These are the messages that are being sent around the world about the impacts of human activity on the planet.

However, they are all big-picture issues that leave individuals at a loss as to what they can do to help.

Can an individual or family really make a difference to climate change?

In Launceston, the resounding answer to that question is yes, thanks to the sprouting of activist and community groups who are banding together to make their voices and opinions on climate heard.

Let's meet some of them.

Ever seen a curious symbol, shaped a bit like an hourglass, popping up on street corners and community spaces in Launceston?

That symbol belongs to the newest collection of concerned citizens to join the global XR movement - Extinction Rebellion Northern Tasmania.

Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Ros Lewis said the XR movement was based off a similar movement in the United Kingdom, which has three main demands for the government: act now, beyond politics and bring in the community.

The XR movement calls on the government to act now "to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025".

It also calls for the establishment of a "citizens assembly" that will lead the government on climate and ecological justice.

The members of Extinction Rebellion Launceston are ordinary citizens who grieve for the future and refuse to give up on ensuring action to mitigate the effects of climate change are taken.

"We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. The planet is in crisis: scientists agree we have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making," Launceston member Amy Dillon said.

The members of Extinction Rebellion are in emergency mode and want drastic action to avoid catastrophic climate change.

"Conventional approaches to voting, lobbying, petitions and protest have stalled. Powerful political and economic interests use their powers to close down any positive action. We may end up using non-violent civil disobedience - it's a rebellion," Ms Dillon said.

In coming months, Extinction Rebellion will be seen around Northern Tasmania. It has no political affiliation and is looking for others who share its values.

Last week, members participated in a peaceful protest "die-in" ahead of the City of Launceston Council meeting. The members' declaration of rebellion was delivered to Mayor Albert van Zetten and all councillors to declare a climate emergency in Tasmania.

Extinction Rebellion member Zoe Saltz said there was too little action being done on climate change.

"We can no longer accept business as usual. Our peaceful non-violent protest is a challenge to all decision-makers, who have failed in their duty to keep us safe.

"Conventional approaches to voting, lobbying and petitions have stalled.

"We believe is our duty to do what is right and necessary, including non-violent civil disobedience."

Follow or get in touch with Extinction Rebellion Northern Tasmania on Facebook.

Trish Haeusler helped establish Plastic Free Launceston three years ago.

The zero-waste movement had begun to attract attention but now, in the full throes of Plastic Free July, Ms Haeusler said reducing plastic use was becoming more mainstream.

She said the group focused its efforts on education, among all generations.

"I have a background in geology and have always had a passion for our natural environment and our beautiful places," she said.

With that education background, Ms Haeusler said the group tried to help give people tips on how to reduce their plastic waste and celebrate those who were making the effort.

This year, she said small business was "really leading the way" in embracing the plastic-free lifestyle. She said was continually surprised at how the movement had grown over the years.

"Primary school kids, they really are on top of all this," she said.

"I used to go into schools and tell them and now when I go in they tell me what they're doing."

She said that was heartening, to know latter generations had fully embraced the low-waste lifestyle.

"It is becoming a lot more mainstream, which is positive," she said.

While media coverage of the War on Waste had played a part, Ms Haeusler said the notion of throwing things away had become a culture that generations of people had been "lulled into."

Going plastic free was all about making life "a little bit more inconvenient" but people had to to be committed to making small changes.

Ms Haeusler said if a business made the switch to paper straws instead of plastic, it was still worth celebrating, despite them still using plastic in other areas of the business.

She said the more people who got involved, and made smaller changes, the less plastic overall would be used.

Plastic Free July is in full swing and Ms Haeusler said there were many ways people could consider to get started on reducing their plastic consumption.

Plastic Free July has always focused on the "big four" which includes straws, plastic water bottles, coffee cups and plastic bags as a way people could get started on their less waste journey.

If you buy and use a reusable coffee cup, have stopped using straws (or use metal or paper replacements), remember to use reusable shopping bags and have stopped buying plastic water bottles then you are well on your way towards using less waste.

Ms Haeusler said it was all about looking at what plastic was in the home and whether there were alternatives to replace it with.

Want to get in on Plastic Free July or share how you are reducing your waste? Get in touch with Plastic Free Launceston on Facebook.

Climate Tasmania is an expert body that replaced the Tasmanian Climate Action Council - an advisory body that was initiated by the Lennon state government to provide advice on climate change.

The TCAC was disbanded by the incumbent state government in 2014 as part of its budget restraints.

However, it is made up of experts and citizen members who have an interest in lobbying the government to make changes to mitigate climate change impacts in Tasmania.

Climate Tasmania is a group of concerned professionals who have a diverse range of expertise, spanning scientific, legal, economic, health, social and policy aspects of climate change.

They will be engaging business, government and the community, explaining the challenge of climate change, monitoring how we are dealing with it and advising on appropriate responses.

Launceston-based Climate Tasmania member David Hamilton said the group was focused on reducing emissions and ensuring there was a definite plan in place to transition Tasmania away from fossil fuels.

"Most Tasmanians would like to see us in a position of leadership on this issue," he said.

"Carbon neutrality is not the only end goal."

However, Mr Hamilton said Climate Tasmania did not want people to give up, but instead wanted to ensure they understood the urgency of the situation the world finds itself in.

He said fundamentally, the urgency of climate change was about fossil fuels.

Carbon emissions increase due to the production of fuels such as oil and gas and transitioning away from them would reduce the impact.

"Eventually we will need to get off them completely," he said.

Climate Tasmania has presented a plan to the state government to transition away from fossil fuels but has yet to meet with the new Environment Minister Peter Gutwein.

Want to know more about Climate Tasmania? Check them out on Facebook or their website.