Climate change is already presenting significant challenges globallyand local impacts will increase in severity in coming years. Australia is the world’s highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases. As a result of considerable investment in renewable energy in South Australia, our electricity supply is cleaner than other mainland states. We need to seize the opportunity for positive change and transition into a low carbon future, for example, one in five South Australian households have rooftop solar installed.

Emissions per capita (excludes land use change).

There are two main ways of dealing with the threats posed by global climate change, and we need to be actively doing both. They are mitigation and adaptation.

The relationship between adaptation and mitigation

FOR MORE INFORMATION Natural Resources Kangaroo Island37 Dauncey Street Kingscote SA 5223P 08 8553 4444E kinrc@sa.gov.auwww.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland

Natural Resources Management Plan 2015–2025Some things that we can doin response to climate change…

for their future...

For more information about climate change and links to useful documents and websitesabout mitigation and adaptation:

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland/about-us/our-regions-plan/climate-change

The future is in our hands. Together we can make a difference.

Severe climate change

‘Locked in’ climate change

The relationship between adaptation and mitigation: Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (2014).

From: CSIRO. Visit http://CSIROclimateresponse.com

Tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person

AustraliaUnited States

CanadaSaudi Arabia

Russian FederationGermany

Republic of KoreaUnited Kingdom

JapanUkraine

SpainItaly

FranceSouth Africa

IranMexicoChinaTurkeyBrazil

IndonesiaIndia

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

emissions >6% of total global emissonsemissions >2–6% of total global emissonsemissions 1–2% of total global emissons

emissions >6% of total global emissonsemissions >2–6% of total global emissonsemissions 1–2% of total global emissons

Emissions per capita: Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) Version 8.0 (Washington DC World Resources Institute, 2010).

MITIGATION: Reduce greenhouse gas emissionsMitigation refers to actions we can individually and collectively take to reduce the future magnitude and rate of climate change. This means drastically reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane. As Australians are currently amongst the world’s highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, mitigation is the globally and locally responsible thing to do and provides us with a great way to lead the change.

FACT SHEET 4 OCTOBER 2014

ADAPTATION: Prepare for climate change impactsAdaptation refers to measures we can take as a community to prepare for climate change impacts. The impacts of climate change on the economy, society and environment will vary across South Australia. Locally relevant adaptation responses will take into account knowledge of local communities and differing circumstances and impacts within each region.

» Be proactive, plan for change and don’t limit future options

» Increase biosecurity measures to prevent new pest and disease incursions that are likely to increase with climate change

» Upgrade culverts, sewers and coastal infrastructure to cope with increased flooding, rising sea levels and increased storm surge

» Improve early warnings and boost emergency services to respond to extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves and fires

» Improve insulation in buildings to cope with heat and plant trees for shade

» Investigate alternative crops, pastures and agricultural systems, diversify

» Relocate infrastructure and buildings away from low-lying coastal zones

» Maintain and build connectivity between areas of natural bushland to enable native species to better move through the landscape in response to climate stress

» Make sure health services are prepared for dealing with an increase in heat-related conditions, especially amongst the old and infirm

» Make sure our water supply is capable of coping with rainfall extremes, especially an expected reduction in average annual rainfall and increased drought

» Make sure people are provided with accurate information to enable them to make good decisions in response to a changing climate

» Reduce pressure on the environment to improve its ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Have at least one meat-free day a week as meat production has a very large energy and ecological footprint.

Reduce air travel.

Use less energy, install energy efficient light bulbs, turn off lights, turn off electronic devices at the wall, insulate your home.

Conserve water, install dual-flush toilets and water-saving shower-heads, capture rainwater, recycle grey-water.

Use renewable energy, install solar panels and a solar hot water heater, use wind and other sources of power.

Drive a more fuel efficient car or a hybrid car, ride a bicycle or walk.

Invest with banks that don’t invest in fossil fuels and change your superannuation to one that invests responsibly to mitigate climate change. Check out http://gofossilfree.org.au/

Reduce consumption, reduce packaging, avoid disposable products, recycle, fix it!

Buy local to reduce transport miles.

Plant more trees and seagrass.

Images: light globe and tree planters: Home Energy Saver Box, renewable energy: Antinuclear, save water: The Water Project, cyclists: Bike Carson, green aeroplane: The Ecologist, recycle: Enviropaper and Cardboard Recycling, local produce: Cancer Council Australia, green investment: The Energy Collective, cow: Our State North Carolina.

Above: A young girl from Tuvalu, a small Pacific nation consist-ing of atolls between 2–4.6 m above sea level. Tuvalu President Mr Sopoaga says “There are no boundaries to the effects of climate change. We are dealing with saving human lives — and therefore saving Tuvalu is also saving the world.”

ABC 16 August 2014.