The recent Copenhagen climate summit was a disappointment for many.  The lack of action or pace of action on a global and federal government level has been disheartening. The urgency for doing something is evident and the question continues to linger: “What can I do about climate change?”

We have long seen environmental campaigns and individual actions, but we are now seeing a growing trend for collective climate action on council, electorate, township and city levels.

The most recent news in Australia is that of Darren Cheeseman, a federal politician for Corangamite in Victoria, who has just pledged to make his electorate the first carbon neutral region in Australia. He plans to utilise the large carbon sinks in The Otway Ranges and from regional farmland and to tap into the development and use of renewable energies.

This sort of carbon neutral movement is growing globally. In February 2008, the United Nations Environment Program launched the Climate Neutral Network in which regions, countries, cities, companies, associations and organisations are “competing” to be crowned the “world’s first” in the carbon neutral race. The first few countries to partner were Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand and Norway and the first few cities were Arendal, Norway; Rizhao, China; Vancouver, Canada; and Växjö, Sweden.

The lead contenders for the world’s first carbon neutral country title include Tuvalu and Costa Rica. Tuvalu expects to reach its 2019 goal by replacing imported diesel with solar and wind power. Costa Rica is relying heavily on tree planting to reach its 2021 goal.

The carbon neutral element is also being picked up by the Transition Towns movement. Founded in Ireland in 2005, the initiative focuses on sustainable living and building resilience against the consequences of climate change and peak oil.

Just under 300 towns are participating, namely in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, US, Italy and Chile. The town of Biggar in Scotland, for instance, aims to become carbon neutral by implementing things like local food and recycle networks, school energy monitors, community gardens, car sharing, local renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives.

The “world’s first” title is gaining momentum in the UK.  Newcastle upon Tyne and Ashton Hayes have both launched their plans to become the first carbon neutral city or town. Earlier this month, the British government announced a planned spending of £60 million to build four carbon neutral towns that would set a global standard for green living and tackle climate change.

Carbon neutral ambitions also extend to the building of new cities. Masdar City, in Abu Dhabi, is trying to become the world’s first carbon neutral zero waste town by 2014. The initiative is set within six square kilometres in harsh desert environment. It involves a mixture of initiatives from a ban on car travel, to encourage use of electric light-rail, to the development of the world’s largest hydrogen power plant alongside solar, wind and geothermal technologies. A solar-powered desalination plant will provide the city’s needs and all wastewater will be recycled to grow plants that could be used for biofuels. They city will also take advantage of cool sea breezes, whilst a perimeter wall will protect buildings from the hot desert air and noise from the nearby Abu Dhabi airport.

These towns and cities are showcasing to the rest of the world how to embrace the transition to a low carbon economy and that new and exciting industries can reap economic benefits. Instead of feeling disempowered by waiting for governments to implement effective climate change legislation, collective actions can and are making a difference now.

As Gandhi put it, “we must be the change we wish to see in the world.”