Much has been said about Climate Change, and there are at least 1000 scientists who agree there are causes for concern for every scientist who is not concerned. Without being climatologists, we need to understand the threat to our way of life.

Most of us insure ourselves against a small threat of our home catching fire (it has happened to say fewer than 2% of us), and we are willing to pay an insurance premium of hundreds of dollars a year to be compensated in the event that it happens, since it will have a large impact on us.

Climate Change can have a much larger impact, with the loss of 30-70% of species (this includes loss of pollination and food species, leading to huge food issues) and species for medicines, taking a toll on the poor and more vulnerable.

There were almost 1000 scientists who signed the International Panel on Climate Change reports, and in one of its reports,  IPCC AR4 WGIII Technical Summary, the scientists were in high agreement that "large emission reductions are unavoidable"  to prevent irreversible threats to "food security, ecosytems and sustainable development" (page 32)  and that strong action should be taken as soon as possible (page 41). Predictions for Australia indicate an increase of temperature between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius (page 118 of final Garnaut Climate Change Review).

This is a greater threat than our home catching fire.

We should do everything we can to first of all become informed about the issue, and then contain the rise in temperature and sea level to manageable levels.

The current amount of greenhouse gases in the atomosphere is increasing the global climate (almost 1 degree Celcius in the last 100 years), melting the pole ice, killing species and changing bird migration patterns.

Transition Newcastle wants to coordinate ways to minimise energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and is requesting input into building a local Energy Descent Plan.

Groups or individuals may wish to add a comment (Just register first) about what we can do to stop greenhouse gas emissions from a technological point of view (eg. use bicycles, walk or take public transport; reducing reliance on lots of energy-hungry appliances; employing renewable energy; use low embodied energy materials) or political solutions (eg. join groups such as Climate Action groups; or Transition Towns - see the Stay in Touch menu; write letters to, or visit, your politicians; attend rallies, meetings and workshops).

Please supply some details of what you would like to see happen, and how it would work.