Climate Change

 The natural greenhouse effect warms the planet and allows humans to live on the Earth. For millions of years, water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases have occurred naturally, heating the atmosphere and making Earth habitable.

However, human activities, predominately the burning of fossil fuels, intensive agriculture and land clearing, are causing greenhouse gas concentrations to rise above natural levels, further heating the planet. This is called the enhanced greenhouse effect.

As the concentrations of these gases in the lower atmosphere grows, global temperatures rise, causing changes to weather conditions worldwide. The enhanced greenhouse effect is often referred to as global warming or climate change (More about climate change from State Government of Victoria DSE here)

Links and Resources

Challenge students to an energy efficient future

The Home Energy Project (HEP) is a free comprehensive resource for Years 7-9 students with strong links to the Victorian and South Australian curriculum.  Through HEP activities, students and their households are empowered to make a difference to the environment by saving energy and money.

The resource contains interactive activities as well as an energy efficiency calculator to explore household energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. To order your free kit or find out more, call 1800 659 511 or visit www.originenergy.com.au/hep.

Landcare Online
Climate Change and Carbon Sinks

CSIRO
Understanding our Changing Climate
Climate Change

Energex
Energy efficiency information years 1 -6

Solarschools.net
National Solar, energy learning tool broken down into junior, intermediate and senior school levels

Australian Government
Department of Climate Change
Climate Change Science - Frequently Asked Questions

CERES Community Environment Park
Facts and Figures – Energy

EPA Victoria
Greenhouse Calculator
Teachers Resources

Climate Friendly
http://climatefriendly.com

Travelsmart Australia
Bikeability Toolkit
Travelsmart schools resources

Australian Government, Department of Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts
Sharks in Australian waters