No wonder: she's been championing human rights and social justice causes since her teens. The now-27 mum of one is the Greens Senator for South Australia. She's also freakishly good at limbo.

Send your questions for Sarah Hanson-Young here

The right stuff

How does the emissions trading scheme work, again?
EP, Airlie Beach, Qld
An emissions trading scheme is a framework designed to curb carbon emissions by imposing a cap on pollution produced by Australia. Permits are granted to industries, businesses and other carbon emitters specifying how much pollution they can produce. Permits can then be traded between holders, depending on how much they want to emit.

The Government sets a target of how much it wants the nation to reduce its pollution. The higher the target, the more impact we’ll have on tackling climate change. The emissions reduction target announced by the Prime Minister last year – five per cent by 2020 – won’t get us where we need to go. Billions of dollars in compensation promised to polluters under the Government’s emissions trading model, the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, will simply lock us in to business as usual.

Australia has the potential to lead the world in solar technology, as well as wind energy and geothermal. The future of our Murray-Darling Basin and Great Barrier Reef depends on us being decisive, today. I hope the international climate change summit in Copenhagen delivers action and hope in equal measure.

[WH’s note: it’s not just Sarah and the Greens who feel this way. Earlier this year three of the CSIRO’s most eminent climate scientists declared the Government’s plan “much weaker than required of developed nations”. And recently, Australia was ranked last of all industrialised countries in an assessment of its ability to generate business in a low-carbon economy.]

Rinse cycle

Do you really have to rinse stuff before you recycle? Seems like a waste of water...
LA, Byron Bay, NSW

Rinsing recyclables makes the recycling plant process more efficient - so it requires less energy and produces fewer carbon emissions. It also makes for a more hygienic recycling bin! Hot water and detergent aren't necessary - a swish of cold water will suffice.

Painless paint

I'm about to renovate. How can I minimise paint's environmental impact?
HP, Northcote, Vic

Think about what surfaces you really have to paint - not everything needs to be matt white. Find eco-friendly paint suppliers on the internet (try house-paint.com.au). Only buy the amount you need - your retailer can help you estimate it. Also ask them if they'll refund you for unopened cans. Failing that, give leftovers to a friend.

And don't ever pour paint down the drain - it's far too nasty for our waterways! Instead, contact a local Hazardous Household Waste Depot for a responsible disposal solution.

Anti-chemicals

Any eco tips for dealing with white ants in my garden?
SN, Launceston, Tas

After using nasty chemicals for years to get rid of white ants, exterminators have come up with toxin-free methods - google "eco-friendly exterminator" to find one. Bear in mind that getting the experts in early will mean less drastic action and fewer chemicals. If you're building a new home, think ahead - consider fitting a physical termite barrier as you construct, like one made out of stainless steel mesh.

Send your questions for Sarah Hanson-Young here