What is climate change?
Climate change is the result of changes in weather patterns due to increases to the Earth's average temperature. This is caused by increases in greenhouse gases from activities such as burning fossil fuels, land clearing and intensive agriculture. Climate change is also often referred to as global warming.
Climate change will alter both global and regional climates. In Victoria, this means a warmer and drier future, with the increasing likelihood of more extreme events such as heatwaves, bushfires and storm surges.
The Earth's climate has changed over the last century and there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed in the last 50 years is due to human activities.
While climate change is a global issue, it will affect us all. Climate change has the potential to adversely affect our environment, our communities and our economy unless we take action now - to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts.
This section explains climate change science in simple terms and where Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions come from.
Understanding the science of climate change
Greenhouse gas emissions
A summary of Victoria's greenhouse gas inventory.
Additional resources
Links to other websites and resources that can help you understand climate change and the enhanced greenhouse effect.
