Climate Change and Impact on Australian Businesses

Climate change is a term which is thrown about often, but do we really know what it means?

When the energy from the sun enters the atmosphere, some of it stays trapped under a layer of greenhouse gases and some is reflected back into space. This greenhouse effect has been to our benefit as it has kept the temperatures here on Earth within tolerable boundaries enabling life on Earth to flourish.

But here is the problem. We are increasingly influencing the climate and the earth’s temperature by generating enormous amounts of greenhouse gases, principally CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and CFC’s through burning fossil fuels, cutting down rainforests and farming livestock. These greenhouse gas emissions absorb and trap more heat in the atmosphere and over time, produce a positive climate forcing effect or warming. This warming increases the temperature of the Earth’s surface and oceans impacting the global climate.

That is global warming, creating climate change and now the climate crisis.

As a result, Australia’s weather is becoming hotter, dryer and less predictable. We are facing increased temperatures, more frequent and longer heat waves, drought, rising sea levels, coastal erosion and severe weather events including flash flooding, catastrophic bushfires and increased cyclone activity intensity. Following current trends, this will continue to worsen into the future unless action is taken.

Changes in weather patterns can have knock on effects which can significantly impact your business including workplace health and safety, supply chain disruption and raw material supply risk.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to climate change. If you need assistance to assess and manage climate risks that effect your business, Cress consulting has the expertise to help you ensure a more sustainable, secure future. Contact us here.