Global Warming
Human activity is resulting in the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases. Such gases trap the sun's heat in our atmosphere and upset the delicate balance of the Earth's climate. Small changes in the temperature of the atmosphere cause accelerated melting of the polar ice caps and rising ocean levels, changes in rainfall patterns, destruction of delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs and increased extreme events such as droughts, hurricanes and cyclones. In South Eastern Australia, a decade long drying and warming trend is suspected to be a result of global warming.
Electricity production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. About 55% of Victoria's greenhouse emissions come from the burning of coal to produce electricity.
One way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to replace fossil fuels with a natural, inexhaustible source of energy such as wind. Initiatives to combat climate change, such as the Kyoto Protocol, have allowed wind energy to become the world's fastest growing energy source, with currently over 10,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity installed globally every year. The Victorian Government has chosen to support renewable energy including a 1000MW target for new wind energy, bringing to Victoria investment and jobs as well as clean electricity.