Published on 10 August 2020

Onkaparinga’s Fight for Planet A

City of Onkaparinga residents care about climate change.

In fact, 77 per cent of residents surveyed for council’s Community Plan were concerned about climate change impacts, and 72 per cent were personally willing to take action.

So, what’s the next step?

Fight for Planet A: Our Climate Challenge is a new documentary series premiering on ABC + iview this week, and it’ll explore this important question.

Host Craig Reucassel (of War on Waste fame) aims to empower and motivate Aussies to take action on climate change, and over three episodes he’ll explore how we can all help reduce individual and collective carbon emissions.

City of Onkaparinga Sustainability Project Officer Tracy Fulton says the series is timely as the world grapples with rising temperatures, and it builds on communities’ and councils’ strong and proud history of leading climate action.

“We recently partnered on the first national online tool to enable more empowered and informed action to occur,” Tracy says.

Snapshot is a Community Emissions Profile, designed to help identify where each region’s highest impact areas are, with each council’s regions data available to view and compare.

“By providing focus for our efforts, it will drive investigation into actions to reduce and raise awareness about carbon emissions.”

The data shows Onkaparinga’s community emissions in 2018-19 came primarily from residential and industrial electricity use (35 per cent) and on road transport (50 per cent), with a total profile of 1,230,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2018-19 – a 40,500 tonnes reduction from 2017-18.

Every action makes an impact

Tracy says there are a number of changes you can make right now to take action on climate change.

1. Be energy smart.

“The less energy you use, the less you pay for,” says Tracy.

“Check out these tips to lower your energy usecalculate running costs to understand how much energy your appliances use, or do a home energy audit.”

2. Go renewable.

Almost half (43 per cent) of Onkaparinga’s residents have installed solar, with many businesses following suit.

See how your suburb compares by clicking on council’s interactive map and watch these handy videos for answers to common solar questions, such as how does it work, how to calculate potential savings and how to avoid dodgy companies.

3. Rethink your vehicle.

Tracy recommends comparing models before purchasing your next vehicle, and keeping your eye on the electric vehicle market, which is rapidly evolving.

4. Get involved!

Tracy says volunteering with a local environment group, joining a local planting event or beach clean-up, or simply planting a tree at home are great ways to help tackle climate change.

“Every bit helps,” she says.

“Council is doing its bit by investing in energy-reduction projects that have helped reduce our emissions by 42 per cent over the past decade.”

Gain a clearer understanding of the work council has taken so far by reading its Climate Change Snapshot.

To find out more ways to take action on climate change, watch Fight for Planet A: Our Climate Challenge on ABC + iview from Tuesday 11 August, 8:30pm.

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FIGHT FOR PLANET A: OUR CLIMATE CHALLENGE  Host Craig Reucassel.