The Problem:
  • There is overwhelming evidence that our planet is being heated by human activity, principally by burning fossil fuels that release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere which trap heat and cause extreme weather conditions. If this goes unchecked, the human race faces massive problems.

    What People Say
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says ‘Warming of the climate system is unequivocal. This is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level’.

  • 12 year-old Severn Suzuki told the world what this means to her generation in an amazing speech at the UN Earth Summit right back in 1992, still available on You-Tube. What has the world done in nearly 20 years since that amazing speech? Virtually NOTHING. And what has Rotary done?

  • As the planet steadily heats up, citizens all round the world are seeing a more volatile climate – more drought, more floods, more storms, higher temperatures. At recent Rotary International Conventions, every delegate asked about their nation’s climate has said their country is experiencing weather problems they have never seen before. And the consequences of these conditions tend to be worse for those with least resources to cope.

    Storing Up Problems for the Human Race
  • And that’s the problem. We are poking our planet with a stick, and it’s starting to bite back. The planet will survive, but the human race could be heading down a very rocky road, especially if the population grows as forecast from 6.7 billion today to 9.4 billion by 2050. It would need at least FOUR Planet Earth’s to enable all of us to live at today’s average material standards. Put simply – THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE.

  • ABC Television June 2nd, 2009 ran a graphic 2-hour program - ‘Earth 2100’ that showed the world as it might be in 90 years – civil strife caused by water, land and food shortages, flooded cities, massive refugee movement, lawlessness and government breakdown. For a 90-second taster of the program, click here.

  • To read about the challenges we face – and some excellent analysis - the trustees recommend Pulitzer Prize winning author Tom Friedman’s book titled ‘Hot, Flat & Crowded’.

    The Skeptics
  • Climate Change is a huge problem. Another problem is the people who hold back progress. A minority still doubts the emerging evidence, but as California’s Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said about Climate Change … “Imagine your child is sick with a rising fever. If 98 out of 100 doctors said that the child needed immediate treatment…and two doctors said that the child was just fine…who would you listen to? The 98 or the 2? Should we do nothing about global warming on the slim-chance a few skeptics who deny its existence may be right? No, we should not”. click here

  • For arguments to deal with the doubters, turn to The Royal Society’s booklet ‘Climate Change Controversies – A Simple Guide’ to see eight misleading arguments debunked.

  • The trustees have heard some Rotarians describe Climate Change as ‘a political issue’ … but this is a view held mainly in the USA, where the topic has unfortunately been politicized. Elsewhere in the world it is considered a serious scientific challenge to the future of the human race, with no political implications at all.

    What Can We Do?
    The Sustainability Trust is aimed at the 33,000 Rotary Clubs around the world – HOW can Rotarians tackle this challenge? Failing to address the problem means more ShelterBoxes, more polio vaccine, more humanitarian relief… in short, more work by Rotarians to raise more money to support more people disadvantaged by our failure to tackle the root cause of the problem…. the changing climate.

    • Can we educate ourselves and our communities about how to change the wasteful way things are presently done in our throw-away society?

    • Can we improve people’s lives and introduce them to sustainable methods?

    • Can we save money by adopting better practices in the way we live, work and play?

    • Can we devise humanitarian projects that are fully sustainable?

    • Can our businesses be more successful if we adopt sustainability principles?

    • Can we find new ways to drastically reduce our fossil fuel emissions and use sustainable energy resources instead?

    • The answer is simple – YES WE CAN – and Rotarians are the people who can lead the challenge, which starts HERE…...

    Rotarians as Leaders
    The Sustainability Trust (formerly The CO2 Offset Trust) acts as a forum for ideas that address these questions. Rotarians are business leaders. We have an obligation to address this challenge. As Rotarians, it is our duty to lead people so that our communities can adopt sustainable practices. At this stage, there are no easy answers, but there are hundreds of things both large and small we can all do. Gradually the picture will emerge and we can adopt best practice. Your Club can develop a project and share it around the world by emailing us details.

    Offset Your Emissions
    • You can also offset some of the unavoidable CO2 that your life-style creates by making a donation through this website to a Rotary Club project that removes your CO2 emissions from the atmosphere. Use the calculator buttons at the top this page.
    Spread the Word
    • And above all – please spread the word about The Sustainability Trust around the world.
    • 1.2 million Rotarians can make a HUGE difference.