A new National Climate Risk Assessment released by the federal government has sounded the alarm: millions of Australians are facing serious risks from climate change. Rising sea levels are expected to threaten more than 3 million coastal residents by 2090, while heat-related deaths in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne could increase by more than 400% if global warming surpasses 3 °C above pre-industrial levels (The Guardian, 2025). The report warns that no part of Australia will escape these impacts; whether it’s flooding, extreme heat, or stress on health, housing and insurance systems. The message is clear: taking action now is less costly than inaction later.

Knocknock’s mission to reduce 1,300,000 metric tonnes of CO2 through a “borrow more, buy less” strategy is part of the thinking. At Knocknock, we believe part of the solution lies in rethinking how we consume. Every year, households purchase millions of new items that are often used only once or a handful of times, for example: think power tools, camping gear, event equipment, renovation tools, or specialty appliances.

Producing each of these items requires:

  • Carbon emissions from manufacturing and transport
  • Water usage in production
  • Resource depletion through mining and energy extraction
  • Waste when items break or are discarded

By borrowing instead of buying, each person can significantly reduce their share of these environmental costs. Our ambition is to help Australians cut 1,300,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year – equivalent to about 0.77 tonnes per person. To put this in context: the average Australian household of 2.6 people has a footprint of 15–20 tonnes CO₂ annually (CSIRO & BoM, 2024). That means knocknock can help a household save nearly the same emissions as leaving their car parked for 3 months. How Borrowing Reduces Emissions: Here’s how the sharing economy through Knocknock makes a difference:

  1. Fewer Items Manufactured – If 100 households borrow a drill instead of each buying one, that’s 99 fewer drills manufactured, shipped, and eventually thrown away.
  2. Lower Resource Extraction – Metals, plastics, and energy used in production are conserved when demand for new goods decreases.
  3. Reduced Waste – Borrowed items stay in circulation longer, extending their useful life instead of becoming landfill.
  4. Smaller Household Footprint – Instead of each household absorbing the full carbon cost of producing rarely-used items, sharing spreads the footprint across many users.
In short: borrowing extends product lifecycles, lowers demand for new production, and directly cuts carbon, water, and waste impacts.

Beyond Borrowing: Extra Steps Households Can Take

Knocknock is built around borrowing, but we also know climate action takes multiple strategies. Alongside borrowing instead of buying, households can:

  • Shift to plant-rich diets – Cutting red meat consumption by 20–30% can save up to 1 tonne of CO₂ per person per year (Poore & Nemecek, 2018).
  • Boost energy efficiency – Switching to LEDs, efficient appliances, and insulation can cut 0.5–2 tonnes CO₂ per household annually.
  • Adopt renewable energy – Rooftop solar and green energy plans can reduce 2–4 tonnes CO₂ per household per year.
  • Reduce single-use plastics & packaging – Small individual savings, but significant when scaled across communities.
  • Choose active/public transport – Replacing car trips with cycling, walking, or public transport can save 1–3 tonnes CO₂ per person annually.
  • Cut food and household waste – Composting and recycling reduce 0.1–0.5 tonnes CO₂ per person annually, plus it helps your garden out.

Why This Matters

The new climate risk report makes one thing clear: Australia must act now to avoid cascading and compounding risks. Borrowing through Knocknock isn’t just about saving money or decluttering homes—it’s about lowering our environmental impact and ensuring that everyday choices add up to real climate solutions. Together, through smarter consumption and community sharing, we can make progress towards a lower-carbon future—one borrowed item at a time.

References

  • Australian Government. (2025). National Climate Risk Assessment. Reported in The Guardian, 15 Sept 2025.
  • CSIRO & Bureau of Meteorology. (2024). State of the Climate 2024.
  • Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science, 360(6392), 987-992.
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2018). Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C.