Temperatures are increasing over time, but Australia's action on food waste could help curb the rise

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick explains how July temperatures are changing in the Shire. Plus, how much food are we wasting and why does it matter?

DATA from the Bureau of Meteorology suggests Australia's climate is warming and the Shire is no exception.

The region’s July temperatures aren't as cold as they used to be - the average daytime temperature now sits at 18 degrees.

That's almost two degrees warmer than it was 50 years ago.

But why is our climate changing?

Human activities such as transport, agriculture and deforestation generate greenhouse gases.

Once released, these gases trap heat in our atmosphere.

This warms both the atmosphere and surface of the Earth, contributing to the increases in temperature we're seeing in the Shire.

How does food waste contribute to rising temperatures?

Food waste accounts for about 8 per cent of global greenhouse emissions.

Indeed, if food waste was a country, it would be the third highest emitter in the world.

When food ends up in landfill, it breaks down and produces methane - a particularly potent greenhouse gas.

It's not just the food itself that goes to waste - it's also the water and energy used to grow, package and transport each product.

But Australia is working to solve this problem.

The federal government has committed to halve food waste by 2030.

Organisations such as Foodbank, OzHarvest and SecondBite redirect and repurpose food from grocery stores and restaurants that would otherwise go to waste.

Other local initiatives include community gardens, composting and sustainability education in schools.

Mario Popvacki from Mortdale has noticed further impacts on our supermarket shelves.

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick is a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.