What you can do

Climate change is a global issue but there are many things that individuals, businesses and governments can do to help minimise its impact on the Great Barrier Reef.

There are two main steps that you can take to help the Reef in the face of climate change. The first is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as increases in their concentrations are responsible for climate change. The greenhouse gas emissions that we produce come from using electricity, from burning fuel in our car and from using products that require fuel and electricity to produce. Some things you can do at home to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are:

By driving less you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

Switch to �green� electricity produced from renewable sources by contacting your energy provider
Use energy efficient lights
Choose energy efficient products
Turn off electrical devices such as televisions
Turn off lights around the house
Refuse, reduce, re-use and recycle
Use less hot water
Dry your clothes the natural way, not in the dryer
Plant trees which take up carbon dioxide as they grow
Heat and cool your house efficiently
Drive less: car pool, use public transport, walk or cycle
Spread the word to others
Offset or neutralise your greenhouse gas emissions.

The second step is to reduce the impact that you have on the Reef. A healthy Reef is more resilient and can recover quickly from the impacts of climate change, such as coral bleaching. See The Great Barrier Reef: Doing your bit to look after it for more information on what you can do to look after the health of our Great Barrier Reef.