ILLAWARRA residents can do their bit to help tackle climate change by participating in a community program – the Illawarra Climate Challenge.

From Wollongong to Shellharbour to Kiama, over 150 Illawarra residents have signed up to take the Climate Challenge that aims to lower household bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

Wollongong City Council and Kiama City Council are partnering with the Nature Conservation Council of NSW in providing residents with practical tools to live in a more sustainable manner.

The Climate Challenge is a way for households, workplaces and individuals to reduce greenhouse emissions at home and as a community. Participants who take the Climate Challenge earn points by reducing their household emissions, and then look for the simple lifestyle changes they can make beyond the home.

The Climate Challenge makes it easy to reduce greenhouse emissions by providing information, community workshops, incentives and prizes.

Nature Conservation Council Sustainability program manager Rachel Mimmo said there are many options to choose from to earn points to complete the challenge – from turning appliances off at the wall, to switching to accredited GreenPower and taking more public transport.

“We are hoping that the Illawarra will show the rest of NSW and Australia that household and community actions can be part of the solution to climate change,” she said.

Register before May 7 at www.climatechallenge.org.au or call 9516 1488.