The Courier-Mail
By: Graham Readfearn
When the time comes for calculating their budgets, a group of Queenslanders has introduced a currency other than the dollars in their bank accounts.
Known as the North Brisbane CRAG, the 20-strong group has created a new economy, with carbon as the only currency that matters.
CRAG stands for Carbon Reduction Action Group and it's one of the first Australian incarnations of similar groups launched in America and Britain to help combat climate change.
"Climate change is a huge issue -- the biggest of our time -- and it's going to be with us for a long time,'' said North Brisbane CRAG founder Omar Ameer, 34, of Brisbane's inner-city Red Hill.
Each member has committed to cutting by 20 per cent their annual emissions of greenhouse gases from sources such as transport and electricity.
Failure will mean a donation of money or time to a conservation charity.
"We've decided on a $20 per tonne penalty or alternatively, members will have to donate two hours of their time to a conservation group for every tonne that they go over,'' Mr Ameer said.
"Apart from the benefit to the environment, it's also a way to cut your electricity bills.''
Among the group's members, the smallest carbon footprint was less than three tonnes and the biggest was about 16 tonnes.
Members have already started changing lifestyles, with several signing up for energy audits and wireless electricity monitors through the State Government's ClimateSmart Home service.
Others have decided to cut air travel and monitor car use.
Seiji Humphries, a 35-year-old from Windsor, had one of the biggest footprints of the group with 16 tonnes.
"I think at least three quarters of that carbon was from taking flights,'' he said.
Be part of the climate change debate on Graham Readfearn's Green Blog at couriermail.com.au/blogs