Carbon Challenge · Sustainability ·

Carbon Challenge Wrap

This is the final installation of our Carbon Challenge Blog Series. As the challenge comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for getting involved! Entries now close on the 14th at 11:59 PM AEDT 

To wrap up our campaign, we asked Carbon Positive Australia to give us some tips on how to continue to reduce your emissions post challenge.

Lauren Purcell, Communications & Partnership Coordinator for Carbon Positive Australia, has some news for you.

I wanted to extend my thanks to you on behalf of our team for taking the time to calculate your footprint. 

Whether you took just one thing from each of the weekly challenges or something from all, know that every change you make, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step towards making meaningful change, and in the last four weeks, you have learned how to make changes in the following areas:

My hope is that you continue to look at ways to make small changes and share with your friends and family the ways in which they can too.

As we face the multiple challenges of a changing climate, I wanted to leave you with some more inspiring actions that you can take on board to end the Carbon Challenge.

  1. Buy less – reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle. The item with the lowest carbon footprint is the one you already have. Personal and household items such as clothing, furniture, appliances, and toiletries often have a high environmental price tag. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself where has this been made and under what circumstances?
  2. Get involved in environmental days or months such as Plastic Free July and use this as an opportunity to make a difference. Challenge sponsor Pottery for the Planet makes beautiful travel cups and bowls to last a lifetime. They are the best solution as recyclable and biodegradable cups and containers can often still end up in landfill due to the lack of bins and recycling options. Switching to a reusable travel cup or bowl is s one of the easiest ways to make a big difference.
  3. Switch to banks and super funds that do not invest in fossil fuels. Changing where your money lives is one of the most impactful actions you can take in the fight against climate change. There are lots of online resources available comparing financial institutions. Do some research and find one that aligns with your personal values. It's easier than you think!
  4. Support businesses with ambitious climate and environmental policies. Look for explicit targets, and actions that have already been implemented.
  1. Review the climate policies of all parties before you vote. You can learn more on the Climate Council website or via the party websites. 
  2. Support forest protectors. Many individuals and organisations are doing amazing work to protect our forests, including local forest alliances such as WAFA and Lawyers for Forests. Find out how you can get involved and share their message.
  3. Plant native trees and shrubs in your garden. Native gardens are not only beautiful, but are a great way to save water (and money!). They also provide a home for native fauna and remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than lawn or paving! Visit your local nursery for tips on which species are best for your area and when to plant them.
  4. Buy local, seasonal produce whenever possible to reduce emissions from transport and cold storage. Check out your local farmers' market and try incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet.
  5. Give to organisations working on positive climate and ecological outcomes. Support isn't always in the form of a donation. You can gift your time and skills by volunteering or help share their messages with your networks – what you can offer is only limited by your imagination!
  6. Choose public transport wherever possible. There's no better feeling than looking out the window of the train as you whizz past bumper-to-bumper traffic! Take the opportunity to read a book, listen to music, or get some life admin done during your journey.

Lastly, I would like to extend my thanks not only to Arnhem for their support in this campaign but to the many businesses that got on board  including:

  • EzRidersz
  • Indosole
  • Santos Organics
  • Salty Aura
  • Tushy
  • Zero Co
  • Ahana Candles
  • Byron Bay Apiaries
  • Pottery for the Planet

 

The Arnhem Carbon Challenge may be coming to an end, but there is still so much work to be done. The devastating weather events in QLD and NSW have triggered memories of the fires we only fought two years ago, and at the end of February the IPCC released its bleakest warning yet on the impacts of climate change. 

The IPCC report is stark. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General said, "The latest IPCC report is an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership".

We need to remember to continue to act because our choices really do matter to the future of humanity.

Over the coming year, we will have to stand up for our planet through the choices and actions we take. Our commitment at Carbon Positive Australia is to continue to empower you to take action and plant trees so that we all have a healthier planet for our children, our grandchildren, and other species with whom we share this planet.

I ask you to keep referring to the challenge blogs over the coming months and implement more steps where possible to make a change for the better.

If you would like to join us in the fight against climate change, we would love your support. By making a donation to Carbon Positive Australia, you will be funding tree planting, land restoration, research, and educational tools.

I would also encourage you to sign up for our newsletter so you can:

  • Find out when we’ve updated our carbon calculator or taken on a new planting project
  • Stay up to date on the planting projects you are supporting
  • Be one of the first to read our research findings
  • Access opportunities to share your feedback on our projects and their impact
  • Be a part of our community of practical changemakers 

Sign up for our newsletter HERE.

Again, my sincere thank you to every single one of you for stepping up and making changes to benefit our country.

Our mission is to restore Australia.

But we can’t do it without you.

To date Carbon Positive Australia has:

  • Planted 6,195,758 trees
  • Captured 668,779 tonnes of carbon
  • Restored 5,051 hectares of land
Back to Blog