What is a carbon footprint? Simply, it's a measure of the total amount of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere as a result of your actions.

Greenhouse gasses are any type of gas in the atmosphere that block heat from escaping causing the greenhouse effect - the process where these gasses trap heat from the sun causing the Earth to warm at an unnatural rate.

Man-made climate change is rapidly accelerating the pattern of long-term change in the global temperature & weather patterns.

Effects of climate change include hotter temperatures, severe storms & droughts, a warming ocean, loss of species, not enough food - rise in hunger and poor nutrition, more health risks, and poverty & displacement.

People ask all the time what they can do to minimise their carbon footprint on a daily basis. Here are some simple & convenient steps you can introduce to make a change. Oh, and make sure you vote wisely!

• Keep stuff out of landfill - recycle, reuse or repurpose as much as you can.
• Stop buying water in plastic bottles.
• Walk and bike ride rather than drive short trips.
• Use cold water for clothes washing.
• Eat less meat & dairy.
• Eat more locally grown foods.
• Set winter thermostat to between 18-20 degrees.
• Use public transport where possible.
• Turn off lights and devices when not using them.
• Keep your car serviced & tyres pumped up.