. After taking care of your loved ones, you can also choose to include a gift to charity in your Will. These gifts are an important fundraising stream for charities. Around 20 percent of charity income in Australia comes from the gifts people make in their Wills. By leaving a gift to the Climate Council in your Will, you can make a meaningful difference on climate action and ensure that your values and beliefs are carried on after your lifetime.

Here’s how you can make climate action part of your lasting legacy:

If you don’t have a Will and only need a simple one, we’ve partnered with Gathered Here, Australia’s most trusted online Will provider to give supporters access to a free simple online Will, with unlimited updates for life. Write your free online Will now.

If you already have a Will, or want to write one with a solicitor, this guide contains the correct legal wording and the impact your gift can achieve.

The post How you can push for change appeared first on Climate Council.

Tips for talking to your local Member of Parliament

Climate Council — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Taking the time and effort to call your local Member of Parliament (MP) is a direct way to ensure your voice is heard in the lead up to the federal election, you may even bump into them in the street. A personal conversation says: I am engaged and this issue is meaningful to me. From the perspective of an MP, hearing a voice of a fellow resident is more personal, more immediate, and harder to ignore! Remember: they are supposed to work for you.

We’ve whipped up this simple guide to help you have easy and effective conversations.

1. What to do before your conversation

Learn what you can about the MP and their position on climate change, energy or the specific topic you’re calling about. Often their parliamentary biography or personal website will have useful information on this.

2. Prepare your messages

We recommend jotting down three key points you’d like to make during your conversation. Our communication guide will help to highlight some important focal points.

3. Contacting your MP

Now, it’s time to contact your MP’s office! State your full name, mention that you live in their electorate and that you’d like to speak with the MP about climate action (or another more specific topic). You may not actually get to speak to them. If that’s the case, make sure you leave a message to pass along (you can follow this up with an email if you like) and find out where they are likely to be around your electorate for meet and greets. Politely answer any questions the electorate officer may ask – they provide feedback to their MP about what the local electorate thinks or wants.

4. During the conversation

Be yourself: it’s important to be genuine. Don’t worry about having a highly polished message – just relax, be polite and speak from the heart.
Remember your key points: it helps to be clear and concise – our communication guide is good place to develop these.
Tell your story: talk about why strong action on climate change is important for you, or how extreme weather – made worse by climate change – has made an impact on your life. This strengthens and personalises your message.
Be respectful: no matter the position of the candidate, remember to be respectful to them and their staff.
Stay on message: it’s easy to get distracted – if you go off on a tangent, find a way to come back to your key points.
Be concise: Candidates are often very busy, so try to make your point succinctly. Don’t know the answer? That’s ok. Say you’ll get back to them with the answer.
Ask for their support: ask your candidate if you can count on their support for strong climate action in the future. If they say they will support this, ask them to speak with their colleagues to help deliver this.

5. Following the call

Thank the MP: send them an email or letter, thanking them for the conversation and reminding them of any commitment they may have made to you.
Keep in touch: if you see an interesting article, forward it to the MP to keep yourself (and climate action) in their mind.

Feel like giving it a go? Find your local representative and their contact details here.

Get inspired by our Top 10 large scale climate solutions article.

The post Tips for talking to your local Member of Parliament appeared first on Climate Council.

Dealing with climate anxiety: tips, tools and resources

Climate Council — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:51:40 +0000

Eco-anxiety is a growing concern amongst Australians. And for good reason – world-renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough said: “If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.”

If feelings of stress, sadness or frustration overcome you when thinking or hearing about the state of the planet, you’re not alone. In fact, research shows that 75% of Australian voters are worried about climate change.

The first thing to note is that these feelings are warranted. It’s completely appropriate to feel stressed or anxious about climate change. The impacts are unfolding before our very eyes, and are getting worse with every day we delay meaningful action. It is important to come to terms with those feelings, recognise that it’s okay, and channel them into something positive.

At the Climate Council, we’re no stranger to these feelings, given we work on climate day in and day out. So we have compiled our best tips, tricks and resources to help you along your way.

Remember: in the fight against climate change, we are all in it together.

What is eco-anxiety?

Eco-anxiety (sometimes called ‘eco-distress’ or ‘climate-anxiety’), is a way of describing how people feel when they hear bad news about our planet, the climate, and the environment.

You might feel anxious, worried, upset, scared, sad, angry, overwhelmed or unsure about the future. And that’s completely understandable: climate change is a very real issue, affecting lives, livelihoods, the economy and ecosystems right around the world.

In fact, many psychologists suggest that eco-anxiety, in its most basic form, is not actually considered ‘anxiety’ – as those feelings are an appropriate and rational response to the situation that we’re witnessing.

Action is the antidote to despair, so get out there and make your voice heard!

What can I do to deal with feelings of eco-anxiety?

The good news is that there are plenty of practical things we can do to help soothe our worries and overcome feelings of eco-anxiety.

Here are some of the best ones from the Australian Psychology Society’s guide for ‘Coping with Climate Change Distress’.

1. Take action

Channelling your feelings of being overwhelmed or stressed into something positive that will help the situation is a tried and tested coping strategy. You could:

Join a climate action group
Email politicians and big business to put pressure on them to act
Change up the way your household operates by opting for public or active transport, switch power providers to clean energy, improve the energy efficiency of your home
Sign up to the Climate Council for more tips for getting involved in climate action

2. Take a break

Constantly thinking about, hearing about and talking about climate change can be exhausting and emotionally taxing, so it’s advised to take some time off every now and then to recharge. You could:

Make a conscious effort to avoid consuming news for a 24-hour period, or while on holiday
Take a mental health day to yourself to indulge in the activities you love
Try and build rest into your weekly routine

3. Have fun

Positive experiences are so important for motivating yourself (and others). Being able to enjoy the good times makes the hard work worth it! When we feel good, we are also more likely to want to throw ourselves into helping the causes we care about.

4. Move your body

Exercise is crucial for maintaining good mental health and solid sleep patterns, so make sure you’re still moving those limbs daily! Walking, running, yoga and team sports are some of our faves – especially because they often require us to get outside into nature as well.

5. Focus on the solutions

We already have all of the solutions we need to solve the climate crisis! Focussing on these can give us a renewed sense of hope, optimism and remind us that we CAN fix this. Check out the Climate Council’s Instagram and Facebook pages where every Friday they share some of the best climate solutions and good news stories from the week.

6. Talk it out

Our relationships with other people have a powerful and positive effect in helping us to cope with whatever life throws at us, so lean on the people around you. Share concerns, thoughts and feelings about climate change with trusted friends, family and colleagues. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with someone you know, consider joining an online community of like-minded folk, or talking to a professional.

For urgent immediate help, phone Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline 13 11 14. To arrange an appointment with a psychologist, ask your GP for a referral.

Extra resources

A new guide for parents: Managing eco-anxiety in your kids
5 tips for dealing with stress in uncertain times
Coping with the climate crisis series – Psychotherapist Rosemary Randall on Youtube
Eco distress for young people – Royal College of Psychologists
Coping with climate change distress – Australian Psychology Society

The post Dealing with climate anxiety: tips, tools and resources appeared first on Climate Council.

A new guide for parents: managing eco-anxiety in your kids

Kate Charlesworth — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 06:05:48 +0000

It’s tough being a parent. Not only is the day-to-day grind unrelenting with school lunches, balancing screen time and homework, but in 2022, all this is compounded with worries about social media and raising a family in a global pandemic.

My eldest child is now 11. So I’m adding one more issue to my list of parenting challenges: managing eco-anxiety.

All these worries – whilst valid and important – are dwarfed by the risk of our children not having a safe climate to live in. The adverse effects of climate change threaten our childrens’ right to a healthy existence in a safe, stable environment.

In fact, children today are expected to have poorer health as they age than today’s adults do, because of the worsening and intensifying effects of climate change.

My psychology and paediatric colleagues report that once children get to the ‘tweens’ they start to comprehend the urgency and enormity of the climate challenge, and with that can come anxiety and depression.

A recent survey of 10,000 children and young people (aged 16-25 years) in 10 countries (including Australia) found that 59% were very or extremely worried about climate change, with 84% at least moderately worried. Of note, climate anxiety and distress correlated with “perceived inadequate government response and associated feelings of betrayal”.

It is also important to stress, as mental health professionals are quick to note, that ‘eco-anxiety’ is not actually anxiety – it’s an appropriate and rational response to the robust scientific evidence and the climate breakdown that we are beginning to witness.

Given Australia’s unfortunate international reputation as a climate laggard, Australian children and young people today are likely to be particularly affected within their lifetimes.

As parents, our primary responsibility is to keep our children safe and prepare them for the future. The climate crisis will impact their lives more than anything else, so what can parents do?

The advice from psychologists

Listen to your kids, be honest in acknowledging the challenge and validate their feelings.
Attempts to discredit the science, diminish their reaction or shield them from the truth will only worsen the situation.
Provide examples of the great climate actions underway by so many people around the world – and focus particularly on ones that inspire you, too.

As a health professional, I tend to talk to my kids about what I know: climate solutions in healthcare. There are public health benefits of so many climate actions: cleaner air, healthier diets, greener and cooler cities. Parents working in other sectors – particularly in energy, business, agriculture and transport – could talk about the many opportunities of Australia becoming a renewable energy superpower and the exciting transformations underway in their fields.

But these conversations should not be limited just to your line of work. Check out the Climate Council’s Instagram and Facebook pages where every Friday they share some of the best climate solutions and good news stories from the week – you will surely find something worth getting excited about with your children!

Change can start in your own households

Another piece of advice from psychologists is to think local. Work with your children to make changes in your home or within your community. You could also suggest they join a local climate action youth group. This is building your child’s ‘self-efficacy’: their belief that they can make a difference. This step has really important mental health benefits, as action is one of the best antidotes to anxiety. The Australian Psychological Society has a great guide for parents about the climate crisis.

Of course, if you have a budding lawyer, there’s always the option of following along with important legal precedents of children taking the government to court for their failure to protect children’s rights – as in the Sharma case – and now countless others around the world. These are fantastic examples of children taking agency over their situation.

Finally cut yourself some slack and focus on the important things: don’t sweat the small stuff. A few canteen lunches here and some screen time there won’t do too much damage to your kids’ futures. But continued inaction on the climate crisis will. So, at the upcoming election, vote the way your children would, if they had the chance: vote for climate action.

Dr Kate Charlesworth is a mother, public health doctor and Councillor at the Climate Council.

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How to care for animals in a flood

Climate Council — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 04:50:49 +0000

Many areas of New South Wales and Queensland are currently experiencing intense rainfall and floods which have devastated communities, taken lives and caused billions of dollars worth of damage. All today’s weather is occurring in an atmosphere made warmer, wetter and more energetic due to climate change, driven by the burning of coal, oil and gas. So while Australia has always experienced floods, disasters like the one unfolding in NSW and QLD are likely to become more frequent and intense as climate change continues.

Flood events not only have a severe impact on human life and the economy, but also on our beloved pets, precious wildlife and valuable livestock.

So what can we do to help keep animals safe when cyclones, severe rain events and flooding are predicted?

Include animals in your planning

One of the best ways to keep companion animals safe is by including them in your Home Emergency Plan. Identification tags and microchips should be up to date, properly attached and safely recorded. Plan for a secure method of transport to suit your particular animals. Ensure all veterinary records and medications are current and you have several days worth of food, treats and water as well as any necessary medications. This way, you’ll be prepared to take care of your animal companions before, during, and after flooding events.

Reduce the risk for grazing animals

Property owners usually have a good knowledge of the geography of their land including river and creek systems that have flooded in the past. But as the climate deteriorates, we need to be prepared for the worst that can happen. Local councils, farming agencies and emergency services are all a good source of further information and assistance.

Animals should be moved to safety, which may mean opening gates and even removing fences to allow animals access to higher ground. In some situations, the evacuation and transport of animals to another place altogether may be necessary. Contingency plans may be needed to provide food and water if existing supplies become unavailable or contaminated. Most production animals now have permanent identification. This, together with good communication with neighbours, local authorities and the police will assist with relocation. After the flood event, producers need to be aware of potential disease consequences.

Practice and think ahead to perfect your plan

Most emergency services recommend you practice your Emergency Plan so that when the time comes you are well prepared. This is particularly true when animals are a part of your emergency plan, as the distress and chaos of the situation make it easy for things to go awry. Run through your plan before the worst happens, ensure you have back-up options, and anticipate anything that could go wrong in the process. This is much easier to do without the threat of imminent danger.

Help native wildlife

It’s also important to consider how you can help any native animals you may encounter in flood conditions. The best, easiest and safest way to help if you find a distressed animal is to first seek the advice of a trained wildlife rescuer or vet. If you can and it is safe to do so, restrain the animal with a towel and contain it in a clean dark box in a warm area until trained professionals arrive. Wildlife rescue organisations and vets can also give advice as to what food or liquids can be offered to affected animals if rescue is not possible straight away.

Support climate action before the flood

It’s also crucial that we remember extreme weather events like intense rainfall and flooding are being exacerbated by climate change brought about by the burning of coal, oil and gas. While all these tips for protecting your animals are useful, we also need the government to act on climate change, to give wildlife and animals the best chance of survival from future extreme weather events.

One of the most effective ways to achieve action is to persuade our Federal Government to radically cut emissions this decade and make tangible plans to reach Net Zero as soon as possible. You can vote, email your local MP and attend rallies to ensure our pets, wildlife and livestock remain important and valuable members of our lives and the planet. By joining Veterinarians for Climate Action you can help in their aim to halt the climate crisis and secure a shared future for animals and people. Stay safe and remember to heed all warnings from emergency services.