Why even reduce your carbon in the first place?

Put simply, it goes like this:

Carbon dioxide (and other gases) in the earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming the planet in a similar way to a greenhouse traps heat and warms the plants inside.

Up to a point this greenhouse effect is a good thing - without it the earth would be too cold to support human life.

However, if too much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases get into the atmosphere, the earth's temperature keeps increasing to a point (which we have now reached) where the climate and weather patterns of the planet are affected. Most of these effects (like more droughts, and fiercer storms) are detrimental to humans. The greater the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the more extreme the effects.

Carbon dioxide gets into the atmosphere in a number of ways, but since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s, a lot of that has come from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil. When these fuels are burnt, they release carbon dioxide.

In Australia, burning fossil fuels to produce electricity and to power motor vehicles and aircraft are two of the leading contributors to the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. By reducing the amount of electricity that we use, and by reducing our use of cars and air travel, we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that we put into the atmosphere.

It will take a concerted, inspired global effort to reduce fossil fuel use if we are to reverse global warming, but it can be done!